Anniversary (Tristan Sender)

Anniversary Present

By

Tristan Sender

The crunch of gravel underfoot on the driveway announced James’s approach to the party. It was a year to the day that he had last been here for the wedding of his first cousin Jane to Sir John Goodham. One-year anniversary parties were a tiresome tradition in his and other upper middle class families.

James had never understood the need for such an event, surely five or ten years would be an appropriate milestone; but who was he to complain, free booze, and fine dining awaited him in the white marquee on the other side of the Cotswold stone mansion he had arrived at.

The thing was, James had slightly more reason to approach this social event with trepidation and he felt a lump in his throat as he knocked on the oak door. It opened and the butler on hire for the day ushered him through the hallway out to the picture perfect scene at the back of the house. James hesitated on the terrace, enjoying the English summers day. He inhaled the scent of freshly cut grass and listened to the chatter of happy birds. His moment didn’t last. 

“James what are you doing loitering up here?” inquired his Aunt Elizabeth, host and mother of the bride. 

“Hello Aunty, I was just admiring your garden.”

“Thankyou, it’s nice to see you, but I must say I’m disappointed to see you decided not to bring a companion.” she lied.

“Well you know…”

“Don’t you think its time you settled down; it’s done wonders for Jane.” 

“Well I am sure I will when the right girl comes along.”

“Wives don’t just appear, you have to pursue them. Look, I think I might have found the perfect girl for you. Anne, she’s a bit younger, very attractive and from a delightful family. Anyway, can’t stop I have to check on the canapés; I’ll introduce you later. Enjoy the party.” She turned to pursue her mission inside.

James hated forced introductions and the behind the scenes meddling in his love life that was endemic in his family. He welcomed the opportunity to escape and descended into the garden to find a drink.

The party was in full flow and waiters dressed in dinner suits carried chilled champagne, whilst sweltering in the afternoon sun. James grabbed his first glass and drank it down quenching his nervous thirst. There was only a brief interlude before he was reaching for another only, to be interrupted by the booming voice of his cousin and brother of the bride, Rupert Van De Berg.  

“Well! Well! The weasel returns to the crime scene. Didn’t think you’d have the stomach to show up.” 

“Fuck off Rupert! I didn’t have a choice, I would have been disowned if hadn’t.”

“If it had been me…”

“Is she coming?”

“Far worse than that my old friend!”

“What could be worse?”

“Have you looked at the table plan?” Rupert laughed.

James turned heading towards the marquee with Rupert in hot pursuit. He scanned the ornately printed plan for his name. 

“Table two I think.” teased Rupert.

A look at the occupants revealed the awful truth; He was seated at the same table as

Cecilia Hamilton.

“No!”

Rupert laughed, sticking his boot in further,

“It gets worse! She’s sat next to you, and there’s no way of changing the name tags, they’re sown into the table cloths!” 

“Fuck!”

“Well if you will go dipping your todger in to any lassie that takes your fancy, you have to be prepared for the consequences.” Rupert goaded. “Anyway I think it should be great entertainment on an otherwise dull evening!”

“You mean you had something to do with this?”

“What can I say? Your Mother asked if I knew of any suitable ladies coming to the party. I obliged, and she was most grateful.”

“You utter wanker!” James shouted storming off.  

Cecilia was a nice lady with good manners and a respectable background. She was not unattractive, but James thought that her style was more appropriate for a fifty year old, than a woman in her late twenties. James knew she was not his type, but his taste was flexible depending on how much he had to drink. This had been the case one year ago. 

The wedding like today had been a tedious affair with only a scattering of single women for the men to fight over. Abandoned on his table without a dance partner he had turned his attentions to Cecilia who was in a similar predicament. As they chatted and he drank, the timid girl in front of him became increasingly attractive. Cecilia’s conservative attire left everything to his imagination, and her prim proper tone became seductive and enticing. James longed to find out what she would be like in bed, imagining a wild and passionate woman waiting to be set free. He had decided at that point to do whatever he could to win Cecilia over.  

Surprisingly it hadn’t taken too much, a few glasses of wine, a bit of charm and she revealed the crush she held for him. Their kissing on the dance floor had gained a round of applause and they soon moved their display somewhere more private. The sex in the pool house had been a clumsy drunken event, but not without its charm on what would have been an otherwise uneventful night. He had woken the next morning held tightly in her embrace, and had prised himself free to escape before he was discovered. Rupert, lover of any scandal, was too clever for this and had burst in just as he was putting his underpants back on. 

Rupert and his friends had been quick to publicise the whole affair, and as was so often the case Cecilia bore the brunt of the shame. Branded a desperate slut she disappeared from their social circle, while James enjoyed the strangely appealing title of ‘bastard.’

For weeks after the event he had been bombarded by calls from Cecilia, all of which he had ignored. Her messages had continued, growing in intensity and desperation for nearly a month. Then suddenly without warning they had stopped and he heard no more. 

As James moved from one dull conversation to another his mind was preoccupied with one thing, ‘what was he going to say to Cecilia?’ He decided he would just have to man up, and apologise for being such a rotten cad. Ever the coward he soon changed his mind deciding to leave. He was too late and turning to leave James saw his Aunt and mother making a beeline for him with a young lady in tow.

“There you are James, I’ve been looking all over!” puffed his Aunt. “I want to introduce you to Anne Montgomery.”

“Very pleased to meet you!” said James extending his hand. 

“Likewise.” Anne replied coyly.

James felt butterflies leap in his stomach as he looked into her beautiful blue eyes. 

“Anne has just got back from Nigeria with her family; her father was head of the

British diplomatic service in Lagos.” His mother exclaimed.

 “She hardly knows anyone, so your mother and I thought you would be the perfect person to show her the ropes.” 

“I would be delighted, but think I might rather like to keep her to myself.” James half joked.

“I’m sure I will be just fine, but thanks for thinking of me.” Anne blushed.

The ladies match making was interrupted by the clang of a bell announcing dinner.

“Saved by the bell!” James replied. “I hope we get the chance to chat later.”

“Don’t worry James I have sat you together, now escort the young lady to her seat.”

James had not yet seen Cecilia and her chair was still empty when the hors d'œuvres arrived. Whatever the reason, he was grateful.

James introduced Anne to everyone sat round the table, before greedily dominating her conversation. He discovered they had a mutual love of Africa, and was able to talk in depth about his overland trip from London to Cape Town. By the time the main course arrived James had forgotten all about Cecilia, and was well into his charming stride. He made the first move testing the water by laying his hand on hers. Anne smiled leaving her hand under his, so James leaned forwards and kissed her on the lips. She moved back withdrawing her hand quickly from his, and slapped him hard round the face.

“How dare you!” she shouted. “What kind of woman do you think I am?” 

Reeling from the sting and embarrassed by the silence that had descended on the table

James whispered “I am sorry I thought...” 

“Maybe you should stay off the booze.” She interrupted before getting up and storming out.

He made to follow, halted only by the clinking of glasses to signal the start of the speeches. They passed in a blur of congratulations and toasts, but just when he thought they were over, he heard Jane call out from the main table “Where is Cecilia?

James she is sat next to you, what have you done with her?” 

“Haven’t seen her all night!” James replied back at the top of his voice so all the guests could hear.

“How strange she is supposed to be doing a toast” Jane said sounding disappointed.

“Cecilia was most insistent, oh well I suppose we shall just have to live without…”

“Wait sorry,” a voice cried from outside. “I apologise I got caught in traffic, but I am here now.” said Cecilia as she stumbled into the marquee carrying a large brown bag.

Cecilia navigated her way round the tables to the microphone. James noticed she looked different, her long brown hair was now short and red and she wore several piercings. 

“Thankyou for your patience I wouldn’t have missed today for the world.” She began.

“Commitment is something that should never be underestimated, and although Jane and her husband have only been married a year I can see the makings of a life long partnership.”

“Hear! Hear!’ agreed her audience. James sweated, praying she wouldn’t take it further.

“I have not been so lucky in love so I understand how precious this is.”  

‘Please please don’t…’ prayed James frozen to his seat, but Cecilia was on a roll.

“In fact today is actually an anniversary for me in many ways. It was a year ago almost to the day that I met the love of my life. Unfortunately things just didn’t work out.” She continued.

James felt all eyes were on him and out of the corner of his eyes he saw Rupert grinning in anticipation of what she was about to reveal. He felt compelled to shout out for her to stop, but knew he had to allow her this moment of revenge. 

“Now enough about me, please be upstanding in a toast to mutual love, may we all find the happiness these two have.” 

Cecilia then walked away from the microphone towards her seat next to James. As she reached him she kissed him gently on the cheek. 

“I can’t stay, but I thought I would thank you for your support this year. Here is a sign of my appreciation” she calmly said handing him the leather bag she was carrying.

Before he could say anything she turned running out into the night.

He wondered what was inside the bag, hoping it wasn’t a boiled rabbit or a horse’s head. James didn’t delay gratification and clicked open the brass latches peering inside. There lying on the bottom was a little baby boy with a note attached to his tiny foot. He read out loud in horror “Hello I am William your son. Today is the anniversary of my conception and my Mummy thinks she has done most of the work for the past year, so now it’s your turn.”