The Third 'Foursome Moresome' Challenge.


Looking up at the sky, I noticed the dark clouds on the horizon. They were
moving quickly and as I watched, the sky darkened and I felt the first
drops of rain. I groaned and crossed my fingers hoping that he wasn't going
to be much longer. I watched as the cars drove past and wished that the
next one to turn the corner would be his. No such luck. The rain started to
fall a bit faster. I looked at my watch. Strange. It was unusual for him to
be so late. 

I start to wonder what could have happened; he would have rung me if he'd
been ill so it couldn't be that. Perhaps he was having problems with his
car or maybe the traffic was heavy this morning. A sudden thought ran
through my mind. Maybe your wife has found out about us and has stopped you
from coming. Oh no, I hope that's not the reason. He had always said she
could be possessive and demanding at times. She wouldn't understand our
relationship and the fun we have with each other.

Just as I was going to give up and make my own way to the café, I hear the
sound of a car beeping. It screeched to a halt beside me and the door
opened, "Sorry. I got held up; I couldn't find the car keys anywhere." 

"Never mind, you are here now and that's what matters." I climb into his
car and sit down beside him. "Let's go and get our toast." I chuckle.

I studied his profile as he drove along, he was still displaying the same
handsome features that he'd had in his youth. Of course he was older now,
more distinguished since his hair had started to show a few silvery
threads. The creases around his eyes had deepened too, adding to his charm
in a certain way. He must have felt my gaze on him because he glanced over
to me and smiled.

Soon the car was pulling into the space beside the café and we follow our
usual ritual. He gets out of the car first before running around to my side
and opening the door for me. He makes a ceremonious yet theatrical bow and
murmurs those words, "After you, madam." I'm sure that if there had been a
puddle in the road, he would have taken his jacket off and laid it over it.
I chuckle again before running to the door of the café, push it open and
wait patiently for him to catch up.

We make our way to the bar and place our order. The usual patrons who we
see each morning are already sitting in their places. We greet them "Good
morning". They nod and respond with their replies. We place our order at
the counter. "A full English breakfast for him and a fruit salad for me
please." The guy that takes our order always follows the same routine as
well. "I'll bring it over." He motions for us to sit at a table while he
busies himself pouring our coffees which he brings over to us along with
the usual plate of toast. "Something to eat while you are waiting," he adds
before disappearing back behind the counter.

We still follow our usual ritual. He picks up a piece of toast and offers
it to me. I take a bite before picking up the other piece and offering it
to him. I chuckle and then notice curious eyes observing us. I wink towards
the owner before taking another bite of the offered toast. We finish the
toast and I smile at my breakfast partner. "I did wonder if your wife had
found out about us. I think that's something that always will be on my
mind. She would never understand our relationship." His fingers reach out
towards me and stroke my hair. "No way, I make sure she never will." But
.... I want to add but then decide not to say it. 'Just enjoy the time you
have together,' I think to myself.

Ours is a strange story. Sad? Maybe but I'm not really sure. It all started
a long time ago when we started working at the same place. We both
travelled to work on the same bus. I didn't know you that well but your
face seemed slightly familiar so I noticed when you came on board each day.
Then one morning you sat down beside me. I waited for you to speak but all
you did was smile and nod 'good morning'. By the next stop however, I'd
managed to break through your shyness and we were talking and laughing
together like old friends.

It turned out that we had been at the same school together, but you had
left a year earlier than me. It gave us something in common and we could
chat for hours about the ex-teachers and classmates. 

We finally started to date a few weeks later. I'm not sure who asked who
now but we had a lot of fun together. We enjoyed each others company
immensely. For a while, we were inseparable. All those walks in the park,
the trips to the seaside added up to a lot of fun.

Sadly though things changed and started to go wrong. We were both young,
too young to be tied down and we wanted different things. I wasn't ready to
settle down, I had a whole world out there waiting for me and I was going
to explore it. You couldn't leave as you were pursuing a professional
career. Our relationship broke down.

My thoughts are disturbed by the arrival of the waiter bringing our
breakfasts. "Do you want any sauce with that?" He asks you. You shake your
head before thanking him. I wonder where you get your appetite from, that's
certainly a big meal for so early in the day. You look over at me and smile
again before picking up your knife and fork.

Once our relationship ended, I decided to go hiking through Europe.
Sometimes working at the bars or taking casual jobs to pay for the next
part of my travels but mainly I just had lots of fun. I made many friends
and visited all the famous sites and landmarks. I did hear from a mutual
friend that you had got married but I didn't know her well. She was from
upper-class stock, not like me.

Anyway a few years passed and I decided to come home. I'd never forgotten
you but I knew that you were out-of-bounds, so I didn't even try and get in
contact with you. Then we had that chance meeting in the café a few months
back. I hadn't noticed you enter so you decided to take matters into your
own hands. You sat down quietly at my table, took my slice of toast and
offered it to me. "Would you like some toast?" I knew the sound of that
voice and I looked up from my paper and shrieked with delight. "How good to
see you after all these years." 

We decide to meet and share our breakfasts every working day from that
point. Sometimes we eat our toast with hardly a word slipping from our
lips. At other times, we just don't stop chatting. We talk about everything
under the sun, but one thing remains sacrosanct and that is the
relationship between you and your wife. For some reason I don't want to
know about the love you share between you.

I look over to you again and notice that you have cleared your plate. I
take a final sip of my coffee before we stand up and make our way to the
till. I watch as you pay the bill. "My turn tomorrow." I say as we make our
way to the door. 

Once outside the café, I turn and hug you before we go our separate ways.
You to your car and me to my office.

I do sometimes wonder what would have happened though if we'd met a few
years later. Maybe, just maybe, we would be sharing our own toast at home
over the kitchen table...