Chapter 15. Now Julie is no fool and she had cottoned on to the fact that Becky

[Kitosdad]

" Hello Becky, I'm so glad that you are here. This is Juie, she was with Jack and I in Korea, and she's the one who helped me during my hospitalisation."
Now Julie is no fool and she had cottoned on to the fact that Becky and I must be in a close relationship.
" Oh, hello Becky, I'm so pleased to meet you. Tom has told me so much about you,and how you and he make such a great team " she lied.
The relief on Becky's face showed through. She was relieved to accept that Julie was merely an old friend, and that nothing was going on between we two. We shared a few minutes of inane banter, then Julie said,
" Well, I must be going. My husband is meeting me shortly, and I don't want him to think I've gotten lost." We all laughed at this, and after a final hug and handshake Julie left the store.
" She's very nice," said Becky. " Have you ever met her husband?"
At last I could breath easy again and replied,
" No, but they are very happy together. They've been married for quite some time I believe."
" Did she marry Jack?, she asked.
" No, Jack is probably back in Newcastle again. Most Geordie's stay put for their whole lifetimes. Julie is from the Midlands, I don't know where exactly, and she may even have moved from there. I've no idea where she lives, anyway, give me ten minutes then we can go and have lunch together somewhere."
" I know, said Becky, I'll go and grab a table in the cafe and wait for you there."
" OK, I won't be long in joining you."
After attending to a customer I went to the locker-room and grabbed my jacket and was about to leave the store when Maurice made an unexpected appearance.
" Hiya Tom, where are you off to then?"
" I'm going for lunch Mate. I only get half an hour and I'm in a hurry, sorry." I hurried away leaving Maurice standing there. The last thing I wanted was to renew my acquaintance with him.
" I'll be here when you get back," he shouted after me.
Oh, bloody hell, that's all I didn't need!
I hurried to the cafe and joined Becky at the table.
" You'll never guess who I've just ran into, Maurice again." No sooner where the words out of my mouth than the door opened and in walked Maurice.He sauntered over to our table and gave Becky a leering smile.
" Hey Tom, no wonder you wanted to have your lunch alone, you sly dog.You didn't say you would be sharing it with a beautiful woman."
He laughed at his own comment. I was feeling really fed-up now. What with having to change my job because of him, and now his knowing that I had a girl-friend.
" Becky, this is Maurice, an old Army chum."
The words tumbled from my mouth. " He's a delivery driver for a company that the store deals with."
" Pleased to meet you Becky," he said holding out his hand. Becky shook his hand with reluctance.
" Mind if I join you both?. I'm a stranger around here, and it's lucky for me that I ran across Tom during my deliveries. He and I always worked well together in the Army, didn't we mate?"
Becky gave a sickly smile, and I could tell that she was as bored with his presence as I.
" Well Tom, we'd better be getting you back to work,"she said. We hurriedly left the cafe, leaving Maurice sitting alone with his drink.
Hurrying up the street Becky suddenly stopped and said, " Tom, I think you need to speak to your manager again. This Maurice is obviously hell-bent on latching on to you, and probably has some scheme in mind. The last thing we need is your getting involved with the Police because of his devious plans."
She certainly had a point, and I resolved to do exactly as she suggested.
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