Chapter 25A

Back at Renton Robert reported to Alan in his office and gave him chapter and verse about the meeting at the ministry.

Alan sat back in his chair picking up a note pad “Robbie all the hard work has just about paid off. The final A10 arrives today, and Taff,” referring to Warrant Officer Selwyn Jones ground chief of all the RAF engineers involved with maintenance and servicing of the squadron, “has assured me it will be fit for duty in thirty-six hours. You’ll have two weeks for flight training before we go operational. Live fire training will have to be done in Afghanistan. I know it doesn’t give you much time Robbie, but the brass want you out there, the A10 has a lot to prove to the sceptics.”

“I quite understand Sir.”

“I know” continued Alan, “That the four of you have worked without a break since returning from the States, and you are all over due for leave. But the best I can give you is three days, once we go operational.’

“Very well, thank you sir.” Robert replied.

“I intend to throw a party on that day, a sort of open day for the families of the men who have been involved. I hope Terry can make it.” He ended smiling.

Robert walked down to the flight hanger; he could see the ground crews busy fitting the refuelling probes to the aircraft. Taff came over and saluted which Robert returned. “How’s it going Taff?”

“We are on top of it sir. I’ve heard they’ve sorted out the problem in Germany and the new chips should arrive tomorrow.”

He returned to his office, smiling ruefully at the pile of folders on his desk, he sat down and began to attack them.

At eight he made his way to the mess to grab a sandwich, returning to the office afterwards. At eleven he turned off the light and locked the door before climbing the stairs to his room. He removed the laptop from its case, hooking it up.

Within seconds her face filled the screen.

“Hello darling how are you?” she said.

He looked at her face, her auburn hair the way it curled slightly over her shoulders, her beautiful green eyes shining. He looked for several seconds before replying, he could see the lines on her forehead as she began to frown at his lack of response. “You know, you really are quite beautiful” he whispered.

The frown disappeared, to be replaced by her lovely smile, her cheeks colouring slightly the dimples forming. “Thank you Bobby, that’s the sort of comment a girl likes to hear.” She continued, “I missed you last night what happened?”

He explained about the meeting in London and how late it was by the time it was over and how it was late getting back, hating himself for lying to her.

They began to talk, she explained the tour finished on Wednesday night and she would be returning to London on Thursday. “I have to do a little shopping on Friday to get ready for the motel on Saturday night.” She said.

“Oh you’re bringing the booze up with you?”

“Well that and a few other things.” She said.

“Sounds mysterious”

“Well” she said her voice low and sexy, “I’ve noticed that you are stimulated by lingerie, and I’m hoping that I can stimulate you a little more.” Giving a throaty chuckle.

“Oh” he murmured, “So you’ve missed me.”

“I’m on my third pack of batteries.” She replied, looking coyly at him.

“That much,” he whispered.

“Yes darling that much, have you missed me?”

“If I take many more cold showers I think I’ll catch pneumonia.” He whispered hoarsely.

“Oh you poor darling. I was going to show you what I’m wearing but I don’t want you to catch a cold in those cold showers.”

“I’ll survive, show me?” He demanded.

“No,” she said shaking her head, “Wait until Saturday, and good night.” She broke the connection.

The next day Tim arrived back, he came in to Robert office to report. After giving it, he sat back in his chair.

“So apart from the factory, what did you get up too over there?”

“Well, Robbie, I have to admit there was a brothel next door to the hotel, and I was sorely tempted to use it. It’s strange but since Phoenix and Sue I’m as randy as a goat, I never use to be this bad.”

“I think I know what you mean Tim, I feel the same, you could say the more you get the more you want.” He said laughing.

“Yeah” Tim replied, “an opportunity missed, is an opportunity lost forever. Are Bill and Tom coming to the motel?” Tim asked.

“I believe so.” Robert answered.

“Well if Terry books the rooms, tell her to make sure we are at either end of the other two, one at the side of you is bad, but in the middle of them...” He left the rest unsaid.

After Tim had left he got back to work on the files, finishing late again before returning to his room.

Within moments he was connected, her face appearing on the screen.

“Hi” she said cheekily.

“I shouldn’t talk to you, you cut me off last night.” He growled.

“It was for your own good, you were getting randy.” She said sweetly.

“I’m allowed to get bloody randy with my fiancée.”

“Oh on a lap top, where’s the fun in that?” She asked.

“Well I may have forgotten what you look like.” Even he thought, that sounded feeble.

“You’ve forgotten what I look like after only a few days?” Pretending to sound annoyed.

“Four bloody weeks Terry.” He knew she was winding him up.’

They began to talk about general things, he told her about what Tim had said regarding the rooms at the motel.

She said Sue had contacted her to say Julie would be bringing them up in her Ford. She talked about the tour and things that had happened on it, before signing off

The following night, after another hectic day, he returned to his room. Glancing at his watch to confirm the time; he fired up the laptop. After the connection was made her face appeared, she was dressed.

They began to talk, at one point she said that she needed a bigger vibrator as hers was undersize compared to his Nibbs.

He said, in an effort to cheer her up, “You could always get some plaster of Paris and make a mould of him then get one made from that.”

“Darling, that’s a brilliant idea.” Her eyes were wide, leaving him wondering if she meant it.

She told him Pearl had been in touch, and had given her an update on the progress of the villa. They talked about Barbados. She said she had been in touch with Jeremy to chat, which made him feel guilty because he hadn’t.

They talked of this and that, and after an hour signed off.

The following day he flew the new A10 back to the factory that had made it, North of Manchester. There had been a problem with the front wheel undercarriage not retracting correctly. What was thought to be a minor problem, turned out to be a major one. So he spent two days in a cold damp hotel bedroom while the problem was resolved.

He flew back to Renton Saturday afternoon, and after handing the aircraft over to Taff, he made his way to the officer’s mess.

He found Tim, Bill and Tom there sitting at a table, having a pint. After getting one for himself, he joined them.

They were talking about the coming evening at the motel. At one point Bill told them how July always wore fantastic underwear, to which Tom said so did Carol.

Tim butted in to say all the girls shopped at the same store that sold underwear. He thought it was called Victoria’s or Veronica’s Secret, some name with a vee. Robert made a mental note to ask Terry about that.

Later Tim asked Bill and Tom if the girls had tanning suits, winking at Robert, they both shook their heads.

“I’ll ask Sue if they do.” Said Tim, rising and pulling out his mobile. He moved into the corner of the room, and after ten minutes he returned.

“I’ve asked her, but she’s not sure, so she’ll ask them to bring them if they do have them.” Tim said, winking at Robert when they were not looking.

“So,” asked Bill, “what are they?”

‘Well,” replied Tim, “they’re a garment that covers the body to prevent harmful UV rays when sunbathing.”

“You can ring Sue, and tell her, to tell them to leave them at home.” Bill said morosely.

“What time are the girls arriving?” Robert asked being out of the loop for the last two days.

“Julie told me about nine or nine thirty.” Bill replied.

“I know what,” said Tim, “I’ll get a bottle of Champagne, and we can celebrate.”

“A bottle won’t go far with eight of us”, said Tom.

“OK” said Tim, “we’ll all take a bottle. I’ll ring Sue and tell her to organise it. We can have it in our chalet, but the girls will have to bring the glasses from their rooms.”

“Don’t forget to tell her about the bloody tanning suits.” Bill growled.

Robert looked at his watch it was 7:50, “Well chaps, I’m away to shower and change, what time do you want us at the car park Tim?”

“Well we have to pick up the bubbly, so we’ll have to pop into town first, say in an hour.”

Tim’s BMW pulled up alongside a Ford Focus which Bill had said was Julie’s car. Robert caught a glance of Terry carrying a case into chalet 15 their old room. As he got out of the car Sue rushed out of 12 leaping into Tim’s arms. Bill made his way to 13 assuming that was Julie’s, due to the car being outside it, leaving Tom walking to 14.

Tim shouted over his shoulder, Sue still hanging to his neck. “We’ll meet in say err fifty minutes in 12. Don’t forget to bring your glasses and a chair.” With that he carried Sue into the room, swinging the door shut with his foot.

As he walked past the other rooms he could hear squeals of delight coming from them.

When he opened the partly closed door of 15 Terry was unpacking, placing clothes into the chest of drawers.

He closed the door behind him, dropping his overnight bag onto the chair.

She turned and rushed towards him her arms out stretched. Then she was in his arms, her soft wonderful lips against his, her arms around his neck, and her hands entwined in his hair.

He could smell her heady perfume; his hands on her round firm buttocks holding her close to him.

She pulled her head away and looked at him with those green eyes that darkened when she was roused.

“Bobby’ she said breathlessly ‘I heard what Tim said, we don’t have time darling, let’s wait till later. Now sit on the bed while I finish unpacking.”

Reluctantly he did as she asked, he studied her while she had her back to him. She was wearing jeans, designer jeans, cut to emphasise her figure. They displayed her long legs and curved bottom to perfection. She removed her wash bag and makeup bag and moved to the bathroom; even her walk was perfect and graceful. He looked at her hair, the long dark auburn hair shining with health, the slight curl as it fell from the retaining band that held it as a ponytail. She was a beautiful girl, his girl.

“All done,” she said coming back into the room, “Are you going to put your stuff away? We’ll have to go soon.”

“Bossy boots” he said smiling at her.

They were the first to arrive at number 12, Terry knocked and heard a voice say come in. Opening the door, she held it to allow Robert to bring a chair in. Tim dashed past him.