I put the phone down still in shock but also very happy. Martin, an old school friend who I hadn’t seen for 8 years was coming round.
I looked down at my large bump, I had given up work a few weeks earlier and at eight months pregnant was feeling like a 26 year old beached whale. Fed up of being stuck at home with swollen ankles and bored senseless, this had brightened my day up no end.
Martin and I had known each other since primary school. I looked on him like another brother and he on me like his sister. He was a bit overweight and had a speech impediment making him a target for school bullies. Although I wasn’t as tall as him, I was very confident, and always willing to take them on, often getting into trouble for fighting.
Martin, in return would help me with my maths homework and any other subjects I struggled with. He was very intelligent and a really sensitive caring guy, just lacking in some confidence. He had left school at the same time as me; I had gone to work as a trainee chef in a hotel ,and he went to work at a local factory. We lost touch after leaving school and I heard he joined the army and was abroad somewhere.
The doorbell rang and I rushed like a kid to open it. A very handsome man in an army uniform stood there. We threw our arms round each other and hugged and hugged, Martin releasing his grip as he felt the bump. He looked down at it and smiled, asking me what I had been doing. Then quickly saying not to answer that, we both laughed and hugged again before going into the house.
He sat on the sofa, and I studied this now very handsome man. He was well defined and tanned not like the Martin I remembered. His eyes sparkled and he was full of confidence, looking wonderful in his camouflage shirt and trousers. Feelings of our friendship swept over me, we still had a bond, a connection that had never been broken. It was like we had never been apart but he had transformed into a swan.
I made us a coffee and sat beside him. He told me about serving in Northern Ireland and the lucky escapes he had. I sat transfixed, he looked down at my bump and asked me how long I had to go, telling me I’d be a great mum,and asking to feel my bump. I smiled and nodded approval as I undid a few buttons on my blouse, his strong hands traced over my big belly quite taking me by surprise at the feelings he was giving me. He softly felt around the tight skin, his wrist bracelet unknown to him rubbing along the waistband of my big knickers and sending a shiver through me.
We talked for ages and caught up on all the missed years. His personality was still as I remembered, but now much more confident, a man of the world who had experienced life.
I offered to make us some lunch and headed off to the kitchen. Martin popped his head round the door and asked if it was ok if he had a shower. I told him of course it was and got him a towel explaining how to get the water hot (the shower had a mind of its own and would often run cold) he giggled and said he would be ok.
As it was a hot day I thought I would have a shower after him and made my way to the bedroom to change into my dressing gown.