[kirklancaster]

The new neighbours were very upper middle-class. She was a very attractive women in her early forties, her husband quite visibly at least 20 years older. He was rather reserved, stiff, and polite rather than friendly. He had what can only be called a miserable disposition and his voice - when he did speak - was as monotonous and grey as his clothes.

It was evident from the start that she too was miserable - but not through any natural inclination - but rather because her 'joy de vivre' had been slowly smothered over the years of a loveless marriage, by his misery.

At first, she barely looked at LT, but as the brandy warmed in her slender, immacutely manicured hands and as LT warmed into his natural repartee, she began to notice him, and very soon, she found herself increasingly smiling, and something stifled and lost deep within herself began to waken.
In the early hours, her husband's snoring as he lay asleep in the oversize armchair in their lounge, was drowned out by her and LT's mutual laughter.

They had not only moved from their respective seats onto the fireside sofa, but also moved closer together on that sofa, despite it being a four seater.

Though it was only a relatively short time before she and LT were embracing, it it was an event she had dreamt about for almost twenty years....

(To be continued... or not )