Loneliness

She carefully walked down the pathway, why had Ruby suggested this holiday? It had been many months since she had joined her in the New Forest. She was normally too loved up with Mark to ask her to join her.

As Freda caught her arm on a branch, she knew that this was a holiday that she needed. The stress of the last few years and the loneliness she now felt, she desperately needed Ruby.

Checking her arm for scratches, she winced. She loved the country, she loved woodland but her mind was focused on her own situation.

Ruby

“Do you really think they will like each other?” Mark looked at me and shrugged.

Freda had been gloomy since we had arrived. She was either going to thank me, or react badly. I am starting to worry, this has to work. If it doesn’t I don’t know what I’m going to do.  I want Mark and us to work but I cant leave Freda wallowing in her own loneliness.

Freda

As she came out of the wood, she was struck by the sunlight as it fell across the shadows. Hearing a whine, she was woken from her stupor. Looking down she saw Rex’s adoring eyes looking up at her.  Patting the Labrador, Freda knew it was time to get back to Ruby.

Needing time away from the claustrophobic cosiness of coupledom, she had made an excuse to walk Rex. Regretting coming, she longed for the loneliness of the pub back home. Longing for normality. Why had Ruby invited her?

Returning to Mark’s small bungalow, she could smell chilli. Her heart sank further, she didn’t want to cause a scene.
“Hey, Freda, it’s Mark’s famous curry, want some?”
“I guess so, errr small portion please.”

Mark smiled as he got up and walked to the kitchen.
“Take a seat Freda, I’ll get something for Rex as well.”

“There’s a can on the side for him”.

Freda thought of the tin of rabbit and wondered if that would taste better than the curry.  Struggling to be polite, she accepted the plate from Mark, aware that Ruby was staring at her. Asking herself why Ruby had offered it to her, she sensed her laughing at her.

Holding back tears, Freda started to eat the hot burning food. As her stomach became warm, she realised how hungry she is. Despite the stinging heat, she started to feel comforted. It was now the tears started, hot and wet, everything has become too much.

Ruby

I looked at her anxiously,
“What’s wrong Freda? Why are you so upset?”
“I can’t do this Ruby, you are so happy. I need to go home and shouldn’t be here. I’m in the way.”
I took her hand, “You’re not in the way. We want you here”.

Looking into her eyes, I could see that she didn’t believe me. I felt sick now, we would have to tell her about the date. There was going to be repercussions.
“Freda, we want you here, and we are off to the pub tonight. Come on, please relax, let your hair down.”
If looks could kill, Mark would be lying on the floor right now. Instead he just stood staring at her. I knew that his words were not want Freda had wanted to hear.
“Why would I want to go to the pub with you two? You don’t want me there, not really.”

Knowing that I had to be truthful with her, I said,
“Look Freda, err, we need to tell you something”
Knowing I was going to break and potentially ruin everything, Mark now spoke again.
“Come out tonight, if you want to go tomorrow then go then. Tonight you need to rest Freda, I’m buying.” Ignoring Mark, she said,
“What did you need to tell me?”
“That doesn’t matter, come out tonight and it you still want to go home tomorrow I’ll drive you.” I didn’t want to leave Mark, and as I said the words, I knew it was highly likely we will be going home.

Freda

It was a few hours later that they arrived at the pub. Freda was wearing her new blue sweater and had tied her hair back in a pony tail. Feeling apprehensive she was expecting nothing.  Looking around the pub, she felt that she needed to make up for being pathetic earlier. Mark and Ruby had given her food and she had cried over it. Knowing she needed to paint on a smile, now doing her best to look happy even if she didn’t feel it.

It was now she saw it. As a tall man with messy hair, a tank top and blazer approached, everything fell into place. The reason her friend had bought her here. Why Mark was so insistent that she came. No, no one was setting her up. This man was certainly not right for her. Okay one drink, she thought, then I’m making my excuses and leaving.  Longing for her own loneliness, she didn’t need to be set up with a messy wierdo in a blazer.

Written for  Grammys Grid – First sentence prompt – ‘She carefully walked down the pathway’

For more see, Decisions. Freda and a plan – part 11, this is part 12