I'd just strolled out to the mailbox to pick up my mail when I ran into Vicky. Now if I was the suspicious type, which I'm not, I might have thought the meeting Vicky was not entirely coincidental, even if she did live next door.
What was there in this chance meeting that might make a suspicious person think that it wasn't a chance meeting? Let me see. There was the fact that a young lady who never walks anywhere she can drive just happened to choose this moment to go for a walk. Also, she walked fast enough down her drive and along the front of the houses to meet me at my mailbox. She must have been walking considerably faster than me.
Last, but not least, there was her attire. I've had the pleasure of seeing a woman on the hunt and the way they dress for it and that was Vicky to a tee. At a glance her clothes were casual, and at a second glance, too. If her skirt was just a little too short, well only a censorious person would say so. Perhaps showing a little too much cleavage? I couldn't think of any man who would object. Was her blouse a little tight, allowing her breasts to be brought into prominence? Well, not really. It was probably just a case that it was probably an older blouse that she'd slightly outgrown.
Still, adding all these little things up and she was dressed for the kill. Seeing she'd only encountered me, by sheer chance of course, there was no way that I was her target. Besides, she was happily married and didn't need to go hunting for a man.
"Andrew," she said, sounding excessively happy to have met me. "Isn't it a lovely day?"
"Indeed it is," I said agreeably. "Might I say how charming you look this morning?"
"Oh, you," she said dismissively, while smiling at the compliment.
"Are you going anywhere in particular?" I asked. "You, ah, seemed to be in a slight hurry."
"I don't know where you got that idea," she said airily. "I'm just going for a short walk and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine."
"Uh-huh. And what are your plans for the day?"
"Oh, mainly catching up on house work," she said. "I have been invited out with some girls for a hen's night, tonight, though."
"Well I'm sure you will enjoy spending some time with your friends."
"I will," she agreed, and then her face fell. "Oh. I don't know if I'll be able to go or not," she sighed.
"Why not? Barry saying no?" (Barry was her poor deluded husband. Meant well, but an idiot.)
"It's not that. He says I can go but he won't give me any money."
And here comes the bite.
"Oh, I have an idea. Do you think you could lend me fifty until payday? I'd pay it back first thing as soon as I get paid."
"Hmm. I'll have to think about that. Why don't you come inside while I consider it?"
I turned and headed for the front door, hearing her footsteps hurrying along behind me, already anticipating having the money.
As soon as I was inside I dropped down into an armchair, waving my hand at the couch to indicate that she should sit.
"I don't know," I said dubiously. "I mean, what's in it for me?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, if I remember correctly, and I do, I lent you fifty until payday once before. That payday apparently never arrived. I mentioned it to Barry once and he just waved it off as your debt and he was sure you'd pay it back in due course."
"I remember that. Barry asked me about it. I can't remember what I said it was for but he said I'd have to pay it back eventually and not to bother him with such things. You had no right to ask him about it."
"Obviously, as I still didn't get my money," I observed, "so I'm sure you can see why I'm wondering what's in it for me."
"Alright. I'll pay you back the full one hundred on payday."
"So you say now, but that doesn't mean you'll remember come payday. I'd like something more substantial than a vague promise."