Writing for Fun
July 2015
Deception - Jeanette Rothwell
He didn't look anything like his photo. When was it taken, 20 years ago?
Molly spotted him as he walked into the hotel lobby with a copy of OK Magazine under his arm, as arranged, and now he was looking around for her. She sank a little deeper into her chair, hiding behind her OK Magazine, and wondered what to do next. She had paid a lot of money to the dating agency and here she was on her first date. Her heart was pounding, her palms felt clammy and she was sure her face was bright red.
'Oh, blow it,' she thought, pulling herself together, 'I'm not going to waste my money, here goes.' She lowered her magazine and attempted to look casual as he made his way over to her.
'Er, are you Molly?' he almost stuttered with nervousness.
'I sure am,' she answered brightly.
He extended his hand and she shook it, hoping that her palms weren't too sticky.
He smiled and she immediately noticed that he really had a very pleasant face. After the initial awkwardness of their meeting, he ordered coffee and they both tried to relax a little and keep the conversation going.
Colin had never done anything like this before and as he had walked towards the designated hotel, he wondered how on earth he had allowed himself to be coerced into this situation by his sister. She was fed up with him never seeming to find time to meet a girl and develop a relationship so she signed him up with the dating agency, made up his profile for them and dug out a photo. It had been a few years since it was taken, but she felt it would do.
She then showed him a photo of Molly and her agency profile. He thought she looked nice and after quite a lot of persuasion by his sister, he agreed to meet her. What he didn't know was that his sister had put him down as an airline pilot which he certainly was not.
When he spotted her in the hotel lobby, he could see that she was hiding behind the magazine and he almost changed his mind and turned to go, but then he remembered that he would have to face his bossy sister if he didn't see it through so, squaring his shoulders, he headed towards Molly.
Having begun to sip their coffees and generally chat, Molly thought, 'He's very easy to talk to. Oh how I wish I hadn't lied to the agency that I was P.A. to a Chief Executive. He is bound to find out and that will be the end of a dawning friendship.'
However, as their conversation progressed, she began to feel more at ease and enjoy the moment.
Colin thought she was quite pretty but her conversation was sometimes a little stilted, particularly when he asked her about her job. She ventured to enquire about his job but he changed the subject so they kept to general matters. She liked his smile and he seemed to have a quirky sense of humour which she particularly appreciated.
Then suddenly, 'Yoohoo, Molly' shouted a voice from the other side of the lobby, 'Fancy seeing you here.'
A stout bustling lady made her way over to where Molly and Colin were having their coffee. Molly stood up although her heart was in her boots. It was the owner of the Tea Rooms where she worked.
'I haven't met your young man?' her boss forcefully enquired.
'Oh, er, he's not – that is, er, this is Colin,' stuttered Molly
'How do you do,' said her boss thrusting out her hand for a shake. Colin obliged.
'It's so fortunate that I met you this evening,' said her boss, 'John and I are taking his Mother to dinner for her birthday and we will probably be home a bit late, so I would really appreciate it if you could open up the tea rooms in the morning to save me have to get in early,' and at that she thrust a large bunch of keys into Molly's hands.
'Toodle loo,' she waved as she left them.
Colin smiled down at Molly 'Tea Rooms?' he enquired.
She slumped back down into her chair and confessed that she was a waitress in some rather quaint tea rooms and not a high flying P.A. and she expected he would think that it was a rather unglamorous job as he was an airline pilot. He seemed puzzled at that and she referred him to his agency profile. He laughed realising that his bossy sister was to blame and explained that in fact he helped his uncle out at a garden centre, because he loved to work with plants.
'I also love meeting so many different people every day,' he added.
'Oh so do I,' enthused Molly.
They laughed together about the deception. Colin then declared that he was starving and suggested they cross the road to a cheap and cheerful Chinese restaurant for dinner.
Molly agreed and hoped that although their friendship had had a rocky start, perhaps they could put that behind them and start again. Colin agreed and over their Aromatic Duck and Chop Suey they began to feel more comfortable in each other's company.
'I don't know where this is going,' thought Molly, 'but at least I am enjoying this evening in spite of the deception.'
