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Chapter 20.
I was on a roll and felt so good that I decided to play some football.
By 8.00 in the evening, I was standing outside Jennifer's. It was then that doubts began to assail me. So much had changed today that I wondered whether I should let things settle before making big decisions.
The door opened and I knew there was absolutely nothing for me to decide.
Jennifer stood there looking radiantly beautiful - if you could look past her bruised face.
She ushered me inside and we stood facing each other in the lounge where we had held each other so wonderfully that afternoon. She had changed into jeans and a green pullover instead of the blue dress she wore earlier.
"It got blood on the dress from my nose," she said, by way of explanation.
"What happened?"
"I told the agent that I knew his client and would show him round myself. The agent left and then my ex. laid into me. Luckily, Tommy was still at school. When he'd had his fun, he left. He hardly said a word. It was his revenge and if I went to the police it would just be his word against mine."
"I shouldn't have left you when I saw it was him."
"You weren't to know he'd turn violent. You can't stand guard over me all the time."
I thought it was time to change the subject.
"I came to ask if Tommy would like to play some football."
Tommy, who was watching television in the bedroom, heard the magic words and came running, bouncing the ball as he went.
"Hello Barreee," He caroled, happily. "Do you want to be in goal again?"
I nodded.
We jumped into Jennifer's battered red Porsche and instead of going down to the local park, I told her to take the road North to Swiss Cottage. She looked puzzled but I said it was my surprise. As we parked outside my new home, I explained that it had a big garden and would make a change from playing in the park.
When Tommy saw the garden, he went crazy and had some branches stuck in the ground in no time at all. We kicked the ball about for an hour and even Jennifer joined in. The sun was shining and the problems of the world seemed a long way away. I felt very happy.
Eventually, Jennifer and I pleaded exhaustion and left Tommy to practice kicking goals against the wall at the end of the garden. It was custom made for the purpose.
We sat in the Smokey's look-alike chairs.
"Barry, this is a real tonic," she said.
"How do you like my new home," I said.
"You live here?"
I enjoyed seeing the amazement in her wonderful eyes.
"As from today. Ron's got expansion plans and I've got the job of making them happen and all the trappings that go with the job. Would you like to me to show you round?"
She nodded.
I showed her where the computer suite would be located.
I showed him my new bedroom and she gazed silently at the double bed.
"Just like the one we almost used earlier," she said, wryly.
Tommy came sprinting in from the garden, his feet rattling on the floor noisily.
"I'm hungry mummy."
"I saw an Indian restaurant at the end of this road. If we could find something not too spicy for Tommy, we could eat there, if you like," I said.
"I like," said Jennifer, and her eyes were glistening. Tommy shoulder charged me to celebrate but this time I was ready and lifted him up to join us in a three-way hug.
We stayed late at the restaurant and Tommy was almost asleep by the time we got back to my new home.
I had carried him from the restaurant and now carried him down the stairs and laid him out on the couch. Jennifer put a blanket over him from her car.
Quietly we made our way into my new bedroom. They were a million stars in the sky and with no curtains I could see every one of them. I could also see the future and it looked good as long as it was with Jennifer and Tommy. Perhaps in time there would be another little one to play football with Tommy. Who knows, maybe one day a whole team of footballers.
Jennifer had found some sheets and a blanket and made up the double bed.
I stared out at the night sky, hardly daring to look at her for what I had to say next.
"The agent will find somebody else to take over your lease, eventually," I said. "But you don't need to live there while he is doing it. You can stay here, Tommy too. He can go to a local school. This property is not even in my name let alone yours or Tommy's. So hopefully it will be difficult if not impossible for your ex. to find out where you are living."
I turned, having said my piece. She was sitting on my bed with two wisps of hair hanging on either side of her head and a big smile on her face with floods of tears in those beautiful kingfisher blue eyes. I joined her first on the bed and then in the bed and at last loved the pain of her bruises away.
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