Yes! Another chapter folks! Read on!
"No way American boy, you owe me big time, huge, massive, extraordinarily big time." Sarah complained and gestured wildly as they walked down the front path of the hotel in the nippy evening air.
"It wasn't that high."
"A ladder is that high! This was a near death experience."
"You loved it, I saw you smiling at the top."
Sarah pulled out her commemorative photo and thrust it into Jim's face. "Do I look like I'm smiling, mate?" Jim had the same photo with him too; he and Sarah were stood on top of Sydney Harbour Bridge in hideous grey jumpsuits and safety harnesses. Jim was grinning while Sarah had a death grip around his waist and her braid was blowing in the high wind. She was not smiling. More like grimacing.
"Ok, ok, but at least you've done that, no regrets."
She smiled as she remembered why she'd done something that scared her so much. "No regrets."
It had become their motto. After meeting for a barbeque dinner last night Jim had talked about his phone call with his brother and how, amongst the generally idiotic nonsense he spouted on a daily basis, he'd said something meaningful. A few beers later and Jim had talked Sarah into joining him on the bridge during her lunch break, all in the spirit of embracing life and living it to the full.
"So dinner later?" She proposed.
"Sounds great, I thought that maybe we could hit a bar or two after." Jim opened the door for her; she always looked at him like he was doing something foreign each time.
"Oooh, karaoke!"
"Nuh-uh, I don't sing." He wasn't going to budge.
"Come on, I climbed a flippin' bridge for you, no regrets, remember?" She tried the guilt routine but Jim couldn't give in.
"I'm sure everyone would regret it if I sang."
"We could duet!"
"Seriously, I'm terrible."
"It'll be wicked, if just to watch the Japanese tourists, they are hilarious fun."
"Fine, I'll go just to watch and maybe I'll buy you some of that blue lava drink." Her eyes lit up. "Shall I meet you at Harry's in an hour?" They already had a regular haunt, Jim was
beginning to feel at home here.
"Uh..." Sarah had gone pale and her eyes so very hurt.
"Are you ok, Sare?"
"That's, that's Jen, over at reception." He recognised the name of Sarah's ex immediately. A petite woman stood at reception. From behind she reminded him of Pam, but so was every woman with curly copper hair. He'd seen Pam four times already that day, his mind nor his heart could let her go.
"Would she know to find you here?"
"She doesn't know where I live now; she'd be here for my sister if she wanted to find me."
"What do you wanna do?"
"I, I, I don't know, oh no, she'll have a bump and everything. I can't see that." She was almost in tears. She moved them behind some potted plants where they'd be concealed if she turned around. "What could she want?" Sarah was panicked.
"Do you want to know?"
"I really don't know, I just never thought she'd come find me, the last time I saw her to talk to she told me she was pregnant. Oh god, why is she here?"
"It'll be ok."
"Damn her, I was doing so well, I went at least an hour today without thinking about her." She buried her head in Jim's chest and Jim naturally wrapped his arms around her. "I need to
talk to her."
"Do you want me to wait here? I can be moral support from afar."
"I'm tempted on introducing you as my boyfriend but I've never been a liar and I won't start now. If I go over there now I'll be in control, well, as much as I can be when my heart is shattered into a million pieces." It was clear she was still so hurt and Jim held her and whispered soothing words of comfort.
The curly haired ex-girlfriend was still at reception, she seemed to be signing something or writing something.
"Ok, I'm going to go. You head up stairs; I'll come up if I need you. I've still got to give my sister a lift home."
"You sure? I can hang out."
"Nah, it'll be like having an audience."
"Ok Sarah, but I'm here for you ok?" They'd only known each other a few days but he considered her a close friend. He was closer to her than anyone at work. That is if he discounted Pam.
"I know." She smiled softly through the anxiety written on her face. "Do I look ok?" She was still in her formal work uniform but looked well put together.
"Gorgeous." He tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear. Apart from slightly red eyes she did look gracefully beautiful.
Sarah nodded firmly but Jim recognised someone hanging by an emotional thread, he'd seen it all too often in the mirror. He did as she asked and left, not before taking one last glance over his shoulder. She really did look like Pam. They must have the same taste in women.