Chasing Rainbows (20 page)

Olivia watched Shaun's pert bottom moving from side to side as he walked the walk of a happy man, who didn't care and was proud.

He was genuine and Olivia watched in admiration, she might put him in her next book.

Olivia never had to make the characters up, she felt it was best to use reality and colour it with fantasy.

She drew on her life experiences and those who crossed her path on her life journey to make the characters come alive and be real.

A few minutes later Shaun was back, “Are you sure we have never met before?”

Olivia laughed, “I think I would have remembered you Shaun,” and she thanked him for the sandwich. 

She wasn't very hungry now. It would keep.

Olivia's hands were shaking when she took the glass and looked at the golden liquid that would hopefully help calm her down.

She took a large gulp to steady her nerves after what must have been one of the biggest shocks she ever had.

What were the odds of her seeing two men from her past after twenty some years on a plane to America?

It was most bizarre as not only were they all on the same plane but Doug and George were sitting next to each other.

Olivia took her bag from under the seat and eventually found her phone.

She began to tap out a message. “You will never believe who is on this plane with me, not in a million years, ever!!”

A swift reply came back, “Who?”.

“
Doug and George are sat together. I saw them coming back from the toilets”. The message went.

Olivia imagined her friend Anne jumping up and down in the kitchen typing a message back to her.

She continued , “How about that? I winked and walked on by”. She pressed 'send'.

Olivia finished her drink and ordered another one before she heard from Anne again.

“
OMG! No! Are you sure it was them? What are you going to do?

Are you going to tell them about the book?

Don't speak to them, remember what they did to you, the bastards. I had to help you heal and mop up your tears, don't forget that will you?

Bastards!! Be strong. Shall I come out? I am here for you, xxx”

Olivia smiled, Anne was like her little sister , they had known each other many years and were always there for each other.

They had many secrets and shared many adventures in the past, but she didn't need her friend right now.

She could deal with the shock of seeing part of her past on the plane. She took another drink and wondered what to do?

Anne's words came back to her ,”Remember what those bastards did to you?”

Olivia always believed that what happens to a person was somehow their choice.

Whilst she had not chosen to have her heart broken, somewhere in the complication of her mind, she felt she needed the experience for her personal learning and growth.

Being such a positive person she felt that everything that happens in life can be turned into an advantage.

Some people thought she was totally daft, totally eccentric and living in a parallel universe to everyone else.

Others knew where she was coming from and understood her.

All Olivia knew was that she was as happy as she could be, most of the time. It hadn't always been so.

A person has to make their own happiness and luck, create their own destiny and not rely on others.

Olivia began to think about George. It wasn't as thought they had an affair or anything.

It was more than twenty years ago and the details of that trip were buried somewhere in the filing cabinets that stored information, in her mind.

Now she had seen him so unexpectedly she located the cabinet at the back of her subconscious and the drawer began to slowly open.

Olivia never understood why she slept with George. She had not listened much to Jo's drunken ramblings that night in the restaurant.

Olivia's problem was always that she was gullible, naïve and liked a challenge. She loved her little adventures.

That night Olivia was led up the garden path and dropped in the pond before she realised what was happening.

Thank goodness she no longer drank to excess.   She knew it to be the root of all evil.

She was much older now and somewhat wiser.

Not all the time though and she was aware there were still mistakes to be made.

Mistakes were to be learnt form and a person had to ensure they didn't make the same one twice

As the drawer to her memories opened wider the whole 'German experience' came out without invite and brought along the feelings in the form of flash backs.

The night it all began, Olivia sat between Jo and Heather at the end of a long pine table covered in a crisp white tablecloth.

The boys sat next to them and Linda sat opposite George at the far end.

Olivia wasn't sure why Linda was not with them but she seemed to be enjoying herself with George.

Olivia had not really spoken to George since the airport when he carried her bags for her.

He was a little older than her. He was bald and she thought his arrogance and demeanour made him appear rather pompous, to say the least.

Olivia had no time for those who were 'full of themselves'; who blew their own trumpet.

She did not think it was confidence but more an obnoxious personality to be avoided.

She did not judge people, just avoided those who bothered her.

George didn't even bother her, he was just the man who organised the trip.

They were very drunk and really enjoying themselves, when out of the blue Jo began, “Look at her, the simpering bitch, she wants him, you can tell.”

Jo nodded down the table towards Linda and George.

Good grief where had that come from?

“
How do you know that?” began Olivia when she was cut short by Jo's next tirade.

“Watch them, can't you see what she is doing?”

As Jo went on Heather and Olivia smiled at each other and turned to look to the end of the table.

Linda was smiling, her eyes never leaving Georges face. He was telling her something and it all looked very cosy and innocent.

Heather piped up, “What is she doing, chatting, smiling?.

“
No”, retorted Jo. “Watch her hands on that glass”.

They looked again. Olivia noticed that Linda's forefinger and thumb were slowly going up and down the stem of the wine glass which was filled red wine.

Heather seemed totally unaware of the implications of that action and said, “ Yep, she's playing with her wine glass, so?”

Jo turned to Olivia, “Do you know what it means,” she asked.

“
Yes I do” Olivia laughed.

Jo pushed Olivia in her side, “Then tell 'numpty', will you!”

Olivia looked at Heather to see if the insult registered.

Heather was too drunk to notice that Jo had just called her a 'numpty'.

Olivia and Heather knew the stories about Jo and members of staff, so perhaps Heather was choosing to ignore the insult?

People had to keep Jo sweet if they valued their jobs and life could become very difficult back in the office.

Olivia sighed and went on to patiently explain, “Doing that with the stem of her glass with her fingers means she is stroking his penis, work it out yourself Heather, she is subconsciously tossing him off”.

Heather sat back in her seat before saying, “No way, no way, really?”

Heather began to laugh and only stopped when she took a drink from the glass she was holding, before trying the same action herself, this set her off laughing again.

Olivia sat back and raised her eyes whilst Jo continued to send daggers down the table towards Linda and George.

The other guys were engrossed in a conversation about football. They weren't interested in the ladies after spending all day together and were enjoying their 'man' time.

Jo grabbed Olivia's arm, her nails digging in tightly, “You have to stop this, it can't happen, she can't have him”.

The desperation in Jo's voice was a cause for concern and she continued quickly, “ She can't have him, you make sure of that, don't let her have him, please. You can do it Olivia, please”.

Olivia was shocked. What was this about? this woman appeared possessed, shaking her head Olivia replied, “What do you expect me to do?”

Jo's eyes narrowed conspiratorially, “We can't talk about it here, I think if Linda doesn't make her move tonight she definitely will tomorrow in Hamburg, step in between them, don't let it happen”.

Even though Jo said she could not talk about this at the table she went on, as her grip tightened on Olivia's arm, “Those rumours you heard about me, they are true, not rumours at all,”

Enough said!

Olivia decided that this was drink talking and by the morning Jo would have forgotten all she said.

How wrong Olivia was. The next morning as they boarded the mini bus, Jo said, ”Don't forget tonight, I am counting on you”.

Olivia did all she could not to sleep with George the following night.

She got drunk and forgot how impulsive and reckless she could be.

The 'just do it' attitude got the better of her.

Her pink T shirt flew across the room and the rest was history.

If only she could have seen what the aftermath of her actions were to bring, she might have behaved differently.

George's behaviour towards her changed after the night of wonderful sex.

The trip became a living hell for. Things began to happen that she could not understand.

Olivia suddenly found herself in purgatory and the worst days of her life were beginning.

The day after Hamburg things became rather strained and the group almost shunned her.

She tried to speak to Jo, who ignored her.

Olivia stood alone from the crowd and watched her friend Heather chat to Jo. Heather ignored her too.

That night when Olivia went back to her room, she found Heather and her belongs were gone.

In a blind panic Olivia went to George's room.

She thought he might know where Heather was and perhaps there might be a repeat performance of the night before.

She could do with some cuddles and kisses in the lonely place she now found herself in.

She knocked on George's door and entered, after hearing a curt, “Come in”.

George was sitting at a table writing, a half drunk bottle of Pinot Noir beside him. He did not look up.

“Yes what do you want?” he snapped and turned his cold eyes towards her.

Olivia stepped back, was this the man who the night before held her in his arms, kissed her passionately and sent ripples of ecstasy through her body?

Olivia spluttered like a little girl, “I can't find Heather and I am worried about her, have you any idea where she might be please?”

George looked her up and down with distaste, “She no longer wants to share with you and asked to be moved”.

Olivia's jaw fell open, she was lost for words.

George said , “She knows what you did, they all know what you have done”.

Panic set in as George continued, “ She said you have done her head in and she can't cope with you any longer”.

Olivia did not understand what he meant. What was going on? Why was George being like this?

As always Olivia tried to turn the situation into something positive.

She walked towards George putting her arms around his waist and nestled up to him as she said, “ Well, I suppose we can turn it to our advantage and I can stay with you tonight”.

She felt George stiffen under her touch as he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and pusher her away.

“
No you can't” he spoke harshly, “You can get out right now.”

Olivia felt as though someone had thumped her in the gut.

A large tear drop rolled down her cheek before the floodgates opened.

She stood in the middle of George's bedroom like a little girl lost and all alone.

George took her by the arm. He led her to the door and threw her out into the corridor, slamming the door shut.

Olivia lost her footing and fell on to the carpet just as a couple were walking by. They looked at her as they went past. They stepped over her and carried on walking.

As Olivia's face hit the floor the tears stopped and she jumped up.

She banged on the door, “Please George, what has happened? Please let me in”.

The tears now were in free flow and dropping onto the carpet.

She continued to beg until the door opened a little and George peered out at her.

In his corporate work voice he said, “Olivia just go back to your room.

I don't take kindly to others knowing my business. You should have kept your big mouth shut.