The Secret

Ellie stepped off the train at Kings Cross and dragged her case down the step. Pulling out the handle and hooking her handbag over her shoulder, she started to walk to the gate at the end of the platform.



It brought back memories, being here, some good, some not so good but she smiled all the same. She was feeling free and couldn't wait to catch up with Poppy, open a bottle of wine, maybe do some tequila.



Ellie pulled out her mobile phone and called home.



'Sam.. it's Mum'



'Hi Mum. Did you get there OK?'



Sam had a week study leave and was home to stay in the house with Ben. Kyle was resourceful and sensible and would have been fine on his own, but Ben was a different matter. If Ellie left him with Kyle it would be world war three and Ben would survive on Pot Noodles and fizzy orange.



'I did, I'm here, love. Everything OK your end?'

She was a tiny bit guilty about leaving them for a week but she convinced herself they could cope without her and anyway, it would be character-building...for all of them.



'So far so good.' Sam smiled. She knew her Mum would worry herself sick but she hadn't been away for so long and she really need a break. 'Seriously Mum, nothing Will go wrong. Just go, enjoy yourself. Give Auntie Poppy a hug for me OK?'



'I will...I can see her now actually. Oh my goodness, she has her hair dyed pink!' Ellie laughed.



'Brilliant!' Sam loved Poppy and her eccentric dress sense and wild sense of humour. She knew she would never have the nerve to be like her, but it was fun being around her and absorbing her 'joie de vivre' .



'Sam, if there is anything....just call me, OK. But if it's a real emergency, you will have to call your Dad, I'm afraid.'



Ellie heard the sigh on the end of the 'phone. Sam had lost a lot of respect for her Father over the past three years and it stuck in her throat to have to acknowledge him, let alone speak to him.



'I know, I know....anyway, everything will be fine, you won't need to call him.' Ellie could see Poppy waving frantically across the barrier ' I have to go Sam, take care love, call you tomorrow'.



Sam laughed ' OK Mum! 'Bye'.



Ellie shoved her 'phone back into her bag and walked on through the gate, fighting her way through a crowd of other passengers, some saying goodbye, others in welcoming hugs.



'Over here, honey!' Poppy called to her. 'Wow, she looks great!' she thought to herself. She smiled widely as Ellie walked up to her.



'Hey you!' Ellie grinned and they stood looking at each other for a moment before they flew at each other in a huge bear hug.



They attracted a little attention because they were both screaming and talking over each other.



'Oh my god, I can't believe you're finally here' Poppy screamed.



Oh my God I can't believe it either' Ellie screamed back.



They fell about laughing. 'What first then, sweetie?' Home then wine, or wine then home?' Poppy asked, linking her arm in Ellie's and squeezing her close.



'Oh wine, I think, don't you?' Ellie smiled.



This was going to be great!



**************************************************************



They found their way to a small table in the corner of a crowded bar. Poppy went to get wine and came back ten minutes later with a bottle of Merlot and two glasses.



Ellie eyed the bottle. ‘Is that Merlot?’ She asked.



‘It is, indeed…and I got a bottle because I am not fighting through that crowd again!’ Poppy sat down on her chair and shrugged off her purple scarf and unfastened the buttons of her chunky-knit cardigan to reveal a black t-shirt adorned with a nondescript silver design.



She poured two large glasses and raised hers to Ellie.



‘To my mate, great to have you back sweetie!’ She clinked her glass on Ellie’s before they both took large mouthfuls.



Ellie savoured her wine in her mouth, closed her eyes and enjoyed the fruity smoothness before swallowing. ‘That’s lovely…’ she sighed.



She remembered the first time she had tasted Merlot. She had been in London then too. She smiled to herself.



Poppy took Ellie’s hand and squeezed it lightly. ‘Let’s start catching up! First, get him out of the way….’



Ellie grimaced. Poppy had not spoken Pete’s name since he left. He was always ‘HIM’.



‘We keep in touch, for the kids’ sake really. He’s always busy, with work or the new baby. I wish he would make time for Kyle and Ben. They need their Dad, you know?’



‘And Sam?’ Poppy smiled. She loved Sam. Ellie and Poppy met in the maternity ward. It hadn’t been a happy time, Poppy’s baby girl was stillborn and Ellie’s heart had gone out to her. They stayed in touch, met for coffee and Poppy developed an unspoken bond with Sam which had never been broken.



‘She’s good. Still hates her Dad, though.’ Ellie took another drink.



‘Of course she does, for fucks’ sake. He left you for a blond tart!’ Poppy was warming to her theme. Ellie couldn’t listen to it all again.



‘You know what? It was a shit time but it happened. It wasn’t all one-sided, Poppy. I need to just move on. I’m 40 but I don’t want to stay single forever. I have to let it go.’



Poppy recognised this as 'shut the fuck up', so she did just that.



'Anyway...' Ellie nudged her friend ' what about you? Love life? Gossip?'



'Ahhh well, I did have a brief liaison with a pretty young actress who was in the last run....' Poppy smiled. Katie was sexy, with short black spiked hair, large blue eyes and the cutest tits she had ever had in her mouth.



This didn’t shock Ellie. She knew of Poppy's liking for physical experiences with both sexes. It didn't faze her at all; she knew she wasn't Poppy's type. Ellie was too pretty, too feminine.



'And now?' Ellie asked, draining her glass.



'She was young, the play moved to Shrewsbury... and that was that!' She grinned. She preferred short and sweet, you got all the fun and none of the having to justify yourself.



'I'll get another bottle.' Ellie nodded at the empty one on the table and took a ten-pound note out of her bag. She elbowed people to get through to the bar, men and women in business suits, tourists and students, all life was here. Ellie smiled to her self. London was giving her such a buzz.



She caught the bar man's attention. He came over and winked at her, his blue eyes crinkling sexily in the corners.



'What can I get you, darlin'?' he grinned at her.



He was all of 25 but Ellie played along. Why not? He was cute!



'Bottle of Merlot, please.' She flashed him her sexy smile. Her voice was husky, a combination of the wine and the screaming she had done when she first saw Poppy.



She walked back to the table, smiling to herself.



'You were flirting! I saw you!' Poppy laughed raucously.



'That settles it, Ellie McDonald. We are gonna get you laid!'