In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) (15 page)

Chapter 14

James had started to stop by the garage for a chat and a brew with Mike and Jeanie in fact it had become a regular routine and before she knew it the two cups had now become three.

   Mike sat in between them sharing stories and talking about his childhood which was greatly different from both James and Jeanie’s put together. The vast cities and the string of high rise buildings captivated his audience. His large family and the anguish he had felt as a child when his father left him intrigued Jeanie feeling as they had shared similar circumstance. Jeanie felt as if her existence had stopped being interesting at sixteen and the most she had to talk about was lots of children and a pig incident.

   Mike coughed marking his attention and he looked like he was ready to take on poachers at an African safari. “Right fellas please excuse me your company is captivating but not as captivating as that girls legs and there’s the dance on Friday so I need a date…”

   As he climbed over the make shift table the weak tasteless tea sloshed on the floor and the cup along with it sitting up Jeanie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t worry I’ll get it. I spend most of the time cleaning up after him anyway.” Picking up the pieces James knelt down to help and as they bumped heads on the way back up Jeanie sat on the floor and laughed again. “Are you always this accident prone?”

“Come on that’s the second time in over a month you have tried to knock me out.”

“Watch this now. It wouldn’t surprise me if she slapped him and sent him on his way.” Watching Mike make his move made great amusement for the pair and seeing the girl take no notice made the laugh linger longer.

   James leant on the doors leaning closer to Jeanie, “So there is a dance on Friday and as we are good friend’s maybe you might want to go with me?” Jeanie smiled trying to brush herself down as she stood, “Do you thinks that’s a good idea?”

“Why not? We like being in each others company and if your uncomfortable at the dance maybe we can do something else?” Jeanie looked at the floor feeling like she was on the edge of another mistake.

“I know you drop the girls off so I will pick you around 8.30?” James handed the pieces of the broken cup back to Jeanie and kissed her softly on the cheek again and as he did she frowned unable to hide her concern.

“James is this good idea we’ve done this before. I don’t want either of us getting hurt again….” James took hold of her hand and played with her fingertips. He knew if he pushed her anymore she would run.

“Just as friends Jea I don’t want either of us to get hurt. I just want to enjoy your company if that’s ok?” Nervous knots tumbled over inside Jeanie’s stomach as she nodded watching him disappear around the corner she couldn’t help but feel anxious. Jeanie sat down on the make shift chair and started to bite her nails again.

   Mike buoyantly jumped back into work happy with himself that his mischievous temperament and his cheeky smile had got him a date. Jeanie perplexed smiled and thought of Ivy and under her breath she replied, “Ok just friends why not.”

   Friday came around too quick for Jeanie and after dropping the girls off and being late home from work she began the rampage through her clothes.

   Petrified of looking like she had been squeezed and squashed into most of them Ivy sat on the step and watched in amusement.

“Not that one Jeanie listen. Jeanie calm down…….Jeanie.” Ivy had stood up and shouted at the chaos laughing as she dragged her into the bedroom.

“Sit I will help, just relax. It’s a friend remember.” Jeanie screwed up her face at Ivy’s response, “Not funny”. Ivy giggled as the rollers and curling irons singed through Jeanie’s thick unruly hair.

   Hearing a knock at the door Ivy ran downstairs impatiently waiting to see James reaction to her protégé.

   James stood at the door pristine in his uniform and not expecting his splendour Ivy bit her lip as he was without question a very handsome looking man.

   Taking off his hat he placed it under his arm and waited patiently for Jeanie. Hearing James walk through the door Jeanie put her head in her hands. Feeling like a porcelain doll she started to wipe some of the makeup off her face. Frantically tussling her hair into position Jeanie took the broad steps downstairs.

   James now distracted by Irene and Ivy’s conversation and trying to be polite didn’t notice Jeanie’s entrance and on turning around he was greeted by the smartly presented Jeanie who looked unrecognisable in her flowered blouse.

   Thanking both Irene and Ivy he couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked and as they made their way out of the door leaning close he whispered in Jeanie’s ear, “I thought we where only friends.”

   Jeanie smiled and waved goodbye to her mum and sister who had planted themselves in the living room window spying and plotting what would happen next.

   Walking side by side Jeanie looked at James and commented,” You look very good…I mean handsome tonight. Sorry.”

“So what do you want to do?”  Jeanie bit her lip not wanting to share him with anyone else and trying desperately to fend off any kind of feelings for him she hesitated. “I thought we could walk around the block and wait for my mum and sister to disappear to bed and go back home for a bit if that’s ok with you?”

“So... we are staying in?” Jeanie smiled and looked back as not to make more of the gesture.

“I thought it could give us a chance to talk you know without anyone else.”

   Walking back to the house took forever and ever member of the parish seemed to greet them on there way. James had helped out in the medical centres and the majority of town where interested in the new doctor. After so many pleasantries Jeanie’s feet ached and wanting desperately to speak to him and trying to fend off the nervous knots she had started wondering what the hell she was doing. The closer they got to the cottage the more it seemed to repeat over and over again.

   The confusion swam around her brain until reaching the back door of the house. Trying to be quiet and masking James’s stumble over the back step Jeanie laughed, “Do…do you want a drink?” James taking his shiny boots off imitated her breathily response,” Whatever you have.”

   Creeping into the parlour the fire was burning down slowly and placing the whiskey glass on the small table next to the chair Jeanie set out to play cards on the floor in front of the fire.

   James closed the parlour door trying to blanket out the creaks and groans of the wood against the frame. Sitting down opposite from Jeanie it was quite noticeable she was uncomfortable; “You look like you’ve swallowed a flea… what’s up?” Jeanie stood up without excusing herself and crept through the parlour door,” One minute...” James shook his head and proceeded to take off his jacket and tie bemused about why he had made such an effort.

   Undoing his top button and getting comfortable Jeanie crept back in this time sporting her pyjama bottoms and what looked like her dad’s cardigan.” Right, better now.” Jeanie swept her hair back of her shoulders and dealt the pack of playing cards. Taking a drink of the scotch she pulled her face as it warmed her throat, “You going first or me?” whispering the responses as not for anyone to hear James sat up, “Ok you go first”

Turning the cards Jeanie bit her lip and sighed deeply in thought, not only did she not know what move to make, she didn’t know which way this night was going to end.

   Watching her play with the strands of hair he could she how deep in thought she was, “I wish you wouldn’t do that.” Jeanie lifted her head as he broke her concentration, “Do what?” as he sighed he shuffled closer, “Do that lip bighting, sighing thing.” Confused again at his response, Jeanie was still bighting her lip, half concentrating on cards and trying desperately not to look at James.

   Jeanie’s natural curiosity could not let the conversation lie, “I do that all the time why is it such a problem now!” Leaning back against the couch and raising his cards James nonchalantly answered under the pretence of concentration on his cards.

“It reminds me of when you stayed over. It’s a slightly different sigh but the action is still the same” James lay his cards on the floor, “I’m up by the way, oh and I really enjoy it.”

Jeanie tried not to smile, look offended or be self conscious and trying not to bite her lip she sighed again placing her cards on the floor.

“That’s not fair you know it’s a…a… self conscious reaction. I could bring up faces you pull but I’m not going to. Plus that’s that night leave it there….”

   Jeanie started to deal the cards again as James stood up to bring the scotch bottle closer to there private party. “Sorry….” Confused as to why she was apologising he sat in front of her waiting for the second part of her response, “I… just feel very comfortable doing this and it’s a bit frightening and I just feel so out of my depth from the last time we did this.

   Let’s face facts it didn’t go well did it and I’m scared of hurting you and in that case me and I don’t want to do that,” James moved the cards out of the way and shuffled closer,” I’ve made some huge mistakes and it’s me that needs to be sorry. When I saw you with John and after the conversation we had about him on the beach I don’t know what came over me. I thought I had lost you and my actions……plus the nurse I regret every single step I took after that day and it was wrong and I want you to know it would never happen again.

   I love you too much to ever want to hurt you have to know that.” Jeanie sighed again and in the efforts not to bite her lip.

“Please don’t stop. Its one of the parts of you I love the most. I’m sorry I know friends and I said love. I apologise.”

   Jeanie shuffled the deck on the floor trying to gain composure, “Listen I have recently done some things I’m not proud of. It was quite stupid and I still regret some of my actions. We weren’t together and you had nothing to loose. But that doesn’t mean that we both haven’t made mistakes I’m just scared I’m scared of disappointing you and not being enough. I’m scared of just being that engineer’s daughter with nothing else to offer. I’m scared it won’t work and being heartbroken do you understand?”

   “If we never did anything because we are scared and we missed out on the adventure of a lifetime wouldn’t we both have more regrets? I’m in love with you and it’s killed me not to touch you.

   I hate walking away and I hate saying goodbye and not knowing whether you want me as much as I want you. All I’m asking for is a chance. A chance to prove that I can make you happy for the rest of your life please Jeanie,”

   Ivy and Irene stood at the parlour door listening intently and as Ivy pressed her hands together in prayer she rested them against her lips willing her sister to make the right decision, ”Ivy ….”

“Mum they will hear you shhh.” Ivy felt just as nervous and as the intensity grew they heard nothing from Jeanie.

“Jeanie…..Jeanie... Please talk to me...”

   Raising to her knees she placed his hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat and as the seconds past her tears had started to fall.

“I missed you. I really did. I didn’t realise how much until you started coming back around to the garage and I have looked forward to seeing you.

I’ve done something and I don’t think you would like what I’ve done,”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care Jeanie I said I promised I’d never hurt you and I did. I don’t care about anything else that has happened I just want another chance.”

   Curling her hair around her ear he wiped away her tears with his thumb. “Jeanie I really don’t care I promise,”

“James all I know is that when I’m with you I like who I am and we have a good friendship. I know I don’t want you to leave when you’re with me and if that’s love then I love you.”

“I want to marry you Jeanie. I want to love honour and protect you but I need to know if you want the same.”

Reaching up to her he placed his hand gently on the nape of her neck and as he fumbled with her hair he pulled her closer to him.

“This war takes everything we have away from us, but if I don’t have you with me Jeanie I have nothing left to fight for. You have always been by guiding light and I want you at my side for always.

When this war is over I want to come home and spend the rest of my days making every single mistake up to you because without you I’m nothing.”

Jeanie rested her head on his and closed her eyes his words where like poetry and his sentiment heart wrenching.

   Kissing him she could taste the salt of his tears and passion of his words and as he cupped his hands around her face she stroked her fingers through his hair deep in thought.

“I used to dream my life would be so simple. A small cottage with a plot of land to grow a few veg and my own little garage to make a few more pennies but I didn’t realise that with all that simplicity was the complication of love.” Running her fingers across his lips he kissed them as each one passed

“You see in my head I still believe in happy ever after and fairy tales and what we got was something very different.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I don’t want happy ever after James cause I know it’s not real. But what I want is far better. I want everything you can through at me. I want to dark days and the bitterness I want to feel the fear and the unknown and the only person I want to experience them with is you.