Chasing Rainbows (24 page)

He knew who it was and thought , “Oh no!! I better give her a ring tomorrow”.

Things hadn't been the same between them since the day of the question and both had excuses for not calling.

Olivia was busy fund raising again and he was busy organising the Gala.

Both excuses were part truths. They could have made time for each other.

Neither of them mentioned the night at the village hall.

They were uncomfortable when they did speak on the phone and absence was not making the heart grow fonder in this instance.

Doug was staring out of the window in his office when the phone rang bringing him back to life.

He answered with an abruptness used as part of his business voice. It softened when he realised who it was.

His heart missed a beat and he could almost smell her perfume down the phone.

They chatted about nothing and Doug asked Olivia if she would be at the Gala, something he was dreading.

Mary would be there, he was being openly pursued by Brenda now and the last thing he needed was Olivia to walk onto the field.

Olivia said she might come but wasn't sure. This led to some telephone flirting which in turn began to stir the demon sleeping in his Tommy Hilfiger's.

“
I have missed you but have been so busy,” Doug told her.

“
Yes, I know,” she said before putting the phone down.

Gala day arrived and everything was running smoothly. Doug paid attention to what he was putting on and slapped on some Paco Raban, a gift from Gerry for their anniversary.

He forgot to buy her anything and she went into one of her usual sulks.

He made up for it later by buying her a bracelet during their lunch hour.

Sometimes in their lunch hour they would wander round town and Gerry would pull him into this shop and that shop.

It bored Doug.  A shopper he was not.  But if it appeased Gerry it was a task well done.

Doug was meeting Olivia in the 'Big Pirate' at one o'clock.

They were both going to bring a friend to make things less conspicuous, as everybody in the village knew Doug.

Here they were again, living dangerously.

As he came round the corner into the beer garden, Doug saw Olivia at a table with Anne, he recognised Anne from the fashion show.

He remembered Anne's pert little bottom going up the steps before him.

He saw she had put some weight on.

Anne and Olivia were chatting to three men sitting opposite them at a picnic bench.

It was obvious that they were all enjoying themselves by the noise and laughter coming from them .

He realised that they were all flirting with each other and Doug felt a twinge of something alien to him; something akin to jealousy.

His eyes rested on Olivia feasting on her beige dress. A short skirt barely covered her tanned legs.

He could imagine those legs wrapped around him.

The bodice of the dress pushing her globes of passion up, making them nearly overspill into public view.

He could imagine the brown nipples in his mouth.

Beautiful strappy, flat sandals with orange gemstones adorned her feet.

He could imagine kissing those beautiful feet.

Olivia was leaving little to the imagination today.

As he reached the table Olivia looked up and their eyes met, speaking more than any words could.

She smiled as she said, “Hey Doug, how are you doing?”

“
Oh God” Doug thought, “Is she drunk?”

Olivia patted the seat beside her, “Come here and sit beside me,” she said.

Doug said “Hello” to the three men at the table .

He knew them from the local football team.

“
Doug did some fashion shows with me last year, didn't you? He is very good at what he does”. There it was that wicked grin.

Doug nodded to the men and sat down.

Olivia kissed him on the cheek, the musky smell of her perfume, Opium, making its way into his senses, spread a glow down between his legs.

Olivia rose to leave the table to go to the ladies, she excused herself and left the men talking about football.

Anne accompanied her.

Doug watched them as they walked across the grass, his longing for her body increasing.

Olivia turned to catch him staring and winked. The enigmatic look that he was so used to now spread across her face.

She was planning something and the butterflies in his stomach rose to amazing heights.

The three men began to discuss the ladies in their absence.

They were laughing as they wondered if they might be up for a threesome and who would take which one and what they might be like in bed.

Doug kept out of it until one of them asked him, “So which one would you like?”

They were discussing Olivia and Anne as though they were whores and Doug felt very uncomfortable.

He laughed as he said, “ Neither, I am happily married to Mary”.

Doug noticed the look that passed between the three friends which said, “Oh yes, course you are”.

Olivia and Anne returned carrying large glasses of white wine.

He could see they were whispering to each other. There was definitely a conspiracy afoot.

He was ready for some excitement as for the past few weeks boredom had been his companion.

All talk of football exhausted, the three men left to go to the bar for more drink. They said goodbye to Doug and the girls.

One of them said, “If you ever fancy a night out then let us know, nudge, nudge, wink, wink”.

Doug looked down into his glass, “Thank goodness they have gone” he turned to Derek and asked, “You want another mate?” raising his empty glass.

Before Derek could answer Anne chipped in with, “Right, shall we got back to mine then?” I have some champagne that needs drinking, It would be a shame to waste it and it is such a beautiful afternoon”.

Olivia took hold of Doug's hand under the table, squeezing it hard as she rubbed her leg against his.

The provocation was too much for him as the blood began to flow between his legs. They made a plan without speaking.

Olivia and Anne left the two men and began to walk down to Anne's house.

Doug and Derek were to follow in Derek's van.

Derek said, “Well those two look like they're up for it, what do you think?”

Derek didn't know that Olivia had been ' up for it' with Doug for the past year and Doug wasn't about to tell him either.

Derek went on, “I think that Olivia fancies you. I don't fancy her mate, but if you want a stab at that Olivia then don't mind me.

I can wait and drink her booze and who knows, a few more drinks and I might have a stab at her anyway.

That Olivia looks as though she might be a goer and she's half drunk, it should be easy. Bet you won't even have to take her dress off”.

Doug was becoming rather irritated by Derek. He really couldn't do with the way some men talked about women.

Doug wasn't too sure about the conversation and as they walked back to Derek's van he thought he better play the game and not give anything away.

“
Come on then, mate,” Doug laughed, “I think someone might be wanting a slice of this”. He grabbed his crotch as he got in the van.

As they drove down to Anne's both men thought about what might happen next.

The afternoon turned out to be very fruitful. 

Derek chatted to Anne in the garden whilst Doug and Olivia rolled about on Anne's beautiful brass bed with crisp, clean, cream sheets. 

They made sweet Saturday sex and drank expensive champagne.  Nothing but the best at Anne's.

Doug and Olivia came back into the garden to find both their friends very drunk and laughing.

"Come on, mate" Doug said to Derek, "we really need to go".

CHAPTER TWENTY

George took a drink and turned to Doug and turned towards Doug.

He said, "I do know that woman".

Doug was somewhere walking in his own thoughts.

"Which woman?"he asked.

"The pretty one that just walked by and winked.  I think she recognised me and that's why she winked.  It has been years since I last saw her".

George pointed to the magazine in Doug's lap, "That's her in the magazine".

Doug looked down at the picture of Olivia.

"Oh yes, she is a writer now.  How do you know her?" He asked.

"It's such a long time ago now.  We were on a works trip to Germany. There was a group of us. About twenty years ago if my memory serves me well.  Never thought I would ever see her again. Looks like she has done well for herself".

George ended by saying, "I wonder if I should go speak to her, she might not remember me.  She winked so she must do".

Doug began to feel the heat rising in his face. He didn't often blush.  He was blushing now.

When he and Olivia became lovers she told him about the German trip.

He remembered the jumbo tears running down her face as she recalled the night George threw her out of his bedroom.

George called her a whore and the rest of the group were awful towards as they travelled around Germany.

Not nice, not nice at all!

Doug toyed with the idea of telling George what he knew.

He looked out of the window, over the clouds towards the bright sun.

He asked himself what would be achieved by his revelation and the answer was, "Nothing".

Doug asked George what he was going to do.  Would he go and speak to her?

George pondered for a moment before nodding his head, "Yes I think I will.  I have waited a long time for this".

As he rose from his seat he looked back and saw the seat next to Olivia was vacant.

He nodded to Doug and slowly picked his way down the narrow aisle to confront his past.

George wasn't sure how to approach Olivia.  He stopped just in front of her row and was wondering whether to go back to his seat when she looked up.

Olivia smiled, "Hello George, it's been a long time. Would you like to sit with me for a while?" she asked.

he was taken aback by her friendliness, "Yes please", he said in a small voice, that was not his voice at all.

He sat down and took in the heady smell of her perfume when she surprised him by asking him if he would like a drink.

"Yes please," he said again.

George needed a drink badly as he was wondering if this had been a good idea after all.

Olivia was not behaving as he expected her to and then began to wonder what he had expected.

Shaun brought two glasses of champagne and flirted with Olivia, which made her laugh.

He turned and took his gay self to the back of the plane.

George took a sip and stared forward, studying the back of the seat in front of him.

He dare not look at Olivia as the shy feelings of a schoolboy began to take over.

He was a successful man nearly at the end of his sixties and yet that laugh, Olivia's laugh had not changed at all and now he was scared to look at her.

He could feel a stirring that he had not felt for many years. The longing and need within his body awoke.

Summoning up courage George said, "Olivia, I need to talk to you please".

Olivia took a drink and answered, "What about George? I think the last time we spoke you said all you had to say to The Whore"

'Ouch!' That stung. He deserved it.

Olivia went on, smiling benevolently, "Yes that would be nice George.  If you feel you need to talk to me. I feel the need to listen".

Olivia raised her glass, tapped it on his she said, "Cheers".

Olivia turned in her seat.  She needed to watch George as he began to try and justify his behaviour in Germany. 

She knew it had to be about that, there was nothing else.

Olivia knew that a few months after she left 'Into The Sun', George came looking for her at the office.

Her friend Susan who worked in accounts, rang her to tell her.

Olivia sensed his hesitation and said, "George, I don't need a speech, just talk".

George asked her what happened after they all got back from Germany.

Olivia told him that life became increasingly difficult for her.  Jo went out of her way to bully her and she knew why that was.

Olivia said she stood her ground and was not going to be ousted out by someone like Jo.

Unfortunately something happened in the family which forced Olivia to work part time for a while.

Jo did what Jo does best and began to tell lies to her boss.  Olivia was asked to leave.

They would not even let her work the week out, she had to pack her things and leave immediately.