Fourteen Days(21)

“Fine. Point taken. Let’s go for Sunday lunch somewhere, and then go to the cinema. But no horror films. All right?”

Beaming, he kissed her on the cheek, “All right, no horror films. Something we both like.” He then rolled out of bed. “Maybe we could even go out for breakfast too, and then hit the shops. We haven’t done that in ages.”

Frowning, she climbed out of bed. “What’s with you? Why are you keen to leave so early?”

He slipped on his jeans. “Like I said, I’ve been bored when you’ve been at work all day, and yesterday you had to visit your sister. So I think we should spend the whole day away from this house for a change.”

“All right, if that’s what you want. I’ll take a quick shower and then we’ll go to The Coffee-Pot for breakfast.”

“Sounds good.” Relief circulated through Richard’s entire body.

Finally, a break from the house.



They were sitting in the Forester Arms, eating their roast-beef dinners. As usual, Richard had almost finished his in record time, whereas Nicky seemed to have barely touched hers.

Sipping his lager, he asked, “How is it? Nice?”

“Good, I’m just a bit full. Had too much breakfast this morning. Can’t eat as much as you.”

He smiled, and then stole a roast potato from her plate using his fork.

“Take more if you want,” she offered. “I’m not going to finish it.”

Unable to answer due to a mouthful of Yorkshire pudding, he nodded instead. After he had devoured both plates, he sat back, bloated, and rubbed his stomach. “I’m stuffed. Feel like I’ve eaten a whole cow.”

“I think you have,” she replied, shaking her head in astonishment. “Fancy a dessert? Some cheesecake or something? Maybe some chocolate fudge cake?”

Exhaling as he mulled over the decision, he picked up the menu. “Not sure if I can fit it in.” He ran a finger down the list of options. “Everything looks so nice though.”

“You don’t have to decide right now. We’re not in any rush. Let’s have another drink.”

“Yeah, you’re right. We’ve got all day. No reason to rush home. Plus, we’ve got the cinema later.”

“Exactly. You have a dessert. I won’t though. I’ll just watch you stuff your face.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, reaching over the table to stroke her hand.

“Of course I’m sure.”

And with that, he glanced again at the dessert menu, and then flagged down the waiter.



The rain hammered down on the quiet road.

Richard held onto Nicky’s arm as they crossed over. He gripped the umbrella over both of them as it flung from side to side in the wind. As they blindly stepped onto the pavement, the umbrella pulled away from his grasp, blowing down the road out of reach. Running to get it, he stepped in a deep puddle, soaking through to his sock, causing his wife to chuckle.

“Leave it!” she shouted.

Stopping in the middle of the road, he turned to her, his eyes squinting with the rain and wind. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, come on—the car’s over there!”

Running back to join her, he took her arm and they both fast-walked down the pavement with their bodies hunched, trying to avoid the cold rain hitting their faces.

They reached the car, both of them soaking wet, and climbed in. Turning to his wife, he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” she asked, grimacing.

“Your hair.”

She pulled down the passenger sun-visor and stared into the small mirror to inspect herself. “Cheeky bastard,” she said, while trying to fix it with her long fingernails.

“Can’t believe how wet this year’s been. Hope it gets better for summer. I’m sick of all this rain.”

“Me too,” she said, pushing up the sun visor. “Maybe we should go away this year. Somewhere warm. What do you think?”

“Sounds good. Once I’m back in work and I’ve sorted a few things out, I should have some free time.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

Frowning, he asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Well, you say the same thing every single year, and every year you’re too busy—or we can’t afford it.”

“That’s not true,” he replied, struggling to find conviction in his words. “We’ve been away lots of times.”