Back To Town
I had a lovely walk back home. The rain was gentle and all around me were fragrant flowers and the green of my home. I stopped at the house and assessed my belongings. There was a bit of mail that interested me. My latest People Magazine and a card from Aunt Audrey. She was my Dad's closest sister and one of the most down to earth people that I knew. She asked me how things were going and if there was anything on the romantic front. I didn't have time to write but put a reply on the back burner. It seemed early, but it was time to put on my pub clothes. I walked over and said hello to Steve and assessed the mess that was in the sink. "Hey, how are you girl?" Steve asked. "Fine and jolly" I replied, "How are you, mate?" "I didn't know whether we would see you again, given his majesty took you home." He stated. "Look," I said, "Just because I am dating Thomas doesn't mean I don't do what I'm supposed to do!" "OK, OK, I hear you." He said. I felt a bit bad for being a twit.
The evening progressed as usual, though it seemed that folks were a bit standoffish. My girlfriend Chloe finally approached. "So how was it?" she queried, "Being with such a…shall we say, unusual man?" Chloe was a soulmate…we drank together, suffered together and cried together….I knew her question did not come from idle curiosity. "Chloe, he is an absolutely wonderful person….I can't even tell you what he is like." I replied. Most of the guys at the pub just gave me their orders and kept their distance. They had heard about the hardness of Thomas's head. Closing time came and I had to walk from the pub to home. Thomas had left me a message asking me to call, no matter what the time. I called the number and he answered quickly. "Hello Cathy, how are you?" he said, "What are you doing?" I'm home Thomas…I just did my shift at the pub and I'm at the house." I replied. "Can I come to get you?" He asked, "I could walk or I do know how to drive a car." 'Thomas, let me see how it feels to be home and let's discuss what our further plans will be in the morning." I answered, not really knowing what I wanted. It was 2 am and sleep seemed most important, but I knew I would have to decide what I truly wanted to do. The dance was tomorrow and that would be absolutely paramount in deciding what to do next. Thomas would have to show his face to everyone.
Sleep came really quickly since I was thoroughly knackered. No thoughts or dreams entered my slumber.
Thomas fretted the whole evening. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins had to step in and calm him down. "What did I do wrong?" Thomas queried. Mr. Robbins said that nothing was wrong and said at the start of a relationship it was important for the parties to go separate ways and continue their lives as they were. He said that this was the way two people could know they liked each other, if they were happier together than being alone. Thomas said that he had had no real existence until Cathy entered his life. Mr. Robbins firmly disagreed. "Sir," he said, "You have lived here for years doing what you do. Go take care of those grounds, go take care of those moles and work on the hybridization of your prize winning roses. Cathy will respect you more for that than chasing after her all day." That did not please me, but Mr. and Mrs. Robbins had always made me do what was best for me. I had no father to guide me and I had no alternative. I knew that they really cared. I awoke at the crack of dawn and started to work. Cathy called some time after and invited me for breakfast at her house. Oh, I so wished she would come up here to my house but I realized that coming into her world was so important. If I couldn't do that, all bets were off. I put on my best tweed suit, braces and trousers and proceeded to walk to the village. It was mostly overland, but when I did reach the roads people sounded their horns and yelled out what seemed like derogatory comments. I tried to ignore them.
I knew where Cathy lived, in back of Tesco's, and made my way to her front door.