everything right.
Her: That’s so true, Charlie Bear. You are very wise.
Him: I know. (Arranges features into expression of innate wisdom.)
Her: Leave, Charlie Bear. I cannot stand another moment of this torture. (Opens the door and pushes Charlie out of house.)
Him: Au revoir, my darling.
(Blows a kiss, turns away, and tries not to shout “YIPPEEEE”.)
The overhead speaker fragmented Charlie’s inner showreel with the announcement that the train was arriving at Ebbsfleet.
Opening his eyes, Charlie stifled a yawn, content that he had a rough plan in his head on how to finish things between him and Kev.
Walking out of the station, a sudden chill wind whipped his hair about. Cold spits of rain began to pelt his face. Turning up the collar of his jacket, Charlie put his head down and began jogging towards the car park. He realised the nights were now drawing in. The sun was already low in the sky, its brightness restricted by a bank of dark clouds which were huddled together like witches around a cauldron. He shivered and felt a spray of goose bumps erupt across his skin. Trotting up to his car, he popped the button on the key fob and sank down gratefully behind the steering wheel, glad to be out of the elements.
As the engine turned over it gave a throaty vrrroom. Pointing the bonnet towards Mosley, Charlie offered up a small prayer of thanks that Kev’s house was on the other side of the village, well away from Willow and the eyes of any prying neighbours.
The initial patter of rain had now turned into a teeming cloudburst. Usually Charlie parked two streets away from Kev’s house but, because it was now chucking down, he decided to pull up outside her house. After all, he’d only be five minutes. In the unlikely event of a friend of Willow’s spotting Charlie’s car and later questioning it, he’d say… he’d say… yes!... he’d say that he’d mistakenly thought Willow was here having a cup of tea, and he’d decided to join them both.
Perfect reasoning, Charlie. Don’t over-complicate things. Keep excuses simple.
Leaping out of the car, he ran up the garden path and took refuge in the open porch, almost squashing himself against the wooden panels of the front door in order to avoid the downpour. His hand, already frozen and now running with tiny rivers of water, went up to the doorbell. His index finger was so wet it slid off the button, and he couldn’t make it ring until the second attempt.
The door opened a fraction.
‘Charlie Bear!’
Kev’s head bobbed into view while the rest of her remained out of sight, shielded by the doorframe.
‘Heyyy,’ he said with a smile.
‘Come in.’
The door clicked shut behind him, but Charlie’s mentally rehearsed opening line died on his lips. Kev was wearing nothing but a fire-engine red lipstick and matching high heels. The only sound that escaped his lips was a gasp. All intention to stick to the script he’d concocted on the train fluttered away like the autumn leaves littering outside’s wet pavements.
Charlie felt powerless to resist. And Kev knew it.
She took him by the hand and led him up to her room.
Eleven
Kev didn’t let go of Charlie’s hand until he was in her bedroom. Exactly where she wanted him.
He was now shedding clothes faster than a menopausal woman having a hot-flush. This was the only time Kev ever had any power over Charlie, and she wanted to make the most of it. Off went the shirt. Down went the trousers. A pair of socks were balled up and tossed through the air, narrowly missing one of the many candles she’d lit earlier and placed around the room.
‘Careful, darling,’ she cautioned. ‘We don’t want a fire.’
‘I’m already on fire,’ said Charlie hoarsely.
Now his boxers were whizzing past her left ear. They landed on the curtain rail, dangling for any passer-by to see.
Kev smirked. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if – by some crazy Law of Sod – Willow was in the area right now. Perhaps she might even be walking up to Kev’s front door this very moment! After believing Charlie’s excuse about working late, wouldn’t it be ironic if Willow had decided to pop over and spend the evening here? She’d arrive anticipating a cuppa and natter. Instead she’d clock Charlie’s car outside. Do a double take. Her brain would start whirring. Why was her boyfriend here of all places? He was meant to be at work.
Kev sighed. How convenient it would be if this were so,