Una Breen was tall, dark and remarkably attractive, she was also extremely bored. Being an unforgiving woman she blamed her husband Hubert for her banality. Friday was fast approaching and she was seeking an excuse to offer her offspring for staying out late. A devout catholic Una, throughout her entire married life, had never so much as contemplated infidelity, which is not to say that the opportunity to do so had never arisen. Examining herself in the full-length mirror she unashamedly admired the result. ‘Forty two, five kids and still a size twelve,’ she complimented herself, ‘Not bad Una girl, not too bad at all. But you have to stop talking to yourself. They say it’s the first sign of senility,’ she admonished with a smile, waving a finger at her reflection. Standing, dressed only in her underwear, she pivoted sideways in order to examine her profile. Turning again slowly to face the glass she frowned before completing the inspection with a simple, ‘You’ll do.’ Una had paid one of her frequent, unaccompanied, visits to the cinema, a packet of maltesers her only solace. She hated to go alone, it made her feel somewhat inadequate, as if she could not procure a date for the evening but she wanted so much to see the film. The smaller children were too young to sit through an entire movie and the others could not, or rather would not, be seen dead at a Disney film. Street cred must be maintained at all costs, she had been informed. ‘Little sods,’ she had complained, ‘Just wait until one of you need a favour.’
‘Ach ma, you know how it is,’ they had answered in unison.
It happened at the pictures. As she sat alone watching the silly animated feature, two seats to her left sat a gorgeous man, between them, his adorable daughter. The child was beautiful with raven hair, so black that it glistened with a sheen that turned blue when the light caught it just right. Una had smiled a greeting at the child, remarking on her beauty. The proud father was overwhelmed at the attention being given to his precious. A gift from the Lord, he had called her. Una remembered thinking at the time, what a lovely thing to say, you are a wee bit special yourself mate. Hubert, to her recollection, had found it difficult to notice their kid’s attributes. Once the stranger had started it was impossible for him to stop. He was elated at having the opportunity to boast of his little girl’s virtues and superior intellect much to his daughter’s annoyance. ‘Daddy please stop talking, I cant hear what the hefalant is saying,’ she pleaded.
‘Okay,’ he acquiesced. ‘Look, why don’t we swap seats?’ That way I won’t disturb you when
the lady and I are talking. Oh, that is if you don’t mind?’ he asked Una, as an after thought.
‘Not at all,’ she replied, secretly thinking I always come to the movies to listen about other people’s kids. Who needs Walt Disney?
‘That’s a good idea, I can’t see over the lady’s head anyway,’ agreed precious, indicating a rather large female in the next row but one. A chance meeting with a stranger at the cinema and here she was contemplating the unthinkable. ‘More than contemplating you tart,’ she giggled, inspecting a pair of tights freshly removed from the wrapping. ‘God when he said his wife had died, I was almost glad,’ she uttered remorsefully. He must be a wonderful person all the same she mused, to have nurtured the little girl through infancy, with all the difficulties that that can throw up. She is a credit, so loveable and her manners are impeccable. Una could not believe it of a child whom, after all, was no more than a baby. The little girl never once misbehaved throughout the entire performance and always remembered to say please and thank-you, remarkable. ‘You have every reason to be proud of her,’ she had told him. It is no mean task raising a child Mr., er, I’m sorry I don’t know your name.’
‘Oh my apologies, it’s Logan, Dave Logan, I live in Glengormley,’ she was informed.
‘And I am Una from the Antrim Road. Very pleased to meet you,’ she said, offering her long slim hand to be shaken. Dave had duly accepted and held on to it a fraction of a second too long, which flattered the lonely housewife considerably. That had been their first encounter, to be followed coincidentally, three days later in a super-market. They had been pushing shopping trolleys in opposite directions each engrossed in their own worlds, when they had a minor collision. Both were startled but Una was the aggressor. Having vastly more experience in dealing with such incidents, she had adopted the old gambit of attack being the best line of defence. ‘Why don’t you look…’ but was cut short when he uttered her name. ‘Una, what a surprise.’ It was not exactly the mention of her name that gave her the tingle the dazzling smile which accompanied the greeting had been the catalyst. ‘Fancy bumping into you, literally bumping into you.’ There was that smile again. ‘It must be kismet.’
‘It must be Dave, as you say kismet,’ she was flirting unashamedly. The man tended to have that affect on her. He made her feel desirable, a real woman, wanted. ‘Amazing, last week we were complete strangers yet within three days here we are having a conversation and forgive me for saying it but I have never been so glad to have an accident.’ Who is this man? His charm was turning her knees to water. This was so unlike her. Men had used a multitude of tactics to entice her but she had fended them off like
a matador yet here she was putty in his hands. Easy girl, she warned herself. You are acting like a moonstruck schoolgirl. Don’t be forgetting that you already have a husband and a family to care for.
‘Please don’t think me too forward but Can-dice and I were about to have lunch, we would love you to join us. Wouldn’t we Candy? The little girl glanced upward, nodding without conviction. ‘Well thank-you I’d love to Candy.’ What in the name of all that is holy, was she doing? The idea was preposterous but it was out before she realised what she was saying. ‘I’d love to.’ She had remonstrated with herself over and over as they ambled toward the restaurant. God what if someone sees her? Her companion was quick to pick up on her discomfort. ‘A penny for them,’ he offered. ‘What eh,’ she stammered. ‘Sorry what did you say?’ Pull yourself together, she told herself, next you’ll be blushing.
‘Nothing really, a penny for your thoughts,’ he prompted, obviously seeking a reply.
‘I was just thinking about what you said earlier. Fate, I suppose there is no use fighting it. Well here we are, we shall have to double park,’ she added, indicating the lack of space at the restaurant’s forecourt. Nice body swerve, she thought with relief. The meal was mediocre but the company was marvellous. Una had forgotten the sheer enjoyment one could derive from the simple pleasure of dining with another, someone you cared for. And she was, despite herself, beginning to feel a strong bond growing between her and a man she knew nothing about. They chatted congenially losing all track of time. She looked at her watch, ‘Oh God I have to run.’
‘But when shall I see you again,’ he asked, no virtually begged. Before she knew it a date had been arranged. ‘I couldn’t help it,’ she said aloud, as she hurried to the vehicle but she was filled with an overwhelming feeling of sensual pleasure. She had never experienced anything remotely like this. Her head was so light that it was threatening to sail away. Her life was never to be the same. Later that evening she sat weighing the folly of her actions. If she was to go out with Dave and the IRA learned of the indiscretion, his life would be endangered and what of the church? What would Father Paul think when she confessed such a thing? That she wanted to be held and loved again, so much that her body ached. How she could not spend a night in bed any more without fantasising about her illicit lover. What penance was there for a married woman whose hands slipped between her legs when she thought about a man she barely knew? Frustrated and angry, her thoughts rounded on her imprisoned husband, he was to blame for her present predicament. ‘It is all your bloody fault. My lord, for the things you have done, there is no forgiveness. If you were here instead of goal I would never have met Dave. Oh yes Dave, how do I tell him that my excuse for a man is behind bars for blowing up bars?’ she giggled at the irony. ‘Funny line,’ she said, imitating someone she had heard on television. Lets not forget the children, she continued with her self castigation, What would they say if they ever found out that she had betrayed their hero of a father?’ There were abundant reasons for reneging on her date but again her thoughts strayed to the restaurant. How wonderful it had been just to sit and be admired. To have a man interested in her again and knowing that he desired her. There was a trace of merriment as she recalled how he had shown an honest interest in her opinion and the glow he exuded when she said something humorous. She missed companionship, damn him for making her so aware of her loneliness. Reluctantly Una picked up the phone to cancel their engagement. The dialling tone seemed to go on forever, she prayed that he was out almost willing him to ignore its summons. Disappointment ensued as he picked up,
‘Hello Dave, who’s there,’ she smiled at his frivolous telephone manner, despite her feelings.
‘It’s me Una,’
‘Oh hi, how wonderful to hear your voice. How goes it, no problems I hope?’
‘No, no I was just calling to make sure that we are still on for Friday. I am really looking forward to seeing you again,’ There she had said it, now there was no turning back. ‘I have been making inquiries and the word on the street is that the restaurant is first class,’ she lied.
‘Me too, we seem to be on the same wavelength. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed the pleasure of a female companion, that is if you don’t count you know who,’ he chuckled.
‘Well so long as you are not having second thoughts,’ she said fishing for a compliment.
‘Who me? Pass up the chance to dine with a beautiful lady. Who am I to argue with what fate has decreed? I am really looking forward to spoiling you because I have a small confession to make.’
‘Oh do tell,’ she giggled, her mood having lifted considerably.
‘I hate Walt Disney movies, you saved me from a punishment akin to the rack. Being next to you that night made me feel better than I have since, well,’ he gushed. ‘Did anyone ever tell you that you are great to be with?’
‘Not lately,’ she replied earnestly, certain that she had made the correct decision. ‘I’ll see you on Friday evening Dave, in the Arms okay?’
‘Brilliant, counting the days, bye.’
‘Bye Dave, until Friday then.’ After hanging up she could not resist a final admonishment, ‘What a coward you are Una Reeney,’ using her maiden for the first time since her wedding day. What made me say that? she wondered. That
man does things to me, he’s probably right, it must be fate.