Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages - Chapter Four

6.6K 240 46
                                    

Chapter Four

I woke up to an empty bed and groaned. It was only seven in the morning and on a Sunday. What the hell was she doing up? “Abby?” I called to see if she was just in the bathroom or something before I forced myself to get out of bed.

She poked her head around the corner of the door. “Oh, you’re awake then?”

No, I’m sleep talking. “Yeah.” I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up. “What’re you doing up so early?”

“I’m meeting Carol and Brett at Wendy’s Cafe to discuss the Thorpe Park trip. Two parents have pulled out and we’re having trouble with the coaches now too. We’re grabbing breakfast and sorting through the issues. I won’t be long and then we can do something. Want me to bring you bacon rolls back?”

Sunday. It was the official day of rest and she wanted a working breakfast. Leaving your bed before ten on a Sunday should be illegal and my wife was dressed and ready to leave the house at seven. “Right. Bacon rolls would be awesome.”

She blew a kiss and grabbed her handbag off the dressing table. “Only be a couple hours. Love you.” And then she was gone.

I wanted to call someone and do the whining woman thing but Oakley was getting bored of me complaining and not doing anything about it. I was scared of doing anything about it. Actually fucking terrified. If Abby was cheating we would have to get divorced sell the house and divide everything up. I would be a divorced man. I would have an ex wife. Abby would be fine with her, if she had one, new man but  I would be screwed. No one wanted to be the one left behind. I didn’t want to be in love with someone that left me for someone else.

The only thing that I knew would take my mind off what was possibly going on – yes, I was a fan of burying your head in the sand – was Everleigh.  I dialled my sister’s house knowing they would already be up. That was something I was going to have to get used to.

“Hello,” Oakley said down the phone.

“Can I have Everleigh for a couple hours? Pancakes at the diner.”

“Good morning to you too, Jasper.”

“Please?” I said.

I felt her roll her eyes. “Sure. Any reason?”

“She’s my favourite person and I want to take her to breakfast.”

“That’s the only reason? Is Abby going too?”

“I’ll pick her up in twenty,” I said and hung up. Damn mind reading sister. There was going to be a lecture. There was always a lecture. I should speak to Abby about it, that’s what she’d say. Of course she was right, but I wasn’t gonna do it.

I dressed and grabbed my keys. Abby had left one of her many handbags on the kitchen table – the one the watch was in. I couldn’t resist. We had nothing coming up – not my birthday or an anniversary – so if the watch was gone that meant she took it with her today. To this Brett twat?

Oakley opened her front door as I pulled up. Great, she was ready for a lecture. She raised her eyebrow as I walked towards her. “Don’t start,” I said.

“I’m not starting. Just don’t get many early phone calls from you on a Sunday. Actually, I’ve never received an early phone call off you on a Sunday.”

“Abby’s working for a couple hours so I thought I’d use to the time to treat my niece.”

“Abby’s working?”

Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (SAMPLE)Where stories live. Discover now