|
Jan looked in the mirror. Nothing particular struck her. The face was the same as the one that had looked back at her yesterday when she was a mere girl of forty-nine. Today she had reached the big 5 0...so what?
Des, her husband had left a card...price still showing on the reverse side. He'd sent his secretary shopping at lunchtime and would come home that same evening brandishing a bottle of Dior...same old story.
The only thing was that this year she wouldn't be here. Sue and Fran, her twin daughters were safely ensconced at college, and before Des came home, she would be in deepest Dorset. It was her special day, and by God she was going to celebrate it her way...alone.
At midday she hastily scribbled a note to her husband: 'Gone away for a couple of days, don't worry about me. Be home Monday, Jan x'
She took one last look around the neat hallway, picked up her holdall and put it into the boot of her car...then she was off!
Jan put the radio up loud and opened all the windows. With the summer breeze whistling through her hair she felt alive as she raced towards her sanctuary in Dorset. She made it in good time and checked in to The Coaching Inn. It was a seventeenth century inn in the centre of a tiny village, and it looked exquisite.
The manager showed her to her room, and Jan gasped in wonder...it was beautiful. A four-poster bed stood in the centre of the room covered in a cream lace valence. The manager told her that dinner would be served at seven and asked her if she would like anything brought up to her room. Jan said that a bottle of chilled white would be lovely, and it was with her twenty minutes later.
She switched on the radio, poured herself a glass of wine and climbed into a heavily fragranced bubble bath. Fifty...it was just a number...she was still the young bubbly girl that she had always been.
Jan took her time getting ready. She carefully applied her makeup and put on a silk suit. Studying herself in the cheval mirror, she was pleased at what she saw. Her figure was still good, and her blue eyes shone with the thrill of what she was doing. Picking up the room key, Jan let herself out of the room and made for the small bar area.
"Can I help you?" asked the barman.
Jan ordered a dry martini and sat down at a small table. Her eyes met with those belonging to a petite blonde lady of about forty-five. She seemed to be a little lost and welcomed Jan's invitation to join her for a drink. The lady introduced herself as Irene and said that she was meeting a man friend. He was obviously running late, and she had felt a little unnerved at being in a bar alone.
Jan explained that she was here alone celebrating her fiftieth birthday. She didn't mention leaving her husband at home; after all, Irene was a virtual stranger, no matter how nice she appeared. For the next couple of days, Jan was a single lady not looking for any male company especially.
The waiter indicated to Jan that her table was ready. She asked Irene if she would like to join her, but she declined, saying that she'd wait for her boyfriend.
Jan enjoyed a wonderful fish dish, followed by the finest fillet steak that she had tasted in quite some time. She declined a dessert but was persuaded to try the liqueur coffee...it was a fantastic finale to a great meal.
The thrill of being in such a superb setting was getting to Jan. She noticed that is was still relatively early and decided to go to the bar to find Irene. Poor woman was probably still waiting for her date. That was one thing that Des would never do...stand her up. He may have begun to take her for granted now and again, but Jan was sure that the love that had endured so many years was still there... somewhere. The drink was beginning to make her feel a little melancholy now...maybe she should have brought Des along with her. He'd probably be quite annoyed at this fantasy of hers, and the girls would think that she had gone mad!
Walking out to the bar she didn't instantly spot Irene. She was sitting in a corner talking in earnest to someone.
'Oh good,' thought Jan. 'Looks like he's turned up after all.'
Turning her blonde head towards Jan, Irene smiled and said, "Hi there Jan, he's made it at last. Evidently the traffic was abysmal on the way here."
Jan smiled sympathetically, and then her smile turned to stone. Irene's partner had stood up to shake hands with the 'nice lady' that she had been telling him about.
Irene's partner was none other than Des...
Seeing Jan's face, Irene said, "Oh, have you two met before then?"
"Oh yes, once or twice" said Jan, thinking that fifty was the right age to do a bit of spring cleaning...beginning with one husband!
©2002 StoriesByEmail.com
|
