"Her mother was picking her up in the morning, but there was unfinished business to attend to."
The sleepover had been fun but Melissa’s mobile just kept ringing. I watched as she reached out and grasped it, sleep still holding her eyelids closed while she answered. After a few mumbles and nods of her head, she sighed,...
"Nicola and Dave get out after the birth of Olivia"
Finally, July was upon us and I was sitting in the living room of our house waiting for Nicola to finish her preparations for the afternoon and evening at Diane and James' house. While she did her ablutions and I...
"Nicola and Dave honeymoon in Las Vegas"
In one of the hotels that I worked in during my early years working for Armstrong Hotels, I met a woman who studied yoga and meditation. It was after a particularly busy shift she offered to lead a meditation for...
"The end of Nicola's story about her night with Steph and Alex"
All the focus, it seemed, at home and work, was on summer celebrations, with all of the talk and questions from Jake and now the reminder from Nicola about her plans. I did enjoy them, maybe I was a stick...
"The 2nd part of Nicola's night with Steph and Alex"
After breakfast was cleared away, Liv was the first to leave. A kiss on the cheek for each of us and she was out of the door and on her way to the bus stop.Just before I left Nicola reminded...
"Nicola and Dave discuss what happened at the next Christmas party and beyond..."
Before the film had finished, Nicola had fallen asleep with her head in my lap and after laughing to myself, I fell asleep stroking her hair. The only thing that was stiff when I woke up was my neck. The...
"The end of Nicola and Dave's trip to France."
When Olivia walked in and dropped onto the sofa next to me, we started the film. The distributors’ logos had not finished rolling when she reached into the bowl of popcorn for a second handful. I already had my arm...
"Nicola and Dave take a trip to France..."
When I got in that evening, I knew something was wrong, Olivia gave me a look of concern and Nicola seemed on edge. Dinner was well into preparation which suggested Nicola had been home longer than I would normally have...
"Nicola gives Dave one last present"
As I walked Jake back to Mr Armstrong’s office, he asked, “These picnics that the boss has, are we expected to bring someone?”“No, there’s singles, unmarried couples and married both with and without kids. That said, kids aren’t invited to...
"He takes me back to everything I once was"
For me, he is Paris and cigarettes.He takes me to a time when I was younger and the world was gritty: a time of experimentation and wonder.I have not passed into antiquity, but I have passed into experience. When he...