The Gap Year - Chapter Two

It was a good night; the principals were singing well and the rehearsals were picking up pace as the parts were rapidly being learnt.  Grace went back to her car contented with the evening's proceedings.  Following rehearsals, a few of the cast would go to the pub down the road, 'The Singing Dog' to bash the night over and do the social bit that was missed out during the brief tea break an hour before.  Grace got into the car and turned the key.  The car threatned to stall but jamming her foot onto the accelerator she kept it going.  Outside was pitch black and she could see dark objects moving in front of the various cars' headlights in the park.  Grace kept her lights off so she could catch a glimpse of him walking to his car.  There he was.  Walking jauntily but with a purpose, his music book under one arm and both hands in his pockets to keep out the biting cold.  She watched him fiddle with his keys and then open the door to get in.  She waited, hoping to follow him to the pub, for him to turn on his car lights and move off.  As his car moved into the central roadway, Grace quickly slid in file behind him in the queue to get out and as one long line, they trundled up the road.  As they reached the pub's entrace, Grace was beside herself that tonight she may talk to him, stand a chance of sitting near or even next to him.  During the relatively short journey, thousands of images had flashed across her mind of them finally being alone together and what she would do if that situation ever occurred.  She signalled to go into the pub but was unexpectedly brought down to earth when she realised he had flown past the entrace and was continuing down the main road.  Crestfallen, Grace turned into the pub's car park and slotted into a space next to the Musical Director's archaic motor.  
'Two peas in a pod,' she murmured as she got out of her car before looking over the low hedge in search of him.  She watched his silver sportscar speed down the straight road and pondered why he was not staying as he normally did.  Suddenly, she remembered.  His wife was coming home that evening.  The wife.  She regularly worked away from home but when she was home, he would leave early or not attend in order to spend time with her.  This was not too often: Grace knew she must lead a very busy life.
How lonely he must get sometimes.  Did he ever want some company?  Perhaps she could go and see him on those frequent lonesome nights, if only to provide comfort and companionship.  She grinned as she walked to the pub's invitingly open door, knowing that no one would believe her innocent motives.


Back at home, Grace popped her head around her Mum's door to say good night and went to her own room.  Joined by Tom, Grace reread Lou's letter. 
'Love, not sex,' was Lou's comment.
Well, Grace was after love.  She had her whole future mapped out but she was realising more frequently that life followed its own path, a path usually against the grain of the original.