Cass Starts Over 6
Without Prejudice
The Market town of Thornleigh was busy this Saturday morning. Summer was only weeks away and the crowds had almost a festive air as they thronged up town near the Cathedral. Cass had to park near the old market itself and walked briskly towards The New Riding Shopping Centre. The escalator was full of people so she opted for the stairs almost running down them in her haste.
She stopped abruptly at the windows to Peacocks, admiring the new Summer fashions they offered. Peacocks could be expensive she knew, but why not spoil herself, after all she was an abandoned woman. She almost laughed out loud at her own self pity. Abandoned was hardly how she felt. Relieved was more like the emotion she was feeling.
She wandered through the casual attire department. A black pair of stretch jeans seemed to be calling to her on one of the display models. She picked out a black tee with a sequin panel in the front and another with an Eiffel Tower on it in red. She prayed there were no nosy assistants in the change rooms and remarkably there were none. Only the young girl snapping gum at the entry who handed her the requisite three hanger and yawned loudly.
Cass faced herself in the three way mirror and stripped to her tatty underwear.
" Time for new underwear as well " she thought.
The jeans went on with a tug and a good wriggle and looked better than she dared to hope. So did the tees. She felt younger than she had in years. Why had she not done this before she asked herself. She knew why, always putting Patrick and the kids first. She took more time and attention for them than herself and now that it was going to be all about her she felt that old odd feeling of guilt again. Would that never leave her ?
The sales lady said she could take the clothes to the next floor where the Underwear was and Cass laid them over her arm and this time took the escalator. But she walked up it, figuring this could be part of her exercise regime from now on.
It seemed like everyone and their dog had decided to buy underwear today. There was even two men going through the racks and Cass clucked her tongue with annoyance. What were men doing in the ladies underwear department ?
Cass shot them both a look as if they were somehow perverted and they sheepishly moved out of her way. She decided on a fitting after a fruitless search for a new bra. The lass who fitted her was quick and efficient and had warm hands which was a blessing.
It turned out she was two cup sizes bigger than the bra she had been wearing and bought a balconette one in black lace, a flesh coloured one for every day and a red lace one for just the sheer fun of it.
Matching knickers in a boy leg brief completed the sets. The young lass had tried to persuade her into a thong but Cass demurred at that. She always felt like she had a baboon's bum in them and no one could find them comfortable could they.?
Purchases complete she allowed herself a trip through most of the other clothing stores, Primark, Zara, Marks and Spencer's trying on scents, makeup, moisturisers and tiring of that took off to Mark's food hall where she bought a fresh pork pie, a small Greek salad and some Heinz Salad Cream. Then she turned for home, her feet starting to ache a little.
As she once again neared Roseleigh she smiled to herself at the aged beauty of the old house. The afternoon sun was lighting up the upstairs window, tipping the leaves on the old horse chestnut turning them to gold and she sighed with satisfaction at the sight.
" No way was he making her sell it " she once again thought.
She didn't care what she had to do to keep it but keep it she would. It was hers and the children's. Let him stay with Joanne in her council flat near the centre of town. She felt like hugging the walls in ownership and uttering, mine, mine, mine.
There was a white fat envelope shoved in the mailbox, and Cass grabbed it out, thinking it was odd, the post had already been. As she thought it was from a firm of Solicitors in town. Hadn't taken Patrick long to make it official, she thought, but decided to have lunch first before she opened it. If she opened it first she might not feel like lunch.
She laid a place for one, fine napkin, good silver and Wedgwood Colorado plate in white and gold. She had heated the pie added the salad and a tiny dollop of Salad Cream. The whole thing looked delicious and she crossed the kitchen and turned on the retro radio in the corner for background noise. Otis was sitting On The Dock Of The Bay as she devoured her lunch, realising she was hungrier than she thought.
The envelope sat on the table beside her and she didn't bother to open it until she had cleared up and made a strong cup of tea. Then she sat, hesitating to open it, right now was before the fact and ever after would be the facts " that had to be faced " she took a deep breath and ripped the envelope open.
The Market town of Thornleigh was busy this Saturday morning. Summer was only weeks away and the crowds had almost a festive air as they thronged up town near the Cathedral. Cass had to park near the old market itself and walked briskly towards The New Riding Shopping Centre. The escalator was full of people so she opted for the stairs almost running down them in her haste.
She stopped abruptly at the windows to Peacocks, admiring the new Summer fashions they offered. Peacocks could be expensive she knew, but why not spoil herself, after all she was an abandoned woman. She almost laughed out loud at her own self pity. Abandoned was hardly how she felt. Relieved was more like the emotion she was feeling.
She wandered through the casual attire department. A black pair of stretch jeans seemed to be calling to her on one of the display models. She picked out a black tee with a sequin panel in the front and another with an Eiffel Tower on it in red. She prayed there were no nosy assistants in the change rooms and remarkably there were none. Only the young girl snapping gum at the entry who handed her the requisite three hanger and yawned loudly.
Cass faced herself in the three way mirror and stripped to her tatty underwear.
" Time for new underwear as well " she thought.
The jeans went on with a tug and a good wriggle and looked better than she dared to hope. So did the tees. She felt younger than she had in years. Why had she not done this before she asked herself. She knew why, always putting Patrick and the kids first. She took more time and attention for them than herself and now that it was going to be all about her she felt that old odd feeling of guilt again. Would that never leave her ?
The sales lady said she could take the clothes to the next floor where the Underwear was and Cass laid them over her arm and this time took the escalator. But she walked up it, figuring this could be part of her exercise regime from now on.
It seemed like everyone and their dog had decided to buy underwear today. There was even two men going through the racks and Cass clucked her tongue with annoyance. What were men doing in the ladies underwear department ?
Cass shot them both a look as if they were somehow perverted and they sheepishly moved out of her way. She decided on a fitting after a fruitless search for a new bra. The lass who fitted her was quick and efficient and had warm hands which was a blessing.
It turned out she was two cup sizes bigger than the bra she had been wearing and bought a balconette one in black lace, a flesh coloured one for every day and a red lace one for just the sheer fun of it.
Matching knickers in a boy leg brief completed the sets. The young lass had tried to persuade her into a thong but Cass demurred at that. She always felt like she had a baboon's bum in them and no one could find them comfortable could they.?
Purchases complete she allowed herself a trip through most of the other clothing stores, Primark, Zara, Marks and Spencer's trying on scents, makeup, moisturisers and tiring of that took off to Mark's food hall where she bought a fresh pork pie, a small Greek salad and some Heinz Salad Cream. Then she turned for home, her feet starting to ache a little.
As she once again neared Roseleigh she smiled to herself at the aged beauty of the old house. The afternoon sun was lighting up the upstairs window, tipping the leaves on the old horse chestnut turning them to gold and she sighed with satisfaction at the sight.
" No way was he making her sell it " she once again thought.
She didn't care what she had to do to keep it but keep it she would. It was hers and the children's. Let him stay with Joanne in her council flat near the centre of town. She felt like hugging the walls in ownership and uttering, mine, mine, mine.
There was a white fat envelope shoved in the mailbox, and Cass grabbed it out, thinking it was odd, the post had already been. As she thought it was from a firm of Solicitors in town. Hadn't taken Patrick long to make it official, she thought, but decided to have lunch first before she opened it. If she opened it first she might not feel like lunch.
She laid a place for one, fine napkin, good silver and Wedgwood Colorado plate in white and gold. She had heated the pie added the salad and a tiny dollop of Salad Cream. The whole thing looked delicious and she crossed the kitchen and turned on the retro radio in the corner for background noise. Otis was sitting On The Dock Of The Bay as she devoured her lunch, realising she was hungrier than she thought.
The envelope sat on the table beside her and she didn't bother to open it until she had cleared up and made a strong cup of tea. Then she sat, hesitating to open it, right now was before the fact and ever after would be the facts " that had to be faced " she took a deep breath and ripped the envelope open.
