IN TOO DEEP - WEP

#WEPFF – FEBRUARY 2018 CHALLENGE – IN TOO DEEP

Welcome to WEP - Write...Edit...Publish and the first Challenge of 2018 -- IN TOO DEEP.

Here is my entry for the WEP February 2018 challenge

IN TOO DEEP

Jenny

‘Hey, Jenny, we’re all going for a quick one.  Do you want to come?’ Sarah raised her eyebrows as she started packing up her things.

‘No, not tonight.  I’ve got to pick Lilly up from after school club,’ came the disappointed reply.

‘You’re no fun anymore.’  Sarah wagged her finger at Jenny.  ‘All work and no play make you a very dull girl to be around.’

‘The joys of being a working mum.’  Jenny smiled brightly, putting a brave face on her situation.  Little did her colleagues know that she would give anything to have her life back the way it used to be before her daughter came along.  Five years now of hard work for little or no reward.  No, that wasn't true. She adored her daughter.  Not so much her living situation with Harry who was always jealous of Lilly, especially as he wasn’t her biological father.  Waving her hand as her friends disappeared out of the office door, Jenny started putting her desk in order.   The traffic would be awful now, so she’d be late picking Lilly up.  She’d get the cold shoulder and admonishments from the lady at the after school club but what else could she do?

She got in the lift*.  As the doors were closing a hand stopped them as a chap dashed in.  ‘Just made it,’ he said as he smiled at her.  His voice wasn’t deep but it had a lovely tone and quality to it with just a tinge of an accent to it.  Jenny smiled back at him.  His eyes were a lovely shade of brown, not that dark deep brown cow eyes that you couldn’t fathom what was going on, not hazel either but somewhere inbetween.  He stared back at her.

‘Wow, your eyes are spectacular.  I’ve never seen eyes like yours before.’

Jenny laughed as she said, ‘if that’s a pick-up line, you’ll have to do better than that.’

He stuck out his hand, ‘hi, I’m Matt, nice to make your acquaintance.’

Jenny placed her hand in his, he squeezed it gently, caressing her thumb with a light touch.

‘Fancy a drink?’

Having just refused drinks with the girls a few minutes earlier Jenny’s mind was working overtime.  How could she accept his offer? It was only a drink – but – she still had to pick Lilly up from school. 

‘Um, I’m busy right now, places to go, things to do.’  

Why did she say that?  She could feel her face getting hot, please don’t let her blush.

‘OK.’  Matt turned away slowly, relinquishing her hand.

‘Let me make a phone call.’  Jenny got out of the lift* fumbling in her bag for her phone, she hoisted her bag over her shoulder as she walked to a corner of the lobby keeping an eye on Matt as he smiled an enigmatic grin and stood just out of hearing range.

Her mother picked up.  Jenny grovelled, promised to return the favour if mum could, please, pretty please, pick Lilly up from school, feed her and maybe – then her mother surprised her by offering to keep her overnight.

Jenny turned to Matt, ‘where shall we go?’

MATT

‘Well what’s got in to you, mate?  You look like the cat who’s got the cream.’ Pete winked at Matt.  ‘Good weekend was it?’

Matt just smiled, he could have come back with a retort but his weekend was something else.  Never in a million years did he think a girl like Jenny would even look at him.  Then she dropped the bombshell, she came as a package, her and a five year old daughter.

He clicked his mouse as he tried to concentrate on work.  His email reminder pinged, meeting at 2.00 p.m.  He’d better make sure his facts were straight on this project.  Shaking his head he concentrated on the task in hand.

At the end of the day he hung around the lobby by the lifts*.   There she was, her raven black hair thrown back as she tossed her head laughing with her girlfriends.  She glanced over, made an excuse to her girlfriends and hung back a bit until they had all left the building. 

Matt approached her.  He couldn't help his face splitting in to a huge grin.  ‘I've been thinking about you all weekend.’

Jenny smiled at him but there was sadness in her eyes.  ‘I'm not sure I'm strong enough to do this.  You know I live with someone, right, I did tell you.’

Matt looked at her, drowning in her vivid blue eyes.  ‘In for a penny, in for a pound,’ he whispered as he cupped the back of her neck and drew her towards him, kissing her.

Jenny’s mobile rang interrupting the moment.  She turned away but not before he saw her eyes fill with tears.  An argument seemed to ensue.  Matt approached her and stroked her back. 

Jenny draw in a deep breath as she turned.  ‘My boyfriend thinks I'm having an affair.’  She shook her head, ‘I am, aren't I?’

‘Break up with him, Jenny.  Come with me.’  Matt drew her into his body.

Jenny was torn, her heart was telling her one thing but her head, her logic was telling her another.

She took a deep breath, ‘YES.’

Should I stay or should I go

Goodness only knows

My path is unknown to me

I wish I could see

What comes next?

So I can take the step

Without any regret

I’ll plod along with hope

And perhaps just enough rope

To save myself from drowning

To ease my face from frowning

Not knowing is the hardest part

The leap of faith to start my heart

To live again free from worry

Not stressed about money

Living from day-to-day

Eking out the monthly pay

He offered her a chance

It had only taken that glance

Not a shadow of a doubt

She couldn't live without

His love, compassion, respect

He had prospects

 A new life beckoned her.

*lift is the UK term for an elevator

Word count: 996