Read Online Fandango in the Apse! by Jane Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

was
something that seemed to impress Eddie no end.  ‘She’s an amazing golfer too,
you know.’
    ‘Oh, fuck off, Eddie!’  I said, as I headed for the loo. 
    By tacit agreement, neither of us mentioned Heidi again and provided I could
keep her red satin, excuse for a dress, out of my line of vision I was happy. 
Towards the end of the evening and well down my seventh brandy, Eddie left me
at a corner table with brandies  number eight and nine in a tall glass in front
of me.  He was off networking, my befuddled brain just about grasped through
the silky haze of drunkenness. 
    Have you ever noticed no matter how drunk you are something can happen
which immediately sobers you up?  My “something” was catching sight of my
husband skulking out the door, closely followed by a flash of red satin.  My
nerve endings fizzed with indignation.  Completely alert, I got to my feet and
made my way to the door.  The bastard!  The complete and utter bastard was all
I could think as I wandered the corridors of the clubhouse. 
    For the first time I cursed the fact that I had never been there before. 
Fifteen minutes later and almost crying in frustration, I wandered back to the
function room.  I was livid, and the longer Eddie was missing, the angrier I
became.  Half an hour later, all wide-eyed and innocent he returned. 
    ‘Where have you been?’  I hissed through gritted teeth.  Eddie made a
good show of being surprised.
    ‘I told you – networking.  There are a lot of investment possibilities in
this place if you can get in with the right people.’
    ‘Networking, my arse.  I saw you slink off with Miss Nasty Knickers, do
you think I’m stupid, Eddie?’  The look on his face, which conveyed that in his
opinion it was a distinct possibility, sent me into the realms of murderous
rage. 
    ‘I think it’s time we left,’ Eddie decided.
    ‘Not before I wipe the smirk off that bitch’s face, we’re not!’
    ‘Katie, for God’s sake don’t make a scene, it’s all in your imagination,
now come on .’  Eddie had hold of my arm and short of making a complete
fool of myself; I had no choice but to leave.
    The following days were a bubbling cauldron of spite filled slanging
matches or simmering silences waiting to erupt into one.  Eddie adamantly
refused to admit anything was going on with Heidi, and though I wasn’t sure I
wanted his confession to the contrary, I adamantly refused to believe him.  I
was in a strange position.  If he admitted sleeping with Heidi, I would have to
make choices.  I didn’t want to make choices.  I was happy living in my five
bedroomed, Barrett-built, executive home, with solid wood kitchen and double
garage. 
      I phoned Alison again, because you can always rely on your best friend
to tell you the truth no matter what. 
    ‘So what do you think?’  I asked, after filling her in on the details.
    ‘Do you want the truth, or do you want reassurance?’
    ‘Oh God… I don’t know Alison, I have no idea what I want.  Everything
back to normal, I suppose.’
    ‘Hmm…that’s going to be difficult now though…’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Getting everything back to normal.  Listen Katie, are you absolutely
sure about this, I mean have you noticed anything different about him lately?’
    ‘Well, he’s put on a little weight; his face is getting rounder…’
    ‘Anything else?’
    ‘Other than a sudden preference for skimpy briefs over Y Fronts… nothing.’
    ‘Hmmm…’
    ‘Oh!  I’ve just remembered I found a new bottle of aftershave in the
glove box of his car a few weeks back.  I didn’t think anything about it at the
time.’  It was all beginning to make sense now, the late nights, business
dinners at the weekend. 
    ‘You think he’s at it, don’t you, Alison?’
    ‘Truth?  Yeah.  I’m sorry love, but any man who disappears for a half an
hour in the middle of a party with a woman other than his wife, is up to no
good.’
    ‘I know…argh!  He’s