I had the evening meal just about ready when I saw Chris's car pull into the driveway. He breezed into the kitchen in his usual way and gave me a hug and a wet kiss. "How's my best girl?" I smiled, as this was his usual comment; it was the same one he always used.
He went to wash up as I put the meal out on the table. I thought to myself, where had the excitement gone in our marriage? Yes, I still loved Chris, but I loved the old spontaneous Chris better, the Chris who would come in, sweep me off my feet, and make love to me there and then wherever we were.
We ate the first course in comparative silence with Chris scanning through the evening paper. It was only after I had served the main course that he looked over at me. "I've got some good news and some bad new for you," he said. "Which do you want to hear first?"
I shrugged. "Let's have the bad, and then at least the good might cheer me up."
"Well," he said, "the bad is that I've got to go over to Amsterdam next Thursday for a meeting with Endox. It's that new account I have been working on. They have invited me over for a final meeting and to join them for dinner on Friday." I looked at him, stunned for a minute. Friday was our wedding anniversary.
"You can't, not next Friday!" I said. "It's our wedding anniversary, not next Friday!"
He looked solemn for a moment, and then he broke into a smile. "Here's the good news. When I told Jake, my boss, I couldn't go because it was our wedding anniversary, he said I could take you with me and we could stay over the weekend at the company's expense."
I dashed around the table, threw my arms around his neck, and kissed him. "That will be wonderful, darling. I haven't been to Amsterdam for over ten years. I loved it when I was there in my student days."
I spent the next few days sorting out clothes and packing, and early Thursday we drove to our local airport. From there it was only just over an hour's flight to Amsterdam, and well before lunchtime, we were landing at Schiphol airport. After locating our luggage, we made our way to the arrival lounge and quickly located our Driver from Endox.
A short ten mile drive brought us into the town centre. The car pulled up in Dam square in front of the imposing elegance of the Hotel Krasnapolsky. A liveried doorman opened the car door and took our bags from the driver. Inside, a smiling receptionist greeted us, and we were quickly checked in and on the way up to our room. Well, I was expecting a room, but what we found ourselves in was a luxury apartment. I could not believe it! I was like a small, excited child dragging Chris from room to room. On a table in the spacious lounge we found a dozen red roses, a bottle of champagne, and a large box of Belgium chocolates. A small note from Endox said, "Welcome to Amsterdam."
We had just finished unpacking when the phone rang. Chris picked it up. It was from Endox. They wanted an early meeting with Chris that afternoon to sort out something before the big meeting tomorrow. I was a little disappointed to be left on my own so soon, but I told Chris to get off. There was plenty for me to do and the shops were close by.
After Chris had gone, I showered in the large bathroom with the sunken Jacuzzi and changed into a light dress and strappy sandals. It was a lovely day outside and I thought it was a pity to be cooped up inside. The doorman smiled and acknowledged me as I walked down the steps into the bright sunlight. Dam square was as crowded as I remembered it to be all those years ago.
People stood around watching the street entertainers and looking for bargains at the peddler's stalls. I found a seat in one of the pavement cafés and ordered a large cappuccino. I sat there for an hour watching the world go by. It was wonderful.
I spent the next couple of hours doing some serious damage to my credit card in the many large department stores that lined the road leading from Dam square. I purchased the most exquisite nightdress and some exciting undies that I knew Chris would adore, as well as a few other items that caught my eye before I returned back to the hotel laden with bags. A note on reception told me that Chris would be arriving back at the hotel at five-thirty. I checked my watch: that was in about an hour and a half.
Back in the apartment, I spent some time checking out my purchases and trying on the new undies I had bought. Then I went in and ran the bath. It felt quite an exciting experience to be wandering around our lovely apartment in my new undies. In the bathroom, I slipped off my bra and panties and slid down into the warm, soapy water. I turned the jets on and lay back. I must have been very tired after our journey and early start because I quickly fell asleep.
I woke up suddenly on hearing Chris's voice calling me. I rubbed my eyes. I felt chilly as the water had cooled down. I stepped out of the bath, grabbed a robe, and wound a towel around my wet hair. Just then Chris's head appeared around the bathroom door. He smiled. "Just wondering where you were. I've got Carl outside from Endox. He wants to meet you."
I looked down at my outfit. "Like this?"
Chris smiled. "You'll do," he said with a big grin. "Everything's covered."
He took my hand and led me out into the lounge. A tall, well built guy was standing looking out of the window. He turned as we came in and smiled. He apologized when he saw my outfit. "Sorry to disturb you, but I just had to meet you after all Chris has said about you." He took my hand and squeezed it in a firm grip.
Carl, it turned out, was from Sweden. He was chief engineer at Endox.
We all chatted for a while over a good bottle of wine that Chris had taken from the large, well stocked mini-bar. I noticed Carl glancing over in my direction from time to time. It made me feel a little excited as I was not wearing anything under my robe, and I guess he realised that. At last, with some reluctance, Carl said he must leave and that he would come over and collect us later to take us on a tour of the city at night. We all said our goodbyes.
Later that evening, we found ourselves in the hotel bar awaiting Carl's arrival. He suddenly came bustling in, a big smile on his rugged face. We had a quick drink and then hit the town. A place like Amsterdam takes on a different cloak at night. Gone are the locals and the worried looking office workers, replaced by hundreds of tourists, searching the night for the bright lights of the many restaurants, bars, cafés, and night spots.
We ate in a small Italian place. Carl was good company and knew his way about. He insisted that we forgo coffee in the restaurant and try one of the small coffee shops that Amsterdam is famous for. We finished up in the Bulldog, the first and probably the most famous coffee shop in Amsterdam. The sweet aroma of the air enveloped us as we walked in the place. The music was good and the strong, dark coffee was served by a smiling waitress. "Have you ever tried the special products available here?" Carl inquired.
Chris shook his head. "Never touched the stuff since my student days. It's too risky in the UK."
Carl smiled. "It's legal here. You should try some; not the really hard stuff, just the weed."
Chris was a bit reluctant, but I remembered what it had done for me when I was over here in my student days, and it was our wedding anniversary. Maybe it would make things interesting, so after a little persuasion, he agreed to try some. Carl took us downstairs to meet the friendly dealer, who showed us his products and gave us his advice on what we should buy. It was quite like the old days when I sat back and inhaled the cool sweet smoke deep into my lungs.
A bottle of wine and two more roll ups later and we were all in a very relaxed mood, but then Carl's mobile rang. It was Endox. There was a problem at the plant. "Will you two be okay? I will have to go." We walked out into the cool night air and flagged down a taxi for him.
We stood outside the Bulldog, not sure what to do now that Carl had left. I felt pretty good, and the way Chris was gripping my hand, I guess he was feeling the same. We walked slowly down the canal side following the crowds of tourist, and before we knew it, we were passing brightly illuminated doorways occupied by attractive, and some not so attractive, scantily dressed young ladies. As we stood and watched, young and old men were chatting to the girls and then disappearing inside. Discreetly drawn curtains
hid the carnal transactions from prying eyes.
I wondered what it must be like to be one of these women, to display yourself publicly to passers by, and to take strangers to your bed. I wondered just how many times a night they would lie on their backs with some stranger, thrusting urgently into them, only minutes later to be back in the window, standing, smiling, awaiting yet another client.
I suddenly saw that Chris was taking more than a casual interest in the girls. His arm was around me, under my light coat, and as we walked, he was gently squeezing the swell of my breast. "Do you like the display?" I asked.
He nodded, a slight wistful smile on his face. "There are some beautiful women."