Chapter 4

I opened the door to a young girl, dressed as an evil witch. The impression was slightly spoiled when she whispered, barely audible, “Trick or treat mister?”

I looked up and saw an adult, who I assumed to be her mother, keeping a close look. Given that the temperature was barely above freezing, I spoke to the woman. “Sorry, I forgot all about this lark. Would you both like to step inside a moment whilst I get something?”

The youngster was all for getting out of the cold and stepped right into my hall, leaving her mother little option but to follow. I left them there as I went to fetch my wallet, as money was the only treat I had that this youngster would like. On the spur of the moment I got a second glass and poured another wine. I took a pound note from my wallet and took both to the waiting ladies.

“I’m sure you can manage a glass of wine tonight,” I said to the woman, getting my first real look at her. She was slim, average height, I guessed a little under 5’6”, dark, almost black hair done in something like a pageboy style. The most striking thing about her was her fabulous vivid blue eyes, that is if you ignored the angry scar that crossed her face from above her left eye to the right of her mouth. She saw me looking and tried to look away.

“I’m sorry for staring.” I said as I handed her the wine. “That looks nasty, about three months ago?”

“Yes, how did you know?” She asked as she took the wine. “Are you a doctor or something?”

“No, I was stabbed in my late teens, and the changing look of the scar has stayed with me. It’s probably the wrong thing to say, but you were lucky that it missed your eyes.”

“Now I agree, but at the time, lucky wasn’t what I felt. You don’t seem disgusted by it.”

“Why on earth would I?”

“Everyone else seems to be, my ex-boyfriend took one look at me after the attack and disappeared pronto. Which was rich as the only reason I was cut was as a lesson to him.”

“Look, I know you don’t know me from Adam, but I get the feeling you need to talk, or should that be vent. Why don’t you come and sit with me for a while, I promise I’ll be good.” I looked at the little girl with her witch’s make-up. “I have been known to eat the odd witch though.” I said as I stepped towards her.

She screamed in delight, clearly understanding that I was only playing.

“I’d love to but trouble here wants to earn some money.”

I looked again at the girl. “Trouble eh? That seems a good name for a wicked witch.”

“That’s not my real name!” She said giggling.

“Okay, so what is it then? Wicked? Noisy?”

“No silly, it’s Joanne!”

“John? That’s a funny name for a girl.” I teased.

“Not John ... Joanne.”

“Hi Joanne, I’m David. What’s you mum’s name?”

“My mum is just Mum.”

“Hello just Mum.” I said to the woman.

“That’s not my mum, that’s my sister Vee.” She said with even more giggles.

“Veronica actually,” the woman said with a smile.

“Now,” I said to Joanne, “you want to get some money by being wicked to everyone, right?”

“That and some sweets. I’m not really wicked, I’m just playing.” She told me sincerely.

I went back to my wallet and fished out a fiver. “Here you are, will this do to keep you here a bit longer?”

The note didn’t stay in my hand long as Joanne snatched it as if scared I might change my mind. “Yes please.” We then both looked at her sister.

She smiled, “okay then, bribery successful, but only for a few more minutes.”

Those few minutes turned into over an hour. Although Joanne was at the centre of most of the attention, I did discover that Veronica had been slashed with a Stanley knife, in front of her then boyfriend, as a reminder that he had gambling debts to pay. She had been an aspiring model when the attack took place but had done no work of any kind since. In fact, this was one of the few times she’d left her parent’s house to where others would see her, and she’d only done that because Joanne had pestered her and it was dark. I tried to tell her that she had nothing to be ashamed of, but she wasn’t having it.

“I know you’re just being nice, but be honest, you wouldn’t want to be seen with me would you?”

“That’s where you’re wrong. That scar doesn’t make you any less pretty, nor change the person you are inside. Take it from me, I really know what an ugly girl looks like and they’re often physically beautiful.”

I then told her all about my sister and Lorraine Hartley-Smith. “So you see,” I said when I’d finished, “I know what I’m talking about. Let me ask you something. If we went swimming together would you feel disgusted or any less of me because I have a scar where I was knifed?”

“Of course not.”

“So what’s the difference? Those that matter don’t mind and those that mind don’t matter. Now one last question, when and where?” I asked with a grin.

“Ugh!” She grunted, obviously confused.

“You asked if I wanted to be seen with you, well yes I do, so when and where?”

She was too flummoxed to respond so I turned to Joanne and asked her. “Do you think Vee should go out with me?”

She gave the question due deliberation, looking at us both in turn. “Yes. Vee you should have him as your boyfriend, he’s a lot nicer than any of the others.” She stated.

We all laughed at Joanne’s simplistic view. We then both turned to look at Veronica, waiting for her response. It was another laugh. “Okay, I give up, I know when I’m beat. Yes David, I will go our with you.”

“Any preferences?” I asked, happily.

“No, not really. At the moment I’m free virtually all the time.”

“Tomorrow then, somewhere quiet where we can talk.” I suggested.

“Newcastle baths!” Joanne stated, “then I can come.” She looked expectantly at me, before adding, “I love swimming.”

“Now trouble, David might not want you with us on our date.”

“To be honest, I don’t mind. An hour at the baths where you get to see my scar, then drop Joanne back home before we went somewhere else. Do you enjoy walking?”

“Love it. It’s all I’ve done recently as I can do that alone and all wrapped up.”

It was agreed. Swimming then a walk up in the Roaches. We talked some more with Joanne again monopolising the conversation before they decided it was time to leave. As we stood with the door open, unsure of what to do or say, I leaned down and kissed Veronica. There was no passion or tongues, just a gentle meeting of our lips. It may have progressed to something more had not Joanne interrupted. “Yuk! I’m never having a boyfriend if you have to kiss them like that.”

Once they’d gone, I returned to my chair and wine. Funny world I thought, I’d had an intimate kiss with Veronica and we hadn’t even gone out together, and it was definitely intimate, not just a quick kiss between friends. With Siobhan I’d never even got that far after a few dates. Unfairly, I couldn’t help but compare the two women. Looks-wise, Siobhan had everything, though Veronica wasn’t exactly lacking in that department, her scar pretty meaningless to me. They both had a sense of humour and a quick wit. With Siobhan, especially in hindsight, I felt that I’d always been kept at arm’s length and that she had to be in control. At that moment Veronica showed no real flaws, other than the understandable one of not wanting to mix.

The one favour Siobhan had done for me, was to prepare me for a relationship. I’d found the enjoyment of being with her, as well as the anticipation of the next time, surprisingly pleasurable. Something that random hook-ups lacked. I was, at last, understanding what benefits there were to being with a woman, other than just for sex.

Sunday at the baths was great fun, although not a great deal of swimming got done. Joanne wanted to play and she was all into the rough and tumble a nine-year-old seemed to love. She had me throwing her around, screaming as I did so. She and her sister would then team up and try to dunk me. Talking of her sister, Veronica looked stunning in a black one-piece swimsuit. Having said that, having now seen her figure, she’d look fabulous in anything. Of course, defending myself allowed a great deal of touching and body contact, strictly G rated, but exceedingly pleasant none the less. We did compare scars, with mine being the poor loser. I was glad to see that after the first few minutes Veronica seemed to forget about hers and acted just as she should, normal.

Newcastle baths had an hour policy, that is, on the hour everyone had to leave the pool to allow the next batch in. That was good for us as it prevented Joanne from staying all day. We had walked the half mile into ‘Castle and did the same back. The main difference was on the way back I held hands with both sisters. Outside their house I waited the few moments that Veronica took to get ready for our walk. We both agreed that a ‘Meet the Parents’ was a touch too soon. We walked from there to my house where it was my turn to change. Naturally, this time, Veronica waited inside. I was very pleasantly surprised when, on returning from my room, I was greeted with a sweet kiss. Before I could progress it though, I was pushed away and told that we needed to be on our way.

I love the Roaches and its views of Tittesworth Reservoir. There were numerous walks varying from a fun 30 minute gentle climb to above the large rock known locally as The Winking Man, to all day hikes across the Peak District. We settled on the easiest one. Once again holding gloved hands we set off slowly, enjoying the scenery, and with just enough exertion to keep the cold at bay. We took the time to get to know more about each other. Veronica Taylor had just turned 24 and had lived in the next street to me all her life. She’d started modelling, predominantly for catalogues, six years earlier, and was making a good career out of it until the attack happened. She admitted that her choice in men left a lot to be desired, always preferring the bad boys. She did say that before, she would have turned me down, as I appeared too ‘nice’, which implied boring. She had no idea what she was going to do from now on in regard to earning a crust. It was far too early in our relationship, assuming we had one, to offer anything but simple suggestions.

I gave her quite a detailed outline of my life to date. I had previously mentioned Susan, but when I went into details she was shocked, more I think, about my father’s role than anything else. She said she knew people like Lorraine and they weren’t all female. She teased me about Siobhan and my ideal type and how she didn’t fit it. I disagreed, apart from the accent and hair colour, she was a perfect fit. Once we’d reached the top, about an hour after starting out, we sat down on some rocks to talk some more. Not for long though, as sitting still was far too cold. We did manage a tender kiss though, one that made my heart warm, if not the rest of my body. The descent was again slow and leisurely as I made the most of the company. There was one important question asked by my Veronica.

“Do you actually like my scar?”

I puzzled a bit before answering. “Like it? No, of course not, but it doesn’t make me like you any less. Why do you need to ask?”

“It’s just that I’ve heard some men are attracted to disfigurements. I suppose I needed to check if that was the case with you.”

“Absolutely not. It’s Veronica the person that holds my attention, not the package she comes in. Having said that, that package is very appealing.” I responded, smiling as I saw her blush.

Neither of us wanted the day to end so we headed to The Rock, a pub just below the Roaches. There we had an early evening meal or maybe it was a late dinner. Either way it was a traditional English roast with Yorkshire Pudding. Conversation flowed as we became more at ease with each other. I already felt closer to Veronica than I’d done to any other woman, even Siobhan. Once we’d finished eating we moved to a recently vacated Settle right next to the roaring log fire. Veronica immediately cuddled up to me. Neither of us felt the need to make conversation, we were happy enough just to be in each others company. My gaze alternating between the mesmerising flames from the fire to my partner’s face which was equally enchanting.

Eventually it was time to leave. The journey back was in serene silence with Veronica leaning against my shoulder. I had never felt so at peace with myself and my world. Just as we were entering Hartshill, I asked if Veronica wanted to be dropped off at her home or come to mine for a coffee. I was split between delight and disappointment when she told me that it would be better to drop her off at her house. Delight, as it showed she wasn’t easy, I wasn’t vain enough to assume that if a woman did come home with me that it was because I was special, rather than she was prepared to do that with all her first dates. The disappointment was slight, as I really did want to get closer to Veronica, though I was happy to go at her pace.

We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to go out for a meal on Tuesday.

I had a quiet, almost idle Monday. I’d completed the work Andrew wanted, it was now up to him to test it. No doubt, there would be bugs to be fixed and maybe a little specification updates, but until I heard back I had nothing on my plate. Since the agreement I had been far too busy to plan what came next, and give my new financial status, I needn’t be in hurry to do so. That Monday I did give it some thought but came up dry. It didn’t help that much of my thoughts were on Veronica. In fact, I had an idea of what she might do next. I rang her that evening and we spent a good hour chatting about nothing in particular. I did decide to wait to tell her about my idea until we were face to face.

A phone call at tea time on Tuesday from Veronica gave a plans a slight amendment. We would still meet up for a meal but now it would be one cooked by her and her mother. A slight interrogation revealed that after her last boyfriend’s antics, her parents wished to meet me, and not just for the moment required to pick her up for a date. She also, to my delight, admitted that her keenness might have had something to do with it too. Joanne really liking me had also got them interested.

As I wasn’t sure if we were going out anywhere after the meal, I decided to walk around to Veronica’s home.

“Hello Trouble!” I said as a smiling Joanne opened the door.

“Good to see you already know my youngest,” said the woman as she followed Joanne to the door.

“Hiya Lanky,” Joanne said as she wrapped her arms around my waist and cuddled up to me in a quick hug. I put my arms around the youngster and pulled her to me. Our time together at the baths had removed any awkwardness between us.