Just Like a Woman by Madeleine Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

these women with their younger men. It wasn’t her idea of right. He was reasonably handsome. Yes handsome, rather than good looking. And of course, he must have lots of money. Gazing at his photograph she tasted the metallic taste forming in her mouth; far away in her head bells started to chime as she let the voice take hold.
    The door bell rings as she skips down the hallway, hardly noticing the lack of boxes and rubbish bags as she opens the door. Robert stands there smiling at her, holds out his hand to her. She takes it, feels the soft texture of his skin on hers, as he firmly encloses her hand in his. He leads her to a waiting car, walks her round to the passenger door and opens it for her, stands smiling down at her, then closes it before he walks round to the driver’s side and slides into the seat. The car drives off and she knows her mother stands at the front door watching, screaming for her to come back. But Robert takes Sarah and she is never going back. He loves her, he wants to be with her and look after her.
    ‘Sarah? Sarah!’ Her mother’s voice screamed up the stairs. Sarah opened her eyes and saw the clock. Anxiety replaced the warm glow of the daydream. How did time slip so quickly away from her? Half an hour! That was the longest absence she had noticed and she hadn’t even turned the page of the magazine.
    She didn’t mention these episodes to Stephanie. If she did, she would have to explain the others as well.
    Now sitting in Stephanie’s office, waiting for her to ask if she had made a decision regarding Robert, Sarah related to Stephanie how she had spent her week; how her diet was going; even making a passing reference to the secret reading of the article. Stephanie nodded her head, not replying, not asking, gathering no information from her. At the end of the session she felt the usual sensation of wasted time and the lack of understanding Stephanie evoked. As she was preparing to leave Stephanie asked,
    ‘So, just going back to the magazine article. What did you think of Robert?’
    She sat forward in the chair and smiled. Her depression lifted.
    ‘He looks really sweet.’
    ‘Sweet? Sweet, now that’s an interesting description.’ Stephanie laughed. ‘Good. Good. D’you think you’d like to meet him.’
    ‘Um, not sure how? Not sure what I would tell my mother. She’ll want to know who he is and how I met him. She’ll want to know where we’re going. She thinks it’s a big enough waste already, my coming here, so not sure if telling her you introduced me’ll be a good idea?’ Sarah paused. ‘She won’t let me go!’ She could hardly breathe. Why had she thought it would be possible? There was not a chance her mother would let her go.
    ‘Calm down. Take a deep breath. That’s it. It’s ok. There’s a way. I’m sure.’
    Sarah looked up at Stephanie, her smile returning to the corners of her mouth.
    ‘How about, I give Robert your mobile number, and he can contact you? And then we can take it from there?’
    ‘Yes. OK. But it must be during working hours. It has to be when I’m at work. Not in the evening, I can’t take calls in the evening.’ Sarah started to feel good again. It was possible. If Stephanie said it was, it must be. Then the thought occurred to her, ‘Oh I saw his real name is Michael. What should I call him?’
    ‘Oh good god, Robert! You must call him Robert! Always Robert. He really doesn’t like to be reminded of his other name.’
    Sarah was surprised by the force of her voice. Then she continued in a softer tone. ‘Sarah, can’t you tell your mum the truth? You are twenty two now. You’re old enough to make your own decisions.’
    Sarah could not contain the sigh. Stephanie really had no idea. She just did not listen to what she had been trying to tell her in the last three sessions. Still, three sessions wasn’t that long, Sarah justified, Stephanie hadn’t had time to get to know her well enough yet. Maybe it was just too soon, Sarah