In any ordinary life (In any oridnary Book 1) (10 page)

   Jeanie forever polite looked on with intent as John described the different buildings and as they entered the medical block John was still describing architecture and dates. Stepping out into the medical bay he started to discuss when the ward had been built when he noticed Jeanie’s expression. Spotting her rolling her eye’s in between the piece of benign information John finished his sentence knowing she would have to pay attention.

“And this is where I get the piss taken out of me by a contemptuous little shit!” Jeanie smirked and started to laugh knowing he would have to loose all of his graces to finish his sentence.

“You’re a fucking witch sometimes how many times….. don’t tell me I really don’t want to know,” John saw the funny side to Jeanie’s amusement and as he took her by the arm he pulled her closer to him Jeanie still laughing obliged unquestionably.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help it you got so carried away.” John dropped his hat on the floor loosing his cool composure.

“Well you can find your own way back then!” as he turned to walk the other way he fixed his jacket and hat again and pulled on his tie. Jeanie playfully smiled back saluted and turned in the opposite direction.  

   Making her way back to the garage Jeanie remembered all the fun as kids fixated on the fact that all those memories contained John and as the day closed and night opened the sky was ablaze. The fire red sunset made a dramatic background to the rolling hills that surrounded the base.

   Jeanie sat on a chair taking in the energy of the fiery sky leaning her head on her hands she realised this was the most relaxed she had felt in a while. Not knowing whether it had been down to John.

   Gazing at the stars used to be there favourite hobby and John couldn’t stop himself from interrupting her stare. She used to get lost for ours pretending she could walk within the atmosphere leap frogging from one to the next.

  John walked towards the garage he could see the smile which had crept into Jeanie’s thoughts and feeling her may have had an influence he couldn’t wait to find out.

“Penny for them”

“John you scared me to death.” She had spilt the coffee all over her covering her in hot milky liquid, “For fuck sake John, don’t creep up to people like that!”

   Dabbing her overall’s she made her way to the small office. John noticed the garage office had been turned into her studio. He knew the increased of commitment to the base had to have been a struggle. However looking deeper he could see how it had become her living and sleeping space. Jeanie had used the two sets of lockers to provide her with food, clothing and reading material. She had made herself a bed which she folded away into the cupboard.

   Throwing the soggy jumper into the corner of the room John stood at the door amazed at the small flat she had created. She was always resourceful and this could certainly be said by the hand made furniture now spread all over the garage.

“Turn around.” Jeanie aware of his presence started to undress quickly. John’s back was turned but he couldn’t help but watch her reflection in the window pain at the side of the door. His eyes fixated on her smooth pale skin and perfect shoulders made his body immediately react. He had given her up years ago and the chance to take her even though she was older intrigued him more.

As she folded the bed back into the cupboard Jeanie straightened herself out ready for round two.

“Right ready, what can I do you for anyway?” 

“I have a surprise, come on.” Still contrite to his previous attempts she hovered in the office,” You are always up to no good John Stanton. I know that look……” Taking her by the hand he pushed her into the car. “Where are we going?” John winked and continued to drive out of the gate.

   Stopping the car on the dirt track at the back of Jeanie’s factory, no questions where needed. The big oak tree at the back spread over into the field and its prominence nearly as large as the factory.

  Jeanie had built her hideaway space in its branches. A tree house to most but it had been modified over the years creating more of a cabin or lodge rather than a play space. Building the foundations in her teens it was a place to escape and a chance to relax to read and contemplate her future.

   As they rose into the tree Jeanie saw that the log burner had been lit and a plad blanket had been placed on the roof. Reaching up to take John’s hand she negotiated the steps and proceeded to sit on the neatly placed blanket.

“Well lie down!”

“John I know what you’re doing. I have played these games before remember.” Patting the blank she knew her protests where falling on deaf ears and as she lay next to him she looked up and through the trees she could see thousands and thousands of stars.

   This was her favourite place in the world she used to lay there for hours and sometimes stayed over when her dad had been working. Since her dad had passed the visits to the tree subsided. It was only when she really missed him she would venture up for time to think. Jeanie imagined her dad as one of the stars looking down on her helping with the question or problem she couldn’t answer.

   John lay motionless looking at the stars. Jeanie knew what he was up to but couldn’t help but play along, he’d been the best and worst of Jeanie’s past and somehow even though she wanted to let go she was pulled back. “I never told you this before.” he moved closer his breath creating smoke signals in the frosty night air.

“When you were sixteen do you remember that long hot summer? We chased the girls into the field at the back of your house. It was so simple back then.

   You asked me a question that day and I kept silent and I should have screamed aloud. You asked me something and I didn’t respond and I just wanted you to know that I wanted too more than you could imagine. I felt powerless. I loved you so much you have to understand that.

   Standing at the window that night I saw you running around Mrs Morias back garden after that stupid pig in nothing but a pair of shorts and a camisole.

   I’d never seen you in the moonlight you where mesmerising. I saw how the sweat beads made you glisten and how your clothes showed off every curve you were always beautiful Jeanie.” Jeanie sat up and curled her legs into her body resting her chin on her knees for comfort.

“John, we settled this the other night, I don’t want anything more it’s not right. We are not right for each other and it just doesn’t work. I can’t make it work.” Jeanie took hold of the ladder placed at the side of the house her strength had grown with age and responsibility and now it was easy to finish what she needed to say.

“I saw you watching me John that night. I knew you had seen everything and I don’t regret what I said but its different now and it’s just not the same.

   We live in a different world and I’ve made my choice. I just want you to know that I loved you more than anything you just didn’t love me back in the way I needed. Goodnight John.”

“Jeanie please just hear me out.” Jeanie bowed her head feeling that if she was going to work at the base she at least needed to know they could be civil.

“I was a stupid scared boy. I made decisions which I thought would change my life and make it better for us. Instead I hurt you and caused you more pain. I didn’t feel…I can’t defend what I have done. I married a woman I didn’t love and ended up creating a monster. I just want you to know that I have never loved anyone the way I love you and I regret every stupid mistake and all I want to do is spend the rest of my life making it up to you because I’m in love with you.”

“Thank you for being honest John but it’s too late.”

   Jumping off the last two runs she looked up at the house as he stood unable to admit defeat. Jeanie held her head high proud to know that she had done the right thing and this time she didn’t have to argue, scream or shout to get her point across. As she looked back she felt her past as she turned to go back to the base it was time to leave it well and truly behind.  

   Watching her walk away hurt and he was now experiencing something he had done to Jeanie several times. The emptiness he felt was hard to swallow and the strength of her conviction even harder to take. As she walked up the road she didn’t look back and he knew he had to fight for her there was no other way to prove that he had learnt his lesson. Knowing he was in competition with another man meant the first work he had to do was find him.

   Walking back onto the base her hands had slumped in her pocket and she felt exhausted from the drama which had unfolded. She couldn’t wait to occupy her mind with the nights work ahead.

   Jeanie rubbed her face with her hands and stretched as she reached for the office door. Yawning she gasped aloud, “Well another night!”

Gaining her bearings she saw a figure stood in the corner of the room watching every movement.

“Hello, can I help you?” the figure moved again. Jeanie froze not knowing whether to jump into the pit or lock herself in the office.

   Moving around the garage the shadow seemed to leave through the back door. Thinking it was a figment of her imagination she continued to rummage around for the rest of her tools.

Hearing another noise Jeanie jumped to attention her senses now heightened at the intrusion. “Hello! Hello! HELLO!”

   Moving gingerly back up the steps Jeanie noticed a man was sat on her stool. Cautiously she moved towards him. Noticing it was James she relaxed a little but something was different.

“Hello I’ve just got back. Are you ok? Has something happened?” James lifted his head and took another sip from the brown bag which sat on his lap.

” I don’t know. Why don’t you ask your new friend?” Jeanie looked at him and stepped back confused at his answer. James staggered towards her breathing heavily in her face.

“Well like I said why you don’t ask your new friend or should I just call him John. Well are you going to deny it?” Jeanie was surprised by his outburst however she had nothing to be ashamed for.

“No I’m not. Yes I have spent the last couple of hours reminiscing but at the end of the night I walked back to base on my own so why do you have a problem.” James staggered and laid against the wall his dishevelled appearance a complete contrast to his usual impeccable exterior.

“You’re not denying it so nothing happened. All good friendly banter because the way I saw it in the hospital ward this afternoon and in the courtyard earlier looked more than a friendly let’s talk gesture.”

James fell to the floor and doing so smashed the bottle he had been drinking from. Jeanie sighed and shook her head understanding how the events could have been misconstrued.

“James. I don’t want him I want you. He’s our superior officer please don’t do this things have been going so well.” Jeanie placed a hand on his chest trying to reassure him and assess how drunk he actually was.

“Listen to me I meant what I said the other night. Please don’t worry this afternoon may have looked different but it wasn’t I can assure you.” James made his way back up the wall and towards Jeanie, as he reached for her he grabbed her arms and pulled her towards him.

“Do you know what my problem is it’s the fact that I fell for a fucking useless engineer’s daughter and her fucking seven slut sisters and do you know the worst thing the one I got is only a half fucking sister to all of them because her slut mother couldn’t keep her legs fucking closed either.” Jeanie tried to move away thinking back to her arguments with John she had realised this lesson. Wriggling out of his hold James fell forward and as James hit the floor the realisation of what he had done sobered his thoughts.

   Blood pored from Jeanie’s nose and cheek and as she took a cloth and moved towards the door she was greeted by her new apprentice. His cheery grin soon turned serious after realising what had happened.

James brushed himself down and trying to apologise, “Jeanie, I’m sorry, I got jealous, Jeanie look at me.” Jeanie forcibly turned around blood still trickling from the cut on her cheek she couldn’t comprehend why.

“James I think you better go.” Jeanie sat on the stool not knowing why he had become so jealous and as the alcohol drained his body he fell to his knees in front of her.

“Jeanie let me look. I just. I can’t explain it. I heard your sister earlier telling one of the nurses about what had happened the other night and when I saw you together I just. Jeanie I love you please believe me.”

“I think it’s time to leave I don’t think you have anything else to say to me James which could make this any better, please go.”

   The new apprentice escorted the doctor through the door and closed it behind him. Jeanie no longer talking to herself started to question his motives.

   James took off his coat he threw it in the bin lighting a cigarette he noticed John walking back through the gate and as he passed he nodded to the doctor.

   James boiled inside knowing that this man wanted more and now he had given him the opportunity to take her. Knowing how stupid he had been he wanted to run back inside the garage and make it right instead he turned and walked away knowing venturing back in would only make the situation worse.

   Inside the garage Jeanie’s nose had stopped bleeding and Mike introduced himself.

“OK I don’t know what went on in here but my name is Mike Kowalski, Lieutenant Signthorpe said you where expecting me.”