Happy Now?

by S M Mala

  ‘Uncle Ed says we’ll be here another fortnight. They’re just working on the fitted wardrobes and cupboards for the bedrooms.’

  ‘Well, as you have heard, we’ll be away for ten days and the place is all yours,’ she laughed. ‘Just keep Mr Sosa out of the way and it’ll be fine.’

  ‘Oh, he rang. Left a message,’ said Simon.

  ‘Simon, can you stop disturbing Flora and get on with the work. We’re behind enough as it is,’ Derek barked out.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said, putting his head down.

  ‘It’s fine Derek. We’re just chatting.’

  Flora listened to the message, directed at the kids and shook her head before going to her study. She noticed the pile of paints and brushes in the corner as well as some of the paintings. Then she laughed when she saw Paulette’s bananas piece of art.

  Her heart plummeted knowing her friend was ill.

  Flora knew she’d see her tomorrow for the art class.

  It was hard, coming to terms with people passing away, especially when it was something that could have taken her own life, if things had been worse. Flora sat on the armchair and thought hard about how she would make out it was all fine.

  Paulette could see right through her and she knew it would be difficult.

  Glancing out onto the garden, she could hear the voices of the men and realised her home was going to look much better. Then her eyes travelled around the study. The cheap makeshift shelves she bought to store her books and items. Even the box where she put all the paints and other crafts was a mess.

  The room needed a facelift. Flora glanced at herself in a mirror which was on the floor.

  She looked upset and unhappy.

  There was more stomping from above her head and she knew it was Max running about and probably trying to wind up Lola.

  Taking her sketch pad, Flora started drawing out plans on how she wanted the study to look. She’d get some wood and do it herself over the summer, when the work was finished and the kids were at their assigned summer camps.

  Drawing out her thoughts, even a desk space for her to look out the window onto the garden, Flora created the ideal environment. Then she glanced at her paints and created a large box to store them with drawers.

  She couldn’t help but laugh, knowing the chances of her ever making it were slim and she’d end up going to buy something instead.

  There were voices coming from above and she got up, walking to her door. Glancing at the new interior, she smiled. It reminded her of Ed, the care in which he took in making her art box that he probably had forgotten about.

  Ed Carter was playing on her mind a lot.

  She wanted to know more about him but knew she would be crossing the line. He might not want to know.

  But he said he never forgot what happened between them and asked what she’d done wrong.

  There was no answer.

  Maybe had he told her, even all those years ago, she might have not made the same mistake and now she wouldn’t be all alone and scared to fall in love again.

  She might, just might, be happy now.

  ‘Something else tickling your fancy?’

  … Derek asked as they loaded the large white van with items for Flora’s house. ‘We’ve not seen you for ages and they’re going on holiday on Saturday.’

  ‘Really?’ Ed asked.

  He decided not to go back to the house since he’d spoken to Flora. Something was stopping him. Looking around the work room, in his father’s timber yard, he was relieved he could go back to the house and finalise the work without her being there.

  Half of him wanted to talk to her again.

  The other half just wanted to move on and forget about it.

  But he couldn’t stop thinking about her, knowing that Harry was right.

  There was unfinished business, even if it meant him explaining she’d not done anything wrong.

  Twenty five years ago.

  It was life taking a turn in a direction he’d not even contemplated.

  At eighteen, he thought he'd be with her.

  Flora.

  And nothing else mattered.

  How wrong he was.

  There was the noise of a drill in the background that distracted him. They were building more flats along the canal and by the river. Brentford had changed beyond recognition and he realised so had his father’s premises.

  Larger and new, Ernie had turned the place into a landmark when it came to getting your supplies. Ed was lucky his father was willing to let him set up his workroom in the corner though he did charge him a fair price, as his father would put it.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out.

  ‘Hello Lee,’ he said, noticing Derek and a few others piling things into the back of the van. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘Want to meet up for a drink tonight? I’ve got a free pass.’

  ‘I’m really busy and-.'

  ‘Come on!’ his friend laughed out. ‘All work and no play makes Ed a grumpy boy. How’s your fit young bird?’

  ‘Emily’s fine. I’ve not really spent much time with her.’

  ‘So it’s a date? Eight o’clock.’

  ‘Sure,’ he smiled. ‘Usual place.’

  Ed hung up and noticed Derek was grinning.

  ‘Why the teeth?’ Ed asked, walking up to the man who was rubbing his tummy once again.

  ‘You’ve not been hanging out with your young totty?’ whispered Derek, nudging him in the ribs. ‘Getting too old?’

  ‘I’m not old,’ Ed replied, knowing the man was trying to wind him up. ‘And it’s got nothing to do with you.’

  ‘You need to speak to Flora about what work’s going to take place while she’s away,’ he said lightly. ‘I know the children are with their father on Thursday evening so you can go round then.’

  He glared at Derek before shaking his head.

  ‘Why then?’

  ‘You can ask her out for a drink.’

  ‘Why would I do that?’

  ‘Because Ed Carter, I’ve known you since you were a kid and I can tell when you like someone. It’s so rare, it’s refreshing to see you smile genuinely, not the pained one you do as if you’ve got trapped wind.’

  ‘Sometimes Derek…’

  ‘Don’t let him wind you up,’ said his father, walking towards the pair of them. His dad looked well considering they were waiting for the results for his mother. It was taking longer than they had said. ‘Derek, leave my boy alone.’

  ‘I want him to meet with Flora, like Noreen said,’ sighed the man, flicking his bushy moustache.

  ‘Don’t fix me up!’ hissed Ed, looking at his father. ‘I’ll take her out as a ‘thank you’ when we have something to thank her for.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh,’ his father replied, shaking his head at his son. ‘She came round to speak to your mother when she didn’t have to. And you heard what your mother said, she’d been through it herself and it must have been hard.’

  ‘Fine,’ he sighed, trying not to get wound up. ‘I’ll ask her out and have a chat.’

  ‘I’d do it if you want but I know she might fall for my charms and we’ll be together within days. That’s how I roll,’ smirked Derek.

  ‘And I thought it was on your tubby tummy,’ smirked Ed, walking towards his car.

  ‘Call your mother!’ shouted out Ernie. ‘She worries, you know.’

  After a few meetings, Ed drove to Flora’s house and parked outside. Simon was chatting to her on the doorstep, making her laugh. He held onto the sigh coming to his throat on hearing it and seeing Flora smile.

  She didn’t smile too much, only at her children.

  ‘Hello Uncle Ed,’ said Simon, looking very cheerful. ‘We’re just finishing up.’

  ‘Can I talk to you Flora?’ Ed asked and noticed she nodded then walked back into the house. ‘I hear you’re going on holiday this Saturday.’

  ‘Yeah, the kids are happy and we’re just about packed,’ she r
eplied, not turning around, walking towards the kitchen. ‘This place looks great!’

  ‘Thanks.’ Ed was just about to ask her out to dinner but was met with a wall of nerves. The chance she would refuse started to worry him. ‘I was …’

  ‘Yes?’ Flora replied, turning around. She was smiling brightly and it threw him. ‘I know you wanted to go through what you’d be doing while I’m away.’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, letting out a nervous sigh. ‘Could we do it over dinner on Thursday evening?’

  ‘How’s your mum?’ she immediately asked. ‘No results yet?’

  ‘Should be next week,’ he said, seeing she remembered what he said about his mother wanting him to do it. ‘Monday, I think.’

  ‘Oh, I wish I could be here,’ she sighed, switching the kettle on.

  ‘So you’ll come on Thursday? Anywhere you want. What about that Italian place you practically lived in?’

  ‘Ah, you see,’ Flora smiled. ‘I still live there but my pizza choices have changed. Less American Hot and more Florentine. Are you sure? You don’t have to. It’s really sweet to ask.’

  ‘I’d really like to,’ he said, hearing his voice shake. ‘I can pick you up and-.'

  ‘Oh no,’ she laughed out loudly. ‘I can meet you there at seven, if that’s not too early?’

  ‘That’ll be good,’ Ed replied, feeling his cheeks turn red. ‘Really good.’

  ‘Jesus!’ she said, looking at her watch. ‘I better go and get the kids. They get peed off waiting around. See you on Thursday.’

  Sitting in the pub with Lee, Ed was excited about seeing Flora in a few days. Something was buzzing in his head.

  ‘What’s making you so happy?’ Lee asked as their food turned up. ‘You look like the cat who got the cream.’

  ‘I feel good,’ he said honestly.

  ‘I’m pleased. You look well but I see a little twinkle in your eye.’

  Ed glanced around at the place where they always met. A pub they used to come to a lot when they were in their twenties. When Lee moved to the States, Ed would still turn up but for a very different reason.

  It was where he was supposed to meet Flora all those years back. He always thought, in the back of his mind, she might be waiting for him.

  She never did.

  ‘I’ve got a date on Thursday night,’ Ed said, starting to smile. ‘Well, it’s not a date, just meeting someone for dinner.’

  ‘You’re two timing Emily so soon?’ asked Lee with a smirk. ‘Mind you, sleeping with the same woman year in and year out can be dull.’

  ‘Don’t do that again,’ Ed said seriously to his friend. ‘Don’t go shitting on your own doorstep. You’re lucky she didn’t say anything to your missus.’

  ‘A few times with someone Abigail met at the NCT. It wasn’t as if the woman was married.’

  ‘But you are.’

  ‘You can’t tell me you didn’t stray when you were with Diane,’ he said, pulling a face.

  ‘I stayed with her until the time was right to leave. I wasn’t in love,’ he honestly replied.

  ‘But you slept with her.’

  ‘I was with her for ten years and there was never a problem when it came to sex, that was great but I wasn’t in love with her. That made all the difference.’ Ed hesitated. ‘I love her in a different way because she’s the mother of my children. Luckily she met someone and got married, that’s what she really wanted.’ He opened his burger, squeezing tomato ketchup over it before sprinkling his chips with salt. ‘And she’s happy now, give or take.’

  Lee shrugged, cutting into his fish and chips before grinning.

  ‘Is this one younger than Jessica or even Amelia?’

  ‘No this one isn’t young,’ he replied, looking sheepishly away. ‘Actually, it’s Flora.’

  Ed jumped when he heard Lee’s cutlery crash onto the plate.

  ‘Flora?’ Lee asked, looking confused then disgusted. ‘Flora Almeida? Why?’

  ‘Lee, what’s your problem with her? I thought you liked her when we were at school. You spent half your time with your tongue hanging out.’

  ‘Aren’t you confusing me with you?’ he sharply shot back. ‘She’s a bitch and I bet nothing has changed.’

  Ed angrily bit into his burger and looked at his friend’s furious face. They sat there in silence eating their food.

  ‘Don’t go out with her, don’t even contemplate it,’ said Lee seriously. ‘She’s not a nice woman. Flora will string you along and-.'

  ‘Did she do that to you?’ Ed asked, feeling a little sick at the thought. ‘How would she do that when you just bumped into her in Brighton?’

  ‘And why did you want to know where she was?’ Lee asked, shaking his head. ‘Cock teased you too?’

  ‘No she didn’t. I’ve always liked Flora and-.'

  ‘She wanted to fuck me when we met and when I tried, she turned around and ran away. That’s what she does, runs away after she gets what she wants. Made a fool out of me and I’ll never forgive her. Flora was always a cold bitch, never gave anything away.’ Lee started physically to shake. ‘I hate her.’

  Ed had never seen his friend so angry.

  ‘I’m sorry. That doesn’t sound like her at all,’ said Ed quietly, not understanding. ‘Did you see her a lot in Brighton?’

  ‘We were together,’ his friend replied. ‘I was with Flora. I’ve had a taste but she didn’t want to let me get a full bite.’

  ‘He should be here soon,’

  … Flora said to Fred, the owner for decades.

  The man was older but still dyed his hair jet black and his face very wrinkly. The moustache also had the help of a tint brush but he was always lovely to her. His son now ran the business that’s why the premises was bigger and newly decorated.

  Still, Flora always got her table no matter what.

  She went there Fridays or Saturdays when the kids were with their father. Flora could eat alone without anyone questioning her and she never felt out of place. Her book, a glass of wine, pizza or pasta, she was happy.

  ‘Anyone special?’ Fred asked, giving a wink.

  ‘Someone special but not like that. An old friend.’

  Flora sipped her drink then felt her palms. She was sweating and wanted desperately to have a lovely evening. Her phone was to the side just in case the children called. Max was desperate for Saturday morning to come. He wanted to play in the sea and eat ice cream. Lola was still upset with her friend Poppy but Flora was focussing on giving her a one to one about boys.

  Since Ed asked her out, she was all of a flutter, acting like a teenager. Her mind was filled with questions to ask him.

  About his life, work and family.

  Flora wanted to know everything.

  It was important for her to catch up on twenty five years.

  And she wanted to know why he never came to get her.

  Flora needed to explain that she was so sad afterwards but knew he must have had a good reason. If it was because of something she did wrong, she wanted to know, to make it right.

  His abandonment had only emphasised how fragile her heart was.

  For that reason, she protected it ever since.

  The time ticked slowly away and she looked at her watch. It was ten past seven. She knew he was probably stuck in traffic.

  Checking her phone again she wondered why he hadn’t texted her but Flora patiently waited.

  Then is started to happen again.

  The fearful panic of him not wanting to meet her. Stringing her along to see if she’d turn up.

  The hour she waited was painful.

  It reminded her of when he stood her up last time and it was starting to hurt.

  ‘Do you want to order?’ Fred asked gently as she looked at her watch. ‘Your friend is late.’

  Flora didn’t know what to say.

  He’d done it again and she felt so stupid.

  Ed didn’t really want to take her out. Maybe that’s what he did now, play games with women,
especially someone like her.

  A person who never mattered.

  Flora had lost her appetite and shook her head.

  ‘They must have forgot,’ she said, taking her wallet out and putting down some money. ‘It’s not the first time.’

  Taking her shawl, Flora walked out and wanted to cry at his trick. A horrible trick he did to her before and made her less trusting about men. The fact they could take you and use you whenever they wanted.

  And hurt you to the point it made you scared.

  Swallowing hard, she shook the tears coming to her eyes, remembering to put it away.

  Being alone was her only option and digging up the past was a mistake.

  It should have stayed in the past very much like Ed Carter.

  ‘Shit,’

  … he mumbled to himself when he saw her walk out of the restaurant.

  Flora had her head down and he could see she looked upset.

  Ed had arrived ten minutes before seven, seeing her walk in.

  Half of him wanted to go in and the other half was disappointed that she wasn’t what he thought she was.

  Flora had screwed Lee when they were in Brighton and his memory of the virginal girl had been sullied.

  ‘Had a taste,’ he mumbled, feeling disgusted.

  Lee had experience what he had and it made his stomach turn.

  Whereas Ed had secretly pined for her, she just carried on as if nothing had happened and with his best friend.

  He was still reeling that Lee never said before but he knew now.

  Looking at her very sad expression, something didn’t sit well.

  He didn’t know what.

  ‘Tea anyone?’

  … Flora asked the men.

  ‘No thanks,’ said Simon, carrying some more wood up the stairs.

  She needed another cup of tea to keep her awake.

  When Flora had got home the previous night, she cried her eyes out.

  Being stood up had taken its toll on her confidence and pride.

  Then, because she couldn’t sleep, she’d packed the suitcases and left them in the living room, ready for the plane the following morning. The taxi had been booked and all she wanted to do was get away before seeing Ed again.