Cold Feet

VIOLA

When life has a plan for you, it has a way of bringing you round to it’s plan sooner or later. That chance meeting that totally surprises or upsets you. That’s life’s way. We seldom see it or accept it for what it is but it sets the trajectory for our life that follows.

I have a meeting with Lara at her office. When I arrive she’s in a client meeting and I wait outside her office making small talk with her secretary.

When Lara opens her office door, I don’t see who her client is immediately. She’s looking back at her client as she talks to them and then she turns and sees me.

“V, sorry I’m running a bit late. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I open my mouth to answer but then I see him. The first thought that runs through my mind is, Oh, Shit! Shit! Shit! No! WTF?” I can’t speak and simply nod as my eyes meet her client.

It’s him.

Rick.

He looks at me and seems about to say something. Lara is looking back at him and I quickly shake my head. He gets the message and says nothing. Lara realizes he is looking at me and introduces us.

“This is V, Viola. She runs our elopement services business I mentioned to you. V, this is Rick.”

“Um, hi,” I say as I hold out my hand. He takes my hand and shakes it firmly. “Pleased to meet you,” he says smiling.

“Likewise,” I add lamely.

“Okay, well call me when you’ve considered the options we’ve discussed and then we can move forward with bookings, and so on.”

“Great, thanks Lara,” Rick says. He throws me a quick glance and then greets us before leaving. I can feel his eyes on me as I enter Lara’s office. Despite my golden brown skin, I’m sure I must be glowing bright red.”

Lara doesn’t need to explain but she does. “He’s getting married to my best friend, Christine and he’s making all the arrangements. I think it’s so romantic. She’s said yes to marrying him but the whole wedding, even the date, is going to be a surprise.”

“Christine Jackson?” I ask.

Lara looks up quickly from her desk as if I’ve just dropped a bomb.

“Actually yes. Do you know her?” Lara asks.

very well. I mean I know she’s famous in the industry but

she’s trying to decide to believe me or not. Then she seems to brush aside her curiosity and sits down. “Anyway, how is

How in God’s name did

concern. “Go home and get

will,”

the world and we almost get it on before he tells me how skewed his views of love, relationships and marriage are. Then, when I meet him again, he tells me he’s seeing someone. Why not me? Then in a matter of weeks he goes from

face. You like him. You want to see him. You want to be with him. You can’t have

in my bag my digging and scratching getting more and more frustrated as

things in a woman’s handbag. We all agree those things are magical with endless bottoms, but I’ll try

voice. What is he doing here? I give up and straighten meeting his eyes. I hold

normally dig in women’s

he fishes out my keys

“Thanks.”

brush past him and unlock my door. I step inside and he follows me but

“I was hoping we

nothing to talk

Let’s

look at him and then finally I sigh and leave the door open as I turn away and drop my bag on the floor. I kick my

living room’s in there. I’ll put the kettle on and

but enter the kitchen, fill up the kettle and turn it on. Then I head to my bedroom and get changed. I’m so happy to get rid of my formal clothes and feel like I can breathe once I’ve got a pair

yours?” he asks when I enter the

you this place is

and his

you come to talk or appreciate the

on a single seater sofa and Rick takes his place on the three seater opposite me. I pull my legs up onto the sofa and I see his

you know I’m

“I do.”

engaged. I thought it would be

not

don’t understand why. When I gave it some thought I asked myself the same question. I mean we’ve never actually

have come,” I