Just Like a Woman by Madeleine Clark Page A

smiling as she struck a match to light the fresh cigarette, she dragged heavily and once more blew the smoke at Sarah. Sarah moved over to the kitchen sink. She turned the cold tap letting the water run over her arm. Through the pain she heard sighing and muttering about how stupid one person can be after so many years of being taught to make tea properly.
    Releasing the hold of her lip with her teeth, Sarah sat down at the table opposite, keeping her eyes on the cup in front of her, playing with the spoon in the saucer. Then quietly in between her mother’s tirade she said,
    ‘Stephanie thinks I’ll need quite a few more sessions, in fact she wants me to start going twice a week.’ She brushed imaginary crumbs off the table not daring to look up.
    *****
    ‘Shall I, shan’t I?’
    Robert’s finger hovered over the send button, as he reclined on the settee, looking at the phone intently, searching for a clue. He read and re-read the message he had typed in, deciding it was structured with just the right tone of humour. She’s only some girl, he thought. But Stephanie had picked her out, so she must be something.
    He recalled the last one she set him up with. The woman had made it clear she wasn’t interested in him right from the start; only seeing him to please Stephanie. He appreciated her extreme attractiveness, but it had completely blinded Stephanie to the obvious. She didn’t like men; never had and never would. And Stephanie had missed it. Stephanie saw everyone as individuals she either liked or didn’t, never noticing their colour, creed or sexuality. Considering Stephanie’s occupation Robert thought she would by now have been more sensitive. It was his opinion that Stephanie’s complete and utter egotism was the reason for her very successful business; it seemed to him people mistook her lack of interest and total indifference to their woes and troubles to be the attitude of an expert; a wise woman. It was her indifference to him and everyone around her that had first attracted him to her. But he had been surprised she didn’t pick up on this woman’s orientation because Stephanie was so obviously attracted to her. The woman would have done anything for Stephanie, well almost anything but unfortunately shagging him was not one of them. Why Stephanie had not just settled for her instead of playing her games he didn’t quite understand. But she enjoyed the grooming and the manipulation. And now she wanted to use a client.
    What would this Sarah be like? A brunette would have been nice, but a blond would suffice and Stephanie knew his likes and dislikes in women well.
    Taking a breath his finger pressed down on the button and two seconds later the phone beeped back informing him her phone had received his amusing invitation to dinner. Now all he could do was wait.
    His eyes wandered round the lounge as he smoked his cigarette and ran his fingers through his hair. His mind distracted as his eyes lighted on his old Dylan painting. What was it about that Dylan painting? He knew something was wrong with it. He had painted over it many times, but still couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong. He was happy with his Lennon and Marley paintings, knew he had captured their essence, but Dylan somehow escaped him. Perhaps it was time to attempt another one, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready yet. Not after what that fucking woman had said. He didn’t want to remember her, that bitch friend of his wife’s, but she came into his head anyway. He recalled the first night he met her, when she was here for dinner.
    They had been sitting right here on this settee, just chatting while he sat in the armchair, watching and listening. She seemed nice; bright smile; bright lady. He had even felt an attraction to her, especially that beautiful red hair. That was until she offered up that criticism. Fucking bitch. He’d wanted to slam a punch in her face there and then, but instead held his breath and sat back in his