My life continues with some decisions made with foresight, others made spontaneously. Debbie, my next door neighbour, is ever present and encouraging, sometimes for the wrong reasons.
(If you haven't followed the series then you need to know that I have my own accountancy business and Clive was someone who'd lost his wife from cancer last year.)
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"Do you think Clive would enjoy the hot tub with us?"
I could tell from Debbie's expression that she was full of mischief. When I told her that Clive was coming for the weekend it was one of her first responses. I must have looked doubtful, and I certainly gave her that impression.
"I'm not sure he's ready for that, he's certainly not ready for your husband shooting spunk all over my face!"
We both erupted in fits of giggles remembering her dare and my uncharacteristic willing response.
"Ask him to bring his swimming shorts anyway, he'll remember we chatted about it."
As it turned out Clive seemed very keen when I messaged him. It was 'my' weekend to entertain and the itinerary or programme was up to me. If I'd had my way it would have been both days in bed together.
And then it all fell apart!
I got the text mid afternoon, it was really disappointing and not totally understandable.
'I'm so sorry Louise, I have to postpone our weekend. Something really important has come up. Will explain tomorrow.'
And that was it. I tried phoning him straightaway, but it went to voicemail several times. I did reply with a text, but my curt response must have told him I wasn't at all pleased. I was totally deflated and my thoughts went through all the possible reasons, including involving other women.
I texted Debbie and she came straight round. Her first reaction was of course sympathy, and then reassurance that it was probably something to do with his business and it must have needed urgent attention.
"Try him again," she suggested, but the result was still no response.
"I'll phone Jackie and see if she knows anything, I'll do it later when she's got home from work."
Jackie was Tom's sister and had introduced us. I thanked Debbie, but then she had to leave. She and Tom were visiting her parents up north for the weekend, and had to drive up that Friday evening.
"Please use the hot tub over the weekend if you want to, you've got my front door key, but don't have any orgies! I'll speak to Jackie and pop round later before we go, and let me know if you hear anything."
I went straight to the wine rack and opened a bottle of Malbec, pouring a large glass, and taking two huge gulps.
Again my thoughts whirled their way around my brain and I felt angry that this brief optimism in my life was being snuffed out.
It was six thirty when Debbie popped by and told me that Tom's sister would drive round to Clive's in the morning. She'd given my number to her so that she could phone me. I wished her a safe journey and began to finish off the bottle of Malbec.
I was at a pretty low ebb and getting extremely drunk. I went from one thing to another. I went online and into 'Lit' and began a role play with a guy in the consent/non-consent room, but he disappeared, that pissed me off even more so I turned to porn and watched a long session of lesbian sex which only had the effect of making me masturbate. When I reached a pretty average orgasm, masked by the alcohol, I just got that feeling of being pathetic and I passed out on the sofa.
I woke up just after one 'o clock and staggered to the loo to throw up. That made me feel even worse. I got a glass of water from the kitchen and went up to bed scattering my clothes on the bedroom floor.
The next I remember was the sun streaming in through the window and my alarm clock saying it was just gone nine. I felt dreadful and when I thought of Clive and my messed up weekend I felt even worse. I lay there for ten minutes or so and wondered if I'd hear from Jackie.
My phone was downstairs so I struggled onto my feet and got my balance. I was naked and the curtains were wide open. Phil Gilbert across the road must have thought he'd struck lucky because I saw him at his window and in a fit of pique I stood clearly in the window and gave him a wave.
I saw him jump back, obviously feeling guilty, but I got some sort of peculiar rush out of flashing him.
Putting on my bathrobe I went downstairs and made myself a cup of tea. I looked in the mirror and saw how horrific I was. Finding my phone there were several messages from Debbie, but nothing from Jackie. However it was just after ten thirty when, to my astonishment, she turned up at the front door.
"Hello," I said, I must have looked surprised as well as a total disaster. I could tell by the expression on her face that something odd must have occurred.
"Come in, I'm afraid I don't look my best!"
Jackie followed me into the kitchen.
"I thought I'd come and talk to you face to face, it's actually been a bit of a shock to me."
I knew then that I'd better prepare myself.
"It seems that Clive has been arrested."
My heart began racing as she explained what she could. "I went round this morning just as he was being driven away in a police car. When I told Richard he owned up to knowing the reason why. Apparently Clive has been doing some dodgy deals within his company, he wasn't sure what exactly, but Clive had given him the impression that he and a partner knew some quite shady characters. Other than that I'm not sure. I'm so sorry to shatter your hopes."
I took a deep breath, "Do you think I should go round there, they're bound to release him, but he's not answering any of my texts or phone calls?"
At that point Jackie grabbed my hand and looked closely at me.
"I knew Lucy his wife so well and I'm sure she knew nothing about this, if there is actually anything in it, I think you should steer clear, if he's involved in fraud or whatever, that's the last thing you need to be associated with, it could ruin your business entirely."
Suddenly I could see the sense in that. I just couldn't believe that Clive was dishonest.
"Thank you for coming round to tell me Jackie, I appreciate it. I think you're probably right, at least until we know the whole story. Will you tell me any news if you hear anything?"
"Of course I will, I'm really sorry I had to tell you this, it must be a bit of a shock, it was for me and Richard."
I thanked her before she went and after she'd gone I sat down and tried to come to terms with it all. Debbie phoned later and commiserated with me and told me that she thought Jackie was probably right, and not to do anything silly.
I'd taken some punches over the years and was able to snap out of it by taking a shower, doing my hair and putting on some make up. I did that and later I got a text from Jake who was needing some extra money so I phoned him and had a long mum/son chat. I did the bank transfer straightaway and by four 'o clock I was opening a bottle of wine to drown my sorrows yet again.
I knew I was masking my upset, but in my mind I'd already written Clive out of my life, he sounded like trouble.
The weekend then went from bad to worse. After consuming even more wine that evening, and again falling asleep on the sofa, Sunday arrived. It was in the afternoon, and the other trouble in my life strangely texted me out of the blue.
'Did you get a text from Jake?"
It was a total surprise to hear from Jon, my ex.
'Yes, yesterday, why?' I typed back. 'He asked me for some cash.'
'I've just sent him some too. He asked me if I could lend him some and it's unusual. I actually spoke to him on the phone.'
Within a few seconds my phone rang and Jon had decided to speak to me directly.