"YOU CHEATING SLUT! YOU FUCKING WHORE!"
The man burst in just as she reached up to put her arms around my neck then stood on tip toe to kiss me, a wide smile on her face. The door crashed back, knocking into a small table and sending a vase of flowers and a small pile of mail flying; the vase smashed into a thousand wet pieces with its own forlorn floral tribute scattered around it, as the envelopes fluttered down like birds coming to drink at the new little pond that had been created.
She jumped away from me, a look of shock replacing the smile, and we turned to face him; her perfume lingered in my nose. The envelope in her hand slipped from her fingers to join its fellows on the floor.
I looked at him. He looked taller than me, maybe six feet, and he was certainly heavier set and younger, maybe thirty. His expression was contorted with rage and his face was turning puce as his volcanic emotions sought escape.
She was in her late twenties, not beautiful but definitely pretty: brown eyes, short brown hair and a very trim little figure. Her dress clung to her body in all the right places and was short enough to show that she had good legs.
He was dressed in a suit and tie, and with his well groomed hair appeared to be a business man of some type; although from the sight and sound of him at that moment, he clearly wasn't feeling very business like - or civilised.
"Barry!" She exclaimed. "You've got it wrong. It meant nothing."
"Don't give me that crap Heather. I know what I saw. I've only been out of the house for half an hour and you're locking lips with this old creep."
I rather resented that description; I don't think fifty-four is all that old. Discretion is the better part of valour though and I started to edge away, rather hoping that there would be an opportunity to slip out of the door. Barry was moving further into the hallway, in full flow now.
"If I hadn't had to come back for the files I forgot you'd probably be on your way to the bedroom by now." He turned his gaze back to me. I'd made it half way to the door now. "As for you arsehole....." he lurched towards me and I rushed to the door. I felt him shove me hard in the back and I half fell, but managed to keep my balance on the steps, then staggered several paces down the path. I half turned and saw him go back into the house. Relieved he wasn't coming after me I continued to back away. I could hear him still shouting at his wife; she was presumably answering but too quietly for me to hear, although he didn't seem to be giving her much opportunity to speak.
"You faithless bitch! Don't you tell me you love me.
"What? It's exactly what I think. No. Shut up I don't want to hear anything else from you.
"Are you mentally retarded, you stupid cow? I said I won't listen to your pathetic excuses. Get out! Go on, go and join your wimp of a lover, he obvlously didn't want to fight for you."
He reappeared at the door, dragging Heather by her arm; the look on her face suggested his grip was painful. For a moment I was afraid of what he might do to her and decided to wait and make sure she was safe.
"Wait there slut, you can take your stuff and you'll never need to come back" he said as he stomped up the stairs. As soon as he disappeared, she returned to the hall and picked up the envelope that she had dropped, and a shoulder bag, then returned to the path, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
A window opened and a large red suitcase came flying out to land on the lawn, followed by armfuls of clothing, then toiletries and make up. Eventually Barry appeared at the window.
"Go on bitch. Get your crap off my lawn. If there's anything I missed, tell my solicitor."
"Please Barry. I don't want this. Please talk to me, I love you. I'm sorry if I've upset you."
"I've already told you, I don't talk to cheating whores. You'll forgive me if I don't believe that shit about loving me."
Heather had stopped crying now and was even beginning to look irritated.
