Chapter 2

“Now I don’t want you reading too much into this, Owen, Love,” Evie said when they talked on the phone the next day, “ ... but Maddy’s going to the Manning’s on Friday evening and she might stay there overnight so we can go out without worrying about getting back. But I did tell them that if she doesn’t settle they’re to ring me and I’ll go and fetch her. I’m also not saying that anything else will happen, but you can stay the night, if you want.”

“All right ... no expectations and one step at a time. I should ask, though, is there any type of food you don’t like?”

“Well, I’m not really keen on curry ... but most other things should be all right.”

“That’s good, I was thinking French or Italian, anyway. By the way, Evie, how did your in-laws take the news about you and another man?”

“Oh, much better than I thought! I just told them that I would always love what Gary and I had together and that they were part of Maddy’s family and I would never stop them seeing her, but that I’m young and I have to live my life as best as I can, now. I still miss him sometimes, and they obviously do, too, but I think we understand each other. Do you mind taking us round there before we go out ... you can come straight here after work again. If Maddy is unhappy or fretful we can bring her back, but you can still stay here.”

“No problem! Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to it.”

“ ... So mummy and Owen want to go out, Sweetie! Would you like to stay at Nanny and Grandad’s for the night? We won’t get back until after your bedtime, so I’ll come and get you the next day. You’ve never stayed with Nanny and Grandad, but they really want you to, baby!”

“All right! Can I take my toys an’ my fwoggie book, Mummy?”

“Well, you can take your favourite toys, but you’ve really got too many to take them all.”

“ ... An’ my fwoggie book!”

“Yes, and your froggie book!”

Owen got to Evie’s about five-thirty.

“Hello, Owen! I’m going to Nanny and Grandad’s. Where are you and Mummy going?”

“We’re going to a restaurant: that’s a place where someone else cooks your food.”

“An’ can I go to a ‘resront’?”

“Well, if your mummy says it’s all right, we’ll take you to one when we pick you up from your Nanny and Grandad’s.”

“All right!”

Owen loaded Maddy’s things into his car. It was only about three miles from Evie’s flat to Gary’s parents and would only take a few minutes in the car to get there.

“I borrowed this child’s seat from some people at work: I said that I’d buy it off them if Maddy fitted; she should do, their son used it until he was older than her.” Evie lifted her into the seat, did up the straps and then sat in the back next to her; she was probably feeling worse than Maddy, as it would be the first time that they had been apart for any length of time since she was born. She also wanted her relationship with Owen to work, though, so it was a noble sacrifice ... she hoped!

Evie carried Maddy indoors, while Owen followed with a large bag of toys ... and one froggie book!

“This is Owen, Sheila. Owen, Gary’s mum ... I expect Les isn’t too far away. Mummy’s got to go now, darling! You be a good girl for Nanny and Grandad!”

She kissed her daughter and then handed her to her mother-in-law. Maddy seemed quite happy; maybe she didn’t really know what was happening, but she was much loved and secure, so all they could do was keep their fingers crossed.

“Bye, bye, Mummy! Bye, bye, Owen ... don’ forget the resront!”

“Bye, bye, Maddy, I won’t forget!”

As they walked back to the car Owen took Evie’s hand. Sheila Manning and Maddy stood at the door and waved goodbye. “I feel sick!” Evie said as they drove off.

“It’ll pass,” Owen said, “ ... and we’re only a phone call away.”

After looking on the Internet, Owen had found what looked like a very nice French bistro in Ealing, less than eight miles from Wembley. Although Evie hadn’t bought a new dress for quite some time, she was sure that she had something nice that would still fit her.

They had been so busy getting Maddy ready, that she had decided to have a quick shower when she got back from drop­ping her daughter off. Fortunately, by the time that she got home her nerves had settled. Owen could have worn his work suit, but at the end of a working day he looked forward to a shower and a change of clothes, so he’d not only brought something casual for Saturday, but also smart-casual for the evening.

“Do you want to shower first or second?” Evie had asked him, “Although I suppose I ought to go first, as it will probably take me longer to get ready ... it’s been some time since I last went out for the evening!”

“Then you go first.”

You would never think that their relationship was so new: it was like Evie was there alone with Maddy, as when they both went into her bedroom she quickly stripped off her clothes. Only when she was naked and he down to his boxers did she seem to remem­ber who was in the room with her, so she smiled at Owen before hurrying into the bathroom. He saw and he liked! Nice bum and boobs and only a slightly distended belly, which was probably the legacy of her pregnancy.

Owen tended not to eat snacks in between meals and he walked quite a lot, although he rarely exercised, so while he lacked Gary’s toned physique he was a long way from being either fat or flabby. Neither was he excessively hairy and except for his pubic area there were only quite fine hairs on his arms, legs, and upper chest. Evie had regularly shaved her legs, armpits and other pubic hair since her teens, although sometimes now it was every three or four days, instead of every one or two, so although she didn’t have a lot of time, today she made the time.

Owen had been waiting. He had laid out his clean shorts, his dark slacks, white shirt and fresh socks. He left his thin leather blazer on its hanger. As Evie came back into the bedroom drying her dark hair he discarded his shorts. As they crossed in the room she smiled and patted his bum. “Very nice!” she commented. He wasn’t entirely sure whether she was referring to the whole or just a part!

After finishing drying her hair and quickly applying moisturiser to her skin, Evie put on nice underwear and a pair of quite sheer black tights. She had intended for some time to try those hold up stockings that didn’t need suspenders, but she hadn’t gotten around to getting any.

Evie looked in the mirror at her face: maybe just the merest hint of eye-liner and lipstick, she decided. She had always used to look after and paint her toe and finger nails, but long nails were impractical with a baby and there just wasn’t enough time to paint them now. She had tried on her preferred dress yesterday, so at least she knew it would fit. She was just about to reach around to do up the zip when Owen came back into the room.

“Can I get that for you?”

“Mmm ... yes please!” she replied, turning her back to him and holding up her hair. But before he zipped her up he slid a soft hand through the gap and onto her waist and then he kissed the back of her neck.

“That was nice! Perhaps you can do it again later.”

Although ostensibly putting on a thin, gold chain necklace and matching drop earrings, Evie was also watching the reflection of Owen dressing behind her. Mmm, I do like that bum! she thought.

But at last they were ready to leave. For the last hour Evie had almost forgotten her daughter, such was her distraction. If she had been here now, she would have been trotting around the bedroom and asking all sorts of questions. For a moment there was a pang of conscience that she shouldn’t be doing this, but deep down she had forgot­ten how much fun it was! She wouldn’t want to do it a lot, but it would be quite nice if she and Owen could do it occasionally, she thought! Goodness, she realised that she was now automatically including him in her future!

They held hands from the front door to the car door, which Owen held open for her as she slid onto the passenger seat, then he closed it once she was settled.

“Where we’re going ... have you been there before, Owen?”

“No, but although Ealing is in another borough, I know it reas­onably well. I saw it advertised on the Internet and all the customer reviews were generally quite positive! Where did you and Gary live before you moved?”

“In the married quarters at Winchester Barracks at the end, and a few other places when we were first married, but I don’t think we ever ate out much. Apart from visiting Gary’s mum and dad, I’ve pretty much stayed at home since we moved here.”

It was a good meal and except for the fact that they had to wait for their food for longer than they would have liked, they had few complaints. They sat opposite each other at a table for two, and when not eating they held hands. Owen never drank alcohol if he was driving, but Evie had a glass of wine while they were waiting, although they were both happy to sip water while they ate and both had coffee afterwards.

They linked arms as they walked back to the car and they kissed when they got there. Evie was feeling quite light-headed and it wasn’t because of the wine she’d drunk! She’d remembered to turn her phone on before she’d put it in her little beaded handbag, and once in the car she quickly checked it for missed calls; fortunately, there were none.

“My baby must have settled then ... I suppose that’s good!”

“Don’t worry, she’ll be pleased to see you tomor­row! I bet she remembers that I said I’d take her to a ‘resront’!”

“Yes ... what’s all that about? She came running up to me before we left and said it. Knowing her little mind, I assume that she meant ‘restaurant’.”

“Yes, I thought that before we take her home we could go into town and buy her a burger and some fries; I confess, I indulge myself sometimes, too! I’m not sure if it’s the food the kids like or the bright packaging and the cheap toys. You wouldn’t have me break my promise, would you!” Evie smiled.

“No, I suppose not! I’m sure that she’s already been spoiled rotten at Nanny and Grandad’s, although I admit it’s hard not to sometimes ... well, most of the time, really!”

The car pulled up outside Evie’s. They were soon inside and went straight to the bedroom to take off shoes and hang up jackets.

“Do you want a nightcap, or shall we turn in?” Owen just smiled. “Okay! Will you unzip me please? Let’s get undressed then brush our teeth.”

The dress went back on it’s hanger and then back on the hanging rail in the wardrobe. Her bra she’d only had on for a couple of hours, so it found a temporary home on the back of a chair, but her knickers and tights went into the laundry basket. Owen hung up his jacket and slacks and the rest went in with the things he’d taken off earlier.

“If you want, I can put those in the washing machine tomorrow?”

“Okay, remind me tomorrow.” With their teeth brushed they got into bed together.

“You don’t mind if we don’t, do you?” Evie said, “We will, you know, and I really want to ... just not yet.”

“No, of course not. From what you’ve told me, you and Gary had a great sex life ... I have a lot to live up to.” She snuggled up even closer to him.

“Now you’re not to think that, Love: Gary had a lot of experi­ence before I met him and a very high sex drive ... but that isn’t always a good thing, you know. It only really works if both partners have the same needs and ‘a lot’ doesn’t always mean ‘good’!

“When I met Gary I wasn’t a virgin, but I wasn’t very experi­enced either. When you’re young and in love, you can’t wait to get your knickers off, but there also comes a point when ‘sex on demand’ stops being fun. He never forced me to have sex with him, but he had this way of making me feel guilty if I didn’t.

“You are the only other person that I’ve ever told this to, Owen, but he cheated. Like I said, he was a loving family man when he was at home, but that didn’t stop him looking else­where to satisfy his needs. In fact, I admit I looked the other way sometimes, because it took the pressure off of me. I think it was an actual addiction with him ... like drink and drugs are an addiction ... but like an alcoholic’s wife or a junkie’s wife, I toler­ated his addiction because it was better than losing him.