The
Dulcets are a collection of villages and hamlets comprising of Dulcet Meadow,
Dulcet-on-Willow, Dulcet Green, and Dulcet-on-Brooke, to name but a few, and of
course Dulcet St Mary which where Amelia Allford and her boyfriend Steve Moore
were
sat in his lounge and had greedily dispatched their Chinese takeaway and were
cuddled up on the sofa, halfway through the credits of a Sandra Bullock movie
called “The Lake House,” he definitely would, by the way, when Amelia suddenly
said.
“Do
you remember a few months ago when I said I didn’t mind you shagging other
women?”
“Yes”
He said cautiously “but…”
“And
I know you still are so don’t bother trying to deny it” she said sternly, and
he went to speak but she stopped him with a look.
“I
don’t know who, though I have my suspicions,” she said flatly.
“And
I don’t think I want to know but I know you’re sleeping with other women” she
paused.
“And
as I said last time I don’t mind.”
She
paused again.
“For
now, but there will come a time in the not-too-distant future when I will.”
“I
love you and I’m certain sure of that, and I know you say you love me but I’m
not so sure of that.”
“But
I do love you” he said taking her hand.
“But
you don’t love me as completely as I love you” she retorted taking her hand
away “you are enough for me, but clearly, I’m not enough for you.”
He
tried to speak again but again she stopped him, so he got up and paced the
room.
“So,
you have until February to sow your wild oats or to curb your appetites or
whatever it is you do.”
“But
by my 21st birthday I need to feel your commitment”.
Steve
went to speak.
“And
no that’s not a euphemism” she said without humour “you need to want me and me
alone.”
“And
that’s all I have to say” she said, he was cleared to speak now but he didn’t
know what to say he wanted to say don’t be silly you’re the only one for me,
but he knew he was a dog.
Steve
knew that he was getting plenty, and he was liking that, but if he wanted to
keep the girl, he loved it was obvious he would have to change.
“Is
that why you don’t use the door key?” he asked.
Amelia
was on her knees removing the DVD and Steve perched on the arm of the sofa just
watching her almost in a daze.
“Yes”
she replied without turning around.
“Because…”
she began but couldn’t finish.
“You
don’t want to catch me with another woman” he said finishing her sentence and
she carried on what she was doing slowly and deliberately.
Steve
was a little shocked, firstly because and it never occurred to him for a moment
that he couldn’t have his cake and eat it too, and secondly although he knew he
loved Amelia more than he had ever loved anyone he didn’t realise quite how
much that was until that moment when he realised, he could lose her.
The
prospect of losing her stunned him and he knew he had to make changes in his
life.
Amelia
finished putting the DVD in its box and switched off the TV.
“Don’t
look so glum” she said as she stood up.
“I’m
not giving up on you yet.”
“We’ve
dealt with the serious bit,” she said slipping off her cardigan.
“Now
we get to do the fun stuff.”
And
she walked towards him unbuttoning her blouse as she did so until by the time,
she was stood in front of him her pert unfettered breasts were in his face.
