safe, only a few steps away are loads of suited gents they'll be only too willing to help a damsel in distress. I sway about a little numb from the ears down, the back window hums as it lowers, and Daniel is sitting there in the back, looking so gorgeous, and smiling. Though he doesn’t approve of my inebriatiative state, I can tell. He opens the door for me. "Stan," he says his finger on the intercom button, "deepest darkest Essex please."
Oh good, I’m going there too!
I fall into the back seat, so glad to be warm and safe, to have landed on a soft leather seat not tarmac (that's another story), my head is swimming around me. I have my head in Daniels lap, as I regain some sort of composure, he is stroking my long hair, I close my eyes, "thank you for rescuing me" I say weakly.
"I was in the area, you looked like you could do with a lift." Another coincidence?
My next conscious thought is I am being held up at my front door, the cold hitting me on my face, the smell of earth. I can hear the horses in the yard munching haylage, the stars bright above, what is happening? Someone is getting my keys from my pocket, my parka has many pockets, I think it might be cold enough to zip the quilted lining into it now? He opens the door and we fall into the hallway. Max meets us, stretches his long sleek body and heads outside for a hunt.
My grass needs cutting.
My head is swimming, warmth, so lovely and warm, my stove is still glowing orange from earlier and the smell is inviting. I am happy to be home. A comfortable feeling and a stirring smell of a man, that man, tiredness slips its hand in mine and leads me to sleep, was there a man? How did I get here?
I wake in the night, I am undressed just wearing my underwear. Grandma’s advice about always wearing matching underwear was very good indeed, and I wonder whether he undressed me or if I did it myself. A little handwritten note lays by my clock, 'see you at 10 tomorrow, Dx' the writing is sweeping bold strokes and fine swirls, an artistic hand in black ink. The card folded note has an embossed crest of an outstretched eagle with a shipwreck in its claws...I Have seen that logo before somewhere?
Max and Beauty are sleeping curled up beside my legs in little black furry curved balls, I fall back in my pillow and I’m back under the influence of sleep once more.
Chapter five, Tuesday:22ndoctober2013, my first day
The alarm beeps, I startle awake, how? I shake off the feeling, slap my alarm off, jump out of bed, remembering the wine suddenly, as my head protests. I ignore the feeling, brush my teeth, dress, feed the cats and head out to the horses. Awww, toothpaste and red wine, Yuk! It's going to be my first day working with Daniel and what a first impression I will make! Huge Prada sunglasses will be my saviour.
As I finish shutting the yard gates, the boys are grazing as a blanket of mist hovers above the ground, happy and fed they will enjoy a day in the autumn sunshine, I wish I could stay here with them, I could just sit here and watch them all day. The wreck of my abandoned project sits rusting away alongside my Landy. A beautifully sculpted 1968 Mustang, my beloved car. Partly restored, a project I worked on with my Dad, but now he's gone it's just another reminder and a failure. I pretend I’m OK, but I haven’t played the drums since he died. The sleek beautiful lines of the bodywork of the Mustang 'Old Blackie' clear even though they're rust covered remind me. I look away.
Inside I drink a dark cup of tea, very dark, like old leather brogues, the colour of the leather I’d choose should my Mustang ever be finished, tea leather interior, black outside. She'd be magnificent. I finish my tea, put the cup in the dishwasher, grab everything that has to recharge and stuff it all into my bag. I’m not hung-over, still a little drunk.
DP: “Thought you might need a lie-in” bloody cheek.
TC: “Was up at 5.30am as usual” thank you very much.
DP: “Still pissed?” I repeat my earlier comment.
TC: ”How dare you” cheeky bugger.
DP: “Truth hurts, see you later” so embarrassing.
TC: “I'm leaving now.” if