The Most Romantic Thing
Brook Watkins had an appointment to get his eyes tested. The opticians was on Cambridge Street in Harrogate.
A blond-haired woman approached. Brook read her name badge.
‘Hello, Julia.’
She slapped Brook hard across the face. He didn’t flinch or recoil as the second blow landed. A punch hit his stomach.
‘You’re not as flabby as you look.’
‘A hundred sit ups a day.’
‘Julia!’ The manager, Celine, intervened. ‘I need you to come with me right now!’
‘If you’re thinking of firing her,’ said Brook, ‘think again. I run a local HR law firm and I’ll represent Julia personally. By the time I’ve finished, you’ll be gone and Head Office will be writing six figure cheques.’
He came out from the exam and saw Julia, who had read the prescription.
‘1.00 on your right eye and 0.75 on the left. I’ve picked this frame for you.’
‘How much are they?’
‘Seriously fucking expensive. Swiss lenses and UV filters to help with computer screens, £850 and the second pair’s half price.’
Brook returned two weeks later to collect the new glasses. Julia checked they fitted properly and took his credit card.
‘And the post code?’
Brook gave it. ‘I have Sunday lunch at the Greyhound at Killinghall most weeks. It would be nice to see you.’
‘Fuck off!’ said Julia, completing the transaction.
Brook took his glasses and went back to work.
‘What’s that about?’ asked Celine, sitting with Julia in the break room. Her eyes were red and puffy.
‘We dated for five years. He got a job in Paris, but I didn’t want to leave home. I went over for weekends, but it fizzled out. He then went to New York and came back to London two years ago.’
‘Do you keep track of him?’
‘He turns up on my Social Media every now and again,’ Julia lied.
Brook Watkins read his newspaper and drank a pint of Guinness. Julia Millson walked in wearing high heels, jeans and a blue striped shirt. Brook stood to welcome her.
‘Four weeks after I invited you. Not bad, Jules! I figured on waiting at least nine.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll order lunch.’
Brook ordered beer and a glass of white wine with ice.’
‘Another blond haired, white wine crazy?’ smiled the barmaid, sizing Julia immediately.
‘You’ve no idea!’
‘Lunch will be half an hour. We’re terribly busy.’
He went back to the table.
‘I’m sorry for slapping you.’ Julia said, sipping her drink. ‘Are you married? Children?’
‘I never met anyone.’
‘Working in Paris and New York! There must have been someone, if not lots of them.’
Brook ignored the jibe.
‘Why did you come back?’
‘I got an offer in London, then sold the company and moved back home. I’ve opened a small practice in Harrogate.’
‘You’ve got a bloody mansion! I went on Google Earth! Why do you need somewhere that big?’
‘A London sale buys a lot of house in Yorkshire.’
‘What happened between us?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know.’ Brook shook his head. ‘Did I get in the way? Didn’t you want to come to France or America? Or did you find someone more reliable?’ He knew the answer was somewhere in the middle.
‘You never asked me, Brook! You were full of your job, and yourself! I wanted you and to have children with you.’
‘Have you got any kids?’
‘I’m 38. That’s passed me by.’
‘Have you started the change?’
‘No I bloody haven’t!’ Julia was loud.
‘Still a twenty-five-yard screamer,’ he mused. Julia kicked him under the table.
‘I never sleep with a man before we’ve had at least four dates and wouldn’t consider living with anyone in less than six months. It means I’ll be over forty before I had children.’ Julia looked at Brook. ‘And I know what happens with us. We end up in bed and I get my heart broken. Like every other time.’
‘Dinner will be another five minutes,’ said the waitress.
‘Can you make it to go?’ he asked and looked at Julia. ‘How do you want to save wasting four dates and six months until we live together?’
‘By doing what?’
‘Getting married and having a family?’
Brook helped her into his Porsche.
‘Then what happened?’ asked Liam’s girlfriend.
‘They spent Sunday together. On Monday, Dad took Mum to buy an engagement ring. They got married three weeks later and I arrived ten months after lunch.’
‘Do you have any siblings?’
‘My sister’s training as a barrister. And I have a brother.’
‘Has he gone into Law?’
‘He plays keyboard in the band Nantucket Island.’
‘Now, I’m calling bullshit!’
Liam took out his phone and showed a family photo.
‘Jesus Christ. I love Nantucket Island.’
‘He’s touring with the Prog Rock Orchestra. Rick asked him personally.’
‘I’ve tried to get tickets, but they’re sold out.’
‘I’ve got a spare,’ said Liam.
‘Are your parents still in Harrogate?’
‘They’re in Japan, travelling. Mum wanted to see the blossoms and look around South East Asia.’
The girl was amazed. ‘Three weeks from their first date to being married. That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard of.’
‘If you ignore the first five years’ dating and seven years apart.’