Killing Me Softly 19
The Storm
The walk to pub wasn't far but today the walk seemed to be going too quick. She hadn't wanted to see Dan, she hadn't planned or wanted to see any of the UCOS but yet she'd already seen three quarters.
At first Sandra hadn't seen him and had hoped he'd forgotten but something in his voice earlier told her that that was wishful thinking on her part. Eventually she spotted him nestled in a corner with a pint on the table for himself and a glass of wine for her. She could say what she liked about him but secretly she was impressed that he'd remembered something small about her like what she drank.
The fact that he's gotten her a drink meant that she couldn't even use that as a delay, now she was stuck winding through tables of people towards Dan. From the other corner of the room she caught sight of someone she recognised but when she properly turned around no one was there, Sandra was convinced that she'd seen Steve but after seeing no one, she was beginning to wonder whether she'd finally gone mad.
"Sandra?" Dan called as she stood frozen looking around.
"Yeah I'm coming." She was sat down opposite Dan now, the expression on his face told her that this wasn't going to be any expression.
"So you have a daughter?" Dan asked.
"Yeah, Olivia."
"How old is she?" Dan asked as the person she thought she'd seen sat down next to Dan.
"Sandra! I haven't seen you in a while! Hello Dan mate." The Scots man was clearly slurring his words but now that he was sat down with his pint he showed no sign of moving any time soon and in his state it didn't appear that gentle hints would get her anyway. If she had to see all her old boys then she was sure whoever was making her do this wasn't playing fair.
"Hello Steve, how are you?" Sandra asked deciding that if he was going to stick around then she might as well indulge in conversation.
"I'm okay, Charley's gone away for a hen weekend with her friend so I'm on my own." Steve downed the rest of his pint. "Anyone want a drink? My round." The other two's glasses were still full but Steve was now gone but not necessarily for long.
"So how old is she Sandra?" Dan persisted.
"3 and a half, her birthday is August 27th." Sandra sighed.
"So are you married?" Dan asked before seeing a lack of ring on her finger so he changed his question. "A partner? Is Olivia's dad about?"
"No, it's just me and her and no her dad isn't around."
"Three and a half, that means that you were pregnant when you left. Who's her dad San?" The use of the nickname he used to call her softened her and her tears glistened in her eyes but they weren't falling.
"I'm so sorry."