Just the Three of Us: Chapter 16

A couple of hours later, the three women were browsing through the MASSIVE department store.

"I never realized just how huge this place truly is," said Julia. "Never ever did."

"You'd never been 'ere before?" asked Connie.

"Nope," replied Julia, noting the new inflection in her American friend's voice. "Starting to sound more like us by the day."

"Yup!" smiled Connie. "I've gone completely native."

"Native, eh?" joked Julia.

"Yeah, I'm so native I've got an ape for a husband."

"'E's a good ape though."

"Yeah...Toned down his apeness just for me. Now he's a proper posh ape."

"Wonder if Johnny was here if he'd take offense?"

"Nah..he'd just look all surprised and be like 'Oh bloody hell! They've found me out!'" laughed Connie.

"True, true," giggled Carol.

"How's things with you and Eric then?" asked Connie.

"Fabulous," smiled Julia.

"Wonder what was with Mike then the other night?" asked Carol.

"I wonder that meself," said Julia. "He'd had this horrid look on his face, looked like he was going to puke or something. I thought he was ill."

"Aye, me too," said Carol. "You don't think.."

"What?"

"He didn't look grotty till Eric said that bit about you two."

Julia's eyes went wide. "Oh dear," she said softly. "It couldn't..surely not...no.."

"You know we were teasin' before right?"

"Aye, yeah, I remember."

"Could have just been odd timing, coincidental, Mike having the pukey face."

"Aye," said Julia. "I hope he's alright though, poor thing. "

Carol, meanwhile, was peering across the store.

"What's going on Caro?"

"I saw someone who looked familiar," she answered. "Can't think who."

"Which one?"

"That girl over that way," said Carol, "In the blue."

Connie squinted. "Oh! Speak of the devil. It's Helen. "

"Eh?" asked Julia, also looking that direction.

"That's Mike's ex."

"EX?"

"Keep your voice down, Julie," shushed Connie.

"Sorry," said Julia in a lower voice. "That's Mike's ex-girlfriend?"

"Aye," said Carol.

"I didn't know he'd ever .."

"He doesn't like to talk about it much," said Connie. "Turns out they'd almost gotten married."

"COR! Things you learn about when you'd least expect it," said Julia.

Connie paused, before continuing the story.

"Yeah, he'd met her when he was..hmm..sixteen I believe. Met her on holiday. They were totally mad nutty about each other for a good bit. He'd just proposed to 'er when he found out she was cheating on 'im."

"Oh no."

"Yeah. Dropped her like a hot potato. Poor lad was inconsolable," said Connie. "John told me 'bout it shortly after. The lads closed the gates, took it upon themselves to cheer Mike up."

"That was sweet," smiled Julia.

"They're more than mates, they're really like brothers," said Carol. "The whole Python thing is really more a family. Counting the three of us too, we've been adopted in. Mags and Allie by proxy. But especially with the lads. One gets hurt, they all do."

"The Oxbridge Mafia," said Connie. " The whole bit gives that Musketeers saying a whole new meaning."

"All for one.." said Julia softly. "And one for all."

 





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