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Meg sighed a sigh of utter peace and contentment. Never, ever had she gone away anywhere by herself.
Since marrying Steve ten years ago she had experienced some wonderful holidays...but always with him and latterly, their five year old twin girls.
Sometimes she felt guilty as she craved a bit of time to herself...when was the last time she had painted her toe-nails, had a facial...quality time?
Now she had spotted an advertisement in the national paper all about a health spa in the Cotswolds. The place was set in a stately home and specialized in 'singles'...not necessarily unattached people, rather, those who wanted to get away from it all.
Meg has just celebrated her 30th birthday and had received money from different relations. In a moment, she knew what she was going to spend it on...a three-day break in the spa!
Steve thought it was a good idea. Meg had been a little moody lately, and he would quite enjoy some time with the girls.
Before she could change her mind, Meg phoned and booked herself into Dawson Creek for a break. She deliberately booked to go in five days time before the habitual mother and wife changed her mind.
She sat and wrote lists for Steve...what to do if Lizzie got one of her headaches...how to cope if Chloe had a bad dream.
Steve quietly but firmly told her that they were his children too...he could cope...even if he did have a problem; Meg's mother only lived around the corner...
The big day arrived, and Meg was up at the crack of dawn. She was going to take the girls to school, and then she would start the two hour journey to Dawson Creek.
As Steve left for work, Meg gave him a bear hug. He laughed and told her that she would be home again in three days. He kissed her fondly and told her to have a marvelous time and forget about them for the duration.
Once she had taken the girls to school, Meg opened the sunroof and turned on the C.D player in the car...
The journey was great, there was hardly anything on the road, and she realized with a start that she was so wrapped up in her adventure that she hadn't given her family a thought.
Dawson Creek was a beautiful Victorian mansion standing in palatial grounds. Meg walked to reception and signed herself in...she was shown to her room...and what a room.
It was sumptuously furnished in cream and taupe and French doors opened up onto a little veranda overlooking the rose gardens.
Meg lay in the fragrant bath and sipped a glass of freshly pressed orange juice.
The little refrigerator in the room had been well stocked and the radio was playing a programme of old love songs.
She wanted to pinch herself when she thought of being in such a luxurious place...all alone...no children demanding her full attention, no husband wanting a clean shirt...bliss!
Meg had read the itinerary for the three days. Basically you could choose any four of ten selected treatments. There were facials, mud wraps, manicures...oh and so much more.
She decided that she would have an Indian head massage, then she would take a walk in the rose gardens before her evening meal.
The head massage was pure bliss, and as Meg took a relaxing walk through the aromatic gardens, she thought that she had not experienced tranquility like this in ages.
In the oak paneled dining room, she was shown to a lovely table in a corner. From there, Meg had a good vantage point and could really watch the comings and goings of the other guests.
Many were alone...there were a few couples, but Meg guessed that most were like her...having a much needed re-charging of the batteries.
After dinner, Meg ventured to the little bar area. It was beautifully cozy, and the few people there were so friendly and welcomed her into their conversations. The time flew, and before she knew it, the big old clock was striking eleven.
Meg suddenly realized that she was extremely tired and was pleased that her first treatment...a manicure and pedicure was not until ten thirty the next morning.
She slept fitfully, and although she didn't phone Steve and the girls before retiring for the night, she sent a text message saying that she loved them all.
Meg awoke with a start and for a few seconds, she didn't know where she was. Rubbing her eyes, she realized that it was so quiet. Normally Steve would be whistling in the kitchen whilst making the first cup of tea of the day, and the girls would be giggling at something or other.
She laughed at herself. Fancy missing all that commotion when she was having such a peaceful time...she must be going soft in her old age.
She had breakfast in bed...the type of luxury that she had dreamed about for so long. It was wonderful, but as she bit into the fresh croissant, Meg longed to hear the girls...to smell Steve's aftershave.
She quickly dismissed all that slushy stuff, and after showering, Meg put on a tracksuit.
Today she intended to work out in the gym then go for a swim.
A man in the gym was obviously giving her admiring glances, and Meg realized that she had not even thought of another man since Steve.
She smiled at him and inwardly groaned as he came over to talk to her.
The man introduced himself as Brad. He was recovering after an illness, and his boss had booked him in to the spa for a sort of convalescence.
He asked Meg what she was doing next. She replied that she would be having a
swim; then it would be down to the plush dining room to enjoy a lunch and a glass of chilled wine.
She heard herself asking Brad if he would like to join her, and he very swiftly accepted the offer.
After she had swum and changed for lunch, Meg hurried down to the dining room entrance where she was to meet Brad.
What was she doing...a married woman practically flirting with a virtual stranger?
Meg consoled herself with the fact that he was an extremely attentive and amusing partner...and good looking too!
The lunch was fantastic, and the company was greater. Brad and Meg shared a couple of bottles of good wine then had a brandy with their coffees.
Meg had to admit that she was feeling very light-headed, and when Brad suggested a walk in the grounds, she accepted quickly.
Meg told him about her life...Steve, the girls...and Brad in turn told her how his wife Hellen was a high flier in the legal industry and wasn't keen on having children.
He didn't say, but Meg could see the pain in his eyes...he probably would have loved to have children.
After a while, Meg said that she was going back to her room for a doze. Brad insisted on walking her back there, and Meg started to feel a stirring in the pit of her stomach.
As they got to her room she asked him to come in for a while...and he did. It was the first time since being with Steve that Meg had ever kissed another man...she pulled away.
Brad looked at her.
He told her that the easiest thing in the world to do now would be for him to make love to her...nobody need ever know it would be their secret...but, could they live with themselves if they
did?
Meg knew that Brad adored his wife; they, as most couples had probably drifted a little. She knew that she loved Steve with all her heart and although at times, life could get mundane...she only wanted him.
Meg and Brad held each other for what seemed like an eternity then, softly Brad kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye... he was gone.
Meg slept for a good two hours and realized what could have been. She would have had to live with the guilt forever, and in a moment she knew that she had to get home...to her family.
The look on Steve's face when he opened the door to find Meg there was classic.
"You're not due back yet," he said in a puzzled voice. But the hug that he gave her told her just how pleased he was to have her home.
Meg looked around her normally spick and span house in mock anger. It looked like a tornado had just been through. Then a couple of tornados came flying through the kitchen door shouting mummy...mummy!
She realized that her very masculine husband was wearing a floral pinny. Steve saw her studying him, and he and the girls led Meg to the kitchen table where a cake...a rather flat cake, sat.
The kitchen was a mess but Meg's eyes were wet with tears when she read the iced lettering on the cake...
"WELCOME HOME MUMMY"
Meg knew, as she held her family, that she had everything a woman could want, and as she lay in Steve's arms later that night she knew that the trip to the spa had taught her a valuable lesson...the grass is never greener!!
©2003 StoriesByEmail.com
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