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Post by bec2010 on Jul 8, 2012 9:19:48 GMT 1
Daniel sat in his brand new top of the range BMW M6, the best part of £50,000 surrounding him and providing him with a haven from reality. He had a secret bottle of whiskey stashed in the glove compartment; he took several gulps and went into the house. It was well past 10pm and Daniel had finished work at 4pm. Zara ignored the fact that he’d entered the house and ignored the fact of his existence. She’d cooked tea, cleaned and sorted Joe out all by herself, and where was her “boyfriend” nowhere to be found, she may as well have been a single mum she thought. Daniel went into the kitchen; fixed himself some of the tea Zara had cooked and grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge. He sat at the table on his own and started eating, and at that moment his phone pinged with a text message. Zara rose to her feet, stormed through from the living room and into the kitchen. “So Daniel, who is she then?” Zara shouted at him “Zara what are you going on about” “Don’t lie to me, you’re a big pathetic joke, you left the campus today at 4, it’s now 20 past ten so where have you been, actually don’t answer that, you’ve been with your bit on the side, wine and dined her, had some casual sex and promised her the world, am I right” Zara was really enraged, not sure if she was just going to break down and cry or if she was about to get violent. “Don’t be so stupid, you’re the pathetic joke and if you must know the texts of Cherry” Zara was so wound up about how cool he was and princess bubble-gum, what was she doing texting her man. She grabbed his phone and threw it as hard as she could off the wall. “Well your little bit on the side Princess Bubble-gum cannot text you any more can she, boo-hoo, what will your best friend Jimmi say about this” Daniel knew from the minute he walked in the house, Zara would be spoiling for a fight; he just couldn’t be bothered with her anymore that was the scene every night till one of them backed down, called a truce and slept in different beds. “Zara, I’m sick of this, sick of us, having a child ruined us, and if you must know Cherry and Jimmi have split up, Jimmi has disappeared back to wales for the weekend, no one can get in touch with him, so I have been trying to help Cherry look for him, because you know what Zara, he’s my best mate” Daniel was now standing up at this point and shouting in her face Zara moved closer, till nearly her and Daniels nose were touching and shouted “Get out, we’re over” Daniel grabbed her by her t-shirt and spat back “Don’t worry I’m going, but you’ve have till 5pm tomorrow to evict your tenants and move all your stuff, cause it’s my house”
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 8, 2012 9:53:57 GMT 1
Zara Once the door had slammed behind him, Zara burst into tears and Joe started screaming. She ran upstairs, picked Joe up and cuddled him tight into herself. “It’s okay, my beautiful baby boy, mummy’s here and mummy loves you” she uttered, fighting through sobs Joe quickly settled again, but she still kept him close. She thought to herself, yes having Joe had changed their lives but she couldn’t imagine life without him. She could never imagine herself being the old Zara, sleeping with men of all ages, imagining Joe falling for some woman like that shocked her. She could never imagine herself to be the super bitch again, why would Joe want to know his mummy like that because mummies are meant to be perfect. The one thing though she did miss was her and Daniel, she missed the extravagance of their life styles, sex for the sake of having sex, the ability to do what they want when they wanted and they spark they had. She settled Joe back into his cot and walked downstairs into the kitchen pouring herself a large glass of red wine, she saw Daniel’s phone crumpled on the floor, how would she know if something had happened to her and how would she know if he was coming home. She reached for her phone out of her bag and text Princess Bubble-gum “If you see Daniel just tell him to come home, I’m sorry. Zara” She put her phone down and started to tidy up, scraping Daniels uneaten tea into the bin and cleaning the mess she had created.
Daniel The text Daniel got off Cherry was that even his friends hadn’t seen him. With the door slamming behind him, he sped off into his car, picked up a pizza and headed around to Cherry’s. She opened the door, her face stained with tears and her blonde hair curving her face He pulled him in close “Don’t worry, he will come home” and kissed her forehead.
They both went into the house and sat at the kitchen table where Cherry still had her laptop open and her phone plugged in. “Have you ate” Daniel asked and Cherry shook her head Daniel split the pizza and grabbed two bottles of beer from the fridge “So where have you tried” Daniel asked whilst taking a drink from the bottle. “Everywhere and everyone Daniel, I’ve spoke to his friends on Facebook, text a few of his friends I had in my phone” and with that Cherry started crying again. “Come on don’t cry, he’s big enough and daft enough to look after himself” He hugged Cherry for a while and stroked the back of her head. Why couldn’t Zara care for him this much, and when him and Jimmi were talking last week he never let on that they were having troubles. Cherry pulled back from Daniel and her faced dropped “But Daniel I don’t actually think I’m doing this cause I love him, we’ve had some awful rows these past few weeks, things haven’t been right for months. I think I’m doing this cause I cannot imagine my marriage to fail, to my friends and family it’s perfect, so if he just comes home we can pretend it’s okay and deep down we can make it work to other people” Cherry confessed Daniel was a bit taken aback by what she had just confessed but felt the sudden urge to kiss and protect her. He pulled her close again, stroking her hair and wiping away her tears, she looking up at him their mouths met. Their kissing quickly became passionate, he fumbling with the tie on her dressing down revealing her silk nighty and she unbuttoning her shirt, opening the belt on his jeans. They started making their way upstairs, and it that moment Cherry’s phone pinged with a text message, Daniel pulled back from Cherry “Do you want to get that” and within a second Cherry replied with a stern “No” moving her lips back to where they were and carrying on with their path upstairs.
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 8, 2012 10:43:38 GMT 1
Daniel
Daniel woke up the next morning, the sun was streaming through the white curtains and someone was curled up, nestling themselves into his back. He turned over, shocked, forgetting for a moment that he slept with Cherry last night. He looked down at her still fast asleep, what was his best mate doing messing around, she was beautiful and although she acts like a child she has a good heart. He was one to judge though, having sex with his best friends wife in their marital bed. She was beautiful and there was something there, but she wasn't Zara, well the old Zara and nothing would compare to her. Cherry woke up with Daniel staring at her, both feeling a bit awkward, embarrassed and neither knowing what to say
Cherry said sheepishly "Morning Daniel, erm, last night, erm" Daniel interrupted her "Cherry last night was just good sex, nothing more we both got caught up in the moment, i'm upset and annoyed at Zara, and your the same with Jimmi, but it happened and we just need to forget about it. No need to tell Zara or Jimmi" Cherry laughed "Erm, yeah that's what i was trying to get out and now if you don't mind close your eyes and i'm taking the sheet, your not seeing me naked, i'm getting ready"
They both seemed to be playing cool about it but neither could deny they had just cheated on their husband and girlfriend.
Cherry was in the shower, Daniel trying to scrambled together all his clothes and sort himself out, and then he remembered Cherry had a text on her phone last night. What if it was off Jimmi and he needed help, instead Daniel had bedded his wife and Jimmi could be lying dead somewhere, all for a bunk up. Daniel raced downstairs and looked at the phone, the message was off Zara "If you see Daniel just tell him to come home, I’m sorry. Zara"
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Post by iheartdaniel on Jul 9, 2012 13:36:48 GMT 1
Cherry
Cherry wrapped the bed sheet around her and made her way quickly to the bathroom, she daren’t look at Daniel to be reminded of the betrayal they had just committed. Once in the bathroom she positioned herself on the edge of the bath and turned the shower on. If Daniel thought she was busy he would hopefully leave meaning she would be spared the awkward conversation that would need to ensue from last night’s happenings. She listened as Daniel quickly gathered up the items of clothing that had been tossed across Cherry and Jimmi’s bedroom in a frenzy as passion took hold. A solitary tear rolled down Cherry’s porcelain cheek and landed on the bed sheet she gripped tightly in her fist. She hated what she’d become - an adulteress. Cherry loved Jimmi with all her heart and she knew that if he were to ever find out of her betrayal with his best friend he would be distraught. But perhaps what saddened Cherry the most was what her night with Daniel had confirmed. Her marriage was over.
She’d always wondered how people could say ‘love isn’t always enough,’ surely love makes all else insignificant she had always believed, dismissing the statement to a mere cliché. But not know. Her love for her husband could no longer paper over the ever widening cracks in their relationship. There had been troubles in their relationship for some time, and deep down Cherry had known that marriage was not the answer to their problems, in truth it had only made things worse. She truly loved Jimmi, he was the sweetest most kind and gentle man a girl could hope for but the longer they had been together Cherry had begun to resent all theses qualities. Despite being newlyweds there was no fire, no passion. Everytime Zara mocked ‘Chimmi’, as she had so termed the couple, for being boring it rung all too true with Cherry. They were boring, their relationhip was stale and mundane. Cherry was beginning to realise how destructive this marriage had become, in order to stay married they were sacrificing their own characters and personalities and she hated her self for the nag she had turned into. As wracked with guilt as Cherry felt about sleeping with Daniel she couldn’t help but think that she had felt there was more passion between her and Daniel in that one evening than in the last nine months of her relationship with Jimmi. Snapshots of her and Daniel kissing passed through her mind and she found her self smiling, she’d enjoyed the feeling of being young and carefree with Daniel; he’d made her feel special and wanted. It suddenly struck Cherry that she didn’t regret what had happened with Daniel beyond how it would hurt Jimmi. She liked how Daniel made her feel.
Cherry heard the front door close and quickly picked up the bottom of the sheet, running to unlock the ensuite door and made her way towards the bedroom window. Below Daniel was making his way to his car, he looked up sheepishly and caught her gaze. The pair shared a nervous smile before Daniel got into his car and reversed down the driveway. Cherry watched as the black car accelerated down the street. The butterflies in her stomach told her all she needed to know; she liked Daniel, this was more than just sex.
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Post by iheartdaniel on Jul 9, 2012 14:39:02 GMT 1
Daniel
As Cherry awkwardly shuffled across the room wrapped in the crisp white bed sheet Daniel just lay on his best friend’s bed trying to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened the night before. He heard Cherry showering and knew it was best to leave now and avoid another uncomfortable conversation about how they had betrayed Jimmi. Quickly pulling on his charcoal suit trousers and black shirt Daniel was still sure to check there were no strands of Cherry’s golden blonde hair on his clothes; his old womanising ways hadn’t fully left him he noted. As he made his way down the stairs he remembered the text message Cherry had received while the pair were caught up in the moment. His words to her echoed in his mind. ‘God,’ he thought to his self, ‘the old Daniel is still pretty near the surface it seems’ as he remembered the way he had dismissed what could have been his best friend’s plea for help as he bedded his wife. He picked up Cherry’s phone which lay amongst the glasses and half empty bottles of red wine the two had shared the previous evening. As the message appeared on the screen he almost wished it had been from Jimmi. ‘If you see Daniel just tell him to come home, I’m sorry. Zara.’ Reading the message turned Daniel numb, his legs gave way and forced him down on to the sofa. He dropped the phone and thumped his head against is hands. Zara. ‘Idiot’ he whispered through gritted teeth over and over again as he dug his fingers into his scalp. What on earth had he done; he’d hurt everyone he cared about in his selfish act – his best friend, his girlfriend, his son. Even Cherry. As much as Daniel was keen to comfort Cherry he quickly began to enjoy the way she had needed him. He hadn’t felt that way in a long time. Zara didn’t need him anymore, her words about Joe not needing him still stung now as much as when they had been delivered to him some evenings prior. She merely tolerated him now, they were just two people sharing a house. Daniel enjoyed escaping to work where he could escape from the crushing reality of his relationship with Zara, at work his patients were responsive to his advice and respected him. He loved his little boy more than anything but somehow since Joe’s traumatic arrival things hadn’t been the same between Zara and himself. All the fire and heat had gone. As he picked up his jacket and made his way to the front door Daniel glanced at the stairs and was reminded of how he had been able to make Cherry feel better last night; she trusted him and respected him. He’d relished being able to recapture the passion he used to share with Zara. As he made is way to his shining black car he glanced up at the bedroom window; the scene of the betrayal. Cherry was standing at the edge of the window and the held each other’s gaze, perhaps a little too long. Daniel couldn’t ignore it now, as much as he regretted how many people would be hurt by sleeping with Cherry he’d enjoyed it and, for that, he just couldn’t be sorry.
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 9, 2012 17:36:14 GMT 1
Zara
“Go on Joe, have a lovely weekend with Daddy and Cherry, Mummy will see you Monday” Zara kissed the little boy and drove off, glancing back in the car mirror, at first glance it would appear to be an idyllic family setting, the Dad hugging the pregnant Mum and their other children running around them. However in reality it was how complicated Daniels life was shacked up with pregnant Princess-Bubble-gum and his two children from two other relationships. Joe looked really happy, not a care in the world as Daniel swooped him up in his arms. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealously, that should be her, Daniel was her soul mate, her only, nobody else’s and with that tears streaming down her face. …. Zara woke with a shock, it was 3:52am and Daniel still wasn’t home. The bed was cold and no matter how many times she wrapped the quilt around her, she couldn’t get warm. She lay tossing and turning unable to shake the image of Daniel and Cherry, why had her mind started to come to all these ridiculous conclusions, for god’s sake, Jimmi was Daniels best friend. Daniel wouldn’t betray Jimmi and well Princess Bubble-gum wouldn’t have the guts in her to even think about an affair let alone conduct one. She wondered if they had found Jimmi, she always admired Jimmi, one for putting up with Cherry but two just being who he was for him, he had no great aspirations to be a partner or go any further than he already was in his career and his little habits made him, plus the staff room was always tidy. What would happen if something had happened to him or what if he really had left the Mill and Letherbridge for good? Oh why should she care, it was Daniel she was worried about, these fights were more and more frequent but he always returned home.
She got out of bed and put Daniels dressing gown on, looking down into Joe Moses basket. It was all she ever wanted, a beautiful baby, for someone to unconditionally love her come hell or high water. He was gorgeous, the model of her and Daniel, so perfect but oh so oblivious to the chaotic lifestyle around him, Zara knew the way her and Daniel were going, Joe was going to end up as a child who had two homes, a step daddy, a step mummy and two Christmases, and for the life of her she never imagined that in the grand scheme of things.
She sat at the computer, 4:12AM, searching for a new phone for Daniel, she felt awful that she had smashed his phone in a rage of temper and at least ordering him a new one would put a small plaster at least over the huge wound between them. Whilst she was on the computer she also thought she would check her Facebook, she hardly ever used it since Joe was born but she thought she would have a look. Scrolling through her timeline, she looked at pictures of Ruth in Boston and how her little one was growing up so fast; she looked at Simon’s photo of him and his new boyfriend and then clicked on Daniel’s profile. He had changed his profile picture from him and Zara to just a one by himself, he had also had been playing some poker game online and had added very few pictures of Joe since he was born.
Zara closed down the computer, this was far too much thinking and she was allowing herself to feel the victim when really she was awful to Daniel, no wonder their relationship was going down the drain, she couldn’t even remember the last time they uttered a civil word to each other, never mind physical contact. All she wanted now was to say sorry and be how they used to be but the minute Joe cried or the minute she saw Daniel’s face, she would despise him again but maybe they both just had to face, it was over.
She sighed, maybe she had postnatal depression or maybe Daniel had, but she wasn’t even sure, no matter how much medical evidence there was backing it up, that male postnatal depression was a real thing. Just the jealously of not having all of the attention, the women’s body changing and how sex was off the cards, summed up how shallow Daniel was in one.
Zara climbed back into bed, 5:06AM, she had to be up for work in 2 hours and Joe would no doubt be up before then. She looked at him fast asleep, he really was perfect, and how could she even think about depression looking down at something as beautiful as that. With that last thought Zara turned over in bed and drifted off.
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Post by iheartdaniel on Jul 10, 2012 15:03:51 GMT 1
Daniel
As keen as Daniel had been to leave Cherry’s house and avoid the uncomfortable conversation they would undoubtedly need to have, he was in no rush to return home. He was wracked with guilt after reading Zara’s text message. Zara didn’t say sorry, she never felt the need to so for her to be apologising now for the argument that had escalated the previous evening really was pivotal. Zara must really want this to work he thought to his self, their roles almost reversed for it had been Zara who had been cold and uninterested in their relationship for the last few months with Daniel clinging on to the hope that someday they would become the couple they had once been. He loved Zara he really did, he had never let himself become so vulnerable to a woman before but as their relationship deteriorated he had become increasingly closed off; it was a stark thought that he just didn’t know what to say to her anymore. Daniel’s mind was filled with thoughts of Zara and Joe but these were intercepted with flashbacks to his night with Cherry, the mess he was in
Daniel glanced at the clock on the dashboard, 7.43. The whole journey back from Cherry’s was already a blur. Daniel grabbed his jacket from the passenger seat and slid out the car. He made his was tentatively to the front door, fidgeting for the keys in his pocket. He carefully slid the key into the lock, trying to open the door as quietly as possible in case his little boy was still sleeping inside. As Daniel started to turn the key the door swung open to reveal Zara standing at the other side. She didn’t look like Zara he thought to himself, her skin was grey and sallow, her posture was more slouched than the intimidating front she usually presented but most of all it was her eyes he noticed. It was as though they pierced his very soul. Her big brown eyes were so sad and empty looking, glossy with tears. For what felt like forever the two just stood on opposite sides of the doorframe looking deep into one another’s eyes, it was the most contact they had experienced in months. After what must have only been a few seconds Daniel stepped forward and into the hallway, Zara carefully closing the door behind him. She stood facing the closed door for a second then turned and threw herself into Daniel, gripping him tightly as silent tears began to roll down her cheeks.
‘Zara,’ Daniel said softly as he began to loosen his arms from around her, ‘I need to get ready for work’ she replied as she pulled away. The couple shared another glance and with that Zara made for the stairs and began to busy herself with readying herself for work. Daniel knew she would be upstairs applying her make up, covering up her sadness and putting on the mask she had done for so long. Daniel headed for the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine, pulling two mugs down from the tree. Before long Zara came downstairs and Daniel handed her a coffee. ‘Daniel,’ she said. The vulnerability was now gone, with her black pencil suit dress and heavy make up now in place Zara was able to deal with the difficult situation. ‘I’m sorry for what was said last night. Of course this is your home and you shouldn’t leave.’ She paused and had a mouthful of coffee as if to spur her on, ‘where,’ Zara’s voice wavered before she continued ‘where did you go?’ ‘Jimmi and Cherry’s.’ As Daniel said the words a shiver passed through Zara’s body as she was confronted with the vivid image from her dream of Daniel with his arm around a pregnant Cherry with Izzy and Joe playing at their feet. ‘I’m worried about Jimmi, you don’t just disappear like that.’ Another awkward silence filled the room and Daniel felt himself continue, addressing the text message that had become the elephant in the room. ‘I didn’t get your text message until this morning, Cherry had already gone to bed.’ Zara nodded slowly as she got up from the table. She left the room and retuned with the pieces of Daniel’s old phone sealed in a little plastic bag. She handed him her old handset and a piece of paper confirming the dispatch of the new phone she had ordered in the early hours. ‘It should be here by tomorrow.’ Daniel got up and walked round the table to Zara and leant in kiss her cheek but before he could Zara had patted his arm and turned to the hallway picking the beige mac from the hook and grabbing her patent handbag and large doctors bag from the foot of the stairs. ‘For God’s sake Zara!’ Daniel exclaimed, somewhat exasperated by what had just happened. She stood once again facing the front door and said without so much as glancing at him, ‘Joe had a good sleep last night, don’t let him sleep past nine or he’ll be grizzly later on.’ And with that she was gone. Daniel walked over to the front door and thumped it hard.
As he heard the car reverse down the drive he turned and headed for the kitchen. After extracting the sim card from the bag of mangled plastic that had been his phone and placing it in the empty handset Cherry’s name suddenly flashed on the screen. He opened the message, ‘Thanks for last night, it really helped. X’ Daniel was confused, he was unsure just what Cherry meant. As he headed upstairs he was trying to fathom just what she meant.
After showering and changing into a pair of jeans and a white shirt Daniel set about readying the sleeping baby for the day ahead. ‘Morning Joe,’ he said softly as he picked the little boy from his moses basket. Joe screwed up his eyes as he stirred and stretched his little arms and fingers up to his face. Daniel placed him on the bed and began to undo the white and baby blue striped babygrow that Zara insisted be his bedtime attire. On the edge of the bed Zara had laid out what Joe was to wear as she always did. Daniel was so used to it know he was no longer slighted by the inference he was incapable of selecting an outfit for his son. Today however, Daniel ignored what Zara had picked out and picked a navy and white striped body suit and a pair of denim dungarees with a cute little sail boat emblazoned on the front. He picked the little boy up and settled him in his car seat atop the kitchen table while Daniel set about preparing bottles and gathering together all the baby paraphernalia he would need for the day ahead. Once he’d finished putting the pram into the baby into the car he turned to Joe in the back seat, ‘are you ready Joe, we’re going to help Auntie Cherry today. Would you like that?’ The little boy giggled as he fidgeted with the little giraffes that hung from his car seat handle. ‘Yes,’ Daniel said ‘Daddy too.’
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 10, 2012 22:15:19 GMT 1
Zara Zara sat and sighed in her car, staring at the steering wheel, concentrating so hard that if she had magic powers it would have disappeared 5 minutes ago. She glossed her lips with a second coat of crimson and touched up her tear stained eyes. Why had she just left him hanging like that, for once she didn’t see hurt or resentment when she looked at him, she had actually missed him and that embrace was the closest she had been to him in months. He wanted to kiss her, gracious that she had thought of him and maybe they did really care about each other.
She reversed off the drive and sped down the street. Stopping at the zebra crossing to let a man across, and on closer inspection it was no one other than Jack Hollins. He didn’t recognise her or at least pretended not too. She thought back to nearly two years ago when they were bed partners, he was inexperienced but the sex wasn’t the issue, it was that he wasn’t Daniel and no man from her past ever lived up to Daniel. She wondered if she and Daniel were to part ways, would she always compare future boyfriends to Daniel, would she be lucky enough to find a future partner.
She drove the rest of the way to work in a blur, occasionally flicking through radio stations despite not really listening, too deep in thought. She pulled into work, parking in her usual spot and gathering all her paraphernalia for the day. She saw Kevin crossing the car park, he had real troubles and the weight of the world on her shoulders, and he had just lost the one woman who he really loved and her she was wondering if she would find another Daniel, despite still having him, just.
Zara opened her office door, Julia’s old office, where her and Daniel admitted they were going to be parents and how excited and hopefully they were for the future. She was surprised seeing Heston sitting in her seat. “Good Morning Zara, we need to talk a few things over” Zara intrigued by the statement, took a seat where the patient usually sits “Go on” Zara prompted “Well with Jimmi doing a flit, Cherry on leave and Daniels day off, we are totally snowed under. I’ve got Mandy with nearly double her patient load, and I don’t think that’s a good idea especially with her just returning from compassionate leave, Kevin is in a similar situation taking on half of Jimmi’s patients and me and you coping with the rest. We’ve also at the Mills expense, had to hire an on call police surgeon in case Jimmi would have been needed down at the station. You don’t think Daniel could come in for the afternoon and I don’t know maybe Cherry would look after Joe for a few hours” Heston suggested Images of her dream flashed through her head from last night, Cherry and Joe, it was simple a no go. “I’ll give Daniel a call, see what I can do” putting on her most dissatisfied tone as she could. She knew he wouldn’t be contactable by mobile, but she tried the house phone, to no avail. It was half past 9, where would Daniel be, maybe he had took Joe to early morning swimming, well where ever they were they weren’t in the house, she would have to try later. “Oh Heston, Daniel’s phone dropped into the sink last night, totally broken and a new handset isn’t being delivered till tomorrow and he isn’t answering our house phone, but I think he was taking Joe swimming and meeting up with a few of the dads from the NCT classes. I’ll give him a ring at lunch time” Zara creating a plausible story as she could. Her mind wandered as Heston continued to waffle on about today and the rota for the next week, where would Daniel be. Surely Cherry would have friends and family helping her look for Jimmi, and she knew Daniel was concerned but did he not have better things to do on his day off. He mightn’t even be with Cherry she thought, he might be with his bit on the side, pretending to play happy families for the day, oh why did she let her mind wander. She thought back to how Daniel looked this morning; he had a glow about him, looked refreshed and didn’t seem as unhappy as he usually was, and maybe that’s what getting a full night’s sleep does to you, not that she’d know. She wondered what she looked like to other people, did she still appear the alpha female or was she just a frumpy mummy. Zara interrupted Heston mid-flow “Heston, am I still attractive” Heston wasn’t sure how to react, feeling slightly awkward “Well Zara, your certainly aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye, however im not sure im the right person you should be asking about this” “No Heston, in all seriousness. Since I’ve had Joe, how would you describe me?” Heston fidgeted with his hands and stuttered “Well Zara, your hair is still always perfect ….” “No Heston, don’t provide me with lip service. My weight, have I put weight on” “Well I always thought you were too thin before you had Joe, so you look good with a bit of weight on your bones, very happy and healthy. A real yummy mummy” Heston was pleased with his response and thought any woman would be happy to hear that and with that he left Zara’s room.
Great Zara thought, so not only was she seriously sleep deprived, having to cover bags and lines with more make up that a tacky glamour model but she was fat too, no wonder she and Daniel were having problems. The old Zara would have bit back suggesting how ridiculous her conclusion was, she had problems with Daniel because that’s the way things were and losing a few pounds wasn’t going to change that. But Zara was actually contemplating this idea; tears started streaming down her face. Living and trying to live a normal life with Daniel was like trying to save your furniture from a flood after its happened, the damage has already been done and who was she trying to kid, that by changing her appearance in return she would be blessed with the perfect relationship.
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 11, 2012 16:25:25 GMT 1
Cherry “Who’s a gorgeous boy” blowing raspberries on baby Joe’s tummy, Joe reciprocating with fits of belly laughter. “Just like his daddy” Daniel added with a wink, she wasn’t sure how to react, it was awkward but true. They had decided to spend the day inside, the rain was pounding heavy on the window and the wind was howling. The search for Jimmi had gone colder, but in fact if Cherry admitted it, she wasn’t really bothered. He clearly had no feelings for her to even let her know how he was okay and she knew deep down he wasn’t in trouble, he just didn’t want to be with her anymore. The previous night with Daniel had confirmed that, he didn’t want to be with her and if she wanted to be with him, she would be racked with guilt, instead of a clear conscious. She really enjoyed the morning, spending time with Daniel and Joe. She remember delivering Joe, how scared she was that he would have died, leaving Daniel and Zara heart-broken, instead he was a happy and healthy boy. She loved baby’s and imagined herself as a mum, she wondered what her baby would look like, if the baby looked anything like Joe he would be beautiful. Wow, where was her mind going, they had spent one night together, she didn’t even know her feelings, even if he reciprocated those feelings and yet her she was imagining her baby, a sibling for Joe. She wasn’t even a friend of Zara’s, but she’d be betraying this little boy’s mummy and she’d be a home-wrecker.
What would her childhood friends think, Cherry an adulteress, their friend a sl*t, stealing another woman’s man and robbing a baby of its Mummy? She didn’t even know who she was any more, she imagined marriage to be perfect, rose petals and love bracelets, carving your initials into wood and eating spaghetti till your lips met. Instead she found marriage dull, repetitive, boring and mundane. He hadn’t even mentioned Zara this morning, what if he was going to use her as a bit on his side and why did she feel this way. She had created a scenario in her head that wasn’t even true to life and she didn’t even know if Daniel like her, he’d told her this morning it was a just a one off, but she felt something, knew he felt it too.
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Post by bec2010 on Jul 12, 2012 17:03:09 GMT 1
Daniel Daniel watched down from the sofa, watching Cherry tickle Joe until he cried with laughing or dangling a toy above his face, being fascinated by what it was. Spending time alone with Joe Daniel hated because he never felt he was good enough for the little boy, Joe constantly wanting Zara.
He carried on watching Cherry interacting with Zara, he never really saw Zara as in depth with Joe as this, they never really spent that much time together as a family, even at weekends Zara had a full packed schedule meaning they never got to just relax in their own home.
Since it was just past lunchtime, Daniel decided to feed Joe, he warmed up the bottle and the pureed food Zara had made and once Joe was full he quickly dosed off into his car seat. Cherry had been in the kitchen the whole time Daniel was feeding Joe, so he was surprised when she returned with one of his childhood favourites, toad in the hole. “Well not just a pretty face, but a cook too” He winked Daniel noticed Cherry’s cheeks turn a shade of red “I wish, it’s all thank to Aunt Bessie” She stumbling with words He took a mouthful “Aunt Bessie or not, it’s delicious, thank you” giving her a warm smile They both sat in silence eating their dinner, listening to the background noise of escape to the country. He had a silent giggle to himself whilst watching Cherry eat, remembering the day Zara found out she was expecting Joe, being appalled that Cherry had tickled the spoon with her tongue. He carried on watching her, blonde or brunette he didn’t have a type but Cherry certainly didn’t tick the type box but yet here he was feeling attracted to her. He imagined Cherry to be very the dutiful housewife, no complaining and letting him take the alpha male role, the utter opposite to Zara. “Do you want anything for desert” Cherry asked him He desperate to say you and reverting to type. He didn’t know what it was but she brought out a cheeky side to Daniel, a side he hadn’t seen for a very long time and he felt young and carefree again, almost if Joe wasn’t his and they were a couple of teenagers babysitting. The angel on the other shoulder should be telling Daniel it wasn’t her, it was the excitement of doing something risky, against the ordinary and the element of being caught, he had that addictive and thrilling personality, the last time he had got such a buzz was when he was seriously in to gambolling. “No, it’s okay thanks that was lovely” He lay back on the settee
Daniel could her Cherry doing the washing up in the kitchen. It was now or never, she clearly felt something after last night as well and if he really cared for his best mate he would be having these feelings, he thought. He looked down at the little boy fast asleep, Joe didn’t need him, he needed Zara and he was mere substitute. Zara didn’t even need him, he couldn’t even remember the last time they had sex or the last time she asked him to do anything, he to her was a nanny. He felt racked with guilt this morning when she held him, but wouldn’t even let him kiss her; she was only relieved with him returning to resume the role as nanny.
He took to his feet, walking through to the kitchen. He stood next to Cherry at the sink “Do you want those dried? He asked and before Cherry could answer, he flicked her in the face with the soap water, knowing he had to play this cool and see if she would respond. She immediately reciprocated and splashed him back, a childish water fight occurred and Daniel grabbed Cherry wrists, pulling her into him. “Do you give in” He asked “Never” Cherry replied with a devilish grin He had to do it now, it was the perfect opportunity. He held the back of her head and kissed her, she immediately responding and wrapping her arms around his neck. He wrapped her legs around his hips and pushed her up onto the kitchen counter, she starting to undo the buttons on his shirt, both forgetting they had Joe in their care, and shocked when he started crying.
“For god’s sake” Daniel shouted, clearly frustrated that whatever was about to happen between him and Cherry now wasn’t. Daniel walked into the other room, picking Joe up and for once Joe stopped crying. He walked back into the kitchen, facing a saddened looking Cherry who had shame and guilt all over her face. “What’s wrong” Daniel walked over and nestled her under his free arm “Don’t please Daniel” Cherry pulled away “How can I do this, how can I do this to Joe, be his dads bit on the side, a home wrecker” “Cherry, you know as well as I do it isn’t just you and Jimmi having problems, Zara isn’t a bed of roses but Cherry I feel something for you that I haven’t felt in a long time, and I don’t even know what it is, but it’s there” he admitted Cherry slightly taken aback by Daniels admission but she had no other choice to admit, she felt the same. “I promise we’ll get some alone time, Cherry. I’ll tell Zara im taking you to wales tonight to see if we can find Jimmi since nobody has heard from him. We’ll have the chance to talk, I promise” Cherry nodded “But for now I think it’s best if I go” and with that he leant into Cherry and kissed her. He quickly gathered Joe’s stuff, put him and all the paraphernalia into the car and sped off. How would he explain this all to Zara crossed his mind several times on the drive home but the more he thought about it, the more he didn’t care. He wanted to spend tonight with Cherry.
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