Chapter 11

“Bloody hell Cory, how many secrets can one person keep? I can’t believe you’ve kept all this quiet and now here you are telling me you’re having an affair!” Ange shouted, looking thoroughly pissed off.

“I’m not having an affair and can you shout a bit louder I don’t think they heard you over the other side of the bar!” Cory retorted.

“But you just said you’d met someone!”

“Yes the term was ‘met’ someone, not slept with them. Ange, this is going to sound somewhat weird so stay with me and let me finish before you bulldoze your way in. Okay?”

“Okay but I’m beginning to worry already.” Ange sat back in her seat and placed her head in her hands, staring at her friend who she thought she knew.

“Well you know I recommended a book at Christmas to you,” Cory looked up at Ange, who nodded in reply. “Well I joined a mailing list on the internet and one day I joined in sending emails about another story and met JJ and well things have gone from there.”

“What do you mean things have gone from there? Details Williams, I need details who is she, where is she and what have you done with her? Fess up Cory I need to know what mess you’ve got yourself in now.” Ange put her hand out to touch Cory’s arm when she saw the turmoil of emotions going through her friend’s eyes. “I’m kidding pal, just take your time but I still want the details.”

“Well we started out just mailing about the story, then we mailed about each other and the mails got more intimate and personal and well I can’t explain it Ange but I think she’s the one.”

“What do you mean she’s the one?”

“She’s my soulmate Ange; my missing link.”

“You’re serious aren’t you?” Ange asked dreading the actual answer.

“Yes. “ Cory replied, a single tear running down her cheek. “I never went looking for this Ange, it just happened and I’m so confused and scared.”

“So you’re a couple?”

“No. I think she likes me and I sort of told her the other day that I liked her but well we’re 3000 miles apart…”

“3000 miles?? So I take it she’s not the lady next door??” This comment at least caused a smile from Cory.

“God no, I wish she was it’d save the phone bill and make things much easier. No she’s from America. She lives near Boston, she’s 32, has a girlfriend, I’ve already told you her name is JJ, short for Jessica Jane but she doesn’t like that and she’s just … wonderful.” Cory’s voice wavered on the last section; she picked up her pint and drank the remnants before placing it back down and looking straight into the eyes of her friend. “I know it sounds bizarre Ange but I feel like I’ve come home.”

“Cory I hate to be the person to rain on your parade but I’m going to give you the facts as I see them. Number 1 you’ve never laid eyes on this person, she could be anyone Cory; she could be an axe murderer for all you know. Number 2 you just said she had a girlfriend and I hate to remind you but you’re married. Number 3 you live in two totally different countries and both have homes, families and jobs and finally number 4 you don’t even know if she feels the same way!”

“Well when it’s put like that Ange yeah it sounds silly but I swear I can’t explain it but she makes me feel so happy and safe. Number 1 I know she’s not a weirdo, you kind of get a feeling and she’s so sweet and honest in her mails, she’s just like you and I Ange. Number 2 I know she has a girlfriend but she’s already admitted to me that Sarah’s not right for her and they’re having the same problems as Sam and me. Number 3 yes we do live in other countries but that’s what visas were invented for and You and Dave are thinking about moving to Australia so one of us could always move and number 4 I guess I have to just let nature take it’s course, if she likes me I should be able to tell and if she doesn’t she is still my soul mate, there is still the connection. I know there are obstacles and I know there will be problems but Ange I feel so alive; that has to count for something.” Cory sighed and put her head in her hands, she knew it sounded absurd especially now she’d said it out loud but she knew how she felt and she just wished Ange would believe her.

“Cory, you’re lonely and feeling unloved, I know you, and you’re just bored. You and Sam have problems and rather than face them like an adult you’re running. You’re an adult now with responsibilities, you have a job, a house and a loving husband, who you made vows to and promised to keep them and you’re going to throw it all away on someone you’ve never met, are probably never going to meet and who may never return your affections. I hate to say this Cory but wake up and smell the coffee. Life isn’t like it is in the movie. She’s not going to drop everything and come to your rescue, you’ve made your bed, you chose your life and now you have to live it!” Ange could feel herself shaking; she didn’t know whether it was from frustration or anger but she could feel her self-control ebbing away. She loved her best friend but sometimes she drove her to distraction. They’d spent four years at college and Cory’s eye was always wandering; she’d never settle on one thing and she always got restless, she felt sure her friend was just bored and all she needed was a good sex session with Sam and she’d be back on track. “Cory all you need is a good lay, you’re confusing this with real love. You’re clinging to JJ because you feel unloved and out of practice. You and Sam just need to sit down and sort this through and once you’ve had a mammoth sex session you’ll look back and wonder what you were thinking. Her ranting stopped when she saw the look of dismay and hurt in her friend’s eyes, Cory’s heart was breaking and she’d done nothing to help her.

Tears flowed down Cory’s face, she knew some of what Ange had said was probably true but in her heart and soul she knew JJ was the one. “You’re wrong Ange.”

“Wrong about what?” her friend asked, her voice lowering into a tender tone. “Which bit am I wrong about?”

“All of it, some of it…it’s not about the sex Ange. I‘ve had great sex with Jon and it didn’t make me feel as whole as I felt when Deb and I made love. I can’t explain it, making love with a woman just makes me feel complete and satisfied, I wasn’t a virgin when Deb and I got together but I felt like one; it was wonderful and I threw it all away because I was scared about what others would think. JJ’s mails make me feel wonderful and happy, I don’t know, but I will meet her and very soon. She’s … she’s flying over tomorrow.”

“Shit Cory, you could have said!”

“I was going to but your mouth just ran away and well at least I know what you think.”

“Oh don’t be like that. I’ve just found out that my best friend is bisexual, has kept it a secret and is now head over heels in love with some girl she’s never met and she’s meeting her tomorrow. I’m sorry Cory cut me some slack. God I need another drink, you’re going to be the death of me!!” Ange picked up her empty glass and passed it towards Cory.

Cory pushed her stool back, wiped her face and smiled at her friend, “I like to keep you guessing!!” She sauntered towards the bar, her mind replaying everything that Ange had said. She ordered two more drinks and some sandwiches to soak them up with. Whilst waiting for the sandwiches she phoned Sam.

“Hey Cor, what’s up?” he asked.

“Nothing much, how’s the game going?”

“Okay, I’m getting better, I’ve dropped a few shots but nothing drastic. Dave’s leading by a few shots but we still have 5 more holes. So was there a reason for the call or are you just missing me?”

“Ange and I decided to have a chat and well we found a nice pub but we’ve both drunk more than we should have and we’ll need a lift home. Would it be okay for you and Dave to pick us up after your game?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem. Which pub you in?”

“The Red Lion, on the High Street. Dave will have to drive their car home. Give us a phone call when you’re on your way and we’ll get a round of drinks in. Thanks Sam.”

“Okay Cory don’t drink too much you’ll be wasted by this evening and we were going to go to that nice Indian restaurant.”

“I won’t, one more and that’s my limit, see you later.”

“Bye.” As she turned the phone off the sandwiches arrived and she made her way back to Ange.

“I was just about to send a search party out for you!! What have you got there?” Spying the plate in Cory’s one hand and a drink in another.

“I thought we might need some sustenance as it’s a bit early to be drinking. A few packets of crisps and a mixture of sandwiches, I just have to go back and fetch my drink.”

The two friends ate in relative silence, Ange was trying to come to terms with Cory’s announcement and Cory was trying to work out how she was going to cope with JJ’s presence all week without doing anything.

Ange broke the silence. “So you don’t know how she feels about you?”

Cory looked up, her eyes widened by the change in tact and tone of Ange’s voice. “I’m not sure, my mind and soul tell me she likes me, more than likes me but my mind keeps telling me to be serious. I mean she’s drop dead gorgeous, she has long black hair, a kind of tan, well to an English person she has a tan, deep blue eyes and she says she’s tall. What would someone like that see in little old me?”

Ange nearly choked on her sandwich, “Cory have you looked in the mirror recently? You’re beautiful, even if I say so myself, who wouldn’t fancy you! I could throttle Sam for what he’s done to your confidence, you used to be so full of yourself and confident, now you doubt your own looks. Talking of Sam I gather you haven’t told him any of this.”

“No, I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s not a conversation you can have over the dinner table, can you imagine it ‘pass the salt honey, oh and by the way I’m gay and in love with someone else!’ Would kind of give him indigestion or a heart attack!”

“But if you’re serious about JJ you have to tell him, it’s not fair Cory.”

“I know you don’t have to remind me. I haven’t said anything because I’m not sure, I mean, what if it is just a figment of my imagination and I meet her and there’s no spark; no fire and Sam is really the person I’m supposed to be with. I’d have hurt him for no reason. I don’t know what I’m going to do; I figured I’d know more after this week. Does that sound shallow?”

“No I think it sounds sensible, but Cory if you do feel something for JJ you have to tell Sam sooner rather than later. I mean if you did anything it would be an affair and he is just too nice a person to find out about this from the wrong person. You have to be the one to tell him Cory. So if you do find yourself attracted to JJ are you going to act on it?”

“Oh ask me a hard one! I doubt it Ange, I mean, like you said she’s got a girlfriend, I have a husband and well it wouldn’t seem right. If things turn out and we both like each other then I think we both need to go home and sort out our own lives before we make any promises. To be honest Ange, I have no idea, I’d like to think I would be loyal to Sam but you can never tell when cupid’s arrow strikes, it makes us all do weird things. I mean look at you and Mick at college, who’d have thought you’d have slept with him!” Cory’s eyes glinted with mischief, she knew she’d hit home when she saw the blush rise up her friend’s neck.

“Cory you swore you’d forget about him and me. You promised never to bring that mistake up, I was drunk and lonely!” Ange blushed at her friend and her eyes pleaded for the conversation to end.

“My point exactly! The conversation is now officially closed. Sam and Dave should be here soon; I just wanted you to know what was going on and well... I feel like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulder. Thanks Ange for listening.”

“No problem squirt! That’s what older friends are for. We share our wisdom with our younger friends!”

“You make yourself out to be ancient. You’re 2 years older than me give or take a month!”

“So what’s wrong with me?” Ange asked curiously.

“Pardon? I don’t understand?” Cory looked over at her friend very confused at the sudden change in the conversation, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Why’d you ask?”

“I mean did you ever fancy me?” Ange teased from across the table enjoying the look of confusion that was now clear on her friend’s face.

“No way Ange. I mean it’s not that you’re not good looking and such. Oh hell just because you’re female doesn’t mean I fancy you, I hate that about people. They think just because you like women that your going to jump the bones of every woman you see. I mean you don’t jump every man you see so why should I!”

Cory looked over to find Ange laughing so much her eyes were watering, “I was teasing you Cory…. I’m sorry I was just trying to lighten the mood.”

“No I’m sorry I’m kind of sensitive at the moment. So tell me what’s going on in your life?”

“Compared to yours my life pales in comparison but I’ll update you on the wedding plans and other things.”

The two friends fell into a detailed converstaion centred on Ange’s marriage plans and battles with her mother. Cory ummed and ahhed in all the right places and tried really hard to follow the conversation and add her own ideas but her mind kept drifting back to JJ and her latest emails. ‘She’s really coming over; we’re going to meet. What do I say to her? What if I make a fool of myself? What if there isn’t any attraction?’ Cory pondered on this and found herself falling deeper and deeper into her own thoughts, she knew she shouldn’t want this as much as she did. She knew she was being unfair to Sam but the pull towards JJ was too strong. She picked up her pint glass and took sips all the time looking at Ange but her mind was a million miles away.

“So what do you think?” Ange asked quizzically.

“Pardon...What?? I’m sorry Ange I kind of phased out of reality for a second.” Cory sheepishly admitted.

“Kind of phased out for a second! You haven’t been listening for a few minutes. Let me guess your mind is lingering over Miss Tall, Dark and Distant?”

Cory grinned and threw her hands into the air, “Okay I’m busted. My mind was just replaying her mails in my head. Something’s bugging me but I can’t work out what.”

“Got anything to do with her visit?” Ange asked; realising her friend had a one-track mind at the moment.

“I don’t think so. Her mails have been the same happy, chirpy ones but there’s something missing. It’ll come to me later, probably when I’m fast asleep and wham it’ll hit me and then I won’t be able to sleep.” At this Cory looked up and noticed Sam and Dave coming through the door. She smiled and waved them over.

“So this is what happens to my wife to be

when I leave her in your company for more than an hour? How many have you two had?” Dave asked smiling back at Cory and pulling up a chair.

“You know us Dave, old habits die hard! Can’t have Ange becoming a boring housewife! We’ve had a few but we’re still mentally alert, well as mentally alert as we’ve ever been.” At this she hugged Dave and turned to see Sam give her a glare. She decided a trip to the bar for some soft drinks might be the best idea and she escaped the looks.

The bar had been steadily filling all afternoon, there was a football match due to kick off and many of the locals came to watch it on the big screen in the corner. Cory waited patiently at the bar, her mind still querying the mails from JJ when it hit her; the last few mails from JJ hadn’t had love written at the end, they’d simply had ‘your friend’. She wasn’t sure if there was any significance in this. Was it how JJ really viewed her? Was JJ trying to let her know what Cory meant to her? The barman interrupted her thoughts and she gave him her order.

They’d spent another hour in the pub discussing the golf game, wedding and life in general. It was getting late and the lads wanted to get home to watch the match and have a drink as well so they all piled into the car for the short trip back to the house.

Ange had looked over at Cory a few times during the pub converstaion and noting a distant look and the disharmony coming from Sam and Cory she wanted to give her friend some time and space.

“You two going to watch the match?” Sam asked, tossing a beer to Dave who had settled himself down on the two-seater sofa.

“No I’m feeling a little bit tired, I think I need an afternoon nap and then Cory said she’d lend me the laptop to surf some sites that have good wedding ideas.” Ange replied in a matter of fact manner.

Cory looked blankly at her friend, she didn’t recall having a conversation with Ange about websites.

Seeing the confused look on Cory’s face Ange mouthed the words, “play along.”

“Yeah, we have free internet weekends so it makes sense Ange surfs them on the laptop. We’ll go do it upstairs.”

“Makes a change from downloading and sending emails I suppose.” Sam grumbled and turned his head to the TV screen.

The girls made their way upstairs, when they got to the top Cory turned to Ange. “I have no idea what your up to but thanks I needed some space.”

“I’d already guessed and I thought you might want to check your mail, just in case there’s a mail from JJ. Which reminds me, have you two ever spoken over the phone?”

“No we kept meaning to but we could never find a time we were both around. We have done icq a few times and that was fun. I did download Yahoo Messenger as someone had said you can chat that way but I haven’t got round to buying a microphone and headset yet. Why’d you ask?” Cory said settling herself on Ange’s bed.

“No reason really, I guess I’m just curious about JJ myself. She seems to have captivated you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so caught up with someone, you have a twinkle in your eyes when you talk about her I guess I just want to know what she’s like.”

Cory put out her hand and uncharacteristically stroked Ange’s arm, “Thanks Ange, you’ve been really good about this and I know I’m putting you in a difficult situation. You’re a true friend.”

Ange pulled her friend into a hug and whispered into Cory’s ear, “I always will be; no matter what happens.” After releasing her friend she settled down and yawned, “I’m going to take a nap, the phone sockets behind the table. Take your time and say hi to JJ for me. Tell her to pack a few jumpers I heard the weather forecast and it’s going to be cold this week.”

Cory nodded her head and found herself a spot in the corner of the bedroom, hooked up the laptop and waited the few seconds for it to go through the boot up routine.

There weren’t many emails and surprisingly there wasn’t one from JJ, disappointed she decided to surf some of the story sites. After 5 minutes her eyes were drawn to a flashing icon on the corner of the screen. It was the green icq flower; on connection to the Internet it automatically booted icq as well. She clicked on flower and there in front of her was the message ‘JJ Matthews is now online.’ Those simple 5 words made Cory’s heart miss a beat.

She clicked on the message box and typed ‘hey there’.

A few moments later JJ replied ‘Hey there yourself. How you doing?’

‘Okay I guess. You got time for a chat?’ Cory hit the send button crossing her fingers as she did so; this was exactly what she needed at this present time.

‘For you I always have time!’ This line made Cory feel very warm all over.

After a few seconds there was a flashing chat bubble in the corner of the screen. Cory pressed the accept button and waited for the connection to go through, her heart was beating faster as it always did when she anticipated a chat with JJ.

JJ Matthews: You okay? You seem a bit down? I can always tell! How’s the visit going?

Cory Williams: The visit is going better than expected. I told Ange about college and Deb and stuff.

JJ Matthews: Wow, so how did she take your mysterious past?

Cory Williams: Okay, better than okay she was very supportive. A little bit upset that I hadn’t told her but understanding in her own way. She said she loved me and didn’t care about my past.

JJ Matthews: Good I don’t want to have to come over there and beat her butt around the block. So do you feel better?

Cory Williams: Yeah it feels good to finally have it off my chest. Enough about me, how are the holiday plans going?

JJ Matthews: The VACATION (sorry I couldn’t resist that!!) plans are finally sorted. I’m leaving for the airport later. I was in the middle of sending you an email, I have booked a last minute flight that leaves very early tomorrow morning, about 6:00 so I am getting in your time 5pm. It’s going to be a long journey. About 8 hours and then the five hour time difference. Is this ok?

Cory Williams: It’s more than okay!

JJ Matthews: Have you got a pen and a piece of paper handy? I have the flight details here if you want them.

Cory Williams: Hold on.

Cory looked around the room, she didn’t want to disturb Ange who was sound asleep and had been since the end of their conversation. Her eyes wandered around the room and spotted a pile of schoolbooks and a pen. She crawled over to them and spotted Ange’s notebook. She tore a page from this and resettled herself in front of the computer.

Cory Williams: Sorry had to find a pen.

JJ Matthews: Ok its American Airlines, flight number AA281. That’s all I know except its Heathrow, London. Are you sure this is ok Cory? You’re not just being nice and secretly you’re dreading a loud yank arriving on your doorstep?

Cory Williams: Hey I’m positive. I had nothing planned and Sam is away one of the nights so I can do the tourist bit with you. I have a little work to do but I figured you might want some time on your own one morning and I can do it then. How long are you coming for?

JJ Matthews: I leave next Saturday. Sarah isn’t happy and we’ve had another fight but I just need to get away and clear my mind.

Cory Williams: Is it that bad?

JJ Matthews: Yeah, I’ll fill you in tomorrow. Hey that has such a nice ring to it. I can’t believe we will be meting in about 24 hours. How you feeling?

Cory Williams: Truthfully I am very nervous and excited and a little bit scared. Just worried that the great friendship we have built up won’t translate in to real life. Does that make sense?

JJ Matthews: Definitely it’s exactly how I am feeling too. So where are you now?

Cory Williams: In Ange’s bedroom. She’s sleeping and I was just checking in and then I thought I’d join her. We spent some time drinking this afternoon and that always makes me tired. So I guess I’d better let you go and do some packing. I’m looking forward to meeting you JJ. I’ll be at the arrival gate to meet you.

Take care

Love Cory

JJ Matthews: Yeah I have stacks to do and Sarah has gone out so I will have time to do it all. Take care yourself and I’ll see you tomorrow!!

Love JJ.

Corry logged off and shut the computer down. Her heart was racing and her hands were sweaty, it was finally sinking in, she was going to meet her soulmate tomorrow and she wished she knew how JJ felt about her. She lay down next to Ange and closed her eyes, before her appeared deep blue eyes and a sweet smell. As she fell closer and closer to unconsciousness her mind took her into the wilderness and a comfortable presence settled around her.

The wind was gently caressing their naked bodies; the smell of the flowers was drifting over them. She snuggled closer to the body that surrounded her and let the security envelope her like a blanket. The hands that rested on her stomach began to make a small circling motion, each time becoming more noticeable and wider in pattern until the fingers were lightly teasing the very edges of her breasts and then they were gone; only to return moments later teasing higher and higher until she was arching into the touch. Her desire for more prompting her to turn and lay claim on her partner’s own body..

Cory woke up to a gentle tap on her arm.

"Hey sleepy, you seemed to be enjoying that dream more than you ought to!"

Cory blinked, slightly disorientated, sleep covering her eyes, she blinked, then focused them on Ange. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"You were moaning Cory, in your sleep, and it wasn’t the grumpy type of moaning either!" Ange giggled as she said this.

Cory blushed furiously, not knowing where to hide her face she turned onto her tummy and put her head, face down, on the pillow. "Oh please ground open and swallow me whole!" she mumbled.

"Hey it’s nothing I haven’t heard before! I did share the room next to yours at college!! Granted I’ve never heard you solo!! So do I get to hear about this dream?"

Cory peeked up from the pillow and saw a bemused look on her friend’s face. "There’s nothing to tell really. I’ve been having the same sort of dream off and on for the past month. I never get to see anything except trees and lakes. I always feel safe and secure in her arms and I get to see the most beautiful sapphire eyes."

"If you never see anything, how’d you know it’s a woman?"

At this comment, Cory groaned again and could feel a blush reddening her cheeks. "Jesus Ange, you’re having all your paybacks in one day. I don’t think I’ve blushed this much since the day you guys caught me at it in the living room at college!" Ange just beamed and gestured for her to carry on. "How do I know it’s a woman; well I feel things. You know!!"

Ange smirked, she liked knowing she’d caught Cory on the back foot, it didn’t happen very often and when it did she liked to make the blonde one squirm. "What sort of things do you feel?" she asked innocently.

"Seriously? You’re really serious about this?" Cory asked sitting up on the bed.

"Oh yes my friend, I am being serious. I’m curious to know what’s got you all red and twitchy!" Ange tried to keep a straight face but the corners of her mouth began to turn up.

"Well usually in the dream the arms are wrapped around me and they’re soft but muscular; very tanned with fine hairs. The fingers are long, delicate looking but there’s strength in those appendages. They feel feminine. She smells musky, with a hint of cinnamon and some herb scent, I can’t describe it but it seems familiar. Most of the time she’s holding me from behind and well… we’re naked and to put it bluntly I can feel her breasts against my back and there’s no meat and two veg between her legs!"

At this comment Ange threw a pillow at her. "You are disgusting Williams. You always know how to drag a conversation into the gutter!"

Cory grinned, "I aim to please and it serves you right for being so nosy!" She winked as she said this and glanced at the clock. "Crikey it’s 6 o’clock. I guess we’d better head downstairs and see what state the lads are in. I have a feeling we could be ordering Indian take away to be delivered!"

As expected the men had consumed more than their fair share of beer and were watching highlights of the football. The evening ended up much as the girls thought it would. They played some board games, watched some television, ate a take away and drank until the early hours of the morning. When they did finally decide to hit the sack Cory had trouble settling down to sleep. Her mind was focused solely on JJ. She’d be heading to the airport soon and then the waiting would be over.

She fluffed her pillows up for the hundredth time and looked over at Sam’s sleeping form. He’d drunk quite a lot, so had Dave, and he’d fallen asleep as soon as his head had hit the pillow; this had been evident from the tiny but annoying snores which had been emanating from his mouth every other second. Cory continued to stare at him wondering what would happen in the future. All she knew was she didn’t feel any of the emotions for Sam that she thought of when she pictured JJ.

She leant over and kissed him gently on the cheek, whispering, "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry."

Cory woke to bright light filtering through the window and the smell of stale beer and curry being wafted very near her nose. She turned her head to see Sam sound asleep; mouth open wide.

"Ew…definitely a passion killer!" She nudged him awake. "Hey breathe over someone else, you stink!"

"Good morning to you too sweetheart!" Sam replied sarcastically. "So what are we doing today?"

"Well for starters you’re going to go and clean your teeth. You’re not going down to breakfast like that. Then I don’t know; we have to hang around here until later. Ange and I have got some grocery shopping to do, the industrial park is open and they have some sales on. That should keep us occupied for an hour or two. Dave and you can play golf or watch the rugby and then we’ll have tea and head off for Heathrow."

"Oh yeah your little Internet buddy is coming to stay. So what’s she like? All I know is she likes women and lives in the US; neither are exactly a conversation starter."

Cory frowned at him, "You will be nice to her, won’t you Sam?"

"Cory if you like her. I’m sure I’ll like her so long as she’s not hitting on you!" he joked.

Cory looked up, "What made you say that? It might be a good idea if you kept a low profile next week!" Cory felt herself growing edgy.

"Lighten up Cory i was just teasing. There’s going to be sometime over the week when I’m going to be alone with her, I just thought you might tell me more about her so I don’t put my foot in it. I swear I’ll be well behaved and I’ll keep out of your way. Anybody’d think you didn’t want me around!"

At this comment Cory felt retreat was the best policy and she headed swiftly for the bathroom, turning as she got to the door, "I’ll tell you all about her on the journey to the airport."

Sam watched the retreating body of his wife as she closed the door. He never seemed to be able to do anything right these days. He didn’t know how to reach Cory anymore. They’d had a great relationship; well he thought it was good. He gave her everything she needed: he provided her with security, material goods; he helped around the house and they did things together. He knew Cory wanted romance but that was just what she saw in the movies and everyone knew real life wasn’t like that. Cory was changing and he didn’t like it. Since finding the Internet and making new friends he could feel her slipping from him and he didn’t know what to do about it. "The worst thing I ever did was buying her that laptop." He mumbled out loud as he rubbed his head and went in search of breakfast.

The day had dragged for Cory. She’d been shopping with Ange; checked her emails, there had been a very brief mail from JJ saying she was about to begin her journey to England, Ange had cut the lawn and she’d done some weeding and they had just finished eating the evening tea of roast beef, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables.

Sam checked his watch, "We’ll have to make a move in about an hour Cory, the M25 should be clear but I don’t want to take any chances. We may have to wait an hour in the airport but we can grab some magazines."

Cory nodded her agreement and helped Ange take the dirty dishes into the kitchen and put them in the sink; the lads went to check out the rugby scores on the news.

"So how are you feeling?" Ange asked, patting Cory gently on the back.

"I’m a little nervous Ange, I’m not sure if this dinner will stay down! I don’t know whether I’m hoping she’s the girl of my dreams or not. If she is then I have some major decisions to make and if she’s not I still have to think about where Sam and I are heading. All I know is this next journey is the start of my future; the only answer I may get this week is whether I’ll be traveling the road with my soul mate or riding solo!"

Part 11

Mail Jules

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