This story was originally called ‘Valentines Treat’ but I renamed it so that it wouldn’t be a ‘seasonal’ piece for February only…….
The Best of Friends – 1608 words
“No, I would never move to Italy – We’ve discussed it all before and I just don’t understand why you would want to go for a holiday, let alone live there!” George defiantly protected his little world based around the small town of Newmarket and, as usual, showed no interest in leaving England. He rustled his newspaper and carried on reading.
George’s wife, Jane, gave up at that very point. She had spent two years living in Italy when she was younger, and since the children had grown up and moved out, she had just hoped that George may change his mind – enjoy a second life in Italy, now that he had experienced his first three months of retirement. ‘The children could understand it, so why couldn’t he? ‘Perhaps it’s his age’ she thought.
“Harry and Linda are coming for dinner tomorrow night, so I’m nipping out to get the food” she said to her husband.
“Ok, bye dear” said George, without looking up from his paper.
Jane headed off to Waitrose and spent a whole hour studying the labels, so as to choose only the best ingredients, eventually buying far more than was on her shopping list.
The next day, Jane was in her element; amusing herself in the kitchen and carefully chopping, slicing and marinating the wonderful array of pungent foodstuffs.
“You’re going a bit far with all that aren’t you? It’s just dinner – how much is all this costing?” protested George as he entered the kitchen.
“Don’t worry George, just for once. I want to treat us all” said Jane, shooing George away with her hands.
“Humph” George moaned as he went back to settle with his paper on the sofa. Jane sighed and continued with her gastronomic challenge.
‘Ding Dong!’
“That’s Harry and Linda, George!” Jane shouted, as she wiped her hands quickly on the tea towel and rushed to answer the door.
Excitedly she opened the front door and greeted them. “Hi both, come in, come in”.
After polite kisses and welcomes, Jane headed back to the kitchen and George served up some drinks for their guests. George enjoyed that part of socializing – organizing the drinks – and the general chit chat about the weather, politics and suchlike.
Harry tried to get away to the kitchen, with a half hearted excuse, but Linda beat him to it. She felt immediately uncomfortable with George and Harry both in the same room.
“How are you love? It all smells fabulous out here! What are you cooking?” Linda asked scanning the worktop for clues.
“I’m fine thanks, Linda. I’m creating an Italian feast. I really think it’s time we pulled out that 1988 bottle of Chianti and enjoy ourselves for the here and now – what’s the point in waiting any longer?” enthused Jane. Linda had to agree.
A little later, the dining room was filled with garlic, tomato and rosemary aromas as Jane presented the starter to her husband and their guests – a beautifully decorated Brushetta.
Harry knew the answer already, as he asked Jane “This is Italian Brushetta isn’t it?”
“Yes Harry it is”. Jane was so beside herself as she confirmed Harry’s question as being correct, she could not even eat for a few minutes. Harry beamed from ear to ear. ‘So this is really it….. That was the sign’ he thought happily.
The evening continued with fine food, wine and conversation. Two of them were enjoying themselves, but George and Linda found it difficult to keep the conversation going from their part. Seeing how their respective husband and wife were laughing and enjoying themselves was making both of them feel more and more guilty. With a knowing look and nod, they decided that now was the time; time to end their year long affair with each other.
It was such a shame, as George and Linda only wanted the same out of life as each other – just the simple things, like watching films at home, going for country walks and just being together; cuddling, kissing or holding hands. The day of George and Jane’s daughter’s wedding had been the starting point. What a beautiful, happy and simple day, committing to their vows in the registry office and having the reception in the local hall. Out in the gardens, George and Linda had their first kiss. It had been fuelled by alcohol, but wonderful nonetheless. Life changed from that moment on for all of them.
George had been really unhappy with his wife’s endless desires for money and her longing urge to go back to Italy. She had been a good wife and Mother, but had changed once the kids had moved out.
Linda, on the other hand, had been drowned emotionally by her husband’s reluctance to make love and George had shown her the attention she had needed.
It was wonderful whilst it lasted and they could see a future together, content and relaxed, but the guilt of it all had overcome the desire to be together. The vows they had taken, the family lives they had shared together, the ups and downs, and the children themselves, who, although grown up, would be greatly saddened by it. Their getting together could well ruin their family social lives altogether, not to mention the friendship of their best friends and spouses. They both decided they would make their decision that evening and now they had – their affair was over.
Valentines Day was fast approaching, and Linda decided she was going to surprise her husband with a dinner for two. George had also decided to make a little more effort for a change.
Entering his wife’s workplace for the first time on February 14th, he asked at the reception for directions to her office, flowers and envelope in hand. George had waited the few days, as Valentines seemed the perfect day to make things up and get his relationship with Jane right again. He wanted his marriage back. As he neared her desk, he felt ever so slightly nervous, yet she wasn’t there to greet him when he arrived.
On her desk was a huge bouquet of flowers. George became curious during the wait for his wife’s return, to find out what another man might put in his message to someone. Not thinking that they could be for her, he read the note ‘Darling Jane, I am so pleased that you have made the right decision. I cannot wait for us to leave and move to Italy, I will love you forever Harry xxx’
“What on Earth!” George could not help but shout out.
“What on earth are you doing here George?” Jane said startled, as she appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Quietly doing some photocopying round the corner, contemplating her exit with Harry, she was shocked to hear George’s voice, let alone the outburst. His facial expression was one she hadn’t seen before – kind of a mix between anger and shock, yet tinged with the possibility he might burst into tears any moment. She then saw the note in his hand. “I um, I was, well, I mean….” She started to say.
“What, Jane, is going on? What is this? What is this Italy stuff….. and with Harry?” demanded George.
The office had become deadly quiet, and Jane realised her boss and colleagues were all listening and George’s voice was increasing in pitch.
“Lets go for a coffee George”. She murmered at him, flicking her head towards the audience. They left straight away.
Meanwhile, in their house a few blocks away, Harry had been struggling to find a way to inform his wife, Linda, that he was leaving….. to be with Jane. It seemed so curt, so final, and he dreaded her reaction. It might have been easier if he disliked Linda, but he didn’t – he loved her really, just more like a friend at that point, rather than a lover. She was out in the kitchen busying herself cooking dinner for Valentines – for him and her – and she was so bright in spirits today, he started to feel a bit queasy with the stress – and guilt. Valentines Day. Perhaps it isn’t the day to do it, but he could not hold it in any longer…..
“Linda, there’s something I need to tell you” he said seriously as he entered the kitchen.
“Yes dear, but I am busy out here, I…..” She caught a glimpse of his face as she turned to pick up the flour. “What’s wrong Harry; you look very pale?”
“I’ve been having an affair….. with Jane” he stated quietly, then he looked down to the floor.
Linda stood there staring at him, still holding the knife, listening to his stammering voice laying out the full details and explanation of his actions. ‘How could he? What is going on?’ She thought. She was the guilty one, not him. She had chosen to stay with him, and now this. She was stunned.
“I am sorry love, I really am. I think it’s best if I go out for a little while” suggested Harry, not really knowing what to do for the best.
“No!” shouted Linda as she suddenly realised what this meant. What if she could convince George to change his mind back?
“There’s no need to go out, just give me a few minutes, and I will be back” She said, putting the knife down. She grabbed her handbag and keys and rushed out the door, leaving Harry somewhat bemused.
‘Oh my gosh, what have I done?’ he thought.
Jane and George had been in the coffee shop a short while and were having a very intimate conversation. George had come clean about himself and his feelings about Linda. It was all rather surreal, uncovering the truth of the scenarios of the last year. Suddenly, without really knowing why, George burst out laughing and Jane followed suit. They sat there a good ten minutes, unable to speak, as the hysteria took them over and they both realised they all felt the same. It could all work out for the best for everyone and that seemed rather funny at the time.
George’s mobile started ringing. It was Linda. “Erm, hello, what can I do for you?” George was still trying to cover up; it had become a habit to pretend Linda was someone else.
“George, you won’t believe it, Harry and Jane have been having an affair! They want to go off to Italy together! Can you believe it? I, I, I think this could maybe all work out for us…” Linda was talking so fast, George had to interrupt her quickly.
“Yes Linda, I know” he said.
Following a month of deep conversations and soul searching, an Italian feast was on the menu again for the four of them. This time, the celebration was the farewell of Harry and Jane who were moving to Italy and a new life also for George and Linda. The divorces would be settled amicably, so a toast to the two new happy couples was first on the list of events that evening.
“Cheers, to best friends!” they all cheered in unison, as they clinked their four champagne glasses together.
By Sandra M Dean (copyright 2009/2010)
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