Page 44 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

He cringed and reddened. ‘I wanted to indicate that I like you, but I’m making a mess of it, aren’t I? Where the hell are the dessert menus?’

I chuckled. ‘It’s fine, Raven. It was funny, actually. You’re a cool guy, smart and handsome, and I’m at ease with you. I’ve separated from my husband, as you know, and I’m ready to move on.’

‘You are?’

‘I moved on years ago, really. My marriage was on life support for at least the last five years. We were only going through the motions.’ I leaned closer and lowered my voice. ‘It might sound cruel, but I don’t care if I don’t see my husband again. We’d drifted apart so much. While I was angry when I found him banging his work colleague in our bed, it was a relief that at last I had a reason to call the whole deal off.’

Raven nodded slightly. ‘I understand that perspective. I feel you.’

I hope so. I relaxed back in my seat. ‘Great. So, we’re officially dating, then?’

His broad smile broke out. ‘Sounds excellent.’

Warmness embraced what was remaining of my feminine nether regions. ‘There’s something else I want to tell you.’

‘Okay, what’s that?’

‘I had a hysterectomy a short time ago.’

He grimaced. ‘That must have been painful. How are you recovering?’

‘I’ve been very sore, you know, down there.’ I pointed downwards for clarification, but he kept his eyes level with mine. ‘The surgeon told me, “No sex for six weeks.”’

‘Oh, Heather, if that is worrying you, take it easy. We’ve only just met. Let’s take things slow and not do anything before you are ready.’

But I’m ready now. I haven’t had sex for months. Even the idea of staying for dessert was being relegated to second place by the prospect of imminent sex. ‘It’s not a problem. I had the hysterectomy ten weeks ago. I’m sure I’m fine now, and the good news is that when we have sex, I can’t get pregnant.’

Couples at the neighbouring tables turned their heads to stare at me. I must have spoken up in my excitement. I frowned at them, and they hurriedly went back to their own conversations.

I turned back to face Raven with a coy smile, but a flash of light forced me to blink. I opened my eyes as the light faded, spots in my eyes. Once again, no one else had reacted to it.

Raven was gone.

On the back of his chair, a wide-eyed black bird stared at me. My mouth dropped open.

‘How did that bird get in here?’

A waiter ran over, flapping a cloth at the bird, and it took flight. It circled once around me while the waiter tried to shoo it towards the open door.

With a look over its shoulder, the bird dashed for the door and outside. I turned and stared through the window while it circled outside for a few minutes, above the river, before it headed off into the night.

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