Babooshka

She looked at her reflection, she barely recognised herself. The make up tutorials she had found online had paid off.

Was it too much? She scrutinised herself, no, she looked great! Nothing like her usual unmade up, blotchy bare face.

She pulled and attached the long dark brown wig over her short light brown, mostly greying curls.

Astounded at the transformation in her now, the make up look she had followed, with the wig, she looked like a completely different woman.

Smoothing down her flattering bottle green dress, which she had bought a few weeks ago and had placed in the back of her wardrobe. A special dress, waiting to be worn for tonight’s occasion. Yes, she mused, she certainly did look amazing!

She had found him on a dating site. Her marriage was failing, she still lived with her husband, but things weren’t right and hadn’t been for several years. Not since the children had all grown and flown the nest.

She needlessly blamed herself, she had slowly put on weight over the years. Her body confidence and of course the onset of menopause, had affected their relationship in the bedroom; sex was now off the menu and she felt it was all her fault.

She felt old and ugly, nothing like the beautiful woman she used to be. Her husband obviously thought the same of her, as he no longer complimented her or seemed remotely interested in taking her to bed now.

She did wonder if he was looking elsewhere. Sometimes he would arrive home late after work. His excuse was he had gone for a quick pint after work with some work colleagues.

Fair enough, she went out with her friends often, yet, there were occasions that he had arranged a weekend away, with some of his mates, usually to a gig or a music festival.

She was no longer interested in going to those with him any more. She felt old compared to some of the women who went to those things. Gigs and festivals were for young people, she told herself.

One last check in the mirror, before setting off to meet David, the guy from the dating site, in which she began to message, over a month ago and then arranged to meet up with that evening.

They messaged daily and seemed to hit it off. It was now normal to hear her phone bleep several times a day and she would look to see that it was from David. She couldn’t imagine a day in which they never messaged.

Their messages were fun, flirty and they made each other laugh. It had been years since she had laughed with her husband. The flirtatious fun which had sealed their relationship in the early days had sadly waned over the years.

The sunlight had disappeared from their marriage. David had pulled the clouds back and lit up her life again.

He had come across as a really lovely guy and he told her he couldn’t wait to meet her. Likewise, she thought, as the excitement of their date was getting near.

Informing her that because he wasn’t local to the area, he had booked himself into a nearby hotel for the night.

Relieved to be meeting up with David the same night that her husband was going away again; he was off to yet another gig, he casually told her. A hundred or so miles away this time, so was staying over in a B&B with his mate Steve.

Thankfully, he had already gone by the time she needed to get ready. No worries about hiding herself from him, having to quietly sneak out of the house, hoping he wouldn’t notice how very different she was looking that evening.

Clicking onto the online dating site, she checked her profile image photograph; the image she had produced from the make up tutorials. She compared it with her own reflection; yes, she looked like the woman she had cleverly learnt to become - younger and beautiful, he shouldn’t be disappointed, she told herself, as she picked up her car keys and set off for her date.

All she wanted was to make a good impression, have a great evening and some very much needed fun, although, she was certainly not interested in taking it any further than just friendship...

***

Heart racing, she sat down at the table she was shown to by the waiter in the restaurant and checked her watch, she was a little early. Would he turn up? He hadn’t messaged or called to cancel.

She caught movement behind her, as a tall attractive middle aged man appeared and sat down opposite her, she recognised him immediately - David.

He charmingly complimented on her appearance, told her she looked beautiful. She too found herself flirting with him, just as much as he was with her. He was exactly the same to talk to in real life as he was with his messages.

They ordered food, a bottle of wine and chatted as if they had known each other for years.

His blue eyes looked intently at her.

“Have we met somewhere before? “you seem familiar somehow.”

“No, definitely not, I’d have remembered you if we had.” she flirted.

“You remind me a little of my ex wife when she was younger, ” he began.

She glanced up at him. David had only briefly mentioned his ex wife a few times, How beautiful she had been, how much he had loved her, the passion they had shared and how she had slowly changed - they both had.

Inquisitive to hear more about his ex wife, yet not wanting to show too much interest. David had never seemed comfortable to talk about her, so it always felt like she would be prying if she delved into asking him about her.

His eyes still studying her, he continued, “maybe it’s because you seem very similar to her - In a complimentary way I mean. How she talks... ” he faltered, as he moved his hand across to hers and placed it in his affectionately.

She smiled at him. “Maybe...”

***

It was late, the evening flew as they became aware that the restaurant was closing soon.

Time to say goodbye. Would he ask to see her again?

“Back to mine for a night cap? I’m staying at The Black Swan hotel.” he seductively whispered.

“I had better not. I need to get up early tomorrow for work”.

He looked disappointed as they got up to leave. He took her hand and kissed it gently. She felt warm shivers slowly wash over her.

No, she told herself firmly, she was definitely going home, alone.

“Thank you for this evening, I had a great time. It was lovely to meet you properly.”

“My pleasure.” his blue eyes fixed on her dark ones.

She felt her face flush.

She turned to leave as he grabbed her arm gently, bent down and kissed her cheek.

“Until next time...” he whispered

“Yes, I’ll message you”.

She turned around and walked away. Away from David – aka her husband.

She knew he hadn’t gone to a gig. She knew he was meeting another woman. She knew he had booked a room at a hotel because he wanted to invite the woman he had met on an online dating site, who he had just taken out for dinner, back for some fun.

She knew she was right about her husband.

She just needed the proof, that it was truly over between them.

She will tell him tomorrow, when he arrives home with his stories about how great the gig was.

Will she tell him about her date with David?

Maybe...

THE END