"See you later," she said through a mouthful of croissant. "I'm not sure when I'll be back tonight, big pitch today."
"No problem. We'll expect you when we see you then, won't we Mollie."
She kissed her daughter on the cheek and patted her hair. "Remember she has a rehearsal for the play after school tonight." And she glided out the front door.
Graham sighed. Of course he would remember, he was the one who always remembered things. Karen didn't - she was too busy having important business meetings and working all the hours God sends. Still, he knew it made sense for him to be the one staying at home. His online business was taking off too though, so hopefully it wouldn't be long before he was contributing as much to the finances as she was.
He stood up, shaking the crumbs off his shirt, and picked up Mollie's backpack. "We ready to go then Missy?"
"Yes Daddy, come on!" Mollie ran to the door, and Graham marvelled at how much she loved going to school. He'd hated it when he was her age, but then he'd been to an inner city state school while his daughter went to a private school with all the advantages that brought with it. They jumped in the car, and ten minutes later pulled into the driveway leading to the massive car park at St Augustus school. It was a mansion set in lovely wooded grounds, with playing fields as far as the eye could see. It was a boarding school as well as a day school, but they only lived a short drive away so there was no point in sending her away. He told himself so often that if Karen didn't work so much they'd never have been able to afford this, but at night, when he was alone, this was no real comfort.
Mollie ran into the main doors, after giving him a very quick peck on the cheek, and he smiled. Lovely to see her happy. He turned the car around and began to head back out the driveway. There were many other cars heading out from parents of the day pupils, but only one parent on foot. It caught him off guard to see the tall brunette striding out the gates. People never walked kids to this school - that would mean no opportunity to parade the new 4x4's around. He pulled up alongside her.
"Can I give you a lift somewhere?" he enquired, trying to be as gentlemanly as he could. Her car must have broken down, so thought it was only fair to offer a ride. The woman stopped walking and looked down into the car window in surprise. She hesitated. He knew what must be going through her mind, so he reassured her. "My little girl is in year 2 here. I'm Graham Marsden."
He extended his hand out the window. She shook it, replying "Sally Howell. My Fiona is in year 4. Thank you so much for the offer of a lift, but there's really no need, I only live round in the village. It's not a long walk."
"It's no problem, please hop in. I'm literally passing straight through the village anyway."
She smiled, and climbed in the passenger seat. Graham drove off through the iron gates and towards the village. "Thank you. We've only moved here recently, and it's nice to meet people. Are you from the area?"
"The next town along. So, your car broken down?"
"Husband has it." Graham raised his eyebrows. "Ah." he said.
"Permanently. He kept it in the divorce and I haven't had my new one delivered yet."
"I'm sorry to hear that. About the divorce, not the car. Well, the car as well I suppose!"
They both chuckled. "Well I'm not sorry. My husband was a cunt. Always was, always will be."
Hearing her use that kind of language with a cut glass English accent made Graham sit up and look at her. She must have noticed that he was taken aback, as she touched his knee and said, "Sorry, he just always brings out the worst in me. It's left here."
He turned left into the drive of a smallholding. He could immediately see a few goats and chickens running around along the side of the property. Funny, she hadn't struck him as the type. "I love animals," she said, as if reading his mind. "Richard never did, my ex-husband that is. Hated everything. As soon as I was rid of him I got myself into the Good Life so to speak. I grew up on a farm."
"How lovely. I'm a country boy now, but grew up in the city. Always yearned to be in the fresh air though, so we moved here. My wife still works in London though, she can't give up the rat race."
"Ah. Fair enough. Would you like to come in? I can make some tea, and I've been baking. Won't say that they're astounding, but I do make a very creamy cupcake!"
Graham paused before accepting. He wanted to go in with her, but strangely didn't trust himself. She was an extremely attractive woman. Early 30's he guessed, not overweight but not a size zero, and she had lovely big breasts, which he had noticed were straining at the white blouse she had on. Fuck it, he thought, it's only a cuppa, She probably needs the company.
"Why not?" he replied.
They both got out the car and walked up the picture perfect path to the front door. He felt like he was stepping into a tv drama, it was so perfectly laid out. A gorgeous old cottage, decorated in tasteful, heritage colours, with carefully chosen artwork on the walls. Everything had a handcrafted feel to it, and there was an amazing aroma drifting from the kitchen. He discerned that it was a combination of lemon, almond and cinnamon, mixed with the temptation of freshly made bread. This woman was some kind of 1950's angel.
She ushered him into the large kitchen. The scent got stronger, and he saw why. The counter tops were filled with delicious treats, cupcakes, eccles cakes, scones, breads. He looked a little amazed.
"It's for the church fete tomorrow," she explained, knowing it probably looked a little excessive. "Trying to fit in early. Tea or coffee?"
"Coffee please." He sat down at the massive wooden table. It was solid wood, oak or pine, he wasn't sure. But either way it was a statement piece.
She placed his coffee in front of him, and sat next to him, at the head of the table. She sipped the hot coffee delicately, blowing it a little first.
"So what do you do for a living then?"
"I work from home," he replied cautiously. "I have an online business. I take care of my little girl as well, while my wife Karen works."
"I see, you're a house husband," she chuckled.
He bristled slightly, then laughed with her. "Yes, I guess I am really."
"What kind of online business do you have then? Anything I would know?" She looked over the top of her cup inquisitively.
Graham shifted in his seat slightly. He never liked broaching the subject of his work in too much detail with people he barely knew. "I run a social media style site, bringing like-minded people together. People with...specialist interests." He gulped his coffee.
"What kind of specialist interests?" Sally leaned back on the chair, crossing her legs. She raised an eyebrow as if she already had an idea of what he meant. She seemed like an open minded kind of woman. Maybe he should just tell her. But that might ruin a chance of friendship, and might get all round the village. Who knew how discreet she was? At the same time, something was telling him to disclose all, to confide in this confident, friendly woman. He didn't know quite why, but he started to divulge his biggest secret. One that only he, Karen and his accountant knew.
"I run a website which caters for people who like...well, outdoor sex." He took another sip of coffee. She didn't seem at all phased. In fact she smiled cheekily.
"Just al fresco sex, or dogging as well?" she inquired casually. That threw him. He had not expected her to be that blase about it.