Happy Now?

by S M Mala

  In all the time he lived with them, he thought about Flora. Until he realised he would never ever see her again. That’s when he moved on with his life.

  ‘Look,’ Siobhan said gently. ‘All our lives haven’t turned out exactly how we wanted. Me and Craig divorcing took its toll on Simon then with Eddie, it’s been a tough few years but we’ll get through it. That’s what us Carters do, we take the rough with the smooth.’

  His mobile started to ring and it was his old school friend, Lee.

  ‘I better get this,’ he said, wiping his eyes and noticing his mother was peering at him from the kitchen. ‘Hi!’

  ‘Hello stranger,’ Lee said, with his slightly American twang from living in Denver for ten years. Only a few years ago he moved back to London. ‘Are we going to meet?’

  ‘I have to cancel,’ he whispered, seeing Siobhan frown. ‘Family business and it’s important.’

  ‘Is everything alright?’

  ‘I’ll call you later.’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Was that Lee?’ his sister said, pulling a face before standing up. ‘You know mum can’t stand him.’

  ‘I like him.’

  ‘Yeah, well, he’s only out for himself. He always was.’

  Turning to look at his sister, Ed just smiled and gave her a hug.

  ‘I can look after myself and Lee’s a good bloke,’ he whispered before realising what he was going to walk back into when he entered the house. ‘That day I found out I was going to be a dad was the worst day of my life but it gave me the best things in my life. Amelia and Eddie. I don’t want to lose anyone else, I can’t.’

  ‘I wish I could have changed it all for you,’ Siobhan said, hugging him fiercely back. ‘I just want you to be happy.’

  ‘So do I.’

  ‘Faith, you’re winding me up!’

  … huffed Flora, watching her sister pull a face at the work taking place in her home.

  They were both sat in the living room on the sofa, observing.

  ‘You can’t like this! With all the dust and things,’ her sister said, frowning. ‘It’s not good for the children and it’s certainly not good for you. You’re fragile!’

  ‘I’m not!’ barked back Flora, shaking her head in annoyance. ‘Anyway, what are you doing here?’

  ‘Come to see what that no good bastard is up to now,’ Faith replied and started looking at the builders.

  ‘You’ve come here to letch over them.’

  ‘I have you know I’m dating the local vicar in my parish.’

  ‘West Ealing is a parish, is it?’ she replied and looked over at five workmen banging around her house. ‘You’ve progressed from security guards to one that guards god.’

  ‘A man of the cloth. And we’re very happy,’ she grinned. ‘He does quote a few things from the bible now and again but he’s kind.’

  ‘Does he keep his dog collar on?’

  ‘When he’s ready, I’ll make him put it on and nothing else,’ whispered Faith, making Flora laugh.

  ‘You’ve still not get a leg over?’

  ‘I’m being well behaved.’

  ‘You know when George Michael wrote the words ‘You gotta have Faith’. Little did he realise you took it literally and so did half of the blokes in West London.’

  ‘Better than being a little miss virgin knickers!’

  Flora was then hit on the head with a cushion, making her laugh out loud.

  ‘And you’re so pure. When did you lose your virginity?’ giggled Faith.

  ‘When I was asleep, so Matias said,’ Flora laughed harder. ‘But I could never remember.’

  ‘You never say anything about anything,’ she huffed, straightening herself out. ‘If I didn’t know better, I swear Lola and Max were from a virgin birth.’

  ‘Talking of children, how’s Nathan?’ she asked, fending off her sister’s heavy handed use of fabric against her head. ‘I’ve not seen my nephew in ages.’

  ‘He’s busy studying for his A’ levels. You know he’s been offered a place at Queen Mary’s College to study law? His father said he’d pay for it. Bloody arse doesn’t know how much it’ll cost but it’s better than my son getting into debt. And he can stay with me while he studies.’

  Flora smiled at her sister. She was five foot three and around fourteen stone. Faith didn’t look fat but large and happy. The woman had a sexy sassiness that only larger ladies could carry off. As well as the added weight when having a cushion fight.

  And she looked well for her forty-seven years with plenty of help from hair dye and Oil of Ulay.

  They were similar in the fact they had been burnt by men and it had made all future life choices difficult.

  Like their mother, they had crap taste in the opposite sex.

  ‘Why are you letting him and his gang of merry men into your home?’ Faith whispered loudly. ‘Did you have a say in any of the changes?’

  ‘What do you think?’ Flora replied, eyeing the men with deep suspicion, knowing they’d know Matias. Then she spotted Simon, who was very sweet and had no idea what he was doing. His colleagues got great pleasure in winding the young man up. ‘He wanted to make it like the old place. I wanted to keep the original features and just tidy it up a bit. We came to a compromise and that’s it really.’

  ‘He designed it so it will have his mucky prints all over it.’

  ‘There was another person involved who did the designs for the interiors, like the kitchen and bedrooms. It’s very good and we know Matias would try and make me have some metal, glass and acrylic monstrosity. The final finish is in light and dark wood.’

  ‘You chose wood because you knew it would wind him up,’ sniggered her sister, elbowing her gentle to the side. ‘Ah well, fuck him.’

  Flora let out a deep sigh.

  ‘He won’t sign the papers,’ she said, turning to her frowning sibling. ‘I can’t force him. It’s like he thinks because I’m fully recovered I’ll forgive him. I won’t.’

  Faith moved closer and touched Flora’s hair, peering into her eyes.

  ‘Did you love him or did you like the idea of having the Argentinian stud muffin at your beck and call?’

  ‘He was born in Maida Vale and he’s about as Argentinian as you are Yiddish. Though based on how he talks about it, it’s like his real home.’ Flora smiled. ‘I thought he could make me happy but I didn’t know he lacked one thing.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘A heart.’

  ‘And spine. Weak men are not an asset and conceited ones are even worse. Look at our father.’

  ‘I can barely remember what he looks like.’

  They sat in contemplative silence for a while, the banging of workmen surrounding the room.

  ‘Where are you going on holiday?’ her sister suddenly asked. ‘Anywhere nice?’

  ‘I’m taking the kids away for ten days and you’re not coming. I don’t have enough cash to fork out a ticket for you and I want time with my babies.’

  ‘What made you think I was going to ask?’ she said, looking pissed off.

  ‘Weren’t you?’

  ‘You could ask Matias to pay?’

  ‘Then he’d just come along with his teenage girlfriend and we could all play happy families!’ Flora laughed out loudly. ‘Just me and the kids. He would take them away for a week but he’s too busy so he’s paying towards the trip to alleviate his guilt.’

  ‘Based on what he’s spending in here, he’s a very guilty man,’ hissed Faith.

  ‘Well, he’d rather do this than me suing him for half his business and all his assets. Easier compromise.’

  ‘Flora,’ Simon said, walking towards the pair. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  Both the women noticed he went bright red. Flora looked at him and realised he resembled someone from years ago. The same person who made her the wooden box.

  Shaking the thought out of her head, she knew it was the result of moving back into her hometown.

  ‘He’s very
handsome,’ whispered Faith, once again, loudly.

  ‘Simon’s concentrating on his studies. He wants to be a psychologist.’

  ‘What? Work with mad people?’

  ‘You’d be his first patient.’ Flora received a light punch while Simon went crimson. ‘It’s fine, Simon. We’re going out for lunch.’

  ‘You know who he looks like?’ her sister said, checking the man’s backside. ‘That boy who used to live near us and went to our school.’ Flora turned to look at her sister. ‘You know, really good looking and his mum was friends with our mum. What was his name?’

  Thing is, Flora never forget his name or him.

  Ed Carter.

  ‘How’s it all going?’

  … he asked Simon half way into the project, while they waited outside the house in Ed’s car. ‘Is she giving you guys a hard time?’

  ‘No,’ said Simon, shaking his head. ‘But Matias keeps coming round every day and it’s winding us all up. I’m not sure who he wants to impress.’

  ‘He’s a man who wants his wife’s forgiveness.’

  ‘You can feel it turn cold when they speak. Her sister turned the air blue when she was talking about him the other day. Whatever he did, it must have been bad.’

  ‘And what have you done to make her want to speak to me?’ squirmed Ed, shaking his head from side to side. ‘I heard she wasn’t happy about the quality of plastering. I told you, don’t get involved if the guys ask. You’re there to assist.’

  ‘I just wanted to have a go and it’s not that bad. She said you could get a high powered sander to sort out the lumps. We’re going to re-do it.’

  ‘I promised Matias we’d do a good job and I don’t want it to go over budget or take longer than planned. It’ll cost the company. So Mrs Sosa’s not happy?’ he asked, getting out of his car and walking towards the house. ‘I’ll have to smooth it over.’

  ‘It’s Mr Sosa’s that’s kicking up a stink. She’s nice but when her ex comes round it’s been a bit heated with this and that.’

  ‘Are they quarrelling?’

  ‘I don’t like him,’ mumbled Simon. ‘And I don’t care if his girlfriend is friends with Emily.’

  ‘Oh,’ was all Ed could reply as Simon usually liked everyone

  ‘And you can’t call her Mrs Sosa, it pisses her off. They’re nearly divorced.’

  ‘So he said,’ smiled Ed. He approached the door, glancing at Simon. ‘What should I call her? This ex Mrs Sosa to be.’

  ‘Flora.’

  Ed stopped for a moment.

  ‘Pardon?’ he replied. ‘Shouldn’t I address her by her surname? What is it?’

  ‘Can’t remember. She just told me to call her Flora. I think her surname sounds like Amelia, which is daft because that’s Amelia’s name. Or is it Armada?’

  ‘Flora?’ Before Ed could say the rest of her name, the door opened.

  Flora Almeida was standing on the doorstep.

  ‘Ed,’ she replied, looking confused before stepping back. ‘Hello Simon.’

  He stood rooted to the spot.

  The girl he’d thought about for such a long time was standing in front of him, looking a little older but other than that, she hadn’t changed. Her hair was very long and straight, face more refined but still the eyes were the amber brown he found so enchanting

  ‘I own ‘Creative Hands’,’ he said, shaking his head as if he was dreaming. ‘And you’re Matias’s wife?’

  ‘Soon to be ex. And you know Matias?’ Flora replied, eyeing him suspiciously. ‘How?’

  ‘He’s a client and has been for years.’

  They stood there examining each other.

  ‘And you moved back here?’

  ‘Yes, about three, four years ago,’ she quietly replied. ‘I wanted to come home.’

  He didn’t know what to say. A small stab of pain hit him in the chest.

  ‘You know each other?’ Simon asked, looking at the pair.

  ‘It was a long time ago,’ Ed mumbled, trying to get his head around what was going on.

  ‘Do you want to come in?’ she asked. He noticed she’d pursed her lips as if suddenly anxious before wrapping her cardigan across her chest. ‘I have to leave in ten minutes but I’ll show you what the problem is. It’s not really me but Matias is being a pain in the arse and I don’t want any trouble.’

  He followed her into house. Everything looked as it should be but he wasn’t taking any notice.

  The only thing he could see was Flora.

  It now came flooding back what had happened that day, the last time he sat eyes on her. Promising her the world then not being able to deliver.

  He wondered if she hated him as much as he hated himself for letting her go.

  But he had no choice.

  He was going to be a father.

  In those days, he had to stand by his actions and his parent’s wishes.

  ‘It’s good to see you,’ she said, turning to smile. ‘It’s been a long time.’ His heart was thumping very hard as he watched Flora step towards her kitchen. ‘I didn’t realise you were Simon’s uncle.’

  ‘Siobhan’s son,’ Ed gulped, seeing the workmen around and Simon scuttling off into the corner.

  ‘He’s very sweet,’ she whispered, her back towards him. ‘This plastering is what’s causing the problem. Matias says it has to look good and last for years.’

  ‘I haven’t seen you for twenty five years,’ he said, looking at the roughly edged plastering, the figure darting into his head.

  ‘Then you’ve been let off lightly.’

  Ed’s head was all over the place but she seemed very composed and cool like Matias had described. On second glance the Flora Almeida he knew from school had disappeared. This was one more self-assured and confident.

  But still drop dead gorgeous.

  ‘Oh well, you’ll see me for a few more days while this is being sorted,’ Flora replied. ‘I’d offer you a cup of tea but I have to go to a meeting. But you can see what the concerns are.’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, realising he’d have to concentrate on what he came there to do. ‘We do have a snagging period. The company prides itself on a high quality finish.’

  ‘You’re the project manager.’

  ‘As a favour for Matias.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said, pulling a disgruntled expression. ‘Maybe I put off Simon when he was working.’ Then she suddenly stopped and looked at him. ‘‘Creative Hands’, that’s an interesting name.’

  ‘I’ve been told I have them,’ he said, straight-faced, knowing she’d told him it.

  It had stuck in his head that’s why he used it for his company name.

  There was no response.

  He looked at the finish and realised it would have to be redone. It was just the rendering of the plaster.

  ‘Ed, it can be fixed. The client was getting upset about it,’ Derek said, the man in charge. He was a large bloke with a very big white moustache that was always covered in dust. Ed tried not to smile at him wearing his hard hat, knowing he’d prefer to work with his woolly one instead. ‘We’ll do it tomorrow and then it can dry out for a few days. Mick and the others are coming in a couple of days to do the fittings, so it’ll be okay.’

  ‘And we’re not behind schedule?’ he asked then noticed Flora was staring at him. He caught her glance and she immediately looked away. ‘We need to finish on time.’

  ‘Simon was trying to help and … look it won’t happen again. The kid means well.’

  ‘My nephew is costing me a fortune but he’ll be back at university in September so I’ll take the shortfall for now.’

  Ed turned and noticed Flora had gone.

  He didn’t know what came over him. Grabbing Derek’s arm, he pulled him back a little.

  ‘I’m going to do the work in this place,’ he found himself saying, noticing Derek raise his eyebrows. ‘It’ll be good to be hands on again.’

  ‘Are you sure? You know since your son and…’ The man’s face c
reased in pain. ‘You’ve not really done this sort of manual work.’

  ‘You’re implying I’m not good enough?’ asked Ed, seeing his friend’s concern. ‘Maybe I need to get more involved.’

  ‘You’re the best, you know that but your mate, he’s a pain in the arse.’

  ‘I know Matias and I hear it’s not been smooth sailing.’

  ‘That’s putting it mildly,’ whispered Derek. ‘He’s been coming round and just interfering but I think he’s just trying to get at her. Thing is, she’s not rising to the bait and that’s making it worse.’ He started to laugh. ‘She just looks at him and shakes her head before heading off to another part of the house.’

  ‘They really don’t get on?’

  ‘Flora seems to avoid looking at him at all costs whereas he’s vying for her attention. It’s strange considering he has got some young bit on the side.’ Derek smirked. ‘Not that I’m saying it’s wrong, you know.’

  ‘He wants to make it up to her.’

  ‘Really? Wait and watch. It’s painful, I’m telling you.’

  Taking his time, he looked around the house, wondering where she’d gone then heard Simon laughing. He followed the sound.

  Flora put her bag on her shoulder, her back to him.

  ‘Well, you can write a piece on it,’ Flora laughed, turned to look at him then smiled. ‘Good to see you again.’

  Before Ed could say something, she walked out of the house.

  ‘What did you say to her?’ Ed asked, just looking at the closed door.

  ‘I told her you were going out with Mr Sosa’s girlfriend’s mate. Flora said I could make it a case study on why much older men go for younger women. And she said it must be nice they can share playdates.’

  ‘I see,’ he said, knowing one of Flora’s insults.

  ‘How do you know her?’ Simon asked, walking up next to him. ‘You both acted strangely.’

  ‘We went to school together.’

  ‘Was she years younger than you?’

  ‘She was a year older,’ he said, not knowing how he was feeling.

  Seeing her in the flesh reminded him of what had happened and his thoughts immediately went to Eddie. It flashed into his head Flora would never be able to meet his son and it upset him.