CONGRATULATIONS BOOK FIVE: ADMIRATION
Ashkey spent a restless night laid with her husband. She had so wanted to let him know what had been happening in her life. It had taken courage to dress and prepare herself to talk and there was no doubt she was hurt by his inattention.
To be rejected had spurned her into action. She had not meant to fuck the taxi driver but she had needed the sexual release. Then she had not needed to get drunk but it had made her feel young again.
Finally, she had not needed to accept the king advances of Hank but she had wanted to feel appreciated. She had enjoyed the time spent with Anton and Maria and hoped there would be more but there was something different with Hank.
All evening he acted like nothing more than a perfect gentleman with her. He had shown her kindness and respect that she had long forgotten existed. To be escorted home and then not have a finger lain on her made her feel alive again and she knew that she would be seeing Hank again.
Now as she lay in bed although her eyes were closed her head was awake. She had struggled all night with what was happening internally. Finally, she opened her eyes and turned over to look at her husband.
He was wrapped around the duvet with just his head popping out. His eyes were rolling under the lids and it was obvious to Ashkey that he was having a dream. She moved further in the bed so she could take a closer look at his face.
It dawned on her that what she had here laid next to her was a man that she loved and respected but who she was not in love with. It did not hurt her to make this realization but she knew that it would upset her husband if she was ever to tell him.
In her mind, she was thinking could she really live a life with a man that would be a lie. The hurt if he ever found out would be immense and did he deserve this. Ashkey was a woman in turmoil again. She thought last night would resolve all these issues in her head when in fact all it had done had add another complication for her to ponder.
Thankfully it was an issue that she could put to bed for the moment. The clock had ticked round and now the alarm was buzzing signaling the beginning of another day for Ashkey and her family.
She crawled out of bed weary from the night before. She knew that her husband would want some explanation over the breakfast table and she had to be prepared for this. It was routine to walk out of the bedroom and prepare herself and wake the girl's up.
Routine was what her life consisted of. She was getting so frustrated and she knew that if her husband did not handle this morning right then she would say something that she should not.
Ashkey went downstairs and on automatic pilot, she prepared the coffee for both her and her husband and made the cereal for the children. She sat for a moment at the kitchen table. She had to take the coffee to her husband but could not face him just yet.
Eventually she managed to summon up the courage. She climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom. Her husband was sat up in bed waiting for her. The look on his face said that he was not going to be giving Ashkey an easy time. In fairness, how could she expect one after last night?
He waited until Ashkey had handed him the coffee and then he spoke.
"So what was last night about?"
Ashkey took a moment to consider her answer before she replied.
"I made a real effort for you last night. I made you a special meal and I put on some sexy clothes and how did you repay me. You did not notice the effort I had made with my clothes and the food and then you added further insult to injury by falling asleep in the bath."
"Have you any idea how all that made me feel?"
Ashkey was unaware of the fact that she was now shouting at her husband. All the frustrations that she had bottled up inside came flooding out. All her husband could do was sit there and listen and then he mumbled,
"Sorry".
Ashkey was on a violent roll now and she was not going to let her husband off that easily.
"Sorry is not good enough. You seem to have forgotten over the years that I am a woman in my own right. I have needs and desires and you seem unaware of them. We only ever make love when you want to and it isn't even love. It is pure sexual relief for you and I am left frustrated."
Her husband knew when to keep quiet. This was one of those occasions. He was in trouble and there was nothing he could say to exonerate himself. What Ashkey was saying to him was all-true. All he could do was sit there and feel ashamed.
Eventually Ashkey managed to stop herself going any further. She knew she had gone far enough. She collapsed on the bed and allowed her husband to embrace. As he wrapped his arms around her, she cried.
It was ten minutes before she stopped crying and all that her time her husband held her tight. He knew he risked being late for work but this was not the time to be thinking about it.
He felt Ashkey's shoulders relax and knew that he had to say something.
"I know how frustrated you feel. I have not exactly been attentive to you lately. Now however is not the time to talk about it? I have to go to work. We shall talk later."
Ashkey laid there listening to her husband speak. He realized at least that they had problems but he was not prepared to sacrifice his precious work time to sort it out. Well fuck him she thought. I have plenty of places I can have fun and I shall show him what a woman I am.
She turned to her husband and disguising her anger all she said was,
"Yes we shall talk tonight."
Her husband smiled down at her and he was happy. He had managed to avert an emotional disaster and could go to work a happy man. He jumped out of bed and left Ashkey alone not realizing how she was really feeling.
All alone in the house Ashkey sat and contemplated what had become of her happy life. She had assumed that she was a happy woman content with all that life had to throw at her and yet in the space of a few days all that had been turned upside down.
She wandered the house aimlessly trying to do the chores and ensure that the house was tidy for her husband when he came home from a hard day at work. Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks. What the fuck was she doing?
This man her husband had avoided talking about what was going on in their lives and yet here she was tidying up after him and the girls. Enough was enough. She dropped the pile of dirty washing that she had gathered up and raced downstairs. Today was going to be a day for her.
She rarely allowed herself the pleasure of a day off. Well today was one of those occasions. She went into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. She would start by having a cup of coffee made from a brand that only she enjoyed.
She allowed the aroma of the coffee to waft up to her nose. It was heaven to her. This was one of the pleasures that Ashkey enjoyed and she intended to savor all of it today.
After she had smelled the coffee, she began to drink it.
As the coffee drained down her throat, Ashkey savored the hot sensation as it hit her stomach. She often wondered how a simple thing like a cup of coffee could give her such pleasure.
Once she had begun to drink her coffee, she began to think about what she could do for the rest of the day. Suddenly she remembered Cynthia. It had been fun yesterday to meet with an old school acquaintance and catch up.
Ashkey remembered the car Cynthia had given her and she rooted in her bag and pulled it out. At the same time, the card Hank had given her also fell out. For a moment, she held both the cards in her hand trying to decide which one of the people she would call.
Eventually she managed to resolve the issue, picked up the phone, and dialed the number on the card. She stood there nervously in her hallway waiting for the phone to be answered.
"Hello."
"Hi is that Cynthia?"
"Yes it is. Is that Ashkey?"
"Uhmm yes it is. Sorry to call you so early in the morning but I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a coffee?"
"Yes that would be lovely. I have a luncheon appointment at one o'clock with my broker but I could come over now. How does that sound?"
"That would be lovely. Where are you?"
"Oh I am staying in a hotel in the town centre at the moment. I assume you are still in the neighborhood?"
"Yes that's right. Do you know the high street?"
"Yes I do."
"Well if you get a taxi and direct him to the high street then ask him for Egerton Grove number 14."
"Okay great. I shall see you in about twenty minutes."