Car Share: The Recipe of Love
Chapter 1
"Liste Kayleigh. We can't tell anyone at work yet about our relationship."
"What, not even Elsie?"
"Yes, especially not Elsie. That woman would put the details of our relationship on a billboard in massive letters, if she could and then deny it when we confront her, with another one of her 'I'm saying nuffin.' replies."
"Good point. She's had nothing to gossip about since Donna and Rick gave out their wedding invitations last week."
Kayleigh wasn't as worried as John about the thought of when their relationship might finally be out in the open and how their colleagues will react. She was sure they'd all be pleased for her and John, seeing as they've been the talk of the shop for a couple of months. She gave him an adorable cuddle as the taxi driver dropped them off just outside the store's car park.
"Give over woman will ya." John chuckled. He knows she loves him as much as he loves her but what was she playing at? Someone from work was bound to witness them looking loved up in the back of the taxi. John tries to wriggle out of the cuddle but finds he can't quite manage it. Christ, she was a strong hugger, he had to give her that.
If Dave Thompson got word of their relationship, he was certain that his Scottish colleague will do all he can to make sure Kayleigh would be transferred to the Burnley or Wigan store. So they had to be careful of not giving any clues away about their relationship.
"Sorry I couldn't resist." Kayleigh says as she pulls away. The taxi driver has a knowing smirk on his face, after seeing them cuddling in the rearview mirror.
"That'll be £10.50 please." The taxi driver announces. John reluctantly hands over the right amount of money for the taxi fare. Kayleigh and John then get out of the taxi once he's paid. The taxi driver quietly mouths 'Have a nice day lovebirds' to which John sees him doing.
As they cross over the grass verge and into the car park, Kayleigh wants to hold John's hand and rest her head on his shoulder. John allows her to when he sees nobody hanging around in the car park. They're early for work that morning, an hour early as a matter of fact. They didn't know what they were going to do for the spare hour. Either head to the staff changing room and cross their fingers that the likes of Alexa, Elsie or Pamela weren't currently in there yet or spend time together in John's office in Head Office
"Did you see what that taxi driver said?" John gave a shake of the head.
"No." Kayleigh was oblivious to what the taxi driver had supposedly said.
"Cheeky arsehole mouthed a 'Have a nice day lovebirds'." John wasn't best pleased.
"John, please stop getting worked up about people knowing about us. If the worst happens and they do find out about us then we'll put our eggs in one basket...pardon the pun..." John pulls a slight cringe face before wiping it off his face with a curious look. "if Dave confronts us and demands we split up, we'll both tell that dickwad that's not going to happen. Don't let that arseclown walk over you. You've got to stand up and put him straight...are you even listening to me?" Kayleigh's fighting talk was rather inspirational and impressive to listen to, so much it made John's heart skip a beat and grow more fond of her than ever.
"Course I'm listening. I'm listening to you to describe Dave Thompson in the best way I've heard someone describe him. I'll give him hell if he takes a swipe at you, Kayleigh." Kayleigh was right, Dave Thompson needed to be stood up to. The Scot was arrogant, smug-faced and unlikable. He needed to butt out of people's love lives especially the likes of Cath Hilton's. John remembers how Dave told her two years ago, that she was better off without her cheating ex-husband and she should concentrate more on work.
"Awww John." She leans towards her and gives him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Are you deliberately trying to speed up us getting found out?" John asked. He was surprised at her change of heart.
"I might be..." Kayleigh winked he eye flirtatiously.
"You are unbelievable Kayleigh Kitson." John mutters to himself.
"Why thank you for saying, Mr Redmond." She giggles as they enter through the staff entrance doorway.
xxx
Kayleigh's waiting around for John in the car park around clocking off time. She had sent him about 10 text messages throughout her shift. John only ended up replying to 2 of the messages. Dave must have somehow been informed about her and John's relationship and he was now probably giving John the dilemma of choosing between his job or his relationship. Someone must have busted them but who? Elsie? Donna? Pamela? or that new delivery driver who looked like Danny Dyer and who clearly fancied her. Of course, she wasn't remotely interested in him because she thought he was a bit too creepy and a bit of Casanova with the ladies.
When John did finally show up, she hurried over to him and started questioning why he had taken so long to clock off. The sunshine was blazing hot outside, so much that she wished she had worn her favourite pair of sunglasses from Primark.
"John! I've been waiting for ages for you out here. What happened with Dave Thompson does he know about us?" She needed clarification on whether or not one of them may be harshly transferred elsewhere.
"Yeah, he does know about us. Someone saw us getting out of the taxi and then put two and two together. I'm surprised at whoever grassed us both up." John confirmed Kayleigh's fear that someone had in fact gone straight to Dave's office and reported the two of them.
"And what did he say?" Kayleigh had to know what was said. She didn't fancy being left in the dark on how many insults Dave had mentioned about her.
"Well, our jobs are safe if that's what you want to know." John revealed the surprising news they had been worrying over nothing.
"I don't understand." Kayleigh looks a tad confused.
"It means we can still keep our jobs, Kayleigh." John grinned. Wait until she hears about how he wriggled out potentially being sacked. She was bound to be incredibly impressed with the type of trump card he played against Dave.
"Yeah but how? You said you were sure we'd be in big trouble if and when Dave found out you were dating a member of staff." Kayleigh still couldn't get her head around how John had saved both of their jobs.
"Well..." John smiled as he begun to fill her in on the details on what exact words were said between him and Dave.
John was shown straight into Dave's office at 12:15. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't a bag of nerves. He took a seat in front of Dave. Their current scenario resembled that of a contestant facing the likelihood of being fired on The Apprentice. Dave hadn't sounded best pleased upon learning of John's blossoming relationship with Kayleigh Kitson of all people. He assumed that woman had well and truly wrapped John around her finger and dug her claws into him at the first opportunity. The Scot soon voiced his disappointment.
"What are you playing at John? Being seen off work premises, fraternizing with one of the promotions staff. Kayleigh Kitson, I told you, she was playing you like a fucking fiddle and you ignored my advice." Dave fumed, John was certain he could see thick steam coming out of Dave's large ears. Kayleigh's motivational words from earlier in the day had remained in his mind like a rewindable tape and because of her, he was able to find the ultimate strength and belief that whatever Dave threw at him about Kayleigh, John would defend her honour from the highest building in the world.
"I don't care if she is Dave. Whatever you think of Kayleigh, she's good at her job and she's a good motivator and she's the kindest member of staff." John stuck up for Kayleigh as best as he possibly can.
"I don't care what you say about her. That woman is no longer working here at this store. Give me one good reason why she deserves to stay." Dave said the harshest words John had heard him say. John had a choice at the end of the day. He expects him his colleague to make the right choice, accepting Kayleigh Kitson no longer works for their store and telling her that their relationship is over.
"Because I love her Dave." John wasn't giving up without a fight.
"Is that so." Dave was taken back by John's answer. He sat back in his chair in contemplation. Mulling over John's words over and over again. John was left to guess what horrible attempt Dave might make next in his bid to split the pair up. Honestly, this man had been getting away with pushing his weight and raising his finger at staff members throughout the store for too long. Somehow needed to say something now before Dave humiliated a member staff in those most awful of ways possible.
"Dave I'm not going to change the way I feel about her, you know." John added. Being backed into a corner was a bit uncomfortable for him and a place where he'd rather not find himself at that very moment.
"I know and I understand." Dave surprised not just John but also himself with what he was on the verge of telling him. He assumed John wasn't serious about his relationship and was having second thoughts.
"You do?" John raises in eyebrows in surprise. He can't believe what he's just heard Dave say. "Dave?" John sits forward on his seat. His hands clasped together.
"You see the first thing is John. I've been in your position...well not quite in the position of being in love. I..."
"Kayleigh, are you texting? I'm trying to tell you what happened" John sighed, shaking his head twice.
"Sorry. Sorry. I was just texting our Mandy to let her know I've kept my job." Kayleigh quickly put her phone back in her handbag. She regretted whipping it out while he was talking.
"You told Mandy about us?" John wished she hadn't because it was still early days in their he accept that sisters shouldn't keep secrets from each other. Kayleigh telling her younger sister was perfectly acceptable.
"Yeah. She's dead chuffed for me. Said she can't wait to meet you in person. Steve's been bigging you up to her. She thinks you and him are going to be inseparable because of your bromance with him." John blushed. Christ, he was already getting a rave review before he even has the first chance of meeting Kayleigh's protective sister.
"Anyway, where was I?" John had lost ground of where he had left the story of his conversation with Dave. It didn't take him long to recall the thoughtful expression written on Dave's face and to start retelling it again to Kayleigh.
I've made a mess myself, John. I clocked off one night later than I normally do, Anyway, one of the wee ladies who works alongside Kayleigh had a nasty accident on the late shift. So I decided I would help her to the First Aid room. Made sure she was patched up and well one thing led to another because she wanted to give me a kiss on the cheek for helping her. We ended up having a bit of a fumble on the floor." Was Dave seeking his own dose of sympathy?
"Bloody hell Dave this is unlike you. Kissing a member of staff from the shop floor." John looks shocked.
"Listen, John, Rachel promised she ..." Dave announces the lady's name out of nowhere, not realising it was someone well known to John.
"Rachel!" John said aloud. He was surprised but also secretly pleased because Dave could possibly face a grilling over the phone from Peter McMasters at the store's head office in Glasgow if word got to Peter about Dave taking advantage of Rachel.
"Rachel!" Kayleigh gasped with her hands covering her mouth. "Rachel and Dave!" She couldn't believe it. Rachel the minx, had got her claws into Dave Thompson of all people. Rachel had no chance with John whatsoever. So she had to move on and resort to making a play for the next person and low and behold Dave was that very person. Kayleigh really didn't wish to imagine who made the first move in the First Aid room.
"I know. Dave's shitting himself. I told him I wouldn't breathe a word to head office about what went on with him and Rachel and he promised me, he wouldn't split me and you up, by making us work in different stores." John knew she would be thrilled with him, that he went out of his way to make sure their jobs weren't going to be affected.
Kayleigh leaned forward and rewarded John with a gentle kiss on the lips. A kiss that melted his heart in such a wonderful and memorable way. He tried to respond more to Kayleigh's kiss but she pulled away, giving him a look which could only be described as a playful and mischievous. She certainly knew when to lure him and tease him as much as possible.
"Still can't believe Dave and Rachel went at it like bloody rabbits." Kayleigh wasn't giving it a rest just yet as the both of them tried to think of other things to discuss. She had thought of Rachel being her rival but was so relieved to know now that Rachel might have potentially put her job on the line after her steamy encounter with Dave.
"Alright don't rub it in. Don't go rubbing it in Rachel's face because I don't want you getting yourself in trouble especially if Rachel slaps you and you slap her back." John feared Kayleigh might not be able to keep quiet about this. He knows she doesn't hold a good record when comes to keeping things secret for long.
"I'll slap her alright. I slap her back up to Newcastle if I have to. That cow fancies any fella that smiles at her. My advice is they should run while they still can from her." Although Rachel wasn't a likely threat to her and John, Kayleigh revealed how she would react if Rachel got angry with her.
"Eh enough of that talk. I'm management, I could sack you on the spot for talking like that." John can't say he's surprised by Kayleigh's comments, knowing how Kayleigh isn't a fan of Rachel's.
"Talking like what?" Kayleigh pretends she doesn't have a clue.
"Suggesting a possible slap attack on another colleague, that's what!" John assumes she's only messing but thinks she should be reminded that you can't exactly threaten to slap someone you don't like in a working environment.
"A slap attack? sounds like something that happens to you when you get slapped in the face by a fish." Kayleigh giggles at the way John is trying to stay professional while nobody else was currently hanging around the car park other than themselves.
"You know, I'm not a fan of Rachel's either. That Geordie madam tried to wriggle her way onto the Christmas team, the other week by asking if she could be Mrs Santa...bloody cheek of her."
"Did she?" Kayleigh was surprised to see John not being nice about her Geordie colleague. "That's my mate you're talking about."
"As if...she's your mate." John shot her defence of Rachel, down within an instant. The two suddenly start laughing at the same time as each other. Their laughter reveals how much the other wasn't really being honest about what they just said.
"Hey fancy a walk to the nearest bus stop. We can stop off at Subway first and grab a Sub." Kayleigh fancied buying a Sub sandwich from Subway. She liked the Tuna Sub. She couldn't try any of the other subs because she didn't like the spiciness of them or the chunks of chicken in them. Her love for animals had always made her feel this way.
"A Football Sub? I knew you were cheeky Kayleigh but I didn't think you'd be this cheeky." John jokes with her. Smirking as he walks a little more ahead of her. She can hear him laughing to himself, probably congratulating himself on the joke he just made.
"Oi cheeky. You'll be finding yourself up there in the cheeky charts with Rachel, in a minute if you keep this behaviour up of yours." Kayleigh warns him, he better not keep this for much longer otherwise she'll be working her powers of seduction on him quicker than you could say 'Scaramouch, Scaramouch will you do the Fandango'.
"Alright...alright...keep your voice down will ya. You never who might be listening to us." John laughs as he holds out his hand to her, which she gladly accepts and then squeezes it gently. She loves the feel of his soft fingertips being linked with hers.
When they enter the Subway outlet. They get a few looks from some of the other customers inside, who were probably quietly asking themselves the same question, how come a man like John had managed to end up with a beautiful woman like Kayleigh as his girlfriend. He didn't really care whatever else they thought about him being the envy of all men in the shop.
They left there once they bought their sandwiches and soon made their way to the nearest bus stop, which was a 5 minute away, down past the DFS and the Sports Direct shop/warehouses. Although it was late September, it felt like a lovely early evening for a stroll for anyone to go on.
"Eh, did you see the look you got in Subway? Those two blokes at the counter looked like they were queuing up to shake your hand." Kayleigh brought up the small matter of the encounter, which John had found himself with two blokes who looked the spitting image of Phil and Grant Mitchell off EastEnders. They hadn't looked exactly pleased.
"Really?...that's not the impression I got." Kayleigh had clearly misread the two guys body languages. From John's POV, the two looked like they were toying with the idea of getting their own back on John, seconds after Kayleigh had barged in front of them in the queue.
Kayleigh pulled an 'hmm maybe I'm not Mystic Kayleigh after all' type of face. John was checking his pockets, to make sure he wasn't short of change for bus fare. He had enough change...thank god. He hadn't forgotten that Kayleigh still owed him £140 for the fortress lock and £4.70, £144.70 in total for these two. Perhaps she'd actually forgotten she owes him this. He doesn't think he should remind her of this yet.
"Do you have to go back to your Mandy's? You could over to mine with me instead. I'll rustle up one of my favourites." John didn't want her staying on the bus alone after he got off at his stop.
"Oooh get you, Jamie Oliver..." Kayleigh said with a little smirk.
John simply laughed off her comment that he could give Jamie Oliver a good run for his money at being a Master Chef when it comes to cooking and serving a tasty meal or two for house guests. John knew very well he wasn't as good as Jamie Oliver but he knew he had served some memorable meals in the past. A few weeks ago Paul, who had tried and enjoyed John's Lasagna, had suggested afterwards he should apply to go on the likes of MasterChef or The Great British Bake Off.
The bus came around 5-6 minutes later. Kayleigh didn't fancy getting eyed up by the young bus she left John to pay their bus fares while she went to secure their seats at the back of the bus. John rejoined her at the back of the bus. He knew he couldn't face being apart from her for a short few seconds. He personally thought that sounded a tad silly but he knew how Kayleigh would react, she would just think 'aww'.
"So you bought my Cassette tape with you today?"
"No, sorry I haven't. Do you still want it back?"
"You might as well keep it." John succumbed to the likelihood of him possibly never getting it back. Kayleigh might as well keep it herself. At least he knew it would be in safe hands with her.
"Aww, thanks, John." Kayleigh planted another kiss on his cheek. This was turning into quite a hobby for her. kissing his bloody cheek all the time. He cherished the moments where she didn't care who saw them behaving affectionately with each other. Well, they had nothing to hide from their work colleagues anymore, especially now Dave Thompson was fully aware of their budding romance, thanks to whoever was responsible for revealing he and Kayleigh were an item.
"I must have listened to your song at least 150 times by now." She couldn't get enough of the Car Share Buddy lyrics. She certainly knew each lyric a thousand times better than when she attempted to sing one of the lyrics to John in the Fiat this time last week.
"What over 7 days?" John and Kayleigh's relationship had lasted a week. They were still in the early stages of their relationship. Taking things slow just like they both said they would. John didn't mind the many kisses she had given him on the lips as well as his cheeks. Although they hadn't technically gone on a date together just yet, John felt that with her coming to his house for a meal that evening could very well be like a rehearsal for a date.
Kayleigh giggled the moment she saw the brief 'WTF, Kayleigh' look etched across John's face. No, she hadn't quite broken the Cassette Tape, like John was clearly fearing. She soon decided she should probably put his mind to rest. "It's still playable John. Just needs two batteries. Don't worry I haven't let Alfie or Chloe get their hands on it."
"Good to know I'm worrying myself over nothing then." John smiled to himself. "Kids these days will probably treat things like Cassette Tapes like Gaffa Tape or Vinyls like bloody frisbees." John's words rang true to life. Kayleigh nodded her head in agreement with him. John's words made Kayleigh realise how Mandy lets Alfie get away with playing too much football outside the neighbours' houses.
Before they knew it, the time had come for them to get off at John's local bus stop which was just so happened to be right outside a pub named the 'St Paddy McGuinness'.
"Oh, that was quick. Just when I beginning to get settled on the back seat." Kayleigh makes a suggestive mark and winks her eye at him while they're waiting for the doors to open. John hopes she's only joking. Soon as the doors open, Kayleigh hops off the bus step and onto the pavement below with the happiest of smiles. John follows behind her. His confidence soon takes hold of him once again as he reaches for her hand and gives it the gentlest of squeezes.
"You're not going anywhere, Lady." John says half-seriously but it was easy to see that he couldn't manage to keep a straight face.
"I'm not?" Kayleigh pretends that she's oblivious to this whole new situation. It came as no surprise to see that the pair of them failed indefinitely at keeping a straight face. Kayleigh's loud enough giggling caught the attention of an elderly couple who were shopping nearby. John wears the cheekiest of smiles on his face while he's busy ushering a confused Kayleigh passed the two nosy locals. When they get around the corner and into John's street, John starts to relax/feel more in his comfort zone again.
"John, what was all that just now with that couple? Do you know them?"
"Yeah. They live over the road from me, Maureen and Derek. Maureen's a right busybody. Derek's her long-suffering husband. They remind of the Bouquets off Keeping Up Appearances."
"Oh, I love Keeping Up Appearances. The Bouquet residence... the lady of the house speaking." Kayleigh impresses John with a posh accent.
"I didn't know you love that show, Kayleigh." John grins.
"Oh yeah. I always watch the repeats on Gold everytime they're shown. I love taking off Hyacinth." Kayleigh reveals why she loves this tv comedy classic.
They soon reached the front of John's house. It felt strange seeing no Fiat parked on the driveway beside the house. John had hinted to her that he might be getting the car back in a fortnight, once the MOT checks have been completed. He had to grin and bear the bus or taxi journeys to work for a little while longer. Before 7 days ago he hadn't travelled from place to place around the North West on public transport for 18 years.
"You miss the Fiat don't you?" Kayleigh could tell by his sudden quietness that he was reflecting on the memories they had of them laughing and singing aloud to some of their favourite songs which were being played on Forever FM.
"I do too." Kayleigh whispers. John smiles. He's glad to know he isn't the only one who is missing the Fiat. He soon leads her up the pathway towards the front doorstep. He frees his hand from hers, places the key in his hand and then slowly opens the door with it. He lets her sashay past him first. Kayleigh couldn't resist getting slightly closer to him as she walks past him in the hallway. John closes the door behind him.