Easy As Writing To Appal.
by >^^<
part 328.

The drive home from Stella, was easier than the outward one. I left feeling that she might recover, although I wasn’t holding my breath. I would just have to try and see her at least once a week, to keep nagging her. I couldn’t pull the stunt I’d just used again, that was for sure, but I could keep niggling at the wedding stuff to try and keep her interested. If she was well, she’d be in her element choosing clothes and decorations, so I hoped I might rekindle that interest.

I got home at six and jumped in the shower. I dried my hair and put it up–I’m not as good at it as Stella, but I managed to leave a few tendrils hanging down, which I curled with my tongs. I know Simon finds them sexy, can’t think why–too many old films I suspect.

I dressed in my exotic lingerie, stuff that Stella had given me, in black frilly and lacy silk. The push up bra gave me a bit more cleavage and I was going to wear a plunge necked top. The top was a gold and black affair with some sparkly bits and beads embroidered onto it. It was cap sleeved with a cross over plunge front. I was going to wear it with some rather tight, flared black trousers. I would wear my black velvet jacket and my mother’s necklace and earrings. My makeup, well I hadn’t worn much for ages, so any felt rather a lot. I used some lipstick, eyeliner and mascara with some blusher and a good squirt of Opium.

I went downstairs and chatted to Tom, who naturally wanted to know how I’d found Stella.

“I managed to provoke her into some response.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” he replied with a smile.

“Are you suggesting I am provocative?”

“Me? I wouldn’t dream of it,” now he was laughing.

“Talk about, give a dog a bad name.”

“You see, mademoiselle, your reputation precedes you.”

“Moi? Sacre bleu!”

“Indeed!” he couldn’t say anymore he was laughing too much.

Simon arrived as we were talking, he dumped his overnight bag and snatched me up like a feather. “I have missed you babes,” he said and kissed off most of my lipstick. I suppose there is nothing like making an impression, and that he certainly did. After he put me back down, he glanced at Tom and said, “Oh hi, Tom.”

“Simon,” acknowledged our gracious landlord.

“You look delicious, Cathy. I must jump in the shower, any chance of a cup of coffee, I am parched?”

“I suppose so, “ I said to his disappearing back as he ran up stairs. I went into the kitchen to make his drink. “Most men don’t want a wife, they want a mistress, a cook and a maid–but as they can only afford one, they settle for a wife.

“Oh dear is my little girl becoming cynical?” said Tom sniggering to himself, “she becomes wise in the way of men.”

“Now you tell me!” I squeaked.

“Well I can’t give trade secrets to the enemy, can I?”

“I suppose not, if you see us as the enemy.”

“Just occasionally, I suspect men and women are separate species.”

“That is hardly a new observation, is it? However, it’s hardly based on any scientific fact is it, a bit like that book about Mars and Venus.”

“It’s made the author a fortune,” he said, so someone found it useful.

“I haven’t read it, as I believe it’s a bigger load of nonsense than the Naked Ape.”

“Desmond Morris, was a very keen observer and an astute writer.”

“So why didn’t he stick to mammals, like thee and me?”

“He was too much of a polymath, besides he enjoyed the celebrity of his television work and the notoriety of his writing. Remember, he was writing a mere fifty or sixty years after that trial in the States, where Darwin was so ably defended against the forces of regression.”

“You mean, religion?”

“I suppose it was primarily. What is so sad, is that they are still fighting the same battle over and over, even though science won it years ago.”

“That’s America for you, a land of contradictions.” I made Simon’s coffee and took it up to him. He showered and was dressing.

“Where are we eating?”

“I booked a table at the Pig and Whistle.”

“Oh yes, they have a restaurant there now, don’t they?”

“I sincerely hope so, or we could get rather hungry.”

“What time?”

“Eight.”

“Oops, better get a move on then.” He towelled his hair and then combed it int half a style. He pulled on a tie and turned his collar down over it, then donned his jacket.

I hugged him, “My handsome man,” I said and pulled him closely to me.

“That’s me,” he said without a hint of self-consciousness.

After that, there wasn’t really much I could say. Obviously, he was interested in my visit to Stella. “When I phoned earlier they said she’d been eating. I asked if she’d had any visitors and they told me her sister had been to visit. I knew then that you had performed another of your miracles. Tom was right, you are special.”

“Don’t let an old man’s delusions cloud your judgement,” I said and we drove to the pub.

“I’d hardly say that a professor would be someone I’d accuse of delusions.”

“What the nutty professor? Could you get a better indictment than that?”

“Cathy, I came home to have a cosy weekend with my fiancée, I did not come for a Socratic discussion.”

“Oh dear, you must have come to the wrong house then.” I smiled at him and he shot me a dirty look. “I was waiting for this mysterious man, who was going to wine and dine me and if I was still awake, take advantage of me.”

“Is there any chance of you staying awake?”

“Probably not.”

“Dammit!” he said and banged his hand against the steering wheel.

Well I could hardly help it if I always got sleepy after a couple of glasses of wine and plate of food. He should know that by now, besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so they say.