Authors: Angela Peach
"You're very lucky to have such a generous sister" Phil beamed
, obviously happy with his commission for today.
"We're not sisters" we both said in unison, then laughed.
"No, I'm her mistress! We're having an affair and I made her get it for me to keep me sweet!" she said cheerfully.
"Darcy!" I exclaimed, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, while Phil's dropped to the ground.
"Oops! See, that wouldn't have happened if you'd got me the sports car like I asked for in the first place!" she whined, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"We do have some
spor…"
"Thanks Phil, that'll be fine" I interrupted dismissively
, doing the window up quickly before turning to Darcy who was smiling sweetly at me.
"I am
so
sorry! I couldn't help myself" she giggled.
"I
just hope I never have to come back with Gray" I said groaning, but smiling good naturedly. There was a long comfortable silence and I could tell Darcy was chewing something over.
"Alison…the reason you've been crying lately…I know it's none of my business, but
…is Gray hurting you in any way?" she finally asked in a quiet voice.
"Gray? No! My god, he's never raised a hand to me, nor to anyone else for that matter. What do you mean by crying lately?" I turned to her, curious. I hadn't told her about my recent bouts of tears, and I was sure she hadn't seen them. She shrugged.
"You'd been crying the day we met in the park, I saw you wipe a tear away when I was singing in the pub…and I'm pretty sure you've been crying today too. Your eyes are red" Darcy said, adding quickly, "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything going on at home, that's all. I'm sorry, I didn't think he was, but then some people are just really good at hiding abuse. But I like Gray. He's nice" the last two words were almost to herself as she looked out of the side window thoughtfully.
"Yes, he's a wonderful man" I said, flabbergasted that she'd been so astute as to pick up on my moments of weakness. There was another long silence as we both watched the drizzle lay across the windscreen.
"Alison?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something personal?" Her voice was soft as she continued studying the rain.
"Of course."
"Does he make you happy? I mean, are you happy in your relationship with him?"
For some reason, I felt uncomfortable answering the question.
"Yes. I'm happy with him." I wanted to add, 'But I'm not happy with his illness'. I didn't, of course. Darcy was nodding.
"Good. That's really good." She turned to face me now, but the smile on her face looked sad. "I'm glad he makes you happy
."
Our eyes connected, and in that moment
we
both connected, on some deeper level. It was like a gentle jolt in my soul as a hum spread through me, physically and emotionally. It was similar to when I'd put my hand on her knee, except this time an awareness flooded me too.
I was completely, unarguably and totally attracted to Darcy.
I couldn't and wouldn't deny it, and from the look that was passing between us, it wasn't just me feeling this. It was a look of mutual, deep, soulful attraction. She started nodding slightly again, as if affirming something to herself before she looked away.
"I don't think it would be right for me to
accept this, Alison. I'm really not sure how much time I'll have left over from my studies to be able to give you guitar lessons."
I understood the meaning behind her carefully chosen words, and I was just as careful with mine.
"Darcy, not everything is as black and white as it seems. No, I won't ever leave Gray and yes, he does make me happy. But things don't always go according to plan. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring." In an inexplicably bold move for me, I reached out and took her hand in mine, catching her by surprise. "I do know that I
really would like to see you again, and that I would also very much like for us to get to know each other better…as friends." I was trying to ignore the little flip-flops my stomach was doing as our hands squeezed together softly. "So, I'm more than happy to take whatever lessons you're able to offer."
"Get to know each other better?"
"Yes."
She swallowed hard.
"Okay."
"Then, if the lessons don't work out after a few months, at least we tried, right?"
I knew I was confusing her, and although I too was incredibly confused, I also felt a strange clarity. Her brown eyes bore into mine, searching for more answers, but getting none.
"So we're okay for the lessons?" I asked hopefully. The intensity in the car was incredible and the fact that we were still holding hands added to it.
"Yes
. We're okay for the lessons" she replied and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. So if you call me when you can fit me in around your classes, we'll work out some times?"
"Sure."
"Great." I looked at the clock on the dash. "I guess I should make a move. I told Gray I wouldn't be long. He's plucking a pheasant
for dinner" I added unnecessarily. Darcy looked slightly puzzled at my random statement, but then withdrew her hand from mine and stroked the steering wheel.
"Thank you
, Alison. Thank you doesn't even begin to convey how grateful I truly am, but it's a start. And I promise, I am going to give you the best goddam guitar lessons ever. In fact, next year you'll probably take me on a cruise round the Bahamas in exchange for more!"
"Ah, i
nflation? Of course!"
"Absolutely! I'm very good
, as you know, and you'll be receiving exclusive one on one lessons!"
We both
seemed to welcome the return of our light-hearted banter, easily and comfortably back to teasing one another.
"I want to be as good as Jimmy Hendrix by the end of the year or it's a cruise to the Isle of Wight for the next lot of lessons!"
"Ooh, I've never been there!"
We
laughed, then said our goodbyes before hugging across the handbrake. Darcy promised to look after Billy and call me when she had her timetable, then I got out and walked to my new jeep.
I felt her eyes watch me all the way, and I felt them leave when I drove off.
6
Free Therapy
I saw Darcy twice the following week for guitar lessons. The first time was more of a guitar buying trip into town where we finally got to order our long overdue steaks, and on the second, she brought over a lot of manuals and sheet music for me to keep before showing me how to hold the guitar properly. I could tell it wasn't going to be as easy as she made it look after just fifteen minutes of trying to bend and relax my stiff, unyielding fingers around the neck.
"It's okay, they'll relax over time" Darcy said as I flexed them, frustrated.
"But I want to know how to play now" I growled, peering at the angry welts embedded in the tips of my fingers.
"
Ah, but then I wouldn't have a car out of our deal, would I?"
After another twenty minutes, she removed the guitar from my un-protesting hands and
replaced it with one of the mugs of hot tea Gray had brought in for us. I wrapped my fingers around it, letting the warmth soothe them.
"At least his
tea's good for something" I muttered, just as Darcy nearly choked on hers. "Oops, forgot to warn you! Sorry! He can't help it, I'm afraid. Something in the way he makes it seems to destroy the taste entirely."
"Alison" she leant forward conspiratorially. "I'm a student. I drink student tea, which is sometimes made using a teabag that has been used several times already. This" she held her cup toward me as if it contained acid, "is infinitesimally worse! In fact, I'm inclined to say…hey! Thanks for
the tea!" she said loudly. Gray had walked in and was peering at the bookshelf. He looked at her, smiling.
"Really? Ali says I make vile tea. If you want a top up, I th
ink there's still some left in the teapot?" He turned to walk back out to the kitchen and Darcy's eyes widened in mock alarm. She glanced at me, shaking her head emphatically, before biting her knuckles in a comical 'what have I done' gesture. I laughed out loud before I could stop myself.
"Something funn
y?" he asked, turning to look at me at the door. I stifled the giggle and shook my head. But then, out of the corner of my eye I could see Darcy smiling innocently at Gray's back, while pouring the tea from her mug into one of my pot plants! That set me off again, and Gray smiled. Puzzled at my humour, he glanced over at Darcy who simply shrugged, looking just as bemused by my giggles as he did. Shaking his head, he left the room.
"Hey, I liked that plant!" I hissed when the door had shut, but she was giggling herself now.
"A sacrifice had to be made, and the plant volunteered to save my life!"
"
Nothing would voluntarily drink…oh, hey! Did you forget something?" I asked brightly as we gulped down our hysteria on Gray's return to the room.
"My book. What's going on in here?" he asked, eyeing us with suspicion.
"Nothing darling."
We were saved by the phone ringing and I rushed to answer it.
"Hello?" There was such a long pause, I almost hung up, but then I heard some rustling from the other end. "Hello?"
"Oh, Ali, sorry. I was signing paperwork. Didn't hear you answer. How are you?"
It was Jazz and she had her abrupt 'client' voice.
"Really good actually.
Are we still okay for next weekend?" I asked, hoping she wasn't about to cancel.
"Yes, yes. We'll be down Friday, leaving Sunday. Are you picking us up from the station or will we have to catch a horse and cart?"
"
Just let us know what time your train is due to arrive and we'll come and collect you." I replied, smiling. There was a pause from the other end and I wondered if she was signing the paperwork again.
"
Fab. Who's that talking to Doc?" she suddenly asked, and I realised she'd been listening to their hushed conversation in the background.
"Um, that's Darcy, the girl I told you about?"
Actually, I'd only told Jazz that I'd met her in the park and she was now giving me guitar lessons. I was saving the news that I'd given her a car for when I felt a bit braver.
"Oh yes! I spoke to Doc the other day, he told me you had a girlfriend!" she sang gleefully, professional manner
completely dissolved now.
"Did he really?"
"Mm-hm! Said you picked her up in a playground and she's still at school or something."
I silently cursed Gray and blushed.
"Yes, Darcy is studying Psychology at the University, but she's twenty four" I said trying to sound like I was answering a casual question.
"Like I said, still at school!" she laughed. "Ali! Tut, tut! You've got yourself a toy-girl…OOH! You could call her your
toy
friend!" Laughter peeled down the phone at me as I inwardly groaned. "D'ya get it? Boyfriend, toyfriend, get it?"
"Yes, I get it." I waited
patiently for her amusement to pass. On the other side of the room, Gray was giving Darcy some books from his bookshelf and they seemed to be engaged in a deep conversation. "You're hilarious. Are you done?"
"Yes, thank you! I needed that. I've got a tough case on at the
moment sweetie, and it's taking a lot out of me. Chris and I can't wait to come and get away from it for a few days to be honest. I'll tell you about it when I see you."
"Okay babe. Take care and I'll see you both soon."
After we'd hung up, I went back and listened to Gray and Darcy who were discussing mental health issues.
"Sorry about that. That
was Jazz, a good friend of mine" I explained.
"Another C
ity Girl?"
"
The
City Girl."