Arlington Road - Episode 2 - Meeting on a Train (an original short story)

There is nothing remarkable about Arlington Road, Surbiton, apart from the fact it has exactly 365 houses behind its tarmac pavements. That's enough houses to ensure that every single day of the year a significant, possibly life changing drama, will play itself out behind the bland rendered walls and plastic windows of this insignificant suburban London street.

**

Katherine slammed the front door of 29 Arlington Road as she left the house without so much as a goodbye to Gavin. She was in a foul mood, she was fuming. It was the argument they had last night that was to lead to her actions that day, actions that would change her life forever.

It was grey, cold January day as she walked to the station. The depressing chill in the grey damp air accentuated her depressed mood, and her sense of frustration. Thoughts of last night and thoughts of her currently rocky relationship filled her head as she took her normal seat on the train. She idly picked up the magazine lying on her seat and opened up the cover page. It took her several moments to register the handwritten note inside. She was jolted into the present moment.

You look gorgeous today as ever,

Every day I look forward to seeing you here.

You brighten my day, you brighten my life.

Katherine took a moment and a deep long breath of air. It took a while to register. Could this be written to me? Her automatic assumption was - of course not - but then - just maybe. She couldn’t help but timidly look up and scan the faces opposite and around to see if she was being observed. She flicked her eyes between the magazine and the faces around her, scared crazy but at the same time buzzing. She hoped she wasn’t being targeted by some unhinged nutcase or old letch. To her relief no face registered interest in her own. Just a bunch of dreary faced businessmen, oh and the casual comfortable looking guy in the corner seat. She registered he had a nice face but didn’t dare linger.

She read on

I would love to meet you in person.

Can we get a coffee? Meet me at the Conrad 11.30.

Was it possible that somebody had deliberately placed the note in the magazine on her regular seat? It was the stuff of rag fiction stories. Hmmm but possible. She remained doubtful. She remained, to her own utter shock, hopeful. Her head was spinning with possibilities. The Conrad Hotel, classy...She didn’t do this sort of thing. She had never even had a one night stand, but....

She gathered the courage to look up again, the guy opposite held her gaze for a moment, she squirmed and quickly looked away, uuugh. She stole another glance at the guy in the corner, noticed he was not obviously overweight, noticed his neat trimmed beard, noticed his clear blue eyes and couldn’t pull her gaze away before their eyes met and a warm confident smile swept his face.

Oh my god, this is really happening. That guy is coming on to me and he looks kind of gorgeous from where I’m sitting. Can’t possibly do this, got to get to work.

But, work was quiet, she hadn’t had a day off in ages, and her husband was being a dickhead and taking her for granted these days. Just thinking about Gavin raised her hackles, at this moment she really didn’t give a damn about him. And a crazy idea was taking shape in her head.

She found herself getting off the train, she found herself entering the hotel door, she felt she was being driven by something outside of herself. She couldn’t think rationally, she couldn’t bring herself to phone work, she didn’t care...This was her selfish moment. She took a seat and caught her reflection in the large wall mirror opposite. She was reassured by her image in the mirror, pleased with her better than average looks, not bad for 35 years old, her confidence was boosted. She recognised his face in the mirror as he approached and braced herself.

To Katherine’s surprise she felt immediately comfortable with Julian, the glass of white wine she was sipping was lulling her into a surreal relaxed state. They made small talk, neither keen to know the details of each other’s lives, they were in tune, both with the same lustful desire. Another glass of wine each, Katherine felt like she was in a dream, this was going so well. They knew what was going to happen. It had to be. Julian matter of factly stated he would book a room, Katherine didn’t argue, she just smiled, ‘eat your heart out darling husband’ she thought to herself.

Looking back on this day three months later Katherine felt no remorse. Thing had conspired perfectly for her to get her way. Given that her husband was dead set against having any more children she would happily of chosen Julian as the father of her one and only child.

Katherine was pregnant.

Arlington Road, episode 1
https://steemit.com/writing/@ukblogger/arlington-road-episode-1-the-lottery-ticket-an-original-short-story