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It was just the perfect end to a perfect day.
Joe had come back from football practice and trodden damp mud right through the hall carpet. Lisa was doing what all thirteen-year-old girls do best...speaking on the telephone!
Martin had just phoned from the office and informed her that he wouldn't be back home until late...he'd had such a busy day!!!
'Well,' thought Jane, 'haven't we all...and some of us haven't finished yet...some of us wont be sitting down tonight until most people go to bed!'
Jane knew that she shouldn't really moan. She was lucky and had two healthy children and a good husband...something was missing though.
The next day started with the children rowing, Martin shouting at them, and Jane having a mammoth headache way before breakfast had even finished!
Once they had left for school and work, she sat down with a much needed coffee. She needed to re-structure her life...what could she do?
Suddenly, Jane's eyes were drawn to the front page of the local paper. There was a big advertisement for a nine-week pottery course.
Jane had always been interested in art and she made up her mind to phone up about it.
She came off the phone elated. She had managed to get one of the places still available...what fantastic luck.
The course was held on a Tuesday evening and a Friday afternoon and quite frankly, Jane couldn't wait for the first night...which was tomorrow evening.
Martin nodded when Jane told him about her new venture...Lisa laughed, and Joe said something along the lines of 'cool mum'.
Tuesday dawned, and Jane was wide awake and ready for whatever the day threw at her.
She felt positive for the first time in ages and spent the day doing odd jobs around the house.
At five-thirty, she ran a bath, poured herself a glass of chilled wine, and lay in a sea of perfumed bubbles.
The children had gone back to friends' houses, and Martin was working late, so the house was still and calm.
As it had been a sunny day and the air was still warm, Jane decided to walk to the college. She was holding a bag containing an apron and other odds and ends, which suddenly flew from her grasp...
A car had mounted the curb and just caught her right arm. Jane was shocked but unhurt, and the car just simply drove off.
She was suddenly aware of a man running towards her. He grabbed her and asked if she was ok.
Jane replied that she was fine thank you. The man, who introduced himself as Mike, muttered about 'bloody fool drivers' and once again asked how she was.
Jane found him so very easy to talk to and was surprised when he told her that he was going to the same class as her.
Jane suggested that they walk together, and in a friendly silence they continued to their mutual destination.
The class was really interesting but was suddenly cut short when the tutor fell ill with a migraine.
Mike asked Jane if she fancied a quick drink in the pub opposite, and they were joined by a few of their fellow
classmates. The evening was fun, and Jane laughed like she hadn't done for a long time.
When she got in at ten, there was a note from Martin saying that he had experienced one hell of a day and had gone to bed. Joe was staying the night with Bobbie next door, and Lisa was in bed watching 'Friends'
'Back to reality,' thought Jane.
The afternoon class wasn't as hugely supported as the evening one. Obviously, lots of people were at work...Mike was there though.
He waved as he saw Jane and pulled out a chair for her. He told her that he owned his own plumbing business and so could grab an afternoon off to attend the class.
Jane recognized a few of the people from the Tuesday evening class and settled down well to the work ahead.
Mike enticed her to the pub after the class, and this time there were no other classmates there.
A couple of times he touched her hand unnecessarily and maybe their eyes met a few too many times.
He freely admitted to being married and having a young son, and Jane found that she quite enjoyed the forbidden excitement.
Mike had driven to the class and offered Jane a lift home. She wasn't naïve, she knew what would probably happen on the way home...and it did.
They stopped in a little lay-by a few streets away from Jane's house, and they kissed passionately.
Mike moved his lips against her hair and said that his wife and son were going away for five days at the end of the week...would she like to come
round? She could tell her husband that she was going to the evening class, and he'd never know.
He gave Jane his mobile number and said to text him as she was leaving; he'd then look out for her.
Jane's heart was beating loudly when she got home. She would now have to buckle down to cooking the evening meal.
But...what was this?
The kitchen resembled a scene from a war zone. Martin was wearing a pinny, and the children were setting the table. It was a complete mess, but they were helping!
Martin saw Jane looking and smiled. He told her that they always took her for granted and that they loved her...although they didn't often say it.
In an instance, Jane forgot Mike and vowed that she would probably face temptation in many aspects of her future life...but she had everything she wanted here...she would kick temptation to the wall.
That night, in bed, after making love, Jane slept happily in her husband's arms.
Martin lay quietly thinking to himself. He could have lost Jane...he loved her so much.
Thank goodness that Mike in the plumber's shop had given him a clue. When he had boasted to all and sundry about the 'new bit of stuff' at the pottery class, Mike had put two and two together...and had probably saved his marriage!
©2003 StoriesByEmail.com
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