Flowers twice in one month, that’s never happened before. I hear my voice thanking him profusely while my mind is warning me there’s something up.
I have never had any reason to doubt him before, but my gut seems to be playing a set of Tom-Toms. I ignore both of them and make dinner. It isn’t until the early hours of the morning, that my fears start up again. I tell myself I’m imagining things but find it really difficult to get back to sleep, with my mind constantly going over the same questions
Is there someone else?
What’s changed between us?
Does he still love me?
I wait for him to go to work before making a list.
If there’s someone else who could it be?
I rule out anyone I think he wouldn’t fancy, reasoning that they were too fat, too thin, too young, too old, too flashy or just too ugly. By the time I had finished with my analysis, I didn’t have anyone left. Then came the realisation that I might not even know her, or even him.
I wasn’t willing to confront John at this stage, as I needed proof.
I checked his phone contacts and recent text messages. Nothing.
I decided that I was going to have to stalk him. I would have to go incognito of course, so I visited the local charity shop for the kind of outfit I would never usually have worn. Along with a long curly wig, I also bought some coloured contact lenses.
Every Friday night he’d meet the boys down the local. Or so he said? I was getting suspicious about everything, the sooner I found out the better.
It took so long to dress and apply heavy make up that it was gone ten before I arrived at the pub. All the tables were taken so I had to try and perch on one of those high barstools. Not an easy task with a tight mini skirt on. I ordered a drink and tried to look casual. I used the mirror behind the bar to check out any competition and didn’t even recognise my own reflection.
I froze as I felt a hand on my shoulder, and John’s voice said
“You dropped your coat luv.”
I turned towards him, muttering a thank you.
“My, what unusual eyes you have.”
He was hitting on me! As I turned away, my wig made a bid for freedom, and that’s when I noticed a contact lens floating in my Gin and Tonic. I grabbed my coat from him, and left with as much dignity as I could in my six-inch heels.
Later as we cuddled together in bed, he told me about a woman he’d met in the pub.
“She was so dolled up, that I felt sorry for her. It must be hard for a woman on her own. You’re lucky that you’ve got me.”
With that, he turned over and started to snore.
