Tripping on Love (4 page)

CHAPTER EIGHT

I spent the fifteen minute tube journey daydreaming of Edward and I, until I was rebuked by a vicious elbow courtesy of a stocky gentleman, fighting his way to a recently vacated seat.
 

My love life was a complete disaster. For the last four months I’d been happy enough in my own little world of singledom. Yet
Carl’s party and meeting Edward had reminded me just how rewarding being in a relationship could be. With no one on the horizon to plan ahead with, my future seemed destined towards growing old and mangy, alone.

The supermarket food shop loomed in my thoughts, it couldn’t be put off any longer. My shelf in the fridge was looking particularly bare and unless I was willing to dine on the lonesome, shrivelled cherry tomato and a quarter jar of pickled beetroot, it had to be tackled.

As I hurried from the tube station into the light rain that was just beginning to fall, I thought of a heart warming, creamy Italian recipe that Mel often made. I could afford to gain a little extra weight and the evening was laid out in front of me with nothing better to do than focus on self pitying thoughts. Cooking myself something indulgent would be the ideal distraction and a good excuse to buy a complimentary bottle of wine.

By the time I reached the supermarket entrance doors, I was wet and frozen to the core. The thought of having to boil pasta, c
hop garlic or simmer white wine was long gone, discarded as too ambitious. Passing the leafy vegetable section, I headed for the aisle of refrigerated ready meals. Why spend an hour cooking and an hour cleaning up after myself, if it was already done for me? Albeit in modified atmosphere packaging and a considerably smaller portion than I would have chosen.

I was deciding whether to choose the spicy chicken chow mien or the lamb madras with free bhaji accompaniment, when a hand firmly clasped my shoulder. Jumping in fright, I immediately span around and came face to face with bright blue eyes.

‘Will! Whatever are you playing at, making me jump like that?’  Annoyance coursed through me, partly for being caught unexpectedly off guard and partly because Will was standing grinning at me, as natural as daylight.

He laughed softly, eyes creasing at their corners.

‘Sorry Miffy, I was just on my way to get in some beers as I’ve got the lads coming over tonight. The football’s on.’

My heart skipped a beat and a lump rose into my throat threatening to choke me. He’d called me Miffy; his pet name for me ever since we’d first met and I’d reminded him of his favourite childhood rabbit.

I had found it funny and endearing during our relationship but as I stared into his familiar handsome face, I suddenly wondered if it had any connotation towards my rather large front teeth. Coincidentally now a brilliant white thanks to the amazing Dr Sheeta of the whitening clinic.

I stiffened, the anger and annoyance returning. ‘Amanda won’t be pleased when she catches you talking with me.’

I lowered my eyes from his and settled on his basket, noticing that aside from the beer’s, there were half a dozen ready meals. For one.

He followed my gaze.

'I thought you might have heard about Amanda and I. She left me the day after the party. Told me she’d only ever seen our relationship as a refuelling period until she found someone that could give her what she wanted.’

He gave a small laugh but his blushing cheeks and bitter tone indicated that it had come as a complete shock to him.

I reached out to touch his arm in empathy. Then I remembered the cold winter morning that he had announced over breakfast, at our newly purchased dining table, that he was leaving me for Amanda. The pool of anger and humiliation I thought had long gone, resurfaced with full force, almost taking my breath away. I felt my voice come out in a strangled tone.

‘Well I’m sorry to hear that Will, but as they say, what goes around comes around. Let’s face it - you certainly had it coming.’ I raised one eyebrow at him challengingly, almost willing him to argue.

He looked away sadly, unable to meet my eyes as his blonde hair flopped down across his forehead.

‘I think you’ve made yourself perfectly clear
, Lizzie. I said hello for old times sake, not to try and gain sympathy. I know that would be a fruitless effort. The past is the past but I know one thing; I made a mistake with you, Lizzie' he reached out and took my hand in his.   

My mind desperately tried to stop my hand from cooperating, but my heart said otherwise. I felt his fingers entwine with my own and ached for his embrace.

His voice became a whisper as tears threatened to form in his eyes.

'You were the one for me
, Lizzie and I pushed you away. You know my number; if you ever want some company, even as friends, then call me. I couldn’t think of a better person to spend my time with.’

His eyes bore into mine pleading with me to say something. Behind him, a family fought over which cheese to put into their trolley, the mother reprimanding the older child, whilst the father winked in conspiracy. Something shifted in my heart strings as I looked back towards Will. Had he not been so selfish and mindless, that could have been our future together, as a family. Instead he had chosen to disrespect me and ruin the love that we had. Only a fool would go back for seconds. I snatched my hand from his.

A static crackling filled the air and a harsh, high pitched voice boomed over the echoing speakers.

‘Customer Announcement, Customer Announcement. Please could Elizabeth Saunders come to the customer services desk, Elizabeth Saunders to the customer services desk.’

Will stood speechless as I turned without words and walked away from him.

Each step feeling lighter and fre
er than I had done in six years, the moment of clarity I had so desperately been searching for, all of a sudden so clear and obvious. Will had never truly been in love with me.

At the beginning it had been lust and excitement. Love for each other had developed but never really on a deep, heart rendering level. We had become obsessed with one another, our lives gradually entwi
ning and as we'd grown together it had become familiar and safe. Neither of us had resisted it, instead we'd let it carry us along thinking we were doing the right thing.

All of the signs had been there that things weren’t right between us. Yet it had taken Will's affair to finally open the canyon that we'd been tight-rope walking across. A canyon that cou
ld never be filled. What we had hadn’t been worth saving. Which is why neither of us had fought to do so. 

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A small, heavy set ethnic lady sat behind the customer service desk looking grim and eyeing me suspiciously as I approached.

'Hi, you just made an announcement for Elizabeth Saunders. I'm the one and only.' I said
, half tempted to courtesy as I smiled at her. 

Her face remained impassive and grim.

'Yes, there is some policeman upstairs in the main office waiting to talk to you' she replied in a strong Jamaican accent.

My face froze. 'Policeman? Why? What’s going on?' I was aware my voice sounded desperate but I didn’t care.

I looked down at my nearly empty basket. Did they think I had stolen something? Perhaps I had been looking too intently at the ready meal section. I had lingered in the aisle longer than necessary reading calorie content on all the offers. Perhaps they suspected me of planting a bomb?

'All I know is that they need to speak with you – they don’t tell me anything more.' She raised her arms up crossly and continued 'I am nothing but a worker here. You understand?' her agitated voice was now ringing incredibly loud across the store.
 

I lowered my head in embarrassment. Not only was I about to be arrested but the Jamaican lady was going to assault me first if I wasn’t too careful.

'OK' was all I managed to mutter as I followed her towards the back door of the store.

She led me through a staff only entrance and up a small flight of stairs. I felt a little like I was walking the death row, green mile. My last supper in the basket I was still holding on my arm.

We arrived at a brightly lit room with two policemen and a man in a suit.  The Jamaican woman spoke first.

'Sir, I have brought you Ms Elizabeth Saunders.' She beckoned me forward. The man in the suit rose up and stepped forward.

'Thank you, Marcia. You may go back to your duties now.'

The
Jamaican woman smiled brightly. ‘Thank you, Sir' and she walked out of the room with not so much as a nod in my direction.

Well I certainly wouldn’t be sending her any letters from prison.

I looked worriedly towards the man in front of me. He spoke before I had a chance to.

'Ms Saunders
, thank you for coming along. Please do not be alarmed' he said slowly. 

My eyes caught the sly look he gave to the police officers beside him. Heart pounding, I couldn’t bear the suspense any longer. They obviously had their wires crossed and were mistakenly accepting me as a criminal.

I would have to make a run for it.  It was my best chance of avoiding being escorted off the premises in handcuffs and a police car. If I could make it to Stella's house she would know what to do.

I looked down towards my feet. Although I was wearing my flat round toe pumps, I could probably make it as far as the car park. Then what?

I looked up again at the two muscular policemen. They wouldn’t have any problem taking me down. I would have to try and grab a can of hairspray on the way out - sprayed in their eyes it could be very effective and would buy me at least another five minutes escape time. Those minutes would allow me just enough time to run across the road. Or maybe towards the disabled toilet? That would be a good hiding place.

The man in the suit turned away from me and reached for something behind him. My thoughts jerked wildly. This was my chance to run. I hadn’t done anything wrong but there was no point
arguing my innocence. Will had always warned me that the police were corrupt.  They could plant evidence, forge signatures or even make me out to be a diplomatic spy if they so chose. I took a deep breath. It was now or never.

He spun around quickly. 'Ms Saunders, do you recognise this item' he said, holding up a transparent plastic bag housing a beige leather purse, in front of him.

Adrenalin buzzing through my veins, I managed to focus on the object he was showing me.

'Yes, what are you doing with my purse?' I asked confused. Why was this man in possession of my purse?

The taller of the policemen spoke.

'Ms Saunders
, we've detained a woman suspected of shop lifting. Upon inspection of her belongings we came across this' he gestured towards my purse.

'I’ve been robbed?!' Shock rendered me speechless. How on earth had someone managed to take my purse out of my bag without me noticing? When had it happened? Will surely would have noticed had it taken place when we were speaking.

I looked across at my purse. It was relatively new and had been a treat to myself after the split. Well aware that it had cost much more that the average woman spends on a purse, I had deliberately been keeping it safe. It was an investment in myself.

'Is it OK?' I asked concerned.

The policemen looked at one other before the taller one spoke.

'We believe that nothing has been removed and therefore all your credit cards and cash remain present' he confirmed.

I sighed. Men really didn’t understand did they. 

'No
, I meant is the purse OK? Can I see it please.' Reaching for the purse I picked it up and studied the beige leather. There was a slight scratch on the back but aside from that, the gold button clasp was still unscathed. I breathed a happy sigh of relief.

'She's OK.' Opening the inside I ensured that they were correct in relaying that my belongings hadn’t been taken. All ten credit cards and twenty three pounds in cash remained.

I caught the officers shaking their heads in disbelief. The man in the suit stepped forward again.

'Ms Saunders, the police will need you to make a statement; it shouldn’t take any longer than a few minutes and then you can be on your way.' He pulled out a chair at the nearest table indicating for me to sit down.

The officers and store manager carefully explained that their security man had been suspicious of a shifty looking woman. Surveillance had ensued and she'd been caught on video stealing food from the frozen section.

I had felt sympathy for the woman at this point. She must have been extremely desperate to have stuffed a frozen lamb leg into her bra. However, my compassion quickly turned to anger as I was shown footage of her pick-pocketing my purse from my bag, in the vegetable aisle. She had managed to do it so fast it was no wonder I hadn’t been aware of it. Thank goodness she'd been caught.

It didn’t take long to make my statement and return my purse safely to its rightful place. I thanked the police officers and store manager and promised that I would be more vigilant of my bag in future. One outcome was certain. I would have to buy a new bag, a more secure one.

By the time I made my way out of the store, I was looking forward to getting home. It had been a very long day. I wanted to relax, eat and forget the entire supermarket fiasco with Will and the purse.