Journey to the Centre of Myself by Andie M. Long Read Free Book Online Page A

take my time with the coke. I catch the eye of an old guy standing next to the bar. He looks inebriated; he raises his glass towards me and smiles. I half smile back and look away, not wishing to encourage him. My duck leg arrives. The aroma of the accompanying plum sauce hits my nose and makes my mouth water. Accompanied by a potato dumpling and red cabbage, it looks and tastes delicious. I take only eight minutes to eat the lot, and I realise how hungry I was.
    I summon a waiter and order apple strudel for dessert. As I await its arrival, the drunken old man comes up to the table, chattering away in German and putting his half drunk wine on the table.
    ‘I don’t speak German. I’m Bri-tish,’ I attempt to tell him, doing the usual embarrassing English thing of raising my voice, as if that will help me be understood.
    He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it, brings forth another stream of German and leaves the bar. On his way out he turns in my direction. ‘Beautiful Engleesh lady,’ and blows me another kiss.
    The waiter puts my apple strudel on the table. Bemused, I ask him to take away the half drunk wine.
    ‘You not want it?’
    ‘It’s not mine.’
    ‘Yes, it is. The man,’ he gestures outside, ‘he buy it for you.’
    ‘Oh, well I don’t drink,’ I lie. ‘So thank you, but please take it away.’
    I’m touched by the old soaks gesture and glad I didn’t order myself any wine given the apparent Scrooge-like measures. I finish my meal with a warm feeling inside me, which doesn’t just come from the food.
     
    Back at the hotel, I run myself a bath. There are two huge bathrobes, so I decide I’ll dry off on one and lounge in the other. The bath doesn’t take long to run and I immerse myself in a tub full of bubbles, courtesy of the mini products left by the sink. As the warmth soaks into my bones, I reflect on the day. Not only have I enjoyed my first day in Berlin, but I went out alone outside of work—and survived.
    Wrapped in my dry towelling robe, I find the BBC news channel and open the mini bar. Next I select a Jack Daniels and pour it into a glass. Then I raise a toast to my successful day, drink up while watching the news and then its teeth brushed and back below the duvet. I imagine I’ll have difficulty sleeping after my afternoon nap, but before long I’m dozing, and I have the most blissful, uninterrupted and restful sleep in years.
     

 
    Chapter 7
     
     
    Amber
     
    I don’t know what time we all made it to bed, but I have déjà vu as I stumble down to the kitchen with a hangover. Only Will seems in a fit state to make coffee and toast. Alfie is chattering away, his hands banging on the table while Sam can’t stop yawning.
    ‘Now I know why I don’t drink anymore,’ she says.
    ‘It was a laugh, though, wasn’t it?’ I reply.
    She grips her stomach. ‘It was, but I feel so ill. It was irresponsible of me to drink like that.’
    ‘Right, I’m off, sure you’re okay to get a taxi back?’ Olly kisses Sam on the cheek and then plants one on Alfie. ‘Daddy will see you later, big boy.’
    ‘That’s my name for Will,’ I say.
    Sam and Olly laugh, but I notice Will doesn’t.
    ‘See you later, mate. Thanks for a great evening,’ Olly smacks Will on the shoulder.
    ‘Yeah, no worries, I’ll give you a ring sometime.’
    ‘Bye, trouble,’ he says to me and winks.
     
    Will aims a sneer in my direction. ‘I’m going to grab a shower.’
    ‘Alright.’
    When he’s out of the room, I turn to Sam. ‘Oh dear, I’m in trouble again.’
    ‘He’s got very serious of late, hasn’t he?’ she says.
    ‘Yup, he’s all grown up. Perhaps it’s time for me to grow up too?’
    ‘You’ve got to be ready, Amber, having kids is a huge undertaking, believe me.’
    I sigh. ‘I wanted one more year. To do a bit of travelling before we went for it.’
    ‘Have you spoken to him about it?’
    ‘Nope. He’s all set. It’s like he can’t think past it now.’
    ‘Well,