PROLOGUE 2015 CHRISTMAS EVE

Fast-forward in time... Hellen and Paul meet after a five year absence...

... The little black dress the gushing (OMG it's perfect on you!) saleswoman had sold me was both too short and too tight. My bright orange hair which at home I'd thought contrasted quite nicely, now looked like the result of a rather large carrot atop my head internally combusting and spewing forth its brassy innards.

That's not why I was hiding in the ladies restroom shaking all over though. Despite my 'out of place-ness' within the sleek and sophisticated crowd, I was doing okay. Two martinis down, one more to go before I reached my limit; I was in that mellow place before the third one had me giggling and spouting nonsensical observations. I never get past three. Well I did once, but since I can't remember anything afterwards, it doesn't count right?

I had turned to look for my partner - not partner as in either lover or business, just someone to cover my single-hood - when I spotted him. When he spotted me too.

"Is it you?"

"It is you, right?"

"I can't believe it!"

"Maybe I'm dreaming?"

I fled. Twenty minutes later, I was still contemplating my re-entry. One last deep breath - not that deep since the bloody dress restricted almost any movement - a final retouch of the orange (cringe - what was I thinking) lip-gloss and I propelled myself out the door.

I needed to get to the bar, or to Joe, whichever came first. Either one would have that third martini down my throat in no time... Mellow was not quite the right mood now he'd appeared! Rethink... I couldn't risk looking for Joe in case... so straight to the bar it was.

"Martini - dry, two olives. Please?"

Bottles were neatly lined up along the long mirrored back wall. I studied their exotic names. Then my eyes reached a blank square of mirror.

"It is you!"

"It is you!"

... She'd finally reappeared. I'd thought for a moment I had imagined her. As soon as our eyes made contact she'd vanished! I did try to follow but despite her glorious new hair colour, I'd lost her in the crowd. God she looked good. That dress. Had she been poured into it?

Lucky I wore my one and only dark suit. Since the divorce, and no her to pick my clothes, I tended towards laziness - jeans and tees, like a uniform. Restoring old boats had its merits. The tie for instance, which was strangling me. Why men considered this to be the most important dress accessory baffled. The fact I was here also baffled. When was the last time I'd been in a crowd of suits?

Joe had insisted. Restoring his pride and joy had taken many months and in that time we'd shared a few beers, and the odd fine single malt scotch at his place. Man I loved that house! Perched on the hill; the bay stretching in all directions. Lucky son of a b***h had inherited it from an aunt. Along with the boat I had restored.

"Can't be home alone Christmas Eve, mate," he'd said, dropping by a week ago.

So here I was, at this function in the biggest hotel in town - the party he threw every year for staff and friends.

"What are you doing here?"

"Out of all the places..."

"I've missed you."

"I've so missed you!"

... The bartender handed me the martini and I took a big gulp, leaving behind a bright orange splotch on the glass. He looked good! The once more-blonde hair more-greyish now, the rough stubble still shadowing his cheeks and chin. Well-toned body too, the slight bulge of muscle on his chest and arms perfectly framed by the slim-fit suit.

The current trend in 'back to the fifties suits' was not for everyone. A quick glance around the room and example after example affirmed it. Paunches and stodgy thighs; short squat bodies squeezed into single button jackets and pipe-stove pants... ugh.

At least Joe carried it off. He was my neighbour, moving in two floors below in the apartment block I'd shifted to since both sons had moved out. Not my type, but I didn't have a type these days anyway. Just the laptop and the window, that's all I needed. I missed the bay but I did have a slight glimpse of Albert Park Lake, which appeased my need for a water-view somewhat.

"I never expected to see you again."

"I've never forgotten you."

"I thought about you so many times after you left..."

"Why did I ever leave?"

"Five years... You look stunning!"

"God, half a decade since... You look almost like I just saw you yesterday!"

"Can we talk? We need to talk!"

"Yes! Yes! So much to-"

"Hellen, there you are! Been searching for you all over!" Joe grabbed my arm. "Someone I want you to meet, and don't you-"

"What? No, no, nonono!"

"Yes! He's perfect!"

"No, I can't - not now!"

I was pulled away. I managed a quick swipe at my glass and swallowed the contents in one big gulp. I'd need it.

"Who's that?"

"Wait, it's not what you think, I'll be right back!"

"Stay!"

"I'll be back, wait please!"

I ended up dragged to the far side of the room.

"Mark, this is Hellen - you know," Joe said as though I'd been discussed at length.

Mark seemed as uncomfortable as I was, doing a slight shuffle. A hand was extended.

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," I said, shaking it. Joe was way off the mark with Mark - God that was funny! I should tell him later!"

"Woman you're giggling!" Joe hissed in my ear, the warning disguised behind a wide smile.

Mark seemed... disinterested? Or he couldn't read minds and didn't get the joke? Shame, because it had been funny right? I think I giggled again?

"Um... I'm going to get another drink."

"I can-"

"-get it for you." Both men spoke at once or did one start and the other finish the sentence? I giggled again. That had been funny too.

Joe leaned in. "How many?"

"Huh?"

"Drinks, you silly woman!"

"Goooing for number four! Back in a tack!" (Oh God, I was rhyming!)

"Hellen!"

I lifted my hand in the air and wiggled my fingers goodbye, back turned, eyes focussed on the bar in the distance and that small square of mirror... I needed to find out what his eyes would say next. Maybe after this fourth martini I might even march right up...

... Hell, she'd come with someone? Was she married now? What were the odds? She looked damn hot. She looked... no way there wouldn't be a man on the scene. What was I thinking?

Then again, I'd seen something in her eyes, just before she took that big gulp. She'd tried to say something to me, I was sure of it. I followed the retreating flame of hair, not wanting to lose sight of her again...

"Hey Paul! Over here! Paul!" Joe was calling me. The Joe who'd had one too many and didn't give a damn who knew it. He was the boss after all, and this was his party so-

"Paul! Don't make me come and-"

Heads were turning. I lifted my arm up, indicating I was on my way. Last thing I needed was for her to return and hear his boisterous voice telling me what he had planned for us later that night.

"Finally!"

"Looks like you're having quite a night!" What else could I say? Joe had an arm around two twenty-somethings, both blonde, both gushing out of their tight dresses.

"Meet Jody and...." His puzzled expression told me he'd forgotten her name already.

"Julie," the other blonde answered, without the slightest whiff of offence.

She unlatched herself from Joe and tried to wedge her body beneath my arm-pit, looking upward, waiting for my arm to lift.

Her teeth were capped and too white. Her face had one layer of fake-tan too many. The rest of her was squeezed into an impossibly tight green and gold dress, matching her iridescent eye-shadow. She was glowing, shimmering - like a Christmas tree with too many lights, I thought. Rather cruel but someone should have pointed it out to her?

"You take umm... Julie here and find a quiet corner, get to know each other, know what I mean?"

Joe moved away, his hand dropping from Jody's shoulder to cup her butt, a backward glance at me and a wink before he disappeared.

S**t. She was making her way to the bar. Alone! Julie had latched on to my arm like she'd drown if she let go. S**t!

"It's not what it looks like!"

"I left you alone for a few minutes and find you with... with that?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're an a*s."

"I'll get rid of her, you just hang on, don't go anywhere!"

"Tell me she's not your f*****g new wife!"

"She's nobody, really!"

"I thought tonight..."

"Please! I'll explain in a minute!"

She turned away, heading for the bar. I needed to run after her, I needed to apologise.

"C'mon," Julie said, pulling on my arm with two hands now. "Let's go do like Joe said."

"About that, listen... sorry... I..."

She gave me a disgusted look and huffed off. I was free! The bar was only about fifteen metres away. Just fifteen metres between me and...

Reviews

[. serah .]

-- i liked this first bit of the book... -- when i read the description, i wasn't sure if the story would seem real... but this first bit definitely seems real... -- the venue of this near-meeting and how helen and paul landed up here is explained well... -- i think there are people in the real world who bump into each other only at parties and don't really meet anywhere else...

[Elise Anton]

As you will discover further along, Hellen and Paul are both totally out of place in this environment... Thanks for taking the time to read and review :)

[. serah .]

-- oh... okay... it did seem like they were there because Joe wouldn't take no for an answer... -- you're very welcome... :)

[Chris]

a he said she said story! So many people have these "daydreams" behind their eyes and spend hours fleshing them out - making them so real that they FEEL what they've lost or forgotten how to be. The situation left a smile and an aftertaste of just right for where you seemed to want it to be going.