“Check.”
As we went through the list, I looked forward to putting together dishes like sticky jerk salmon, rice and peas, and sweet potato and black bean curry and scanning down the ingredients, the trolley seemed to hold most of what was needed for an authentic Caribbean diet.
“It looks like we’re about there,” I said. As Fin grabbed the trolley handlebar ready to continue, I just had to hope any snapshots of my efforts were enough to fool Mum and Dad.
I smiled as we began to move on, having thoroughly enjoyed shopping with Fin. I fantasised about us being a couple, getting ready for our first Christmas together until a lone shopper halfway up the aisle to my right caught my attention. I narrowed my eyes, feeling sure I knew her, but couldn’t for the life of me place where from. I told myself I had nothing to worry about. She was way too young and far too fashionable to know Mum and Dad. She had the shiniest dark hair, a gorgeous figure and, wearing the skinniest of skinny jeans, legs to die for…
“Oh, no,” I said. My heart missed a beat, a huge part of me wishing she had been an acquaintance of my parents. “Not here. Not tonight.”
15
Recognising the woman as Jeremy’s bint, I slowed my step and not wanting to face her, prayed she didn’t turn around and spot me in return. I didn’t think I could cope with any more of her gloating. Every time our paths crossed, she’d smirk, as if she were stood on a podium and my ex was the gold medal. It didn’t seem to matter that she’d won him by default on account of me throwing him out.
I was tempted to make a noise simply to get my own back. I knew if she looked over and saw who I happened to be out shopping with, her smile would be well and truly wiped. I also knew that wouldn’t have been fair to Fin though and feeling stuck, I felt the colour drain from my face. I seized Fin’s arm, bringing him and the trolley to a standstill.
“What is it?” Fin asked, clearly noticing my pallor.
I considered beating a hasty retreat, but not only was the trolley too full for a 180-degree rotation, Fin would want to know why the sudden change in direction. He’d start to ask questions that I didn’t want to answer. I’d have to explain all about Jeremy and how I caught him in the act and who with. That experience alone was embarrassing enough without having to give Fin the juicy details. “We’ve forgotten shampoo,” I said, hoping I sounded more casual than I felt. “Would you mind popping back for some?” At least if I was on my own I’d stand a chance of getting out of the situation with at least some dignity still intact.
“Sure,” he said, although I could see he was suspicious. “Any particular brand?”
“No,” I replied, wishing he would just go before the woman saw us. “I’m not fussy. I’ll meet you in the next aisle, shall I?”
Clearly knowing something was afoot, Fin looked up and down the aisle we were on. “Okay,” he said, obviously failing to see anything untoward from his point of view. “If that’s what you want.”
Leaving our shopping with me, I watched him re-trace his steps back down the way we’d just come, waiting until he’d disappeared around the corner before returning my attention to Jeremy’s new woman. I took in the mountain of food piled high in the trolley, compared to the healthy products in her little basket, consoling myself in the fact that at least she was on her own and that I didn’t have Jeremy to contend with too. I thanked goodness that she was too engrossed in her own shopping requirements to notice me and mine. I took a deep breath ready to push on and while she appeared to compare product consumer labels, I grabbed the trolley handles having decided to try to sneak passed.
I tried to look relaxed, and taking a leaf out of Fin’s book, pretended to glance at the shelves to my left as I went. Picking up pace, I managed to overtake the woman and the end of the aisle reached touching distance. With only a ninety degree turn to go, I knew I’d soon be out of sight and I prepared to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, with a tonne of goods in my trolley, I struggled to slow the damn thing down, let alone manoeuvre it around a bend. Thanks to the weight of my shopping, the trolley seemed to take on a life of its own, veering first left and then right and then left again. I grappled to get it under control, forced to keep one hand on the handle, while using the other to prevent the trolley’s mountain of food spilling everywhere. Unable to see where I was going, I tried and failed to make the turn, and crashed head on into a shelving unit. Coming to a sudden halt, cereal boxes rained down on me, just as Jeremy rounded the corner.
“Holly,” he said, looking aghast at the mess I’d caused.
I flinched as a final packet of cornflakes ricocheted off my head.
Staring back at him, I’d often envisaged what it would be like coming face-to-face with Jeremy again, but never in my mind’s eye did I ever conjure up the situation I found myself in. In my imaginations I was off to some posh event, all dressed up, wearing perfect hair and make-up; in fact, I’d never looked so glamourous. Naturally, upon seeing my beauty Jeremy realised what he was missing and begged my forgiveness. And with no intentions of giving it, my response was detached yet polite. I had, after all, moved on…
What my make-believe scenario didn’t include was me embarrassing myself thanks to breakfast cereal. I wanted to flee, but my feet refused to move, and my pride wouldn’t let me. “A bit of help wouldn’t go amiss,” I said instead, indicating the carnage around me.
My request clearly caught him off guard and he looked over to his bint as if torn about what he should do.
Following his gaze, I could see the woman was still immersed in her reading and, shaking my head at her selfish obliviousness, I returned my attention to my ex. “Please!” I said, a word that must have sounded like an order as I’d never seen the man move so quick.
“Yes, sorry,” he said, getting straight to clearing up my mess.
Watching him, I felt powerful. As if tidying up after me was the least he could do after the way he had treated me. I thought it a shame he couldn’t have been quite so helpful when we were together. Back then, he was slow to pick up after himself, let alone anyone else. He began to huff and puff as he worked, and his face began to redden. What had I ever seen in him? I hadn’t realised how unfit the man was before, or noticed the bald patch on the top of his head. A picture of Fin’s swept back locks and half-naked physique popped into my mind. Taking in Jeremy’s increasing sweatiness, I couldn’t help but compare.
“Jeremy,” his new woman called out. “What are you doing?” She began walking towards us.
My stomach sank. Although I should have known she’d turn around at some point.
Jeremy flushed red. “I’m just helping–”
By then the woman was upon us. “Oh,” she said, looking straight at me. “It’s you.”
Unlike my ex, she’d never had the decency to blush in my presence. Then again, I supposed, why would she? Knowing I’d seen more of her naked body than I’d wanted to, I assumed my seeing her in full attire didn’t really compare in the embarrassment stakes. “Well this is awkward,” I said. At least it was for me.
She stared at the food in my shopping trolley, before turning her attention to Jeremy, glaring at the man, suspicious. “I thought you said she was off to the Caribbean for Christmas? And that’s why we couldn’t go?”