Saturday morning came and I woke to the usual sunlight shining through my bedroom window having not closed the curtains the night before. Inwardly I cursed myself for that lapse and groaned because I knew I wouldn't go back to sleep and so I might as well get up, have my shower and then moan about having nothing to do all day and with no-one to share it with me. After ten or so minutes I roused myself and went for my constitutional morning shower. Once finished I decided to 'slum it' for the day and not bother getting dressed. Some study later as I had time on my hands, lots of time on my hands. I washed in the shower but didn't shave and just put on my bathrobe, intending to leave it at that for the day.
By the time I'd finished, my automatic coffee maker had made my morning brew and I sat in the kitchen looking out over Manchester sipping the hot and sour liquid. I realised I needed a paper so, reluctantly I went back into my bedroom and dressed. It was a cool autumn morning, so I wore my usual jeans, a shirt and a sweater. The newsagent wasn't far and I was there and back in just a few minutes. The girl in the shop was friendly, flirty even but I didn't play along today, just paid and went back to my flat and in a state of extreme lethargy I flopped onto the kitchen chair, refreshed my coffee and settled down to read the news.
This afternoon there would be a football match on television and I decided to watch that later, meanwhile I felt hungry and got up to make myself the customary bacon butty, but tonight I decided on a takeaway, probably an Indian and a few beers. Definitely, a 'be on your own' day. The whole apartment felt cold and empty now I was on my own and I wanted either Jen or Ellie. Even Paula would have done, but I decided I wanted Ellie most of all and that surprised me after only two dates, but the Friday together had been a revelation. Jen had been right, and it was probably time to move on for both of us. Me with Ellie, and Jen with her friend or friends.
The bacon butty long finished and the paper read I switched on the television to watch the afternoon sport. And promptly fell asleep in my armchair. I didn't think I'd been asleep long though when I was woken by the door buzzer going off. Well, by now I was now desperate for some company and I leaped up and pressed the intercom button to see who it was. The picture was fuzzy as it had started raining and I couldn't really make out who it was. "Hi, can I help you?" It was a woman, dressed in a raincoat with a brolly sheltering her head with what looked like a raincoat buttoned up to her throat.
"Hi, can I come up to your apartment?" She asked me
"If you tell me who you are? I can't see you properly," I told her.
"I'm sorry. Its Angela, Ellie's mum," She announced. I was surprised to say the least wondering what she could want.
"Come on up, it's the eighth floor, flat 2," I told her, still wondering what she could want. Scare me off Ellie? See what kind of guy I was? Well, I'd soon find out. A few moments later there was a tentative knock on my door. I'd gone to the door to greet her and opened it straight away.
"Er, are you on your own?" She asked me, sounding nervous. "It's just that Ellie told me you shared your apartment with another lady."
"Yes, I do. Come on in first. You must be soaking wet. Can I take your coat for you? And your bag? What can I help you with?" I asked in a rush assuming it was something urgent. I moved behind her and gently closed the door. She was nervous and kept looking around.
"Can I come in properly please? And are you on your own?" She asked me, sounding very formal and polite.
"Yes, of course Mrs. Warren, go on through, and yes, I've been on my own, all day," I told her. "So far anyway."
"Please, call me Angela," She said as she went through, looking back over her shoulder as she went through into the lounge. "Very nice. You can see it's had a woman's touch Steve. Can I leave my bag here?" She asked, leaving it on the floor without waiting for me to answer.
"Yes, I like it, it is my home," I answered, "So is there anything I can help you with?" I persisted wondering what had brought her here having only met her the one time. "Are you not intending to stay?" Meaning she hadn't taken her coat off yet.
"Pardon? Oh sorry, yes. In a minute," She answered me. "May I sit down Stephen please?"
"Yes, of course, make yourself comfortable," I replied.
"My God. I thought this was going to be easy but now the moment arrives I find it is incredibly difficult."
"You don't have to explain anything," I hesitated, "Angela."
"I think I do Stephen, really I do," She persisted.
"Are you sure I can't take your coat, you must be wet through and cold after that rain, despite the coat," I asked her again.
"You have no idea Stephen," She hesitated before going on again. "When you came to our house on Monday."
"Yes, you were very welcoming," I replied.
"Understandable really. Ellie absolutely adores you and Ellie is very much like me. Do you understand?" She began her explanation.
"Yes," I said, not sure where this conversation was going. "Ellie and you are very alike; you almost look like sisters."
"It has been said before and I am flattered, especially as you seem to like Ellie so much," She began again. "Can I explain?"
"Feel free, we've got all day," I told her as she sat there nervously still.
She smiled at me. "You have to understand this is very difficult for me to say. I've never done anything like this before."
"You've not said anything yet. Tell me. Believe me I'm difficult to shock," I said, hopefully reassuringly.
"It's Charles, my husband, Ellie's father." She started and then hesitated for a moment. "He's gay."
"Pardon? Are you sure?" I asked, incredulous.
"Yes, I am, quite sure. He confessed to me a few years back and from that time our marriage has been a complete sham."
"Don't you mean bisexual. You have three children. You must have," It was my turn to hesitate, "Well at least three times."
"I know, but that was it. All over. Every weekend he goes off with his boyfriends. That's where he is now in the gay village, drinking with them. He won't be home tonight. Not until Sunday evening."
"I'm not sure you should be telling me this. It's really none of my business, is it?" I asked, in total surprise.
"No, it isn't. But I want to make it your business. I haven't had sex with a man for over ten years Stephen. As I said, Ellie adores you, and so do I now. After meeting you on Monday." With that she stood up and turned her back on me, unbuttoned her coat and allowed it to fall to the floor and then turned around to face me and shocked me. She was wearing stockings and suspenders with high heel shoes, all in black and a baby doll black see through nightdress with no bra underneath revealing a very nice small and pert pair of breasts, a little saggy, but nice none the less. Nothing else other than a gold necklace, a gold bracelet and gold earrings. "As I said, Ellie adores you and as you said, Ellie is like me. I adore you too."
