Free TheRapist by J. Levy Page B

erupted that meant things would never be the same again.
     
    *
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Jezzy
     
    ‘I can’t stay long, I have to be back in LA by Wednesday.’ Adrian possessively wrapped his long arm around Jezzy ’s neck as they strolled along Upper Street in Islington on Sunday morning. The sun had been fighting hard all morning and had finally broken through the clouds. Momentarily. Rain was forecast for the afternoon. As uncertain as the weather, Jezzy didn’t know how she felt. She was so confused and desperately needed a coffee, something to give her mind a little lift. Miraculously a bakery appeared. Euphorium bakery, one of a handful in the area. There was a queue of people outside which meant that it must be good.
    ‘Shall we go here?’ she suggested, stopping abruptly behind a man with a pram.
    ‘Sure,’ smiled Adrian slowly.
    A woman in front of the man with a pram started speaking to him, making idle, queuing conversation.
    ‘Could you hold my place for a mo? Must cadge that table,’ she asked him, thrusting her neck towards the vacant table against the wall. He nodded, attempting a half smile. His baby was so new and he was showing the effects. The woman flung her bags on both chairs, marking her territory and stood back in the queue.
    ‘Thanks, you don’t know what day it is anyway, do you!’ she exclaimed rhetorically to the new father.
    Again, he summoned up a hint of a smile and nodded agreeably, somewhere in a faraway place, his mind milky and soft.
    The queue diminished in front of them and Jezzy and Adrian were in front of the counter which was crammed with sweet, intoxicating pastries. The smells wafted in from the back of the bakery. Jezzy chose a pain au chocolat and a latte.
    ‘Black Americano for me,’ said Adrian to the dark, pretty girl behind the counter. He gave a little smirk as he spoke to her and Jezzy wondered why. The girl behind the counter looked up at Adrian and smiled, looking a little withdrawn. She repeated the order with a heavy Mediterranean accent and she had a scratch on the top of her right hand. There was still a long queue out onto the street and the sun still fought to shine. Taking the only vacant table, the one in the middle of the room, Jezzy felt as though she had a deadline. She felt under pressure and didn’t know why.
    Adrian took a sip of his coffee, licked his lips and gave a slight, almost imperceptible pout. ‘ Jez , I’m leaving Tuesday.’
    ‘Yes, I know, you said you might.’ Jezzy took a sip of her latte. It was too hot and she burnt her tongue.
    ‘I want to come back soon,’ Adrian said softly. ‘Now that I’ve found you again I don’t want to lose you. I won’t lose you, I can’t.’ His face grew tight as he bit down on his jaw.
    Jezzy smiled at him. She felt as though she loved him or at least as if she should love him, as though she hadn’t ever got over him completely from all those years ago. There was something about him that charmed her completely, as if he wove some kind of mystical spell over her. What was that? Was that infatuation, true love or something else? So why did she feel unsure? Something just didn’t feel right, she kn ew that much. But she already in her thirties , never been married and wanted kids, desperately wanted kids. Was it all being put in front of her, handed to her on a long lost silver platter? Just then Adrian cupped her face gently in his large hands. Her face fitted perfectly. He tilted her chin very slightly and looked into her eyes.
    ‘I love you Jez ,’ he said very softly. ‘I never stopped loving you. I want to marry you and have children with you.’
    She was lost in his deep brown eyes. All negative thoughts were instantly washed away.
    All of them.
    Gone.
    Almost. Apart from one little piece of jetsam caught at the edges of her mind.
     
    *
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Manny and Meringue
     
    Manny stood in his office beside the window, a