"Jeremy my lad" he said to himself as he poured himself a glass of water "you are blessed to have that girl in your life...cheers" and he raised a glass to the great almighty. As soon as he took his first sip, the faucet on his kitchen sink fell off and water started to spurt out all over the floor.
"Oh that's all I need!" said Jeremy. "I could phone up that really good woman plumber..." but he paused "or I can do it myself...that'll make me look more manly and more capable in Barbara's eyes!"
Jeremy looked in a box in his spare room and found a basic tool kit of wrenches, hammers and pliers. He also found some rubber washers that would fit the faucet. "I can do this...how does Dad fix a sink?"
Jeremy set to it and managed to replaced the cracked and broken washers with new ones mere minutes before he had to get to work. He washed his hands, threw on his suit, fastened his tie and made it out the door at 1 minute past his usual departure time.
Barbara had made it back from her shift at 10am and went to the bedroom to change out of her uniform. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and began to think about bigger issues. "Well...it's a job, I suppose. I should start thinking of moving on to something better....my boyfriend's got a good job at Dewey's and I should have one at a better place. Hamburgerman is OK, it's given me a start but I think I should start looking around for something else"
She changed out of her Hamburgerman uniform and into her regular clothes and headed downtown to Magnolia Crescent for a bit of window shopping and hoping to get some inspiration....working in a shop, a nice one, would be a step up. The first shop she went into was high fashion haute couture. She found a top and hat that was straight out of Carnaby Street, London, and she just had to try it on.
"Hmmm, if only..." she said, looking at the price tag. A woman approached her "excuse me, I just love your outfit" she said to Barbara. "Where did you get it?"
"Well, erm, from all over the place really. I found the top in a market, the skirt was from J.C. Penney and my shoes and tights I got from a small boutique in San Myshuno called "Miss Right...after I bought the top I colour matched it to go for the Total Look"
"You see, I need to get with these new styles" said the woman. "You see I have a date coming up and I need to impress this guy..."
As Barbara began to explain the basics of mod fashion to the lady, another woman entered the shop and walked over to them.
"Would you happen to be Jeremy Saint's new girlfriend?" said the woman.
"Erm...do you know him?" said Barbara
"Yes I do...I know him well. Very well." the lady said
"Well I am Jeremy's girlfriend but I'm not new...we've been together for over a month. So how do you know him?"
"We work together and.....well, he was really into me before he met you" said the woman, matter of factly. "My name's Bianca...has he not mentioned me?"
"No!" said Barbara firmly. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Oh, I saw you and thought I'd touch base...so to speak."
"How did you recognise me?" asked a very suspicious Barbara.
"Isn't Jeremy such a cutie? Ahhh, he has so many sweet, funny ways about him..."
"HOW DID YOU RECOGNISE ME!" Barbara found herself shouting now, much to her surprise.
Bianca recoiled but soon composed herself. "My, you're a firey one...Jeremy doesn't usually go for aggressive women"
Barbara started feel shortness of breath and ran out of the shop and back home. She was so upset and wanted to talk to someone, anyone friendly who could explain who this horrible woman was. Arriving back home, and knowing that it would be a couple of hours before Jeremy got home, she knocked on the door of the 3 friends at the end of the street. Summer Holiday greeted her.
"Hey Barbara....you've been crying, what's up?"
"Oh no...is my make up running? I'm sorry to bother you but can we speak?"
"Sure, hon, come inside...hey, Travis, is your room free so Barbara and I can have a chat?"
"Sure" said Travis. "I'm going to hit the shower anyway"
Summer ushered Barbara into Travis' room...which also served as the house office. "So what's the matter?"
"Summer....who's Bianca?"
Summer took a deep breath. "Well, that's a name I didn't expect to hear again. Hasn't Jeremy mentioned her? I don't suppose he would. Bianca was a girl Jeremy was interested in before he met you. They went on a date and soon afterwards she dumped him."
"Were they close? How long were they together?"
"About two weeks. I only met her the once but it was definitely she who turned him down. I don't think they were ever serious...I know Jeremy's an old romantic and he felt really let down but then he met you."
"She said she works with Jeremy" said Barbara, wiping her tears.
"Oh....now that's news" said a surprised Summer.
"Why didn't he tell me?" said Barbara
"You'll have to ask him but he's not the two-timing sort, I've known him for months and he's the most honest, most caring and nicest guy I know."
"That's what I thought" said a disconsolate Barbara.
"Give him a chance, that's my advice. Bianca sounds like a troublemaker...remember, she led him on and then dumped him"
Barbara took a deep breath and looked at her watch. "Thanks, Summer, but I've got another shift at Hamburgerman starting soon. I'll talk with him when he gets home and you're right...I should give him some benefit of the doubt"
She left and went home to change again into her uniform. Meanwhile while she was gone Jeremy returned home and flopped on the couch to watch some TV after a hard and boring day's work. Eventually, before he went to bed, Barbara returned home.
"Hello gorgeous, how was work" asked Jeremy.
"OK...how are you?"
"Exhausted...you look upset"
"Jeremy....I met Bianca today"
"Oh" There was some silence. "What did she have to say?" he added, eventually. Barbara sat down next to him.
"She said you and her work together...she also mentioned that you and her were close"
Jeremy nodded. "Both are true, although I wouldn't describe her and me as close. We went on one date and met up a few times."
"But she still works with you?"
"THAT came as a shock when I found out. She's my boss' secretary so I don't have day to day contact with her but she's around...I keep my distance. Listen, did she say something nasty to you?"
"It was her tone...she saw me in town and recognised me and then started talking about you and her...it's as if she was deliberately trying to upset me"
"I'm so, so sorry you had to go through that" said Jeremy. "I'm not going to allow that to happen! She needs to be told to back right off!"
"No...don't make a scene. Don't go out of your way to confront her" said Barbara.
"Barbara...there is nothing between her and me. We briefly dated but she ended it and I moved on....and found you; since that moment I've never thought about another woman that way. You are everything I ever wanted in a girlfriend....as a friend, a companion, a lover".
Barbara looked at him and saw his eyes filled with nothing but affection and compassion. She smiled and reached out her hands to his. "I know you love me...I trust you"
Nothing more was said, they moved closer and kissed.
