Bring your boots

“Oh good, you’re both here.” Carole said bustling into Dan’s office where Faith had just managed to pin Dan down for some much needed signatures.

Faith and Dan looked at each other and then at Carole in confusion.

“Dan, has Faith had a tour of the grounds yet?”

“Um ... no, not yet. We've been struggling to fit it in” Dan replied.

“I need you to make it a priority Dan, Faith’s been here over six month’s already. That aside I need you to be familiar with the estate Faith.”

“Why’s that?” Faith asked.

“Because the two of you will be organising the New Year Fundraising Masquerade Ball in my absence.”

Faith dropped the papers she had been holding and Dan started chocking on the coffee he’d just taken a mouthful of. Faith had heard about the Masquerade Ball, it was a huge deal for the estate. The ticket sales alone would pay for half of the annual wages bill. What was Carole thinking leaving this with her after only six months? Sure she’d organised smaller events and school holiday activities but this?

“Now Dan,” Carole continued, “I know you don’t usually have an organisational role with the Ball but you've been around enough to know what goes on and Faith, as my deputy the duties technically fall to you but as this will be your first year it’s only fair for you to have some help. Between Dan and yourself you should be more than capable of cobbling something together.”

“Seriously Carole, wouldn't Faith just be better shadowing you for this year. I mean this is the estates biggest event we are talking about, you’re going to leave this with a glorified gardener and the newbie, no offence Faith.”

“None taken” Faith smiled at Dan, this was just how their banter had settled over that last few months. A combination of taking the mick out of each other with the odd flirtatious comment.

Carole sighed, "In all honesty Dan you’ll just have to pull it together. I’ll put it simply, I won’t be here. I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer so I will be taking a leave of absence while I deal with it."

“Oh Carole, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?” Faith asked, feeling pathetic as she did. Her worries from a minute ago seemed completely inconsequential.

“Your job Faith, that’s all I need.” And with that she walked out.

Faith and Dan stood there stunned looking at each other. “I guess we had better show you around then. Bring your boots tomorrow.”

***

Faith was already in the office when Dan came in to get his morning coffee. She could hear his footsteps down the corridor and risked a sneaky peek, hoping to catch the back of him through the open door as he went to the staff room next door. Instead their eyes met and she blushed. Smooth Faith, way to keep your stupid crush under wraps, just-a-friend-just-a-friend. Dropping her eyes to the paper work on her desk that she was trying to rush through before today’s tour and praying he hadn't noticed.

“Morning,” she shouted, trying to cover her embarrassment. As horrible as the situation was and that they were being thrown in at the deep end, the silver lining was getting to spend time with Dan and not have to find lame excuses to do it.

“Morning.” Came a much quieter voice than she was expecting and she nearly fell of her chair looking up to see Dan stood right next to her. “You know a little colour in your cheeks is nice.” Dan continued with a twinkle in his eye biting into his apple.

“What...I...” Flustered Faith blushed even more and now irritated she blurted out, “What time do we set off on this tour? And how long is it likely to take? Some of us have work to get done that doesn't include swaning around outside all day!” Faith didn't subscribe to the opinion that most of the indoor staff did; that the grounds staff were all slackers and spent the day sunning themselves and wandering aimlessly. But he was trying to get under her skin this morning and it worked. She was rewarded with that smile, the one that reached his eyes and completely disarmed her.

“About 9.30 fit in with your schedule m’lady? I have some things to sort out first, you know drink my coffee, kick back relax.” They both laughed now. “You brought your boots?”

“Well that depends on which boots you mean, the thigh high stilettos?” Faith started, raising her eyebrow for maximum flirtatious effect.

“Much as those would be amazing to see...”

“...probably best I brought the muddy walking boots instead?” Faith nodded towards the Brashers just under the desk next to where Dan was perched.

“Ah, drat. Some other time for the stilettos then?”

“In your dreams! Now get your ass in gear otherwise it’s going to be lunch-time before we get anywhere”

“Pick you up in an hour?”

“It’s a date” Faith smiled as Dan turned to leave, shaking her head. What am I playing at? 

The Drive Home

The spring breeze through the window, the ‘Wahoo’s’ of the Dandy Warhols floating around the car and Faith was smiling, what more could you want from a Monday evening? Smiling on the way home from work, that was a whole new feeling. It was far too early to tell if this would be the new post work trend, but for now she was going to enjoy it.

As first days go it went pretty well. The girls in the office seemed really nice, her boss? She was going to take some weighing up, but it was Dan that was stuck in her mind. There was something about him and she had been thinking about him all day, yet she didn’t really know why. He certainly must think she was a complete bimbo after their first encounter.

Maybe it was the way the morning light seemed to catch just over his shoulder; it cast the most amazing glow over him. Whatever it was it had her smiling stupidly whenever he called into the office. He only popped in every now and then; his office was down the hall. Lisa had commented how he had been in the office more than normal today though....

‘Faith you are not a teenager damn it!’ she chastised her wandering mind

Her phone rang through the in car system, which she didn't understand, bringing her back to reality with a start. The friendly female voice told her it was Aiden calling. He had insisted on this installation, saying that if she insisted on driving round in the rusted tin can he at least wanted to be able to ring and make sure she was still in one piece, not in a ditch somewhere.

Faith shouted “accept” at the windscreen, because the omnipresent female voice told her to.

“Hello”...nothing, “hello” she shouted louder

“Hello” Aiden replied amused by her lack of technological grace, which incidentally only extended to the car. It was as if she was hardwired to only include the most practical knowledge when it came to cars. How to change a flat, oil top ups and battery exchanges were the essentials when driving Henry so all the techno gubbins in the car was beyond her reach. But stationary and behind a computer Faith was in her element.

“So I have the kids. Am I meeting you at home?”

“Yeah, I’ll be about another twenty minutes” Faith replied

“Ok we’ll see you soon”

“Have the boys eaten?”

“I don’t know. We’ll sort it when you’re home.”

“Alright, see you soon.”

“Love you”

“Love you too”

As the conversation clicked to an end the stereo reverted to mid song ‘we were the kings and queens of promise’ it made her smile and think of the promise their relationship had held, where had that gone? Faith pondered, had those words lost their meaning through overuse? Or was it that not enough attention was paid to them anymore. Familiarity hadn't bred contempt so much as complacency.

Faith tried concentrating on the road, a diversion for her mind from all this deep thought. She realised then that this section of her route was one long natural tree tunnel. How had she not noticed this before?

She had no idea why tree tunnels made her instantly happy. Was it the protection she felt in its belly, hidden from her troubles and fears. Or was she just over thinking again. It was probably just that they looked so pretty; the way the light filtered through the leaf canopy casting angel rays on the world below. If nothing else she was going to enjoy the drive; the beauty, the music and the time in her own head. Even if her head did keep flashing images of some guy she had only just met. Ok so he was cute, no...sexy, with a heart stopping light to his eyes. But still a married woman should not be thinking these thoughts.

As if on cue the next song to pop up on the stereo, Mansun –Wide open space.

‘You’ll never get to heaven with a smile on your face’ Not at all ironic!!

And so it begins

“So you're getting the kids tonight?"

"Yes Dear"

"And tomorrow night you're away"

"a-ha"

"And don't forget to call you mother"

"I got it Honey ok, I'll see you tonight, have a good day, I Love you"

"Love you too"

And so Faith’s day began. It was always the same conversation as one of them walked out of the door, or did it just seem that way? The obligatory ‘I Love you’ added on to the end. They still meant it, but it was never really said with meaning any more, they didn’t have time.

Faith remembered when they used to lie in her bed, back at her mother’s house, talking until the wee hours of the morning. She had no idea now what they talked about; there was no way they could sustain a conversation for that long any more. Maybe they had said everything there was to say, all she knew was those days were long gone. Comfortable existence as a well oiled machine was all that remained, repeating the same motions infinitum.

“Ok boys; shoes, coats, Mum can’t be late today!” Faith snapped out of her reminiscence, she had bigger fish to fry today.

The morning manoeuvres completed, Faith headed off to work. New work, this was her first day as Event’s Coordinator for the Holly House Estate. She had been sensible, driven the route yesterday so was clear on the half hour journey and the route she should take.

‘I hope I can do this’ Faith thought, ‘why do I always feel like I am punching above my weight?!’

A familiar voice started to resonate around her head, ‘honey I am your best friend, but seriously enough with the self doubt, even I am getting a little bored!’

‘Hearing voices now and conversing with myself, time to put some music on I think’

Faith couldn’t drive without some kind of music on in the background, so that kind of counted radio stations out; there was always too much chatting. Faith fished around for a CD in the door pocket and rammed it into the CD player. It was the only real upgrade she had made to the vintage Beetle, a decent sound system. It jumped straight to The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army, spot on! A mix CD designed to give her a kick in the ass when she needed one, plucked at random when she needed it; serendipity at work, it made Faith smile.

 

Faith pulled into the drive of the stately home, “Well you’re going to be here more than you are at home, you’d better hope you like it” she said to herself. The cherry blossoms trees lining the driveway took her breath away and then the beauty of the house loomed into view and Faith had to pinch herself. This kind of thing happened to other people, she didn’t get chances like this!! And that feeling was perpetuated when her little purple metallic VW Beetle crunched onto the gravel of the staff car park. Sandwiched between a shiny Range Rover and a filthy Land Rover, her head on the wheel, “What the hell do I think I am doing?”

“Oh bollocks” Faith exclaimed dropping her keys into the gravel as she got out of the car, “well at least I wore flats.” Bending down to pick them up she chanted, “Deep breaths, deep breaths, deep breaths”

“Do you often talk to yourself?”

Faith stood up so fast she lost her balance and fell into the car, ‘thank God something could be trusted to catch her.’ The look of total shock on her face was probably enough to make a really great impression, if not that her bright red face!

“Hi I’m Dan” he said holding out his hand in greeting.

“Um, hi” Faith managed mid recovery.

“I’m guessing you’re Faith?”

“Sorry, yeah, Faith” she said taking his hand that had been hanging there a little longer than was polite; it was soft and warm yet obviously used to hard work, it was a nice hand with a middle of the road grip. “I was just psyching myself up for the introductions and such.”

“We’re really not that bad you know” Dan replied starting to guide Faith across the car park to the staff and office entrance. “Well good luck Faith, no doubt I’ll see you around” with that Dan started off towards the grounds.

“Probably, I don’t know and thanks.” She really was usually more eloquent than this; “Sorry” Faith shouted after him, “What did you say your name was?”

“Dan” he shouted back.

Welcome home

Hi and welcome to this blog. Faith and Dan are two characters that have been running amock in my mind for long enough, I thought it was about time to give them a home of their own.

I am still in the process of building them an appropriate world in which to play, so for now enjoy the song that inspired the name of their home.

See you soon.