Chapter 3 Getting to Grips with the Role
On the Monday, I got up and prepared breakfast for us. Anne was in a mood, morning never were her forte, she was an evening girl so she grabbed a quick slice of toast as she rushed out the door. She was late and blamed me for forgetting to set the alarm, even though the bloody thing was on her side of the bed! So it was not the best start to the day.
I struggled to get the kids ready for school, John was being antsy about eating his breakfast and Pamela would not be hurried. Just like her mother I thought! Eventually we got out the door and walked the mile to John's school. Pamela was still at kindergarten as she was not old enough yet for the 'big' school. The other mother's were all standing around at the school gate talking as I reversed my steps after depositing our both kids at their respective rooms. It had started out as a warm early summer's day when we had set out form home, but just as I left the school, the heavens opened. Shit, I thought that's all I need. I had come out with just a light top jacket and without a raincoat, I was going to get soaked!
A large 4x4 Range Rover pulled up and the window came down. It was one of the mother's who had been standing at the gate talking when I had exited the school. She simply said. "Get in before you get soaked."
Once I was in the car and safely belted up, she introduced herself as Andrea Carter and asked for directions to my home. I gave her the route back to my place and as she drove I took the opportunity to take a good look at her. She was an attractive lady, dark hair and even at that time in the morning she had taken the time to apply her make up and make sure her hair was in perfect. Andrea had that easy gracefulness of movement and seemed to have a confidence of one who has been there and who knew she was attractive. She was a competent driver and fast. As she shifted gear, her short skirt rode up a little revealing her shapely thighs. She must have noticed me watching her and turning her head slightly said, "Will you recognise me again if you see me?"
I blushed and apologised. "I'm sorry I did not mean to stare, but I do feel as if I should know you."
She giggled and said. "Don't you remember that gawky girl in Secondary School who sat next to you for a whole year?"
At once I recalled her name. "Andrea Niven, I never would have recognised you. You are so changed from when I last saw you, but then again it must be nearly twenty years ago! Your family moved away during Year 2, but I never knew you had returned. How did you recognise me?"
She just laughed and said. "You are quite distinctive, what with your red hair and spectacles. If I was in any doubt, your identity was confirmed when I asked the head teacher who you were."
"I've noticed that you are always the one to drop your kids off nowadays, your wife isn't ill is she?"
So I proceeded to give her the quick version of my new role as house husband. By then we were at my home and I asked her if she had time for a coffee. She had and we made a quick dash up the path in an attempt to beat the rain. I apologised for the state the house was in, but she just laughed and said, "You should see mine at the moment, I just leave everything until after the school run and blitz it when I get back."
She was very easy to talk to and I found myself responding to her questions. She asked how I liked being a full time house husband and I moaned about how hard I was finding it, especially the cooking.
She said. "That's easy sorted, what are you planning for tonight's meal?"
I replied. "Something fairly simple, probably sausage roll, beans and chips."
"We can do a lot better than that. Have you any mince beef and pasta in the kitchen larder?"
I had a quick hunt through the freezer and found some mince and I also found a tall jar with spaghetti and brought them to the table. She asked for tinned tomatoes, garlic and bay leaves and I managed to find everything. She then helped me prepare the sauce and gave me a lesson on how to cook the spaghetti.
Coffee and cookery lesson finished, Andrea looked at her watch and realised we had spent most of the morning together. She kissed me on the cheek and as she got to the door, turned and said. "Some of us mothers get together every Wednesday morning for a chat and coffee, why don't you join us? You may get some more cooking tips from the others."
"I don't know, hadn't you better check with the others before inviting me. After all, they may be uncomfortable with a man around spoiling their girly get together?"
"Just leave them to me, I will give you a lift after we drop the kids off Wednesday, OK?" she asked.
I nodded and replied. "I will look forward to it."
For the first time in ages, I felt as though I had something to look forward to outside of my marriage and running a household.
Anne made no comment about the meal that evening, but the kids certainly noticed and complimented by saying that it was even better than mum's. Not the most discrete thing to say, but that's kids for you. Later when we were in bed, Anne asked me where I had learned to cook spaghetti, so I told her about meeting Andrea and her help.
She asked. "Do I have any reason to be jealous?"
"Of course not, she's just on old friend helping a man in trouble."
We kissed and said goodnight.