Track 29
‘LANDSLIDE’ (FLEETWOOD MAC)
Jessica had contacted Adam on the Monday after she had arrived back in the UK from her holiday.
She seemed keen to meet up with him again and they arranged a second date.
Adam invited her to come for dinner. He had always enjoyed cooking and had wowed Eve on more than one occasion with his culinary delights.
He felt confident that cooking Jessica a nice meal was a good plan.
Also, he thought that being on his own turf might ease the anxiety he felt at seeing her again.
He liked Jess. She was pretty and had a nice enough figure, if a little thin. She was intelligent and they seemed to have a fair bit in common. The only stumbling block seemed to be Lily.
Jessica continued to ask a lot of questions about her, and his reassurances, while they seemed to work initially, had been failing a little in the build-up to the second date.
Her questions had been less subtle and more frequent.
Hence the anxiety. He didn’t feel like explaining his relationship with Lily to this woman every time they met.
If a relationship became such hard work, then surely it wasn’t worth pursuing?
Everything was prepared. Jessica would be here at seven thirty, and so Adam ran up the stairs to shower and dress for her arrival.
Now that he had thought about it more, he realised it felt strange inviting a woman here.
It was something he hadn’t envisaged himself doing, but it felt like the best thing.
He needed to be at home. Perhaps Eve would be there, in spirit, to give him strength.
He stopped, mid-scrub, as that particular errant thought preyed on his mind.
What would Eve think of all this? Of course it was a moot point really, but what if she was still able to watch over him?
Would she be angry? Upset? Would she feel betrayed that he was trying to move on with his life after only two years?
Sometimes he swore he could smell her perfume wafting by him, and he would close his eyes to capture the moment; to try to feel her presence. But these moments were fleeting. Clinging to a ghost was not how he wanted to spend his life. Eve was gone.
Just after seven thirty, the anticipated knock at the door came. He checked his reflection in the mirror over the fireplace. His hair was getting a little long and unruly but he kind of liked it. He had shaved and dressed in a grey T-shirt and jeans as Lily had suggested.
‘You have to look more relaxed, Adders, she’s coming to your home.
Let her see you as you in your own environment.
’ Lily’s words rang in his head. She talked as though he was some kind of study and she was David Attenborough or something.
He laughed and shook his head. As long as she doesn’t jump out of the understairs cupboard speaking in hushed tones with a camera crew in tow.
Although knowing Lily, anything was possible and she actually did have access to the camera crew.
After opening the understairs cupboard just to check, he made his way to the front door and tentatively opened it.
He plastered on a big smile. ‘Hey, Jess, come on in.’ He stepped aside to allow her to pass.
‘Hi, Adam.’ She reached up to kiss his cheek, placing her hand on his chest, and then stepped inside.
He helped her off with her coat and hung it on the peg at the bottom of the stairs.
She too had dressed more casually in jeans and a lilac V-neck sweater.
It reminded him of something Eve would wear.
A pang of sadness stabbed his heart, and he began to feel guilty for bringing Jessica home.
She handed him a bottle of wine. ‘I thought maybe I could get a taxi home, if that’s okay with you?’ She looked concerned.
He did his best to replace his fading smile. ‘Oh… yeah, sure.’ But you will be going home! He took the wine through to the tiny kitchen with its table for two neatly set out at one end.
Jessica closed her eyes and inhaled. ‘Something smells wonderful, Adam. What have you made?’
He reached for a couple of glasses. ‘I made beef in a red wine sauce. Is that okay?’ Shit, I never even checked if she eats beef.
‘Mmm, sounds wonderful.’ The sound she made was almost erotic and Adam swallowed hard. Phew.
‘So, you had a good holiday, then?’ He tried to keep his voice breezy and failed miserably considering she had just orgasmed over the smell of bloody beef in red wine.
She sidled over to where he was draining a pan of vegetables. ‘It was good. But I was glad to be home.’
‘Oh? Why’s… why’s that?’
She was touching his arm now. ‘Oh, Adam… because I was looking forward to seeing you again.’ She took the colander from his trembling hands and placed it on the drainer beside the sink.
Reaching up onto her tiptoes, she pressed her mouth against his, flicking her tongue out to taste his bottom lip.
He stood frozen to the spot. ‘Adam… it’s okay…
you can kiss me back now,’ she whispered against his lips.
Forgetting himself for a moment, his hands snaked around her waist, and he kissed her, sliding his tongue between her parted lips.
She groaned quietly as their tongues joined in a mutual dance.
The kiss became deeper and more passionate as Jessica ran her hands through his hair and he slid his hands down to her bottom.
She moaned again. Shit, what am I doing?
He suddenly pulled away. This was a little too much, too soon in the home he had shared with Eve. It felt wrong.
He stepped back. ‘Erm, I’d better serve the food up or it’ll be ruined,’ he stuttered.
Jessica smiled and took her seat at the tiny café-style table.
‘You’re really sweet,’ she giggled as he served the food onto plates and placed them down.
He felt heat flush his cheeks. ‘It’s just a little hard for me… this… here.’ He gestured around the room.
Her brow creased and she tilted her head. ‘Why is that?’
Surely she should have figured that out for herself. He sat opposite her. ‘You’re the first woman I’ve invited back here, since Eve passed.’
Her face dropped and her cheeks coloured. ‘Oh, gosh, of course, I’m so sorry. I should’ve realised what you meant. I feel foolish for kissing you like that.’
He shook his head. ‘No… no, it’s fine. It was a… a nice kiss.’
She looked up at him from under her long lashes. ‘I thought so too.’
Adam’s phone began to ring. The ringtone that Lily had programmed in under the nickname Cheesy was Queen’s ‘You’re My Best Friend’, and it was calling to him from the lounge. He placed his knife and fork down.
Jessica watched him. ‘Can you just ignore it?’
‘Oh, yes, yes, sure.’ He didn’t like ignoring Lily, but she would understand. Hopefully. The ringing stopped and Jessica sighed with what Adam surmised was relief. Two seconds later it started again. He placed his cutlery down again.
Jess’s eyes darted to his. ‘Adam?’
‘Look, Jess, it’s Lily’s ringtone—’
She huffed. ‘I guessed as much. Can’t she leave you alone for one night?’
‘Look, I’ve told you it’s not like that with Lil and me. But she knew you were coming for dinner tonight so—’
Jessica slammed her cutlery down. ‘So, no doubt she thought she’d spoil it for us?’
He stood, pulling his brow inward. ‘Take it easy, Jess. God, I was going to say that she wouldn’t ring unless it was important. I have to answer it.’ He began to walk over to the lounge when the ringing stopped. He paused but the house phone began to ring.
He vaulted over the sofa and grabbed the receiver. ‘Lil?’ He heard sobbing from the other end of the phone. ‘Lily, what’s wrong? Where are you?’
‘I’m at Borders General, Adam…’
His heart thundered in his chest. ‘Why are you at the hospital, Lily, what’s happened? Are you okay?’
She sniffed. ‘I’m sorry to bother you, Adam, I know you’ve got—’
‘Lily? Tell me what’s wrong, please?’
‘It’s my dad. He’s… he’s had a heart attack.’ She sobbed down the line.
‘I’ll be right there. Hang tight, Lil, I’m coming.’ He hung up and ran his hands through his hair. He turned to find Jessica standing, arms folded in the doorway with a sour look fixed in place.
She shook her head. ‘So, you’re going to her then?’
He scrunched his face at her incredulous question. ‘Of course I’m going to her. Her dad’s had a heart attack, Jess. Surely you can’t begrudge me going to her for that?’
Her cheeks coloured. ‘Doesn’t she have other friends? Or family?’
Anger bubbled inside him, and he did his best to keep his tone calm. ‘No, she doesn’t. She has her mum and me… that’s it. So, excuse me for wanting to be by my best friend’s side when she’s going through this. She was there for me all through losing Eve.’
Jessica snorted derisively. ‘So, you owe her, I get it. I just thought we were going to have a nice evening together. I guess I was wrong.’
He gaped open-mouthed for a few seconds as he tried to process Jess’s words. She was acting like some scorned lover. It was their second date, for goodness’ sake.
Eventually, he managed to speak through gritted teeth.
‘I think you need to leave, Jessica. I owe Lily everything. But this is not obligation. This is what real friends do. And regardless of what mixed-up, twisted idea you have in your head, this heart attack was not a conspiracy! Now, please leave so that I can go to my best friend when she needs me!’ His voice became louder as his anger rose.
Jessica grabbed her bag from the sofa and stormed to the bottom of the stairs to get her coat. ‘I’m not going to compete with her, Adam.’ She smiled sardonically. ‘So your Achilles’ heel wins out. I won’t be seeing you again. This is your last chance!’
His responding laugh was humourless. ‘You think I would want to see you again? After this? Sorry, lady, but Achilles’ heel or not, I’d choose Lily every time… no competition.’
Jessica slammed the door behind her. Adam stood, chest heaving. How dare she? She has no bloody clue!