Choosing Her Lover

*****

The front doors swish open and Ben strides in. “Hi, how’s my favourite girl?”

Calm down….

“Hi, Ben. I’m busy right now. Is it anything particular or just….”

“Just thought I’d drop by to see if you’re free for lunch?”

Should I?

Why not?

“I’m off at one. Is that good for you?”

“Great. I’ll come back then.”

He turns to leave but as he does so, the elevator doors open and Charlotte steps out into the lobby, followed by James. Both are carrying large bags. A fluorescent yellow hard-hat, the kind that might be worn on a building site, peeps from the top of Charlotte’s.

There is something about the way the two move. Although they walk with a distance between them, somehow James’ proprietorial attitude to Charlotte still radiates wide.

Ben’s eyes narrow as he sees them.

“Oh hello, Ben. I didn’t know you were around.” smiles Charlotte. “Are you here to see me for something?”

“No, I just called by to say hello to Kirstie,” he replies. His words are polite, but his eyes are on James and are not friendly.

then switches on a cool expression. “Hello, Ben.

is also cool. “What’s

getting the ground-works set out for the

got to do with

as you know, a trainee. She’s going to be spending time with the surveyors

“No, of course

We’ll be on our

Charlotte, his hand resting in the small of her back, in that

frowns. “I don’t like this you know. He behaves as though he’s the one

hell do

subject. “I’ve got to get some work done now, Ben.

thoughtful. “Yeah, I’ll see you then.”

*****

doesn’t speak. I try to start a conversation, but he’s not interested. Bolting down my sandwich,

Mid-afternoon I get a phone call. It’s my

“Hey, Sis, what’s wrong?”

Kirstie. I thought he was going to propose, but he

slow down. Who’s dumped you?

meal and said he wanted to talk to me. I thought he

I’m sorry. You really liked him

was Dominic, then Ashley, and now Rob. I always think it’s going somewhere and then they all just vanish over the horizon with some other

*****

he jogs up to me smiling, his mood obviously much improved, but his face

bit upset by a phone call I got