Three Points of View - Part 1
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It is often said that witnesses to an event will give you as many different versions as there were people observing it. This is a story told by three people, each of whom saw events from their own point of view.
Part 1
Paul: Sunday 20th January 9am
Is that the time? I never sleep past 7am. Oh yes, I remember now. I hardly ever go to bed so late either and I certainly haven't met a girl like Tina in a very long time, not since....
Why am I dragging up the past again? It's been two years since I was divorced, and the memory is still raw. I can still recall driving home from work in the early afternoon because the last two clients I was to see had rung to say they couldn't make it. Normally I ring Gloria to say I'm coming home early, and did she want anything from the shops, but that day for some reason I didn't. Seeing the plumber's van in the driveway puzzled me. Surely it didn't take all day to install two new tap-sets, and I had passed his van as I drove to work at 8am. I opened the front door and called out “Darling I'm home.” and there was a sort of muffled squeak from upstairs and then silence. I was just about to climb the stairs when Gloria appeared at the head of them. She was wearing a dressing gown and her hair was tousled and her face red.
“Darling, I didn't expect you so early.” she said, and she seemed breathless as she started to descend the staircase. I was just about to ask where the plumber was when he appeared at the head of the stairs. At least he was fully dressed — in shorts, a tee shirt and boots, which I noticed had untied laces. He was young but very tall and his clothing didn't conceal how athletic looking he was. He swung his tool-bag in one hand like it weighed nothing, and he bounded down the stairs.
“All fixed now Mrs Clement.” He smiled at Gloria, or was it a leer? “I won't charge for the extras.”
I stood frozen to the spot as ignoring me, he jauntily strode to the door and a moment later I heard his van start up and the crunch of the tires on the driveway. Perhaps I should have hit him, but then again, he might have hit me back and he was definitely fitter than I was. Gloria hurried towards me and tried to put her arms around me, but I pushed her away. No amount of perfume could hide what she had been doing.
“How long has this been going on?” my voice sounded strained, and I hardly recognised it myself.
“Has what been going on?” she replied, trying to look the picture of innocence.
I remembered the times I'd wanted to make love to her and been pushed away, and now some young stud with a bag of plumbing tools had waltzed into my house and taken her, just like that. I wondered about the electrician who had come the previous week. Had he had 'extras' too?
“No matter.” I replied, surprising myself with how coolly I was reacting. “I'll just take a suitcase of clothes for now and be back for the rest of my things tomorrow. Meanwhile you might like to consult a solicitor.”
“Darling! Please don't go,” she started to cry. That had always worked in the past, but I could not stomach it any longer and left her sobbing in the hallway while I went upstairs and took out a suitcase to fill with clothes. I tried to avoid looking at our bed with its too obvious signs of what had been happening there. I stayed in a hotel that night, and the next day set about finding myself a small furnished apartment.
In due course our divorce was finalised, and after the division of assets I bought myself a two-bedroom apartment. Later I heard that Gloria had married again — to a plumber no less, but apparently not the one I had caught her with. The devil on my shoulder whispered “I wonder if he'll betray her the way she betrayed you?”, and the devil in me replied “I hope so.”
Two years have passed, lonely years for me, but I couldn't drum up the interest to look for another woman and go on a date again. Then last Wednesday John, an old school friend rang me.
“Get out your glad rags, we're going to the new jazz club that's opened in town, and this time I won't take 'No' for an answer.”
I felt guilty. John was good friend and he'd tried to interest me in going out on the town several times before, all to no avail. 'What the heck.' I thought, feeling that to refuse again would be just plain rude.
“OK John, I'll go this once, if only to get you off my back.”
He laughed. “OK then, I'll pick you up at 7 o'clock. 'Smart casual' alright?”
Saturday afternoon came and I'd felt ridiculously nervous. I love jazz but it had been years since I'd been to a club, not since ... but no, I wasn't going there.
John duly turned up and drove me to the club. It had only been open a couple of weeks and the owners had obviously gone to some pains to make it look chic and sophisticated. There was a small stage at one end where a quartet of piano, bass, drums and saxophone were already playing, and a number of tables set around a small dance floor. The bar was at the other end of the room from the stage. I ordered us two beers and we sat at one of the tables.
The place was half-full already even though it was early by club standards. I glanced around and it was then that I saw Tina. She was sitting with two other young women a few tables away. They were good-looking too, but it was Tina who captivated me. I was tempted to stare but instead I turned back to talk to John, and it was then I became aware that someone was looking at me. How do we know that? It makes no sense at all, but somehow, we do know. I turned and sure enough it was the young woman I'd noticed before. She had long black hair and she was stunningly beautiful. She was wearing a lime green dress of some material that shimmered in the lights. Call me old-fashioned but I'm no fan of women in pants, (that's trousers if you live in the U.K.) which is what most of them wear nowadays. I suddenly realised that now I was staring at her when she half-smiled and turned away. I hoped I wasn't blushing, but it became apparent I was when John laughed and said “Isn't she something?”
“She certainly is,” I replied. Some people were already on the dance floor and John said, “Why don't you ask her to dance?”
“She's probably married and just out with her friends,” I replied.
“It's just a dance, she can't shoot you for asking,” he said.
'Dammit', I thought 'what sort of a man are you anyway? Maybe that's why Gloria....'
I stopped myself following that line of thought by saying “Alright, I will.”
With that I got up and walked towards her table. I nearly chickened out at the last second and was on the point of walking past the table when she looked up at me. Close-up she looked even more beautiful.
“Excuse me, I was wondering if you'd like to dance?” I said. My mouth was suddenly dry, and my voice sounded strained. She glanced at her friends who gave almost imperceptible nods and said in a soft low voice “Thank you, I'd like that very much.”
She offered me her left hand. It was slender with long fingers, and no rings I noticed as I took it and led her to the dance floor. We began to move around slowly as it became more crowded.
“I'm Paul,” I said. “It's the first time I've been here.” ('or anywhere recently' I said to myself.)
“I'm Tina, Paul,” she replied. “I think it's only been open a few weeks. I'm here with my two friends. One's getting married next Saturday so it's a sort of small 'hen party'.”
The crush of bodies was pushing us closer together. I felt her hair against my cheek and inhaled a subtle hint of perfume, and then of course it happened. Male bodies react to a stimulus like that and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I tried to ease away from her and muttered “Sorry”. 'What a lecher she must think I am.' I thought to myself. To my amazement, instead of pulling away and marching back to her table, she smiled and said “It's alright. Women react too, but it's not so obvious.”
I smiled with relief and said, “Not everyone would be so understanding.”
Searching for another topic of conversation I told her that I was an electrical engineer and she sounded genuinely interested when she asked me what sort of things I did, so I tried to explain as briefly as possible not to bore her. In turn she told me that she was a nurse, currently working in the local hospital's Emergency Department. 'Ah,' I thought to myself 'Maybe that's why she was not affronted by my 'little problem'. There can't be much she hasn't seen as a nurse.'
Conversation seemed to dry up then and we danced on in silence for a while, and then sadly the number came to an end, so I had to escort her back to her table. When I sat down again opposite John, he said “Well, how did it go?'” I told him it went very well, and then for some reason that escapes me, I told him what had happened. John sat back in his chair and roared with laughter. “Welcome back to the real world,” he said. “At least it shows everything is still working.” I felt so mad with myself and with him. What on earth had prompted me to tell him that? When he finally regained his composure, he said “Well? Did you get her number?”
“Hardly,” I replied “I've only had one dance with her.”
“But you'd like to see her again, that's obvious, and what are the odds that she and you will be in the same place at the same time again?” He had a point there, but it seemed a step too far.
“I need to go to the 'Gents',” I said and got up. I didn't really, but it seemed the best way to finish this line of conversation, and anyway I was starting to think again that I was a wimp, and I didn't want to keep thinking about it. When I came back, I had just about screwed up the courage to ask Tina to dance again when to my disappointment I saw that she and her friends were getting up and obviously leaving. I felt a sudden shock of disappointment. My 'wimpishness' had cost me the chance of seeing Tina again, and she was special, there was no doubt about that.
Tina: Sunday 20th January 8am
What a night I had last night. I'm glad Pam didn't go in for one of those dreadful 'hens parties' where you cram into a limo and drive around a number of pubs until everyone gets roaring drunk. Instead, it was just her, Jenny, the Matron of Honour, and me, the bridesmaid. Pam had heard about a new jazz club that had opened in town and thought it would be a nice place to go. Apparently, it was very 'up-market' and sophisticated. It was an opportunity for me to wear my new lime-green satin dress which they assured me would be appropriate. I saw it in a shop window last week and fell in love with it, even though it cost the earth.
I was staying at Jenny's place for the weekend and was just getting ready when she burst in on me while I was fastening my stockings to the suspenders.
“Well, look at you Miss Sexy,” she laughed, and I flushed.
“Alright, I know that pantyhose are more practical but I like to dress up when I'm going out and I think stockings are so much nicer to wear.” I finished attaching them and stood up, smoothing out my dress.
“Wow girl, you're going to knock them dead tonight. I look positive frumpy next to you.” It wasn't true of course. Jenny was wearing a pale grey pleated linen dress which looked very elegant, and she knew it. She'd been buying some new dresses recently and looked great. Her husband Eddie was baby-sitting their two children and she went to kiss him goodbye as we headed out of the door. They have such a good marriage. I can't help hoping that there will be someone out there for me one day, but that will be well into the future.
We drove down to town in Jenny's car, picking up Pam the bride on the way. I was the 'designated driver' and wouldn't be drinking so I could drive us back. It wasn't a problem for me, I was quite happy with soft drink.
The new club was nice and was already filling up quickly, so we were lucky to get a table for the three of us. I glanced around the room, and it was then that I saw Paul. He was sitting a few tables away with another man who I later found out was John. I don't know what it was that interested me so much in him. His face was half turned away from me but from his slightly greying hair I decided he was perhaps in his middle forties. He was neatly dressed in a jacket and pants and perhaps it was the way he was sitting but he had an air of sadness about him, and I even wondered what he was doing there. Somehow, he became aware of my gaze because he turned and looked at me. He had a kindly if slightly care-worn face, a gentle face. I felt embarrassed, so I smiled as if to say, 'I'm sorry', and turned back to the other girls. Pam said, “I think you've made a conquest there.”
“Nonsense!” I retorted, blushing.
“He'll come and ask you to dance, nothing surer,” said Jenny, and a few seconds later “What did I tell you?”
“Excuse me.” His voice was pleasant enough, “Would you like to dance?”
I glanced at the others. Well, we were in a public place, and I was with friends, so why not?
“Yes, thank you,” I replied and took his proffered hand. It was big and warm and almost engulfed mine. He led me to the dance floor, and we started to shuffle round together. I introduced myself and he told me his name and that he was an engineer. I told him that I'm a nurse and then we circulated in silence for a minute, both wondering what else to say. I think we were both a little nervous.
The floor was getting crowded and as a result our bodies were close together. I felt pleasantly secure in his arms and was enjoying myself when I felt it. The poor man, he looked so embarrassed and tried to move away which was well-nigh impossible. Perhaps it's because I'm a nurse that very little embarrasses me, so I told him it was alright and that women are fortunate because they don't react in an obvious way. In fact, I was rather flattered that a man should find me so attractive, and although Paul didn't know it, my body was reacting too. My nipples were quite hard, but fortunately my bra and dress concealed the fact.
All too soon the band stopped playing and Paul led me back to my seat and thanked me for the dance. I thanked him too and told him I had enjoyed it very much — my way of telling him that his 'little problem' had not upset me. I watched him go back to his table, and then of course the girls wanted to know what he was like and was I going to see him again.
“I don't know,” I replied, a bit tartly “It was just a dance, we didn't exchange phone numbers or anything like that.”
Just then a roar of laughter attracted my attention. It was Paul's friend who had obviously found something very amusing in what Paul had said. Surely he hadn't told him about 'the incident'? I was shocked and felt disappointed. He didn't seem the sort of man to do something like that. However, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Indeed, I half-hoped he would come over again and ask me to dance, but he didn't. 'Oh well', I thought, 'that's how it goes.' and I went back to chatting with Pam and Jenny.
It was then that another male voice interrupted my thoughts “Excuse me.” It was the man who was sitting with Paul. I glanced over to the table, but Paul had disappeared.
“I'm John”, said the man, following the direction of my glance, “Paul's friend. He's just gone to the bathroom and I'm taking the opportunity to come over and put you in the picture about him. He was divorced two years ago, not his fault, he's a really nice bloke. This is the first time I've managed to get him to go out in all that time. It took him a great deal to summon the courage to come and ask you to dance, and when he came back to the table and told me he had forgotten what it was like to hold a woman in his arms I laughed at him, and I shouldn't have done that. I told him to come over and ask to dance with you again, but he's clammed up now. What I'm wondering is would you be prepared to give me your mobile number so that I can pass it on to him in case you leave a,nd he doesn't summon up the courage to ask you to dance again? I know he'll kick himself for not asking you himself and in a way it's my fault.”
I looked at Jenny and Pam to see what they thought. Was this getting out of hand?
“It's up to you of course,” said Jenny “but Paul seems a nice enough man and John here is vouching for him. If you change your mind about him, you just don't take his calls.”
“I agree,'” said Pam “you really have nothing to lose.”
I guess that's what friends are for. They had been encouraging me for months to try dating, and I could hardly reject their 'female antennae' when it comes to men.
“Alright,” I said, and reached into my bag for a pen and piece of paper to write down my mobile number.
“Thank you so much,” said John. “I'm sure you won't regret it. Now I'd better get back to our table before he returns.” With that he hurried away.
“Well, I don't know about you girls, but rather than go to another club I'm feeling I need my beauty sleep,” said Pam.
“Yes, we've got a big day coming up,” said Jenny and they both picked up their bags. I was a little disappointed, hoping that when Paul came back, he would ask me to dance again, but I could hardly stay there on my own, especially since I was driving them both home.
In fact, as we all got up, Paul reappeared. He glanced our way and the look of disappointment on his face was clear even at that distance. I flashed him a smile of encouragement, at least he'd have my number when John passed it on. With that we left the club and drove home.
Next time: A special invitation
Three Points of View - Part 2
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Paul: Sunday 20th January 10am
I was pretty subdued when I got in the car with John to drive home last night. I could have kicked myself. I'd just met the most wonderful young woman and now I'd probably never see her again. I mean, what were the odds of me running into her in the street?
John noticed how quiet I was and said “That young woman you danced with, Tina wasn't it? She was quite something. Are you going to see her again?”
How can I?” I replied, miserably. “I don't know where she lives and I don't have her phone number, more's the pity.”
“Ah,” said John “I might be able to help you there.” and fishing in his top pocket he pulled out a little slip of paper and handed it over.
I stared at it “How did you get this?”
John grinned “I ju,st went over and asked her for it while you were in the bathroom. You were obviously so struck with her and when I saw they were making moves to leave I had to try and get it for you.” He actually looked a bit embarrassed. “I did feel a bit responsible. If I hadn't laughed at you, you might have danced with her again and got it yourself, so I'm helping you, just this once. If I were you, I wouldn't leave it too long to call her.”
That was John all over. Even when we were in our teens, he was always the confident one with girls, so unlike me. I didn't know whether to hit him or kiss him. In fact, I did neither. I felt ashamed that I hadn't had the guts to ask Tina for her number myself. Perhaps I would have if she and the others had stayed a bit longer and I'd had the chance to ask her to dance again.
I've just looked again at the scrap of paper with the number and her name written in a neat feminine hand. I don't need to, I've memorised it already and it's entered in my phone's contact list, but the fact that Tina wrote it means it's very precious. Now, what to do? Should I ring or text her, and how soon should I do it? Too soon will look like I'm desperate to make contact with her. Well, I am but there's no need to make it too obvious. Perhaps I'll leave it another hour. Heck, no. Leave it too long and she'll think I'm not interested at all. Perhaps a text initially is the best thing as it will give her time to think about what to reply.
OK, now what do I write? 'I really enjoyed meeting you last night, can we have dinner?' No, that's too 'full-on'. Perhaps 'Thank you for the dance last night, I really enjoyed it.' Maybe 'It was nice meeting you last night. Thank you for the dance.' Hang on, should I even mention the dance at all, it might bring back embarrassing memories? Perhaps make it 'It was very nice meeting you last night.' leave it at that and see what if anything she replies?
I've picked out the letters slowly as I'm not a fast texter. Now I've selected 'Tina' on my contacts list and seen her number appear. I hesitate and then press 'Send'. There, for better or worse it's done. Now how long will it take for her to reply?
It's been fifteen minutes. I'm still looking at my phone. I'd better start tidying up my apartment, while still making sure I'm within earshot of the phone.
It's been an hour and still nothing.
Yet another hour. Oh well, she's not going to reply, so that's that. I should have realised, a girl like that probably has a steady boyfriend already.
Suddenly the screen's lit up and the phone's started playing its little 'message received' tune. I leap across the room (thank goodness there was no-one here to see me) and grab it.
'Sorry I was shopping and left phone @ home. Nice to meet you too.'
There's been a sudden change in the weather and the world is a sunny place. Is now the right time to ask her out? Only one way to find out.
'Would you like to have dinner sometime?'
Silence for a few minutes, and then her reply. 'Can we talk instead of texting?'
I feel such a clod. Why does meeting a beautiful woman make a reasonably intelligent man act like an idiot? Only teenagers carry on whole conversations by text. I quickly dial her number.
Tina: Sunday 20th January 1 pm
I don't usually shop on Sunday, but the girls told me last night about a weekend sale at my favourite dress shop and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I was in such a hurry I left my mobile phone at home. When I got back, having bought two gorgeous summer skirts at a very reduced price, I checked my phone. I didn't recognise the number, but the message 'It was very nice meeting you last night.' made it obvious it was from Paul. I checked when it was sent — over two hours earlier. Poor guy, he probably thought I was ignoring him, so I replied immediately, and it was only a minute later that I got his reply. I had already discussed with Pam and Jenny the possibility of him asking me out on a date and what I should do about it.
“Well, if you like him, as I think you do, go for it,” said Pam.
“But supposing he.....?”
“Kisses you? Well, I should hope he does,” laughed Jenny. That wasn't what I was thinking of course, but I couldn't say anything.
“Don't worry, he won't try anything else, at least not on a first date,” said Pam as though she was reading my thoughts.
All the advice Pan and Jenny have given me to date was spot on, so I decided I would follow it again, but this conversation by text wasn't getting us anywhere too fast, so I suggested we talk instead, and a few moments later my phone rang.
“Tina? This is Paul.” He sounded nervous. So was I, but I was determined not to show it, so I tried to sound nonchalant.
“Hi Paul, sorry about me not replying before, I hope you didn't think I was rude?”
“No, of course not,” he replied. He hesitated. “I really enjoyed meeting you last night and I was hoping that perhaps we could meet again, maybe for dinner?”
“Yes, I'd like that very much,” I replied, and the relief in his voice when he spoke again almost made me laugh. Oh, the power we women have over men!
“How about next Saturday or is that too soon?”
“Oh I'm sorry, I can't make Saturday. I'm a bridesmaid at my friend Pam's wedding. That was her 'hen party' we were at last night.”
“Oh, of course,” he sounded disappointed and hesitant, “Perhaps the following one?”
“Yes, that would be fine.”
“Great!” He hesitated, “I'll call again midweek to find out where to pick you up and what time. Is that OK?”
I agreed that it was, and we hung up. 'Well girl, you've done it now'. I said to myself and decided I must ring Pam and Jenny and let them know what had happened. Before I could do that, my phone rang again. It was Jenny this time.
“Hi Tina, I'm glad I caught you. There's been a major disaster. That stupid brother of mine has come off his motorbike and broken his leg.”
Mike, Jenny's brother was going to be the groomsman at Pam's wedding and also my partner as I'm the bridesmaid. Well he wouldn't be doing that now.
“We'll have to find someone else and we haven't much time,” Jenny carried on. “I'm at my wits' end.”
I had a sudden inspiration. “I was just about to ring and tell you that Paul's asked me out. He actually suggested next Saturday, so he's obviously free. How about I ask him to step in if he'll do it?”
Jenny laughed. “Tina, you're a genius, and he'll do it, nothing surer.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm positive,” she replied, “Anyway it's much better that you have your first date where there's a group of us to keep our eye on you. Not that I think there's anything wrong with Paul, but you do have to be careful. In fact,” she went on, “if you had been going on a date alone with him, I was going to suggest the 'bail out' plan where I ring you thirty minutes after you meet, and if you need to, you use my call as a fictitious family emergency to get away. Oh, and another thing, you always meet the guy at the venue on a first date. You don't let him know where you live.”
“Wow,” I said, “I'd never have thought of that.” I was starting to think that this dating business was a bit scary.
“You've still got a lot to learn about men, Tina,” she replied, and she's right of course. I'm trying to catch up in a couple of years, the knowledge women build up over a lifetime. I didn't really think there'd be a problem with Paul, but like Jenny said, I still have a lot to learn about men.
So, I rang Paul back, and of course he agreed to be my partner at the wedding, in fact he sounded very enthusiastic. I gave him the number of Jack, Pam's fiance, so that they could meet up and arrange to change the hire suit size if necessary and tell him anything else he needed to know. I also told him I would see him at the rehearsal on Thursday. He said he would look forward to that. I'm looking forward to it as well, but I didn't say so.
Paul: Wednesday 23rd January 3pm
What a night last night was. Last Sunday I was quite amazed when after arranging a dinner date with Tina for Saturday week, she rang back and told me her groomsman partner for the wedding had broken his leg, and she asked me if I'd like to step in to replace him. Of course I said 'yes'. It means I will get to spend the afternoon as well as the evening with her, and even though there would be a lot of other people present, perhaps that's not such a bad thing.
I rang Jack the groom on the number she gave me, and arranged to meet him and Eddie the Best Man. He's the husband of Jenny who was at the jazz club with Tina, and she's the Matron of Honour at the wedding. I met them both at lunchtime in a bar a few minutes' walk from the office where I work. When I arrived there and ordered a beer, a man came over and identified himself as Jack the groom and introduced me to Eddie. Eddie looked vaguely familiar, and it turned out he works in the building next door to mine, so I have seen him before but not to speak to. Jack explained that he was hiring suits for the three of us and gave me the name of the company so I could be measured for the right size.
“So, what exactly does a groomsman do?” I inquired as this would be a first time for me, and I couldn't really recall the groomsman at my wedding doing anything at all apart from getting very drunk.
“Not much really,” replied Eddie, “Make sure the groom gets paralytic on the buck's night on Tuesday, but still gets home alright. Then on the day itself, you make sure I've got the rings, accompany the bridesmaid after the ceremony for the photos, have a couple of dances and maybe even have it off with her if you're lucky.”
I felt this latter suggestion was a bit crude but said nothing, my 'inner wimp' coming to the fore again, I guess.
Last night was the buck's night and to say it was forgettable would be an understatement. Since Eddie was doing the arranging, I suppose I could have guessed the theme. Beside the three of us, some of Jack's and Eddie's friends came along too. We started off in a pub and the beer certainly flowed. I'm never a big drinker and kept my consumption down to one beer an hour, but the others had no such inhibitions and were soon very merry indeed.
After an hour or so Eddie announced that we were going to a club, so we walked or staggered out and hailed some taxis. My worst fears were realised when we entered the club which was very dark except for the stage area where several women in various states of undress were dancing, if you could call it that, around some poles. I sincerely hoped that Tina was not going to hear about this as the very fact I was there would cause her opinion of me to nose-dive. Things just got worse as some of the women came over to the tables where we were sitting and sat on the laps of several of the men, including myself, and started to move in what apparently was meant to be a sensuous manner, although it had zero effect on me. I said to the woman in as polite a way as possible “Sorry, I'm married and I'd rather you didn't do that.”
She looked at me curiously and her crimson lips broke into a slight smile as she got to her feet saying, “OK honey, suit yourself.”
I noticed that none of the others had such inhibitions, especially Eddie who was greatly enjoying the attention. I was glad in a way to see that by now Jack was so drunk that there was no chance he could get into trouble.
An hour or so dragged by and about 2am Eddie finally said, “OK guys, we've got work tomorrow so we'd better call it a night.” Jack was staying at Eddie's place for a couple of days before the wedding and I lived in the same direction, so we hailed a taxi and piled in. I felt highly embarrassed. What on earth would Eddie's wife Jenny think when she saw them?
As it happened, when Eddie and I helped Jack up to the house, Jenny opened to door and didn't seem particularly surprised at the state of them. As they staggered inside, I felt that an apology was in order.
“Jenny, I'm really sorry about this, it wasn't my idea.”
She gave me a faint smile “I know it's not your fault Paul.”
Something else was worrying me, “I was rather hoping that Tina doesn't get to hear about this. It's not the sort of thing I do regularly, in fact I don't ever do it.”
“Don't worry Paul, I don't know you well, but well enough to know that this isn't your scene. Well, I'd better see they are tucked up in bed so they can sleep it off. Thank you for making sure they got home more or less unscathed. Goodnight.” Then to my surprise she kissed me on the cheek.
“Thank you for being so understanding,” I said before walking back down the path to the waiting taxi. I felt that I had risen in her estimation and that was a good feeling.
Tina: Thursday 24th January 10pm
It was the wedding rehearsal this evening. I confess I felt quite excited at the prospect of seeing Paul again. I was working and my shift finished at 6pm which gave me only 90 minutes before the rehearsal started. If I had been an office worker I could have gone straight to the church, but it didn't seem appropriate to turn up in my nurse's uniform. Last night I prepared by deciding what I was going to wear so that I could lay my clothes out on the bed after I made it this morning, all ready for a quick-change act when I got home from work. I spent a ridiculous amount of time deciding what to wear. I wanted to look smart without being overdressed. In the end I settled on my light grey knee-length skirt, a white silk blouse, light tan pantyhose and black court shoes with three-inch heels.
As soon as I got home, I had a quick shower and got dressed, and just had time to do my makeup and fix my hair before it was time to go to the front gate and wait for Jenny who was picking up first me and then Pam. When I slipped into the front seat beside her, she glanced at me and murmured “Good choice.” I felt pleased to hear her approval.
The guys were already at the church when we arrived. Paul was wearing a charcoal grey suit, a white shirt, blue tie and black shoes. He looked very smart. I smiled at him and offered him my hand which I now understand is appropriate for a woman to do with a man she doesn't know well. Paul smiled and held it just a second or two longer than was strictly necessary. I liked that. He looked well, unlike Jack and Eddie who looked decidedly seedy. I wondered what had happened at the buck's night.
Pam stared at them critically. “What did you lot get up to last night?”
“Oh just a few drinks,” replied Eddie. “I think we must have eaten something that didn't agree with us.”
“And Paul didn't?” Pam continued suspiciously.
Eddie grinned sheepishly but didn't answer her. Just then the vicar appeared which let him off the hook. We went through the wedding ceremony, which was not particularly complicated, and afterwards we all went for coffee. Paul asked how my day had been and I inquired about his. I had already concluded that whatever the other two had been doing on the buck's night, he had conducted himself like a gentleman. This was confirmed on the way home when, after she had dropped Pam off, Jenny gave me a brief description of how the three of them had appeared on her doorstep last night.
“Paul was very apologetic about the state of Jack and Eddie, and I told him it wasn't his fault.” She sighed. “Eddie is a good man most of the time, but he does like a drink.” I didn't really know what to say in response to that.
Paul: Thursday 24th January 11pm
We had the wedding rehearsal this evening. I put on my good suit for work as I was going to the church afterwards. That drew a comment from the boss's secretary Marcia.
“My, someone's all dressed up. Got a date, have we?”
“Not at all, I'm going to church,” I answered, and that was strictly speaking true.
I was the first to arrive and the vicar was there. He said he'd come back in a while when the others arrived. Jack and Eddie arrived soon after, and I had to try to look nonchalant, when all the time I was desperate for Tina to arrive. When she did, together with Pam and Jenny she looked an absolute picture in a grey skirt and white blouse. 'Paul,' I said to myself 'You are falling hard for this girl.' We shook hands and it was like an electric shock when I touched her hand.
The rehearsal ended all too soon, but then we all went for coffee afterwards and not quite by chance I ended up sitting next to Tina. I wasn't touching her but just her very nearness was enough to excite me again. I asked her how things were at the hospital, and she said they were fine but she had to really rush to get home and change for this evening and hoped she didn't look a mess. I assured her, perhaps a shade too emphatically that she looked great. Anyway, my compliment seemed to go down well. I won't be seeing her now until the wedding day but that's only two days off. I can't wait to see how she will look dressed as a bridesmaid.
Next time: The Wedding
Three Points of View - Part 3
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Tina: Sunday 27th January 2am
Strictly speaking the wedding was yesterday as it's now well past midnight. What a day it's been and really tiring, but I still feel too excited to sleep. I was up at 7 o'clock this morning and had a shower and a light breakfast before driving over to Jenny's house where we were all going to get ready. Pam and Jack have bought a house where they live together, but to observe the proprieties Pam stayed at Jenny's house last night while Jack returned to stay at their house, so they hadn't slept together for several days. The air of excitement was already building when I arrived. Our first port of call was the hairdresser which was a five-minute drive away. She was booked for 9 o'clock and spent a good two hours using all the tools and tricks of the trade to give us some very glamorous styles. Mine was a delicately braided hair tiara which I just loved.
Back at Jenny's house, Pam's parents had arrived, and Jenny's mother was keeping them entertained. We three girls went to the bedroom to get ready as Chloe the make-up artist had arrived, right on cue. Pam's dress was hanging up — a very pale cream sheath-style floor-length dress which would look very elegant on her trim figure. Jenny and I were to wear matching dresses in a beautiful plum colour. I was rather glad that Pam hadn't gone for the 'meringue-style' dress which I feel goes better with very young brides and big wedding parties, but that's just my opinion. Chloe worked her magic on all of us and we were looking very glamorous indeed.
Now it was time to get dressed, and for once it wasn't just me wearing stockings and a suspender belt as Pam had lashed out on some very sexy bridal lingerie.
“Wow! Jack won't be able to keep his hands off you when he sees what you are wearing under your dress,” I laughed.
“Well, I should hope not!” Pam laughed, "We've had plenty of sex, but a wedding night is different. By the time he's finished undressing me, I hope he's as big as a stallion ready to service his mare!"
I could hardly believe it! When there are no men around, some women can be very frank indeed. I knew that I was blushing purple.
Just then, Pam's mum knocked on the door to say the photographer had arrived and could she come in? It was smart of Pam to engage a female photographer as she wanted some 'cheeky' photographs with us in our undies. The photographer, Lisa proceeded to instruct us to assume various poses, none too revealing, but certainly something different to the usual wedding photos.
That done, while Lisa went off to photograph the parents, we set about finishing dressing ourselves and making sure that Pam looked perfect. I could not help gazing at her with some envy. Pam knew what I was thinking and gave me a sympathetic smile. Will the day ever come when I can become a bride?
When we finally emerged from the bedroom, Pam's mother shed a tear, declaring she had never seen her daughter look more beautiful.
There was one more member of the wedding party, Pam's niece Matilda, aged eight. It was felt that the plum-colour satin chosen for Jenny and I was not suitable for a little girl, so the dressmaker had come up with some dusky-pink satin which matched our dresses but with a lighter shade, and she had created a very pretty satin organza dress for Matilda. Apparently, she had been talking about nothing else but the wedding for weeks, so it was a very excited little girl who now appeared at the door, and she was thrilled at all the compliments she received, and the excitement in the house.
Now came more photographs — every combination of the wedding party and parents that you can imagine, both solo and in couples and groups. Lisa took some solo photos of both Jenny and I, and if I like mine, I intend to get an enlargement to frame. Perhaps I will never become a bride, but at least I have been a bridesmaid.
The photos had just been completed when the wedding cars arrived. Everything was going like clockwork. Pam's dad had really lashed out, apparently saying that since he only has one daughter, she should have the best. Two gleaming white Rolls Royces awaited the wedding party, and we sank into the luxurious interior with some relief having stood around being photographed for about an hour. As we drove to the church, people stopped to look at us and some cars tooted their horns. We felt like royalty!
Lisa had rushed ahead so she could take photos of Pam's dad helping her out of the car, and then more photos of us posed in front of the church. All the guests had been ushered inside and we could hear the organ playing softly. The usher lined us up ready to enter and then a minor crisis occurred. Matilda was supposed to walk in first, carrying her basket of rose petals, but suddenly the enormity of the occasion overcame her, and she said she was too scared to do it. I surprised myself by coming up with a solution to the problem. Stooping down I quietly said to her “I'm nervous too. How about we walk down the aisle together, hand in hand?”
Somewhat to my surprise this was exactly the right suggestion to make, so as the familiar strains of the Wedding March began to play, that was how we entered the church. Penny followed us, and then Pam on her beaming father's arm. I confess my eyes were on Paul. He looked so handsome, and the look on his face as he smiled at me was well worth all the hours I had spent getting ready.
Paul: Sunday 27th January 3am
What a day it's been. Yesterday I had a haircut, and this morning I drove over to Pam and Jack's house to meet up with him and Eddie to get ready. At least it doesn't take us nearly as long as it does the girls. Jack had ordered a taxi to get us to the church an hour before the time of the ceremony and after we had changed into our hired suits there was nothing else to do but watch some football on television as we sipped some champagne. I was relieved to see that the other two were drinking sparingly, no doubt under strict instructions not to turn up drunk at the church.
Remembering my duties, I asked Eddie if he had the wedding rings and he said “Sure, they're in my pocket.”
“Show me,” I demanded. Grinning, he reached into his right-hand pocket and then his left-hand one as the expression on his face rapidly turned to one of alarm.
“Damn,” he said, “they're in my other coat pocket.” He hurried to the bedroom to collect them, and Jack said “Thanks for that, Paul. I owe you one.”
“Just doing my job,” I said.
Once we arrived at the church, we sought out the vicar who gave us final instructions on where to stand as we waited for the girls to arrive. Time dragged a bit as we waited but finally, we heard that they had arrived, the regulation five minutes late. The organ began to play the Wedding March and first to come into view was Tina, holding the flower girl by the hand. That wasn't how it had been rehearsed but I guessed the little girl might have had an attack of nerves. As for Tina, how can I describe her? She looked an absolute vision in a darkish red full-length dress that skimmed her slim figure. I confess I couldn't take my eyes off her until the rest of the party walked up the aisle and the ceremony started.
Once the ceremony concluded there was more pictures at the signing of the register, and my first chance to get close to Tina.
“You look stunning,” I whispered to her, and she smiled at me, blushing slightly.
With the ceremony completed, we paired up for the walk down the aisle, Tina and I each holding one of Matilda's hands, following Penny and Eddie who walked behind the bride and groom. When we gathered on the church steps for more photos, we were all showered with confetti, and it was my pleasure to help pick it off Tina's hair as she used her hands to brush it off my suit. Then we were off to a nearby park for yet more photos. I'd lost count of how many had been taken by this time, but it must have been well over three hundred, and there was still the reception to go!
When we arrived at the reception centre, Julie, the M.C. organised us in the entry hall for our entrance into the reception room. Tina told me that Matilda had now recovered her confidence and was happy to enter first, sprinkling rose petals on the floor, with Tina and I following her, then came Jenny and Eddie, and finally Pam and Jack, as the band played their version of the wedding march. We all took up our positions on the bridal table and sat down. I was pleased that the seating had been arranged so that Tina and I were sitting next to each other.
I've been to a few weddings, including my own of course, and they all tend to follow a pattern - a couple of courses of the meal, then speeches and toasts, cutting the cake and finally the wedding waltz. Convention here says that the bride and groom get up first, followed by the Matron of Honour and the Best Man, and finally the bridesmaid and groomsman. It was great to hold Tina in my arms again as we moved slowly around the dance floor. I haven't felt this happy in a long time. Later in the night when the formalities were over, I danced several more times with her, also with Jenny and Pam. I even had to rescue Tina from the unwanted attentions of one of the young bucks who was present, not that I can blame him in some ways because she truly did look stunning. It was while we were dancing a slow waltz later in the evening, with the lights turned down, that we kissed for the first time, and what a kiss it was. I think I'm falling in love with her.
The reception finished all too quickly. We waved the newly-weds off with a trail of cans attached to the back bumper-bar of the taxi, and then it was time to say 'goodnight'. I thanked Tina once again for inviting me to partner her, and we arranged to meet for dinner next week. Finally, we kissed goodnight, just a brief kiss this time before the taxi arrived to take Jenny and Eddie home together with Tina who was staying the night with them. A little later, the taxi arrived to take me back to my apartment.
Tina: 3am Sunday 27th January
It's no good, I can't get to sleep. I keep thinking about the wedding and the reception. When we lined up for our 'grand entrance' at the reception, I was afraid that Matilda would insist on us walking hand in hand into the reception, but fortunately she was feeling brave now and was happy to walk in first on her own. That meant that I could walk in on Paul's arm, following Matilda as she scattered rose petals. We took up our places on the wedding table, and I was glad that Paul and I were sitting side by side. Jenny and Eddie followed us, and then Pam and Jack.
The reception followed the usual routine. I've been to weddings before, but never as a bridesmaid of course, so this was very special. After the first two courses of the meal came the speeches and toasts. Jenny must have put Eddie on a very tight rein because his Best Man speech which can sometimes be very risque was quite restrained. When Jack proposed the toast to the 'Jenny our lovely Matron of Honour' and 'Tina our beautiful bridesmaid', that was a very special moment, more special than anyone present except Pam and Jenny could possibly have known. I know I was blushing but beaming with pleasure at the same time.
When it was time for the bridal waltz, Pam and Jack took the floor first of course, followed after a few minutes but Jenny and Eddie, and finally Paul and I. Soon we were joined by a number of guests, which meant the dance floor became quite crowded and Paul and I were dancing very close together. It felt so wonderful to be held in his strong arms. I've only just met this man, but I know my feelings for him are growing rapidly. He had the same reaction as when we danced at the jazz club, but I made it plain that I was not worried by keeping my body close to his. The fact is I felt it was a great compliment that he should react that way.
Later in the evening I danced with Eddie and Jack and that was nice too, but in a different way. I had a few lessons in ballroom dancing about a month ago in preparation for the wedding. On my first visit to the dance studio, I decided I should explain my situation to the owner, Miss Masters. Somewhat to my surprise she told me that I was not the first person to admit they had to learn to dance again as a female.
“You know what they used to say about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, that she was the better dancer because she had to do all the steps backwards and wearing high heels?” she laughed. “I'll introduce you to Tony our chief instructor, and don't worry, we pride ourselves on our discretion here. Your secret won't leave the studio.”
Tony turned out to be a handsome and charming man who was in fact Miss Masters' husband. He was an excellent teacher, very encouraging, and in no time, I had adapted to following his lead and didn't tread on his toes once! After a few lessons I felt confident enough to face the dancing that would be required at the reception.
There was a minor incident at the reception. A young man who introduced himself as Roger asked me to dance and wouldn't take no for an answer, so to avoid a scene I agreed to dance with him. The moment we started to dance I wished I hadn't agreed, as he pulled me hard against his body obviously intent on demonstrating his masculinity. It was most unpleasant, and I was glad when the number ended, but Roger showed no inclination to let go of me. It was then that Paul appeared on the scene, saying “Excuse me young man, but this young lady is my partner and I need to talk with her.”
Roger reluctantly let go of me and walked back to his table.
“Thank you so much for rescuing me Paul,” I said as I took his arm and walked back to our table, “You really are my 'knight in shining armour'.”
“Well I could see you weren't enjoying yourself,” he replied, “And beside I was beginning to get jealous!”
I laughed at that “You had absolutely no reason to be jealous.” In fact I was rather pleased that he felt that way.
Later in the evening we were dancing again. The lights were turned down and it was a slow waltz, so we were circling the dance floor very slowly, our bodies close together. I looked up at Paul and then as I knew he would, he kissed me. It was a very gentle kiss at first, but it slowly grew in intensity as our mouths opened and our tongues started to touch. I could feel his arousal and I loved it. If we had not been in such a public place, who knows what might have happened, as it would have been so easy to forget myself, and I know that I can't risk anything like that happening, at least not right now.
The evening flew by and all too soon we were waving off the happy couple and then taking taxis home. I kissed Paul goodnight, and then got in a taxi with Jenny and Eddie as I'm staying at their house overnight, not wanting to go back to my apartment at such a late hour.
Jenny and I sat in the back and discussed the wedding.
“You were having a good time,” laughed Jenny and I was glad the darkness hid my blushes.
She looked at me seriously. ”You already care a lot about him don't you.” It was a statement not a question.
“He's a very nice man,” I replied defensively.
“Yes, he is, but do be careful, Tina. Things might be different down the track, but right now you don't want to get too involved with anyone, especially someone you care about.”
I resolved to take her advice on board.
I'm yawning now. That's a good sign. Perhaps I'll finally get some sleep.
Paul: Sunday 10th February 10pm
The last couple of weeks have been the best I've known for years. Tina and I have now been out four times - twice to dinner, once to the opera and then yesterday we went for a picnic in the countryside. I've never known a girl like her. It just shows me all that I missed when I was married. We talk about anything and everything and have no secrets from each other. I'm taking things slowly. We kiss quite a lot of course, and it always feels wonderful, but I detect a certain reticence on her part to take things further, so I am prepared to wait until I get the right signals from her.
She always looks so beautiful, whether she is dressed up to go to a restaurant or wearing a simple cotton dress and sandals like she did yesterday for our trip to the country. The trip to the opera was very special. It was the first time I'd ever been, as my taste in music is more of the popular type, but after watching 'Madame Butterfly', I think I am becoming really interested in classical music, or was it due to the company? Tina was wearing a lime green silk dress - green is her favourite colour - and she looked fabulous. I could see some of the men in the audience were sneaking looks at her when their wives weren't watching and I wanted to say ,“Bad luck guys, she's with me.”
I think, no I know that I'm falling in love with her. I said as much to my friend John and he said, “Are you sure it isn't because she's the first woman you've been out with for so long?” I assured him it wasn't that at all - she's just the most perfect woman I've ever met.
“So, what is the sex like?” he asked.
“Well, errr, we haven't been to bed,” I replied and he looked at me curiously, but surprisingly didn't make a comment. I think it would have been hard to explain to him that Tina is so important to me that I want to take things slowly and not risk damaging our growing relationship in any way.
Next time: 'The course of true love..."
Three Points of View - Part 4
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"The course of true love never did run smooth"
William Shakespeare 'A Midsummer-Night's Dream'
Tina: Saturday 16th February 10pm
It's over and it's all my fault! Jenny and Pam warned me and I ignored their advice. How could I have been so stupid?
The evening started so well. Paul invited me to have dinner at his place this evening. He assured me he had developed into quite a reasonable cook since having to fend for himself, and the meal he produced showed he was right. He cooked a delicious filet mignon with vegetables, washed down with a nice cabernet sauvignon. Perhaps that's where I went wrong. I didn't have that much to drink, but perhaps it was just enough to loosen my inhibitions a little. After a delicious sorbet, we sat together on the couch. Soft music was playing and it all felt so romantic. I realise now I was sending out signals and Paul responded to them.
We began kissing, first gently and then deeply. I felt Paul’s hand on my breast and it felt good. I'm sure he could feel my nipple respond to his touch. I started running my fingers over his chest and then unbuttoned his shirt so that I could stroke his skin. What was I thinking? All I was thinking at the time was it felt so good. When I first realised his hand was on my leg the significance didn't at first occur to me until it dawned on me that he was slowly moving his hand up under my dress. The realisation struck me like a wet sponge and I pulled away from him.
“Oh I'm sorry Tina, I didn't realise,” he said, and it occurred to me that he thought I was having my period.
“No it's not that,” I said and he looked puzzled. I cursed my stupidity. I could have bought myself some time, but now it was too late.
“What is it then?” he asked. What could I say? There was nothing for it but to tell him the truth. I took a deep breath and began to speak.
“Paul, there's something I have to tell you,” I began. He listened in silence as I told him the whole story, right from my early childhood when I knew I had been born in the wrong body, right up to now when I was well on the way, but not yet completely transitioned to my true sex.
When I finally finished, he sat there in silence, a silence I felt compelled to fill.
“Paul, I was going to tell you, I really was. I was just waiting for the right time.”
“And when would that 'right time' have been?” he said flatly.
“I don't know,” I said and I was crying now. “You are a wonderful man and I have loved every minute of the time I've spent with you. I was scared about how you would take it. I didn't intend to deceive you, I really didn't.”
“Who else knows about you?” he asked.
“Apart from my doctors, only Pam and Jenny.”
“So they're in on this too!” he said bitterly. “How they must have laughed at me.”
“No! Please Paul, it's not their fault. They warned me not to get involved with any man, at least not until I finish my treatment, and even then I'd have to tell any man I became close to.”
He was sitting apart from me now. I longed for him to take me in his arms again, and say everything was alright, but I knew it wouldn't happen.
“I think you should go home now,” he said slowly. He didn't even sound angry, just incredibly sad as though I had shattered everything between us and of course I had.
I got up slowly, slipped on my shoes and found my coat and handbag.
“I'm sorry, truly I am,” I said, but he was just staring into the distance and didn't reply. I walked to the door, hoping against hope that he would call me back, but he didn't, so I walked out into the night and then the tears really started.
Jenny: Sunday 17th February 2am
People don't knock on your door at 11 o'clock at night, so I said, “Who is it?” before I opened the door.
“It's Tina,” was the reply. The moment I opened the door it was obvious that something was very wrong, and it didn't require much female intuition to guess what. Tina stood there, a picture of misery, her eyes red and mascara streaks on her cheeks.
She said, “I'm sorry to turn up at this time, but I couldn't face going home.”
I led her into the lounge room and sat her down on the couch. Thank goodness Eddie had an early shift the following morning, so he was already in bed.
“I'll make us some tea,” I said, “then you can tell me all about it.” I'm a great believer in the restorative power of a hot cup of tea.
So it was that, cupping her hands around the teacup, she told me the whole story of what happened this evening,
“It's all my fault,” she sobbed.”I love him, and I thought he would understand, but he doesn't. You warned me and I was so stupid and ignored what you said, and now I've lost him forever.”
What could I say? She's probably right. It takes a very special type of man to accept that the woman he has been dating is transgendered. I actually thought that Paul was that special type of man, but maybe I was wrong, or was it just him reacting to the shock of Tina's revelation? All I could do was hold her as her body shook with her sobs. I believed her when she said she was in love with him, and that was going to make things even more difficult. Finally, when her sobbing eased, I said “I want you to stay here tonight, alright?”
“Can I?” she said, and she looked like a little girl, “I don't want to go home on my own, just for tonight.”
I had no intention of letting her go home. The state she was in, who knows what she might have done. I took her hand and led her into the spare bedroom. I found a nightie for her and helped her undress, and then tucked her up in bed just as if she was a child. I sat with her for a few minutes and in that short time she was fast asleep, totally worn out by the day's events.
When I went into our bedroom, Eddie stirred and said, “Were you talking to someone?”
“It's Tina,” I said “She's staying here tonight.”
“Alright,” he said, turning over and going back to sleep without asking any more questions. He's sometimes infuriating, but it's moments like this that I realise how much I love my man!
If only I could have gone to sleep, but I couldn't help thinking about Tina and what had happened. I've known her for about two years now and it was pure chance that we met. It happened when I called in see my sister Penny at the transgender clinic where she worked then. We'd only just arrived in town as Eddie had been transferred from interstate. We'd rented a house temporarily, settled the kids into a new school, and now I was starting on the quest to find somewhere permanent to live. Penny and I were supposed to be going out to lunch but the clinic was frantically busy, so I sat down in the waiting room, the only genetic female there I suppose, and the person I sat next to was Tina. Some of the other patients there were rather obviously male in appearance, but even then, Tina looked totally feminine. Even her voice sounded female, and that gives a lot of transgendered women away. We seemed to click right away and got talking. She thought I was another patient and complimented me on how feminine I looked, and we both had a laugh when I explained who I was.
“Your sister is lovely,” she said, “So caring and understanding.”
Just then Penny came over and said, “I'm sorry Tina, the doctor will be at least another hour, it's just been crazy here today.”
Turning to me she said, “Sorry Jenny I don't think there's a chance for me to get away today.”
I don't know what made me do it, but on impulse I said to Tina, “How about we go to the cafe I noticed on my way in and grab a coffee?”
“I'd love that,” she replied, so that's what we did. She wanted to talk, and I was curious and interested because she was the first transgendered woman I'd ever talked to. Like so many people I didn't really understand the difference between transvestites and transgendered women until Penny started working in the clinic and explained the difference to me. Tina told me her life story - how she'd felt different from as long as she could remember, but kept it a secret, even from her parents. She had never even dressed as a woman until she had moved out of her parents' home and rented a flat of her own, and that confirmed in her own mind who she really wanted to be, because it was obvious to her that just dressing as a woman was never going to be enough. Sadly, both her parents were dead now, but had left her very little money as they rented their house, and as she had been an only child, she was on her own. I could sense the loneliness in her and realised that making friends at this stage of her transitioning would have been very difficult.
Tina also told me that she was a nurse. In fact, she'd done her training before she had started to transition. She'd decided to resign from the hospital where she worked, but when she explained her decision to the Director of Nursing, she gave Tina an excellent reference and contacted her counterpart at another hospital who kindly allowed her to start working there as a female.
When we finally went back to the clinic, it didn't seem right to just say goodbye since I felt we were becoming friends, so we exchanged phone numbers, and a week later we met for lunch. We're about the same size, and during the course of our conversation it turned out that she didn't have many clothes, so I invited her to come home with me since I had quite a few dresses, skirts and tops that I no longer wore and so I asked her if she would be interested in having them. She jumped at the chance, and we had a pleasant afternoon going through my wardrobe, and I must say I thought Tina looked better in my clothes than I did. It even occurred to me that perhaps I wasn't taking enough care with my own dressing, since pulling on a pair of tracksuit pants and a top is always the easy option, but not particularly feminine.
We spent so much time that afternoon, that before I realised it Eddie had arrived home from work and I held my breath in case he 'read' Tina, but no, he just assumed that she was a woman friend. I think Tina had an anxious moment too, and felt she had passed another milestone when Eddie accepted her as a woman without a second thought.
Tina's been saving very hard to complete her transition with reassignment surgery and that's scheduled to occur in about a month. She's learned so much about being a woman, even in the time I've known her, and perhaps Pam and I have been able to help her in that regard. I don't think she ever intended to get involved with a man until Paul came along, and of course both Pam and I warned her about becoming too involved with anyone, while at the same time thinking that some interaction with men would be good for her as part of her education in living as a woman. Now, sadly, it seemed her first experience had gone horribly wrong and there was nothing we could do about it.
I really must try to get some sleep. Perhaps things will look brighter in the morning.
Paul: Sunday 17th February 3am
It's no good — I just can't get to sleep. I still can't believe it — well I suppose I can believe it because Tina wouldn't have told me if it wasn't true. I had absolutely no idea! I keep going over and over everything that's happened in the past month and there was never any suggestion that she wasn't anything other than a regular woman. If anything, she's more feminine than many women I've met. I've only once seen her wear pants, she always prefers dresses and skirts. Was that a clue? If it doesn't sound crazy, was she too feminine? It's funny but I can't think of her as anything but 'she', even though I know now it's not strictly true.
I'd fallen in love with her. It even crossed my mind that I might eventually ask her to marry me. Thank goodness I got to learn the truth. At least no-one else knows apart from her doctors and Jenny and Pam. I'm sure Eddie doesn't know, he'd never be able to keep that to himself. Well, I'm going to keep it to myself too. I wish I could get to sleep. I've got work in the morning.
Tina: Monday 18th February 10pm
When I woke up this morning for a moment I couldn't think where I was. Then I saw Jenny sitting patiently beside the bed and all the memories of yesterday came flooding back and a tear formed in my eye. Jenny smiled at me and said “Good morning, Tina. You were totally exhausted last night so I let you sleep as long as you needed.”
It was then that I gasped and said, “What time is it? I'm due at work at nine o'clock.”
Jenny replied “It's alright. I've rung and told them you aren't well and won't be in today. I'm sure they can manage.”
I'm sure she's right. We all tend to think of ourselves as indispensable, but it's not true of course. Just then the telephone rang, and Jenny went to the kitchen to answer it. I couldn't hear what was said, but when she came back, she said “That was Paul. He was worried about you, so I reassured him you had stayed the night with us. I think he must have rung your apartment. He asked if he should speak to you, but I told him that that might not be a good idea and he seemed relieved at that.”
“Oh Jenny, what should I do?” I asked her. I was on the point of crying again.
“What you should do is carry on with getting ready for your surgery and being the best woman, in fact the best person you can possibly be.” was her reply. “What's happened is very sad of course, but you just have to write it off to experience.”
Jenny is so wise. There is nothing else I can do. I've made a mistake and now I have to live with it. Paul is a lovely man, but he can't cope with who I am, and I can understand that. In time he will find someone else, and he deserves that. Perhaps I will find someone in the future as well, but for now I have to concentrate on my treatment, just as Jenny says.
Paul: Monday 19th February 11pm
I rang Tina's apartment this morning at 9am. She didn't answer and I wasn't sure if she had gone to work. I started to worry so I rang Jenny, and she told me Tina was there. I asked if I should speak to her and was rather relieved when she said it wasn't a good idea. I'm such a coward sometimes, but I really didn't know what I would have said to her. It was all my fault what happened, but it's a pity she didn't tell me about herself before. We could still have been friends I think, but it's gone too far for that.
To be continued.
Three Points of View - Part 5
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Paul: Sunday 14th April 9am
I feel so ashamed of myself. I've tried to forget Tina, but I can't. Several times walking down the street I thought I saw her, but it was just someone who looked a bit like her. I'd like to ring her and find out how she is, but I don't feel I can.
Last night I went to a brothel. There! I've admitted it to myself. I still don't really understand why. Was I trying to prove that I'm a heterosexual man, despite the fact I can't get Tina out of my head? That's hardly the way to do it. It cost me quite a lot of money too. The girl Tracey was quite nice, she was pretty too, but when it came to the crunch, I just couldn't go ahead with it. I actually apologised to her.
The moment I came out of the shower, wearing only a towel, I knew that I shouldn't be there. Tracey asked what was wrong and was it my first time at a brothel? I said, 'Yes it was', so she set about trying to 'encourage' my interest but all to no avail. Finally she suggested that perhaps I would like a break and a cup of tea and went to fetch one for each of us. I suspect she thought that if I relaxed, then things might go better.
In retrospect it must have looked funny. There was me dressed in a bathrobe, and her in a diaphanous robe that did little to conceal her black lingerie and stockings, and we were sitting in two easy chairs and drinking tea together! Anyway, suddenly I found myself telling her everything about me and Tina. It was actually a relief to finally talk to someone about it. She wasn't judgmental. In fact, she asked me what I intended to do about it, and of course I had to say that I didn't know. How I couldn't contact her now after the way I had treated her.
“Did you come here because falling in love with a transgendered woman made you feel less of a man?” she asked.
I know I flushed at that because it was true.
“But you can't forget her,” she said, “So what do you think that means?”
“It means that I still care about her.” I replied, and the realisation hit me like a bolt of lightning.
“Well, I would have said your feelings are much stronger than that,” she remarked. Then with that perception which all women have she went on “So I was right. You've come here because you wanted to affirm your masculinity.” She went on, “I think you've made a fundamental mistake about Tina. She is a woman you know, just as much as I am, and she always has been. She just had a bit of a plumbing problem before, and now you tell me even that is being fixed.”
I felt so embarrassed. She was right of course in everything she said. A proper man would not have felt that his masculinity was threatened by Tina's physical past. Of course she is a woman and always has been. Why has it taken me so long to realise that? I'm learning a lot about myself.
In the end I got dressed and came home after what turned out to be a rather expensive therapy session. It certainly taught me some things about myself, but I still don't feel that I can contact Tina. I've misunderstood her so much, I'd feel too embarrassed to talk to her now, even if she'd be prepared to talk to me.
Jenny: Tuesday 21st May 10pm
I ran into Paul today. It's been months since I've seen him of course, and it happened quite by chance. I was out shopping and stopped to look at one of those tables of cheap DVD's outside a shop. Most are rubbish of course, but occasionally I find I can pick up a gem amongst the dross. I became aware that someone else was also scanning the table and looking up I saw it was Paul.
“Oh hello Paul, how are you?” I said.
“Oh fine,” he replied, but I had a sense this was not strictly true. He had lost weight and he had an air of sadness about him.
“And how are you?” he said, and I replied that I was fine, knowing what would come next.
“And Tina, how is she?” he said after a slight hesitation.
“She's fine. She's completed her treatment and she's really good,” I said.
“Oh good, good,” he responded. I felt that he wanted to say more but didn't know if he should. Finally, he said “Well, it's been good to see you again.” A pause, then “Please give my regards to Tina.” That came out in a rush.
“I will,” I promised, and we parted ways. I felt sorry for him. He obviously still has feelings for Tina, but has he come to terms with who she is? I certainly wasn't going to tell him that she was coming round to tea tonight.
I came home and started to cook the tea which was a simple casserole. That gave me plenty of time to have a shower and change. I selected a new dress I bought a couple of weeks back in a lovely peach satin material and put on stockings and some four inch heels that matched the colour of the dress. After I had put on my make-up and fixed my hair, I did a twirl in front of the mirror, quite pleased with how I looked.
When Tina rang the doorbell this evening and I opened the door, she looked gorgeous as usual. She has certainly developed an amazing fashion sense and always wears a pretty dress when she goes out in the evening. In fact, without ever saying anything she has had quite an effect on me. I guess like so many women who have married and had a couple of children, I had rather let things slide in my presentation, preferring comfort to fashion. In turn this had led to things sliding in the bedroom department. It's not that Eddie and I are never intimate, but it had become rather routine. In fact, there was one day when Tina came round, looking like a fashion plate as usual, and I couldn't help noticing the way that Eddie looked at her. It was then I realised that he used to look at me that way but hadn't for quite some time.
'OK girl, it's time you got things together again,' I said to myself. I wasn't worried that Eddie would actually try it on with Tina, and I knew she would never do anything to betray our friendship, it was just that she took the trouble to look pretty and feminine and that's what men like to see in a woman, and why wouldn't they? Well, the upshot was that I started to do a bit of shopping, buying a few nice skirts and dresses, and wearing them in preference to the tracksuit pants that had become rather a fixture in my dressing. I also bought some rather sexy lingerie and started wearing stockings again. The net result was that my husband started to lust after me again and what wife doesn't want that? Things definitely improved in the bedroom department, so I had a lot to thank Tina for.
“Hello Jenny,” said Tina, “My, that's a lovely dress. Is it new?” I told her that it was and complimented her on her dress too. If she's noticed that I am taking more care with my appearance, she's been too polite to say anything.
Eddie made an effort too, wearing his grey pants, a white shirt and tie, so we were quite a glamorous threesome as we sat down to dinner.
During the evening, when Tina and I were alone in the kitchen putting away the dishes I said to her “I ran into Paul today, well not literally of course!”
“Oh!” said Tina, and she coloured slightly “And how was he?”
“He seemed alright, but I think he's lost weight,” I replied. “He asked after you of course and sends his regards.”
“Oh.” said Tina again. What is it about love that makes people so tongue-tied? I debated whether I should say more. It's a difficult situation. I wonder if she has been out on any dates since breaking up with Paul, but I suspected she hasn't.
I could easily have said, 'I think you still love Paul and I'm sure he loves you, so why don't you meet and sort things out?' The thing is, love between two people is a very personal thing and there is a line which even a good friend shouldn't step over, so in the end I said nothing. I hope I made the right decision.
Tina: Tuesday 21st May 11pm
I had dinner with Jenny and Eddie this evening. It's so sweet of them to ask me around. I have had them round for a meal at my place of course. Jenny looked very pretty in her new dress. It's a peach coloured satin and really suits her. She seems to be taking more care with her appearance lately which is good. I couldn't say anything of course, but she didn't seem to be bothering too much until recently. I debated with myself whether to say anything, but thought it was better not to.
I'm not saying it of Jenny in particular, but I've noticed that some women, particularly the married ones, only seem to dress for comfort in jeans or 'trackie-daks', and I'm sure their husbands would prefer to see them in dresses more often. I wonder if it's because they always had the option to wear what they wanted that they don't appreciate the choices they have the way women like me do? Perhaps having experienced life from the point of view of both sexes, we transgendered women understand better how men see things, and even if they say nothing, how they like their women to appear pretty and feminine.
Anyway, Jenny told me she had met Paul and he'd asked after me. I'm sure I blushed at hearing his name. Why does he still have that effect on me after all this time, and especially when I think of the way we broke up? He's never tried to contact me, so obviously he has no feelings for me anymore, if indeed he ever really had. No, that's not fair. I'm sure he did have feelings for me before he knew who I really was. Why do I think about him so often? I wish I didn't, but all sorts of things cause him to pop into my head. I should be mad with him because a really nice male nurse at the hospital asked me out recently and I told him I was sorry, but I already had a boyfriend. That's not true of course, so why did I say it?
To be continued
Three Points of View - Part 6 (Final)
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Tina: Thursday 18th July 10pm
What an amazing day it's been. First I had a day off work which I arranged so that I could go to see my surgeon for my six-month check-up. When I first started my transition, I used to be so embarrassed when I had to have an examination 'down there', even though the staff were totally professional and 'matter-of-fact' about it. Now I find that I can be 'matter-of-fact' too. Anyway, Mr Forrest pronounced himself very pleased with how I had healed and said that he would not need to see me again until it was time for my annual check-up.
“Do you have any questions?” he asked, and when I hesitated, he went on “Most of my patients ask if it's alright to start intimate relations with a man, and in your case, it's certainly alright, should you wish to do so.” I hope I didn't blush at his frankness.
“Another thing I'm often asked is can a man tell that you've had an operation and my answer is 'no'. Everyone is different in appearance, including genetic women. Of course, if you entered into a serious relationship the question of you being unable to have children would come up. Who knows, one day even that might be possible, but not as medical techniques stand at present.”
Mr Forrest had answered the two questions I should have asked, and obviously I wasn't the first of his patients who was too embarrassed to ask them. Anyway, I stood up and shook his hand and thanked him for all he had done for me. Then I went to the reception area and paid my bill. After that, I thought I might have some lunch, so I left the building and went to a small cafe close-by. I ordered a salad roll and a cup of coffee, and then from force of habit, I walked to the table at the very back of the room. I used to do that when I was starting my transition and was afraid someone would 'read' me, and old habits die hard.
I was half-way through eating my roll when the bell on the door tinkled as someone came in. I glanced up and froze. It was Paul, and he wasn't alone. A very pretty young woman was with him, and they selected a table near the door, after which Paul went to the counter to order. My heart started to pound. We were the only people in the cafe as it was a bit early for the lunchtime crowds, and there was no way I could leave the cafe without him seeing me, so all I could do was sit still and hope. Fortunately, the young woman took the seat with its back to the door, so Paul, when he sat down, had his back to me. I couldn't help glancing several times in their direction. Was she his girlfriend or even his wife? I felt a flash of jealousy which was stupid. I knew that I should be happy for him. No doubt this young woman was a genetic female and perfect for him. I glanced once more and that was a mistake as I caught her eye, and quickly looked away, hoping she wouldn't think anything of it. I concentrated on my roll and hoped they would not stay too long.
When I heard the sound of a chair being pushed back, I dared not look but almost sighed with relief as they must be leaving. Then I heard footsteps approaching and had no choice but to look up.
“Hello Tina,” Paul said.
“Hello Paul,” I replied.
“May I sit down?” he asked, and I dumbly pointed to a chair. I wondered what was going on. Had his companion realised who I was, and was angry and sent him over to sort things out? The last thing I wanted was to be in the middle of a 'domestic'.
“How have you been?” he asked. I was puzzled. Where was this going?
“I'm fine thank you,” I replied, and then searching for something to say I added, “Won't your ... err companion expect you back?”
“My compan...?” he laughed. “Of course, you've never met. I'll introduce you.” and turning round he beckoned to the young woman. She was watching us and got up in response and walked over. I was frozen to the spot.
“Tina, I'd like you to meet my sister June,” said Paul. His sister! Of course! Now I remembered that he had a sister. I knew I was blushing hotly at my foolishness.
“It's very nice to meet you at last Tina. Paul's spoken so much about you.”
“Nothing bad I hope?” Somehow, I made the conventional response.
“Oh no! Quite the reverse in fact,” she responded. Then turning to Paul she said, “Sorry Paul I have to get back to work. My new boss is rather a stickler for timekeeping, but you stay here. I'm sure you and Tina have a lot of catching up to do.” With that, she kissed him on the cheek and turning to me said “I hope we can catch up again, Tina.” and then she was gone.
Paul was looking at me now. “Did you think she was my girlfriend?”
“Well, I didn't know what to think and I certainly didn't want to cause you trouble,” I said.
He looked very serious now. “The fact is I don't have a girlfriend. I did once and like an idiot, I broke up with her. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Why didn't you contact me?” I asked.
“Well, I thought you would tell me to get lost, and you'd have had every right to. I thought you might tell me that just now when I walked over.”
“But I didn't,” I replied
“No, that's true, you didn't,” he said quietly, and then he reached out and took my hand where it rested on the table. I realised how much I had missed the touch of his hand on mine. It felt so good. “Tina, do you believe in second chances?”
“Of course I do. Goodness knows I've made mistakes too. The biggest one was waiting so long before taking steps to become the person I really am.”
“I understand that now,” he replied quietly, and I believe that he meant it. “Look, I hate to say this, but I have to go back to work now as I've got some appointments, but I must see you again soon — please? Perhaps tomorrow or Saturday for dinner?”
“Well, I'll have to check my diary,” I said teasing him, but when he looked so crest-fallen I knew it was a mistake and immediately said, “I'm sorry Paul, I'm pulling your leg, tomorrow evening would be fine.”
He beamed and said “It's a date then. Shall I pick you up at seven o'clock?”
Yes, I was teasing him, but there was a reason why I talked about checking my diary. I don't want to seem too easy to get, even though I know that Paul is the man for me and always will be. Nevertheless, I want him to woo me as a woman should be wooed, yes wooed and won.
Well, I've already decided what to wear tomorrow evening, so now it's time to get my beauty sleep.
Paul: Saturday 20th July 8 am
What an amazing couple of days I've had. Surely fate took a hand, and I will be forever grateful that it did. It started when my sister June rang Thursday morning and asked if we could meet up for a coffee at lunchtime. She's only just moved here and wanted to ask me something about the electrics in her new apartment, me being an electrical engineer. I didn't have the heart to tell her that she really needed an electrical contractor. Anyway, I told her about a small cafe which was about midway between our respective workplaces, and we actually met at the door. June took a seat, and I ordered coffees and rolls at the counter and sat opposite her and facing the door. As we discussed her problem I sensed that she was not really concentrating on what I was saying.
“Paul,” she said, “There's a young woman sitting at a table at the back of the cafe and she keeps looking at us.”
My heart thumped as I said, “What does she look like?”
“Well she's in her early twenties I'd say, very pretty with long black curly hair and she's wearing a green dress.”
Green! Tina's favourite colour. June looked at me. “You think it's Tina don't you.” It was a statement, not a question.
“I can't turn around, that would be too obvious,” I said.
June smiled. “Allow me to show you my secret weapon,” she said, and reaching into her handbag pulled out a small powder compact. “Here's a mirror,” she said flipping it open. “Just hold it discretely to your side and you can see her for yourself.”
“Supposing she looks again?” I said.
“She won't,” said June. “I just caught her eye and now she's determinedly not looking in our direction!”
I took the compact and angled it towards the back of the cafe. One glance was enough — it was definitely Tina.
“Paul, I never did find out why you two broke up,” said June. “Everything seemed to be going so well and then suddenly you weren't going out anymore. What I do know is that you still care for her very much. If you ever want to get back together again, now is your chance. Call it 'woman’s intuition' if you like but I suspect she still has feelings for you, otherwise why did she look over at us, and I'm sure it wasn't the first time. Anyway, you're the man, it's up to you to make the first move.”
June was right of course. I've been a wimp most of my life, but if I didn't take this chance I'd regret it for the rest of my life, so I stood up and walked over to where Tina was sitting. When she heard me approach, she looked up and my heart nearly stopped, she looked so beautiful. For a moment I was afraid she'd tell me to 'get lost' but she didn't. Instead, we talked and even though I couldn't stay long because of work, we arranged a dinner date for last night, and what a night it was.
I managed to fit in a haircut and even pressured the local dry cleaners to clean my best suit in record time, so I was as spruced up as I could manage when I called for her at seven o'clock with an armful of flowers. My heart was pounding as I waited for her to open the door and I confess I was nearly struck dumb when I saw her. “Beautiful' doesn't describe it. She was wearing a green silk knee-length dress and her hair was piled high on her head, something similar to how she looked when I accompanied her to the wedding. She loved the flowers and asked me in while she put them in a vase, and then we were off to the best restaurant in town.
It was a fabulous evening. I picked a restaurant which is famous for its food and also has a small band for dancing. To be honest I could have been eating fish and chips. Just being with Tina again was all that I wanted. We talked and we danced, and while we danced we kissed, something I thought was never going to happen again.
When we sat down again, I knew it was now or never, so I took a deep breath. Tina's hand was on the table, so I reached out to hold it as I looked into her lovely eyes.
“Tina, I have to be straight with you. I don't want to just be your friend. I love you. I knew that when I thought it was too late, and you've been on my mind ever since we broke up. I want to marry you, I truly do.”
“Paul, you realise that while we can now get married, I can't have children?” she said.
“Yes I do, but I can live with that,” was my response. “Perhaps we can even adopt a child if that is what you would like?”
She smiled at that. I think she realised that I was serious.
“Well, we'll see,” was her response.
When I dropped her off at her apartment we kissed again — a full-on kiss that held so much promise of things to come. She didn't invite me in, but that was alright. I'm determined not to do anything to risk my second chance. Tina can call the shots and I'll go along with anything she decides.
Tina: Saturday 20th July 8am
What a wonderful evening with Paul I had last night. He looked so handsome when he called for me and bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers too. I spent so many hours getting ready, but the look on his face made it well worthwhile. Somehow, I wasn't surprised when we went to a restaurant with a small dance floor and a trio. The food was delicious and of course, we danced and even kissed while we danced. The most important thing though was Paul told me that he loves me and wants to marry me. He didn't exactly ask me, and I was glad of that as it's still too soon, but the time will come when he does ask me and I will say 'yes', I know that.
We've arranged to have dinner again next Saturday, and who knows, I might be ready to take the next step.
Paul Monday 22nd July 8 pm
I've taken a bit of a chance today. I just rang Tina and asked if instead of having dinner in town, she might like to go away for the weekend with me to a lovely place in the country that one of my workmates told me about. When she sounded a little reluctant, I hurriedly said “We'll have separate rooms of course”, and she laughed at that and said, “Well alright, I'd love to go.”
I feel as excited as a schoolboy on his first date. This woman does something to me that no-one has ever done before.
Tina Monday 22nd July 9pm
Paul is such a sweet guy. He just phoned and asked if I'd like to go away with him for the weekend. I was taken by surprise, and I guess I must have waited a fraction too long before accepting as he hurriedly said that we'd have separate rooms! Well, I'll have to think about that. Is it still too soon? Maybe not.
Paul Sunday 28th July 7am
I can hardly believe it. Yesterday we drove up here to the resort. I was fully prepared to take two rooms, but they also had a vacant one-bedroom chalet and Tina said: “Why don't we take that instead?” Of course, I was more than happy to do so.
We both felt a little shy, and getting ready for dinner in the restaurant, I went for a walk while Tina dressed, and afterwards she sat in the small lounge room while I got ready, which of course took a lot less time. I'm not complaining of course, Tina looked so amazing in her evening gown, I was literally speechless for a moment before I managed to find some heartfelt compliments. She blushed of course, but I could tell that she was really pleased with my reaction.
The dinner was superb, and I was tempted to ask her to marry me while we were dining, but somehow it didn't seem quite the right moment, so I decided to wait just a bit longer. After all I didn't even have a ring to offer her.
Afterwards we returned to the chalet. I think a couple of glasses of wine each had broken the ice because we both knew what was going to happen, and we both wanted it. It was Tina's first time of course, and it felt like my first time too, realising what I had been missing before. What happened next will remain in my heart forever.
When Tina said to me “I knew it would be good with you, but I never imagined just how good it would be”, my heart swelled to almost bursting. It was then that I asked her to marry me. It slipped out almost before I realised what I was saying but thank goodness she said 'yes'.
Tina looks so beautiful now as she sleeps, her head lying on the pillow next to mine. I could lie here all day, just looking at her, but there's just been a knock on the door to announce that our breakfast has arrived. We're back at work tomorrow and in the next few days. we are going to a jeweller to find the perfect engagement ring. I want the whole world to know that I have found the woman of my dreams.
Jenny Saturday 3rd August 11pm
It was lovely to have Tina and Paul come to dinner this evening. Tina was so excited as she showed off the magnificent diamond engagement ring that she and Paul had chosen during the week. Paul was bursting with pride as he gazed at her adoringly. It was great to see them so much in love.
Later in the evening when I managed a few minutes alone with Tina, she told me how she and Paul had spent last weekend together.
“And how was it?” I asked.
Blushing, she replied “It was truly wonderful, Jenny. I thought it would be good, but I was blown away with just how good it was.”
She looked serious for a moment and went on “I hope you won't think me cold and calculating, but I knew Paul was going to ask me to marry him, and I had to be completely sure that he accepted me totally as a woman. If I'd had the slightest doubt I would have had to walked away. It would have broken my heart to do that, but it wouldn't have been fair to either of us. Thank goodness though all my questions were answered, and I was able to say 'yes' without any reservations.
I hugged Tina and said “No, I don't think that was 'cold and calculating' at all. After what happened previously, I think it just shows how you have matured as a woman. It's one of the most important decisions you'll ever make in your life. Believe me, I felt the same way when Eddie and I got together.”
When we returned to the lounge room, Tina sat beside Paul and held his hand as they told us about their plans to get married in a few months' time. It seems I am to be 'Matron of Honour' again, and Eddie was asked to be Best Man, and was very happy to accept.
Thank goodness my prayers were answered, and things have turned out so well.
“All's well that ends well” as the poet says.
THE END
I would like to acknowledge that the inspiration for this story came from Louise Anne's story 'Perspectives' where she tells a story from the points of view of nine different characters. I have not been so adventurous and limited my story to three characters only!
Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net