The Perfume counter was right in front of the revolving doors. Customers, on entering the store, were hit by a tantalizing mix of exotic spices and floral aromas to lure them towards the counter. Once there, they were surrounded by a dazzling array of posters showing beautiful women on the arms of handsome elegant men.
The perfumes were displayed like potions with the promise that whoever wore this or that perfume would be transported to a magical kingdom of seduction and elegance.
Gemma raised her wrist to her nose and breathed in
the heady mix of vanilla and patchouli that Max had chosen for her. It
was an early birthday present. She thought back to the conversation
she'd had with her friend Marsha at lunch time. They were sharing a
croissant and as Marsha brushed the crumbs away she had leaned forward
and whispered;-
' Gemma have you ever noticed how many men buy two bottles of the same
perfume.? Don't you think it's funny? Maybe it's one for the wife and
one for the lover, so as not to get caught out.'
Gemma felt herself redden. Was it possible that Marsha knew Max was
married? She shrugged in response to Marsha's question and dabbed at her
mouth with a napkin.
She pushed back her chair and stood up and turned back to Marsha.
'If a man has a lover then he wouldn't be in love with his wife any more would he? He wouldn't care what she thought.'
'Oh don't you believe it Gemma. It's all about having your cake and
eating it with them isn't it? Some of them are full of baloney, just
like the perfume ads, they have the gift of the gab all right.We watched
'Love Actually' last night for the umpteenth time and I told Mike that
if he'd better not ever buy me a CD, poor Emma Thompson, I cry every
time I watch that scene. It doesn't take much to tempt a man you know.
I've seen so much heartache caused by broken relationships. Personally I
can't understand why a woman would want to steal someone else's man,
but there you are.'
Gemma felt very uncomfortable. She'd watched 'Love Actually last night
too, wrapped in Max's arms. He'd kissed her long and hard and promised
he'd leave his wife straight after his son's birthday. gemma had been
seeing Max for almost two years now. A weekend away once a month and
snatched evenings when he told his wife he was working late. He'd
promised to take gemma to Scotland for her birthday and he would tell
his wife he wanted a divorce.
Gemma realized that Marsha was still talking.
'How are you getting on with your course? I think you'll be a great
Nursery teacher. My little Sam adores you. It's Auntie Gemma this and
Auntie Gemma that. He'll be going to Nursery school in September. If
you hurry up you'll be in time to teach him.'
Gemma noticed an elegant couple approach and went to serve them. The man
was very tall and had thick dark curly hair, a bit like Max. How she
loved running her fingers through his hair and looking at the way it
curled over at the base of his neck. She shivered with excitement just
thinking about it. The young woman was tall and blond with a very low
cut top and a white fur wrap. Just as she was about to serve them, a
very handsome man pushing a baby and holding on to two little boys
collided into a large poster of a beautiful woman. Gemma went to help
and then served the man who looked quite relieved. As he walked away she
thought how lucky his wife was and how she would love a family like
that.
When she'd finished serving the couple she thought about Marsha's
advice. It was true that she'd been really enjoying the Childcare and
Nursery teaching course. She had always loved being around little
children. Her sister was ten years younger than her and she had
looked after her while her mother went out to work. Gemma had taken
the job at the Perfume counter to help finance her studies and that's
where she had met Max. He had looked so lost and helpless trying to
find a perfume for his grandmother. When Gemma had suggested Old
English Lavender he had been so grateful and asked if he could take her
out for a drink to show his appreciation.
The next thing she knew she was inviting him in to the flat which she
shared with two other girls. It had all been so exciting. He was so much
more sophisticated than the other boys she'd dated. He knew how to
order the right wine in the fancy restaurants they went to, and he took
her to the opera and the ballet in London. By the time Gemma had found
out that Max was married she was completely obsessed with him. He
reassured her immediately saying how his wife only thought about their
two small boys and her job in the hospital. He was on his own all the
time and it was over between them. Gemma believed him and was
determined to make up for all the neglect he had suffered from his
wife.
Marsha walked by and helped herself to a free spray of J.Lo's new perfume from the bottle on the display.
'Would you like to come to us this evening Gemma? I've made a cake and
Mike's going out to watch the match in his brother's new man-cave.. We
could watch a film and maybe let Sam stay up a bit as a treat.'
Gemma picked up a glass bottle and dusted it with a cloth.
'I think Max is coming to pick me up and then we were going to....'
She stopped, not really wanting to say what they were going to do. Just
lately they'd done nothing but go back to her room. A strange feeling
came over her, she felt cheap and used. It wasn't a nice feeling at all.
She looked at Marsha and took a deep breath.
'That sounds nice Marsha, thank you. Maybe I could give Sam his bath and
read him a bedtime story. It would be good for my training.' She
smiled at Marsha as she moved away and then started to tidy up the
counter. She didn't see Marsha 's grin and victory sign.
A voice whispered in her ear, low and deep. Yesterday it would have sent
a shiver of excitement down her spine but today it made her feel sad
and lonely.
'Hello young lady, could you please help me choose a perfume for my poor old grandmother. I' d be ever so grateful.'
Gemma turned to Max with a bright smile.
'Sorry Sir but it's closing time.' His brow furrowed and he looked
puzzled at her brisk tone. He put his arms out and she stepped back
The silence that followed and the embarrassed look on Max's face told her all that she needed to know.
