The Decoy Date

Chapter Seven

“SURPRISE!”

Imogen watched her father’s reaction, he was shocked at the number of people gathered in his living room and was giving her mother a look of mild annoyance. As he looked round and caught her eye, he smiled and nodded. Everyone in the room began to crowd around him and wish him Happy Birthday, so she decided to hang back and wait for him to find her.

Just behind the group assembled around her father, she noticed Daisy talking to their mother and behind them Sam looking a little awkward carrying Daisy’s handbag. She always felt sorry for him, he was quite a shy person and always looked uncomfortable in the background behind Daisy, who liked to be centre stage. However when her sister turned to him and gave him a tender kiss, she knew the two of them were completely in love with each other.

“So what was this story about Aunt Sally getting the smell of sick out of her clothes?” Charlie pulled her attention away from her sister, she turned to face him.

“My mum organised a party like this for my dad’s fiftieth, only she didn’t know he’d gone out on the lash with his mates. Mum sent out a search party when he didn’t come home and he turned up two hours later plastered and threw up over mum and Aunt Sally. It was hilarious really, you’d have thought mum would have learnt her lesson about organising surprise parties; the thing is dad wouldn’t mind a meal with family and friends if he was asked first.” She watched as he cracked up with laughter and looked at both her mother and Aunt Sally and doubled over once again.

It was completely different being the one that was laughed with and not laughed at she thought, Charlie finally managed to tone down his laughter to a small giggle that was so infectious she started herself. At school she’d never noticed how good he looked when he was smiling and laughing, she’d always been escaping; but he really was handsome, beautiful even, a word she’d never used for a man before. His deep blue eyes shone like the sea when the sun glimmered on it, while a fun, sexy twinkle danced through them; his mouth spread into a wide grin that framed perfect teeth and lit up his whole face. He looked younger when he laughed, mirroring his teenage self but with a few more lines and that stubble that made him a little less polished and a little more human and attractive.

Her stomach began doing somersaults as she looked at him smiling at her, she tried to stop the sensation but it only increased. She’d always wanted a man to look at her like that, but definitely not him and definitely not when he was pretending it was real. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about the man in front of her again and what he had done to her in the past, she had to try and keep it hidden from her parents and Daisy, who knew what they would do if they found out it was him.

“That reminds me of a party I went to a few years ago, it was the works’ do of a woman I was going out with. Everybody was getting pissed and there was one girl who was completely off her face, I mean she would not be able to remember a thing about the night. She was all over every bloke in the room, myself included. Honestly she was like this.“ He grabbed her round the shoulders, taking her by surprise and moved his face close to hers. ”I thought she was going to strang-“

Before she knew what was happening, Charlie was crumpled in a heap at her feet. She looked around confused and saw Daisy dusting off her hands and scowling down at Charlie.

“There’s no need to thank me sis.” She smiled at her older sister and drew her into a bear hug, Daisy was only small and slight but she had the strength of a superhero, Imogen wouldn’t be surprised if she saw her lift a car of a stranded child.

“You just knobbled my boyfriend in the nether regions, I may never have children now.” She smiled at her sister and leant down to help Charlie to his feet, his eyes were closed and he was holding the place between his legs. As she pulled him up, she had to supress the giggle that was threatening to burst free. When he was standing again, he breathed out hard and groaned before looking at her.

“s**t! Sorry, I thought he was attacking you, I mean he had his arms around your neck and I don’t know . . . Sorry!” She looked at Charlie with eyes full of guilt as she apologised to him.

“I really didn’t deserve getting kneed in the balls for trying to tell a funny story.” His voice fluctuated from low and strained to a high pitch that made him sound like he was experiencing puberty again and made the laughter she’d stifled earlier finally escape. “It’s not funny, being around you is lethal. I’ve nearly had to live with eating through a straw and having no children.”

“Daisy this is Charlie, Charlie this is my little sister Daisy.” Charlie reached out his hand to greet her sister however she didn’t offer hers in return, instead recognition flashed in her eyes replaced by anger. Her fist flashed out and straight into the middle of Charlie’s face, clashing horribly with his nose. Daisy was incredibly short-tempered and the realisation that this man had ruined her sister’s life lit the fuse of her very short torch paper.

“You’re dating Charlie Ramsey, the guy who made your life hell. What the hell are you doing?”

“We ran into each other and he apologised to me, then he asked me out and it went from there. He’s changed, he’s a different guy now, alright. Look, don’t tell mum and dad it’s him, it’s the first time mum’s been off my back for a while and I kind of like not having her breathing down my neck.” On the ground by their feet, she heard Charlie groan through the hands he had covering his mouth and nose, he got onto his hands and knees and pushed himself up.

“Well, I probably deserved that.” As he turned round she saw the red seeping into his shirt and looked at the mess that was now his face. The sight of the blood flowing freely from his nose made her feel nauseous and she felt the darkness creep into the edge of her vision before blackness took over.

                                         *

Charlie’s heart raced as he crouched by Imogen’s pale body; he didn’t know what had happened, one minute she talking to her sister, the next she was flat out on the floor. He took her hand in his, grateful beyond belief when he felt her pulse and the flutter of her fingers as she came round. Daisy, who was crouched on her other side, looked as concerned and relieved as he was when her eyes flickered open. He let out the breath he’d been holding since she hit the deck and smiled as she looked up at him and noticed the blood again. If it was possible her skin whitened further, however this time she managed to stay conscious.

Nearby a crowd had gathered around them all concerned about the woman who had collapsed to the floor. Charlie helped Imogen into a sitting position as the people behind him parted to reveal the worried, flustered faces of her parents.

“Imogen, Imogen. Are you okay?” Her mother pushed him out of the way and he fell onto his backside from his crouching position, the relief in his hamstrings as his legs relaxed wasn’t the only one that rushed through him. Thank God she’s okay.

“I’m fine mum, the blood caught me by surprise that’s all.” Her voice was shaky and she sounded slightly winded as she tried to stand up. He rushed to her side and supported her weight as she stumbled to a standing position. “I just need to sit down for a little bit, maybe have a drink.” Her hand tightened on his shirt as she leaned into him, her father came to her other side and helped him walk her steadily over to the sofa in front of a large window looking onto the vast back garden. They helped her down onto the cushions, which she gratefully sank into with a content sigh.

Charlie kneeled in front of her and pushed her fringe out of her eyes, she had a dreamy, far-off look in them as she smiled at him; he was so relieved he leant in and kissed her lightly on the lips, enjoying the sensation as she gasped and kissed him back. Leaning back she looked into his eyes a little more aware of him than before.

“Sorry. I don’t do blood.” He grinned and looked down at his red soaked shirt, his face must look an absolute mess he thought to himself.

“It’s not your fault, you’re not the one who deserved to get himself punched by another girl.” She chuckled and the colour began to seep back into her face as a blush crept up her neck and cheeks. Behind him Daisy and Carole bustled through and sat next to Imogen on the sofa, both full of concern for her. Each grabbed a hand in a vice-like grip like they wouldn’t let go ever again. He felt a presence appear at his side, glancing to his right he looked straight into the eyes of Imogen’s father.

He was an inch taller than Charlie with black and white pepper-speckled hair, his skin held a light tan like he spent time outside in the garden or on the golf course, his eyes were the same scintillating blue as his daughter’s but were a lot less welcoming. He was still handsome for a man who had just turned sixty and he had the air of someone who worked hard to keep his looks. His thin lips were set in a straight line across his face, while his chin and cheeks were clean shaven. Charlie gulped as he looked up at the man in front of him, intimidated for the first time in his life; he reached out a hand and Charlie flinched thinking another punch was coming his way.

“Ian Jones and you must be Imogen’s new boyfriend.”

“Charlie.” He barely croaked out his nerve-constricted throat and took the hand offered to him, giving a firm shake.

“I think we ought to get you a change of shirt.” He smiled for the first time as the he nodded at Charlie’s shirt, he let of his hand and led him through the throng of people who had returned to their own conversations now the drama was over. Once out of the lounge and kitchen area of the house, the silence weighed heavy over the two of them. He followed the gentlemen, his heart racing as they went up the stairs and along a landing. The walls either side of him were scattered with framed photos, he glanced at each recognising a few famous faces posing with Carole and Ian.

One snapshot in particular caught his attention, he stopped and stared at the two familiar men posing together. “You’ve met Charlie George?” He looked back to his companion who had turned around and walked back towards him. Stopping next to Charlie he glanced at the photo and smiled to himself remembering the moment.

“Are you an Arsenal fan, Charlie?” Ian glared out of the corner of his eye at him and once again he felt about the size of an ant, even if he wasn’t an Arsenal fan he’d have said he was to avoid insulting the man next to him. If looks could kill, Charlie thought to himself.

“Oh yeah, I was named after this man in the photo. He was my father’s favourite player, especially after that first double in ’71.” He looked at the man next to him and caught a smile playing on his lips as he crossed his arms.

“That photo was taken a few years after that, he was a great player you don’t get them like that anymore. I always said if I had a son I’d call him Charlie, Carole wouldn’t have liked it but it never happened anyway.” Ian looked at Charlie then walked back in the direction he was headed in before, Charlie followed after taking one last look at the photo of the two men. They entered a bedroom that was mostly taken up by a mahogany four poster bed, it was in the centre of the room facing a large bay window.

Ian walked over to a chest of drawers and pulled out a red and white long-sleeved t-shirt, Charlie recognised it instantly as a 1971 Arsenal shirt. He took it as it was offered to him and began to unbutton the pale blue blood-stained shirt he was still wearing. Pulling the clean shirt over his head, he felt the excitement of when he was a kid pulling on his replica shirt and watching the match with his dad.

“I’ll wash this shirt and it back to you as soon as I can.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve got plenty of shirts, Carole will be pleased I’ve got rid of one. I’m going to put the game on later if you want to stay and watch it.” Charlie accepted the invitation and headed back down to check on Imogen. He found her with a class of whiskey in hand and telling Jess what had happened. They both looked up as he arrived.

“That looks painful, Daisy did a better job than me.” Jess smiled at him, a little malice in her eyes but it soon disappeared.

He smiled at jess then turned to Imogen. “How are you feeling? You look a little better.”

Raising her glass, she smiled at him dazedly and slurred; “Whisky does that to you, you know.”

“How much has she had to drink?”

“Not nearly enough to be spending the day with my mother.” Imogen was near shouting and waving her arms around, sloshing the drink up the sides of her glass. Jess pulled her arms down and was trying to shush her but couldn’t help the smile that plastered her face.

“I love drunk Imogen, she’s so much fun.” Charlie sat down on the other side of Imogen and helped Jess keep her under control for the rest of the night. The three of them joined Ian and some of the other guests to watch the Arsenal match in the evening before he and Jess bundled a dozy Imogen into the backseat of the beetle. As soon as they hit the road she was out like a light and didn’t wake up until they reached Jess’ flat.

Imogen insisted she was fine to walk home but he insisted on taking her himself, she was in no fit state to make her own way home in the dark. He drove to the shop with her in the backseat calling him Parker. She did however seem to have sobered up on the drive home, she was aware of her surroundings and looked a lot sharper than when they’d left Kent behind. He pulled the bug into a parking space in front of her shop and killed the engine.

“Do you want to come up for a coffee?” He looked behind him into Imogen’s eyes, they danced with the light of the streetlamp as they twinkled with a never before seen flirtiness. She bit her lip waiting for his answer and his heart began to race as he watched the hope raise in her heart, he waited a few seconds before answering.

“Coffee would be great.”