Wags To Riches (5 page)

Alex gapes at me.  “A hundred and fifty quid?  Blimey!” she says, shaking her head.

“Yeah I know!” I reply.  “Mad isn’t it?  It was nice though.  The food was lovely too – I had seafood pasta and Adam had steak and for dessert we shared a big bowl of Belgian chocolate ice cream!”

“Nice!” Alex says.  “Well, it’s certainly different to the 2 for £10 we normally have at the Feathers” she continues, “Maybe we could go there next time instead!”

I laugh.  “I don’t think I could afford it!” I say.  “Oh Alex, I had such a good time!”

“I can tell!  Look at you - all smiley and happy!” Alex says.

“I know – I’ve not really stopped smiling since Saturday” I say.  I was even smiling yesterday while I was doing the ironing and that frankly, is not normal.  “He’s so nice Alex – he’s really funny and he’s really interesting to talk to.  I did worry that he would turn out to be a really boring, conceited prat, but he isn’t – he’s lovely!  To tell you the truth, when he dropped me off, I was tempted to invite him in for a coffee, but I didn’t”.  Call me old fashioned but I don’t like to rush things and jump into bed with a guy I barely know.  Even if it is Adam Finchley.  And I can’t believe I just thought that.  I suppose some girls – well most girls would have invited him in and ended up in bed with him, but I can’t do that on a first date.  Or even a second or third date come to that.

“You did right” Alex says, interrupting my train of thoughts.  “You shouldn’t feel pressured to have sex straight away.  You aren’t a slapper Gail.  Let him court you, as my Mum says” she asserts, “Get to know each other first and get some presents out of him first as well” she adds wickedly and laughs.

“Alex!  I’m not doing that!” I protest.  “My affections cannot be bought!”

“Oh right – so if he buys you something really fabulous, you aren’t going to accept it?” she asks me grinning.

“Well – I wouldn’t go that far!” I say and laugh.

“So – when are you seeing him again?” she asks.

“I’m not sure – he said he would phone me” I reply.  “Anyway, do you want to pass me some of those invoices?”

“Not really – I want you to tell me more about this date” Alex replies.  “In fact, I don’t think we should have to do any work at all and just be able to talk about your date”.

“If only” I reply as the phone starts ringing.  “Well – this is early for a call” I say surprised.

“It’s Monday innit” Alex says, rolling her eyes.

Ah yes.  Basking in my little post date glow, I’d forgotten that Monday mornings were always freakishly busy.

“Good morning, this is Delightful” I say and reach for my notepad.  Something tells me this is going to be a busy day.

****

By three o’clock I am
knackered.
  It has busy beyond belief today, thanks to a computer glitch which sent all the delivery drivers drop off sheets for this day last year, instead of today.  We’ve had to try and work out where drivers should be and direct them over the phone for now and when we are not talking to drivers, we are talking to customers who are ringing up wanting to know where their delivery is.  What a mess.  This job is a joke sometimes – a complete bloody joke.  I can’t wait to go home and have a nice hot bath and a very large glass of wine.  I need a bath.  I must have a bath. 

I lean across the desk towards Alex who is just putting a call on hold while she checks what’s happening to an order.
“I’ve promised myself a hot bath and a glass of wine when I get in tonight” I whisper to her.

“A glass?  I could do with a bloody bottle now!” Alex replies as she rubs her hand across her forehead. 

I laugh and glance up at the clock on the wall.  “Never mind.  Only two hours, then we can clear off home.  Do you want a cup of tea?” I ask, standing up.

“Yes please – and a whisky chaser” Alex says, giving me a tired grin and stretching her arms over her head.  It would be nice if we could drink whiskey at work.  I’m sure it would make the job a lot easier.  I don’t think the powers that be would take it kindly though if I put that in the staff suggestions box. 

It would be nice if Adam phoned me tonight.  I know it’s a bit soon, but I can live in hope.

Five o’clock finally arrives and me and Alex shoot thankfully out of the door.  We put our coats on ten minutes ago.  She and Dave kindly give me a lift to Supersavers so I can get a bottle of hard earnt wine and a little bar of chocolate.  I’m not supposed to be having any chocolate at all at the moment, but I think I deserve it after today.  I’ll just run up and downstairs a few times after I’ve eaten it to try and burn it off.

I pick up a very nice bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and some Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and head for the basket tills.  I hate these self service checkouts.  They do my head in.  Why does it say ‘approval needed’ when you buy wine?  I know it’s so they can check your age but it makes me feel as though someone is going to come over and say ‘I think you should lay off the booze a bit this week love don’t you?’  And why does it say ‘unexpected item in bagging area?’  It’s the bar of Dairy Milk I’ve just scanned you stupid machine!  I smile at the bored looking assistant who comes over and tells the machine that it’s okay for me to buy wine and chocolate and then I pay and go home.

When I get home, I go into the kitchen and am just in the process of putting the wine in the freezer to chill it more quickly when there is a knock at the door.  “Who could that be?” I ask the room at large.  I hope it’s not a salesperson.  I’m quite happy with my energy company thank you.  I suppose I’d better answer it really.  I open the door to find a smart deliveryman standing there with the biggest bunch of flowers I have ever seen in my life.

“Gail Auden?” he asks, looking at his clipboard, then up at me.

“Yes?” I say surprised.

“Sign here please,” he says, passing me the flowers and the clipboard.

“Are these for me?” I ask.

“If your name is Gail Auden then they are” he replies smiling. 

I sign my name, give the deliveryman the clipboard back and close the door, looking at the flowers.  This bouquet is huge!  Irises, lilies, roses, orchids - all different kinds of flowers! “These are nice” I say to myself.  Nice!  They’re fantastic!  From Blossoms as well!  From my extensive reading of
Gush!
I know they do all the flowers for celebrity weddings and parties and the like.  They must have cost a fortune!  Even the stems are wrapped in a hand tied piece of pale pink silk for goodness sake!  There’s a little pocket in the silk which contains a card.  I pull out the card and my heart starts to race even faster when I read:

To Gail

Had a great time at dinner and looking forward to seeing you again soon

Adam

Oh my God!  I must have made an impression.  And a good one at that.  I remember when Adam held my hand and said I was the most beautiful woman in the room and I smile to myself.  And I don’t think that the room was full of mingers actually.

After putting the flowers in water, I go upstairs to run my bath, taking the phone and the magazine I bought the other day up with me.  My heart is still thumping nineteen to the dozen.  I can’t believe Adam has sent me some flowers!  I start the bath running, pour in loads of the posh creamy bubble bath Alex bought me for Christmas and soon the air is full of the scent of jasmine – lovely!  I realise I’ve forgot my wine, so I charge back downstairs, smile at the flowers in the hall, pour myself a generous glass of wine and head back upstairs.  I quickly undress and get in the bath, lying back and letting all the stress of the day just melt away.  I am so knackered!  I have
earnt
this today by God I have.  I take a large gulp of wine and reach for my magazine, trying hard not to think about Adam.  Instead I’m going to read this very important and definitely newsworthy article about Stacey Lazenby – a Hollywood actress - and her new home.  To celebrate her Oscar triumph last year, she’s had a pink Oscar statue shaped swimming pool installed.  Lovely.  Not.  It’s probably best that she won an award for her acting skills as she sure as hell isn’t going to win one for her garden design.  I’m just marvelling at the naffness of this swimming pool when the phone starts ringing.

Dammit!

I reach over the side of the bath, drop the magazine and manage to reach the handset.  “Hello?” I say, trying to move my wet hair away from my ear whilst not dropping the phone in the bath.

“Hi Gail its Adam”.

Oh God I knew he would phone now, but I don’t care because I’m delighted he has.

“Hi!” I say, my heart starting to race again.  I’m going to need a bloody pacemaker soon.  I can hear a lot of noise in the background – lots of male voices and laughter.  “Where are you?” I ask.

“I’m in the changing rooms at the club – we’ve got an extra practice session tonight” Adam says.  “Where are you?  I can hear lots of water sloshing around”.

“I’m actually in the bath” I admit, blushing.

“You’re in the bath?” Adam repeats loudly over the noise and there is a huge cheer in the background.  Oh my God – now I am so embarrassed!  Even though I know they can’t see me, it feels as though they are all in here with me! 

“Shut up you lot will you!” Adam calls over the noise.

A male voice shouts “Gail - what did you have to say that for?  He’ll be bloody useless now!” and this is followed by lots of raucous laughter.

“No I bloody won’t – shut it you!” Adam calls over to someone as the laughter continues in the background.  “Hang on Gail, I’m just going to stand outside a minute” he says and I can hear his football boots clattering across the dressing room floor.

“Who was that?” I ask.

“Oh it was just this so called friend of mine Tim Winters – who I’m going to punch in a bloody minute if he doesn’t shut it!” Adam says loudly in a mock serious voice. 

A male voice shouts in a falsetto tone “Ooooh!  I‘m really scared!” and this is followed by more laughter.  I hear a door open and close and then sudden silence.

“Sorry about that Gail” Adam says, “I can hear you now!  How are you?”

“I’m fine” I reply.  “Well – I am now in the bath”.

“Yes – I’m trying not to think about that” Adam says quietly and laughs.

“Oh – thank you so much for the flowers Adam, they are so beautiful!” I say.

“Pleasure” Adam says.  “I’m glad you like them” he adds, sounding pleased.

“Oh yes, they are gorgeous” I enthuse, “they make the whole house smell lovely.  Not that it smelt funny before” I add, God knows why.  What a thing to say!  Honestly.

“Well – no” Adam says and laughs.  “How’s work been today?”

“Oh it’s been one of those today” I say lightly and explain briefly to Adam about the problems we have had today.  “Still – hopefully tomorrow it will be better” I add quickly.  Don’t want Adam to get off the phone and start hacking at his wrists with a pen.

“I hope so” Adam says.  “Would you like to go out on Saturday again?” he asks.  “I would like to see you earlier, but I’ve got training the rest of the week and then an early night Friday, ready for the match on Saturday, but I can pick you up after that?”

“Sounds great!” I say happily.  “Have I got to suffer another ride in a Bentley then?”

“I’m afraid so Gail – you’ll just have to manage!” Adam replies laughing.  “Where would you like to go?”

“Would you like to go and see a film?” I suggest.  “There’s a little independent cinema I know in town – it’s really nice.  There’s a little bar and everything and there are a couple of films out at the moment I wouldn’t mind seeing.  I’ll find out what time the showings are if you like and then we can sort out a time to meet”.

“That sounds great!” Adam says enthusiastically.  “I’d better go actually and get on with my practice and let you enjoy your bath in peace.  I’ll call you tomorrow if you like?”

  “Okay”.

“Can’t wait to see you on Saturday” he adds softly and a delicious little shiver runs down my spine which is nothing to do with the water dripping off my hair.

“I’m looking forward to it” I reply, whilst fighting the urge to shout ‘YOU GORGEOUS LOVE GOD MAN!  I LOVE YOU!’ down the phone.  “I’ll speak to you tomorrow then” I add in a flirty tone instead which is so much better.  “Enjoy your practice!”

“I will and I’ll try not to think about you in the bath!” Adam replies laughing.

We hang up and I drop the phone back over the side of the bath, grinning like mad. 

Isn’t life great?  It’s bloody wicked!

Saturday night arrives and Adam pulls up outside my house bang on time again.  I check my appearance in the hall mirror one final time, trying to quell the butterflies in my stomach.  I’ve gone for a more casual look this time – denim mini skirt and a soft creamy coloured jumper.  It’s quite icy underfoot, so I’ve had to admit defeat and put a flat pair of boots on instead of heels, but I don’t mind too much as these boots are gorgeous – knee length, buttery soft suede in a pale toffee colour.  Hideously impractical I know, but I don’t care.  I
love
them.  Instead of my electric blue furry coat this evening, I have gone for my white parka and put that on instead.  I won’t be putting the hood up though, because I look ridiculous.