Eddie and Dave. Ch 6.

Chapter 6

Eddie drove to Anne's house after work on Tuesday evening. He was prepared for the abuse from her family; whatever they said or did, could not hurt him as much as the emptiness and depression he was feeling from the loss of the girl he adored. He felt he had to see Anne; to try to talk with her, to plead to her, to beg if he had to. She was in his mind all the time; he couldn't sleep, couldn't concentrate on anything. He must try to get her back, whatever it takes he would do it. He never felt such a deep sorrow before, made worse because he knew it was all his fault. He had been a fool, an idiot and he brought this on himself. Worst of all he knew how much he must have hurt Anne. Anne, the girl that loved, adored, and idolised him. He knew his cheating on her had devastated her and he hoped and prayed she would find it in her heart to forgive him.

         He walked to her door and knocked loudly, but there was no reply. He stood back and looked at all the windows, looking for a sign of someone, anyone. Even the Medusa monster would give him some kind of response and a response from her might lead to Anne coming out to see him. He banged on the door again, but nothing stirred. Just my bloody luck, he thought.

         The next-door neighbour looked out. "They've all gone out, something on at the school. Open day, I think."

         "Oh, do you know if Anne went as well?"

         "No, I think she's gone to work. Saw her going for the bus earlier."

         Eddie went home and sat watching television for a while, wondering whether to call at the restaurant to see her. It might annoy her, or it might not, but he had to take the chance and do something. He went to run the bath and sorted out his most expensive clothes. He had to look his very best.

         It was not long before he set off in the van, parked across from the restaurant and walked over to look through the window. His heart fluttered and a huge smile blessed his face when he saw Anne at the small bar talking to her boss. She was smiling and laughing and as usual being friendly and sociable; it was just Anne being Anne. As he walked in through the door she turned and the smile dropped from her face as she looked at him, looking at him as if he were some kind of monster from a bad dream.

         He had done his best though to look smart. He was wearing the mohair three-piece suit which he had made for him by Roseman's the tailors near Mile End station, the suit she always said he looked so smart in. He was wearing the Ben Sherman shirt Anne bought for him for his birthday and a knitted tie with a gold pin she always admired. Although he felt smart and impressive, he was aware she was not going to acknowledge the fact.

         He slipped off his jacket and hung it on the back of the chair before sitting down. He just started to undo the buttons on his waistcoat when Anne walked over to him.

         "What the hell are you doing here?"

         "We always see each other on a Tuesday. I was told you were working tonight and I fancied something to eat anyway, so here I am."

         "And who told you I was working?"

         "Your next-door neighbour."

         "Might have known, the nosy bugger. Anyway, don't you dare go calling at my house again. You can think yourself lucky my dad wasn't in because if he was he would have punched you on the nose."

         "I can look after myself."

         "Great, you broke my heart, ruined my life, and now you want to fight with my dad as well."

         "I didn't say that; I didn't mean that."

         She took out her pad and pencil. "Are you ready to order?"

         "Anne, we have to talk."

         "Are you ready to order?"

         "Please Anne, just give me a chance."

         "Are you ready to order or would you like to speak to the manager?"

         Eddie picked up the menu. "I'll have, I'll have spaghetti bolognese."

         "Spaghetti bolognese, on its own?"

         "Yeah."

         "Wouldn't you like chips with it?"

         "Oh, do you do chips with it?"

         "No," she said and walked off.

         He watched her walking away. The white lacy blouse, the black pencil skirt, the fishnet tights and of course the black patent strappy sandals. She always loved to wear strappy sandals. Her feet, he never really paid much attention to her feet and he suddenly realised how small, pretty and perfectly shaped her feet were and how he never noticed she always wanted to show them off. Like jewels, jewels he always overlooked. She asked him once to massage her feet. He laughed and told her to piss off. Now he regretted it; although she laughed with him at the time it was a piece of attention she was longing for from him, but he dismissed the idea without a thought for her and she never asked him again. He looked back up along her legs, her pert bottom and slim waist, her hair neatly up in a bun. She looked gorgeous. Then she was gone, into the kitchen and out of his sight.

         She soon returned with his meal and stared at him with a false grin on her face.

         "Would you like this on the table, sir, or over your head?"

         He looked at her feeling concerned she might just do it. "Don't do that to me, Anne."

         "Don't worry, I do need this job." She put the plate down in front of him and looked over to the door. An elderly couple walked in from the street and without another word to Eddie, she walked across to greet them. They were obviously regulars and Anne helped them to their usual table.

         Eddie watched her. Her friendly manner was pleasing, everything about her was pleasing. He sat looking at her as she took their order and walked across to the kitchen, but to his dismay, she ignored his searching gaze. She was serving customers, taking orders and clearing tables, but not once did she bless Eddie with a glance or a smile. He was watching her all the time, hoping for some kind of acknowledgement or even a hostile stare, but she completely ignored him as if he were not there. Eddie finished his meal and she walked over to his table as soon as he cleared the plate, catching him unawares.

         "That was very nice," he said clumsily and almost in panic because of her sudden presence.

         "I spat in it you know," she said quietly and without a trace of humour on her face as if she really meant it.

         "I don't care if you did."

         She took her pad and pencil. "Would you like a sweet?"

         "I'll just have a coffee thanks."

         "What coffee would you like?"

         "What have you got?"

         "They're on the menu."

         He looked at the menu then dropped it back on the table. "I'll have the espresso." He looked up at her. Eye contact, for the first time that night they had continual eye contact. It was an emotional exchange as if he could see through her eyes into her mind, into her very thoughts. He could see no hate, he could see no anger, her glazed eyes just showed pain and he could see that she was hurting. She gave a swallow, a gulp almost and then turned and walked away.

         Eddie looked down at the table. He began to sniffle and took out his handkerchief to dry his nose. His eyes were watering slightly and he gave a sigh thinking about what he had done to Anne and what he had done to himself.

         A few minutes later, Anne brought the small cup of coffee and put it down in front of him.

         He smiled at her. "I ordered espresso."

         "That is espresso."

         "I thought espresso was a big cup with froth on the top."

         "No, Eddie, it isn't. Wouldn't you rather be in a transport café somewhere?"

         "Only if you were there. Please sit with me, Anne, we need to talk."

         "No."

         "I won't accept no. I'll come and see you every Tuesday until we're back together again."

         "Yes, and I'll be well impressed you come to see me on the one day a week when you've got sod all else to do. Course, you’ve got better things to do on a Friday, haven't you?" Anne stormed off, this time in obvious anger.

         "Shit, shit, shit!" he muttered to himself, but his words were loud enough to turn a few heads. Tony walked over to Eddie's table. He smiled and then put the bill on the table in front of him. The clock in the restaurant chimed to signal midnight and Anne walked out from the back room with her body covered by a maxi-coat reaching down to her ankles.

         Eddie stood up and put his jacket on ready to hurry after her. This was his chance. He would give her a lift home in the van and she would have to listen to him.

         "Your bill, pay your bill," Tony called.

         Eddie dashed back to the table, looked at the bill and threw a five-pound note on the plate. "Keep the change," he called before rushing off again. As he dashed outside, he was alarmed to see Anne getting into a waiting taxi. He ran towards the taxi, but the taxi drove off as he reached for the door handle. Anne looked through the window at him and a terrible sense of shame overcame him because it looked as if she were crying. He walked back to the van and kicked and punched the side panel as if to let off his anger and frustration.

         He set off for home, knowing he was to have another restless night, and hoping Anne would be spared from the same nightly sleeplessness.

Eddie and Dave. Ch 7.  (18+) Anne is not too impressed with Dave after a night at the banger races. #1983576 by Bruce.