Tea & Biscuits

Alan was in his kitchen stuffing his laundry into the machine. He ripped open the washing tablets, popped them into the drawer and switched the machine on. He turned on the kettle and put a teabag into a mug. Taking his tea into the lounge, he lifted his script and sat down to read.

The buzzer went and exasperated, he put down the script and went to the door.

Beth stood waiting for him to answer the door, butterflies in her stomach. They had arranged to meet the following week but she couldn’t wait, she had to see him. She didn’t know how he would react to her just turning up but she came with a secret weapon, a carrier bag crammed with chocolate digestives.

She had dressed carefully, black jeans and boots, a dark purple v-necked jumper. Her hair was cut shorter and she had put a few highlights through the ‘fringe. This made her blue eyes look brighter and the silver eye shadow made them larger. She had a little pink lip-gloss across her full lips and sprayed Ckone from her handbag as she walked anxiously towards his door.

The door opened and Alan’s eyes lit up as he saw her and a slow, sexy smile spread across his face.
Beth’s stomach flipped over at the sight of him. His silvery hair was longer at the back, lying lightly along his white shirt collar. His shirt was unbuttoned a little near the top and was half in, half out of his black jeans. He had greying stubble on his face and looked incredibly handsome. Beth looked at his feet and laughed. He wore no socks.

Alan shrugged and laughed ‘Come on in then, don’t just stand there!’

He smiled to himself. He could see she had made an effort and he knew it was for him. A frisson of hope started to build inside him as they walked into the lounge.

Beth looked around. Nothing much had changed, a couple of new cushion covers, a few new candles.

‘What are you doing here? I thought you were in Brighton. You’re back at work now, aren’t you? He asked, puzzled.

They had stayed in touch on the ‘phone after the accident, intermittently at first and then weekly. Beth planned her life around their conversations, until she realised how futile it was and bit the bullet.

‘I came to stay with Mum. Well, that’s not accurate…’ She sat down on the couch and smiled shyly at him, biting her bottom lip.

‘I got my old job back. I moved home yesterday.’ Beth said it quickly, her breath shallow as she waited to see what he would say.

‘Wow…I didn’t expect that!’ Alan was shocked and sat on the other end of the couch, staring at her, a grin spreading across his face.

They sat in silence for a moment.

‘You look lovely, Beth… are you fully recovered?’ His voice was chatty. It wasn’t what he wanted to say, there was so much more.

It had been five months since the accident and the only evidence was a small scar on Beth’s cheek.

‘I feel really good. Its like a weight has been lifted, knowing he’s not lurking in the shadows. I know I shouldn’t be happy someone died, but I am and that’s just the way it is.’

Beth spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, a challenge to her voice as if anyone dare tell her not to feel that way.

‘You’re honesty was always one of the reasons I loved you Beth. I’m glad you haven’t changed that much.’

His voice was deep, full of unspoken emotions. He laughed gently as a pink flush rose on her cheeks.

‘You’re a rubbish host.’ Beth grinned at him.

‘Oh shit, I am. Do you want some tea?’

Beth nodded and stood up. ‘I’ll get it and I’ll put these away too.’

She opened the carrier bag to show him and he laughed out loud.

Beth walked out of the lounge and towards the kitchen, catching sight of Alan’s bed through the slightly open bedroom door. The bed looked like it hadn’t been slept in.

Beth was puzzled; her brow furrowed as she put the kettle on and stacked the biscuits in their usual place.