THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
by Helena Sheridan
“Everyone, this is Lorel.” Jack nervously presented the latest woman in his life.
He drew an affectionate hand down her flawless cheek. Lorel’s expression remained serene. He envied her cool composure. This was the moment he had dreaded for ages. How would his critical friends react? She was so unlike any of the others he had introduced to them - would they approve of her?
His heart thumped in expectation at the buzz of excitable chatter. Gradually, a ripple of congratulatory approval welled from the back of the room. Jack closed his eyes with relief and turned to Lorel, but a swirl of eager guests surrounded her, thoughtlessly pushing him from her side.
Gripped by possessiveness, he tried to nudge his way forward again. If he could just touch her - but caught by a second flow of well wishers he found himself drifting further away.
Reluctantly, he conceded to the crowds’ enthusiasm. It was hardly unexpected. Lorel was beautiful and definitely the best thing that had ever happened to him for a long, long time. From the moment she entered his life he knew things would never be the same again!
“Lorel! Lorel!” Her sweet, angelic name pounded like a mystic chant in his mind. “Lore lei?” he mused. A wry smile creased his tired face as he gazed across the room at her.
With the evening going well, Jack slipped back from the throng. Totally intoxicated by a mixture of heady emotions and a large brandy, he surveyed the jubilant party, mentally indexing those present.
Michael, Jane, Fred, Amelia!
“How the hell?” his knuckles whitened around his empty glass as he considered his ex-partner.
Amelia glared back tossing her blonde mane of hair in pure defiance. She had not taken kindly to rejection, seething at his involvement with Lorel. Jack felt his stomach lurch with uncertainty. Amelia was always unpredictable in her behaviour. Her unwelcome presence at the function could only mean trouble for both him and for Lorel.
He could just see Lorel’s head amongst the crowd. For the moment she was safe from any fevered outbursts. He noted the jealous glint in Amelia’s hazel eyes as she snaked menacingly towards her rival. He had to remove Amelia from the room before she embroiled him in another ugly scene.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Jack pounced, swerving her from her decided course.
Amelia reeled back. Shaking her arm free of his steely grasp, she lolled seductively against the wall.
“Thought I’d come along and see what all the fuss was about. I’m simply interested to see what she’s like. So, that’s her?” she gestured disapprovingly.
Jack remained silent, his attention fixed on the hostile gatecrasher. He longed to steer Amelia to the door and get her out of here as quickly as possible, but the thought of the inevitable uproar made him cringe. When challenged, she thought nothing of striking out with little regard for those she hurt.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble,” he cautioned. Amelia basked in his unease. Blowing a taunting kiss she claimed occupancy of a nearby chair.
The light-hearted crowd continued to jostle about them. “How did you do it, pal?
Lorel’s absolutely gorgeous!” one complimented, slapping Jack firmly on the back.
Amelia writhed at the tribute. “Perhaps I should tell them what I think of her, eh Jack?” she baited.
His flushed face made Amelia snigger nastily. He had witnessed several of her dark moods in the past enough times to know she was harbouring another.
“Get out!” Jack ordered, trying to muffle his angry tone just in case anyone else heard the exchange.
“I’m not leaving,” she announced, “I was here first, remember?”
Jack shook his head at the ironic truth. Amelia was right, but strangely had only herself to blame for losing him. She knew how to lift his spirits from those dreadful times of deep depression. Her wild, outrageous antics had made him laugh and helped him through the bleak uninspired winter. With his hopes renewed it was inevitable things would change…only they didn’t change in the way she would have liked.
Suddenly there was Lorel, like a rush of fresh spring air. She occupied each waking hour and filled his dreams. He could not deny her. Lorel was what he had been waiting for all his life…
He glanced back at the chattering company. Still hedged by admirers, Lorel stood elegantly at the far end of the room. “Oh come on, Amelia give me a break, why don’t you?” Jack tried to reason with her.
Amelia stiffened her shoulders. Her eyes sparked with sinister amusement.
“Sure if that’s what you want, Jack, I’ll give you a break!”
Her attractive face contorted with revenge. She sprang from the chair and ventured towards the crowd.
Jack wrenched at her arm but with an ungainly shove she catapulted him aside and continued to march towards Lorel.
“No, Amelia! Please, no!” Jack begged, but she was determined to regain centre stage.
Her loud rantings sent a murmur of disapproval from the embarrassed onlookers. Crazed with jealousy, Amelia leapt at her adversary. Shrieks of horror and outrage accompanied the confrontation. Shaking from Amelia’s savage blows, Lorel fell back, hitting her head on the edge of a heavy table. The resultant crash echoed in the high vaulted ceiling. Jack raced to intervene, but it was too late.
Lorel lay sprawled across the wooden floor. He bent at her side, but there was nothing he could do. Amelia staggered away cringing against the crowd’s fierce objections. Like a distressed child, Jack wrapped his arms about his knees and rocked from side to side.
The past few months spent with Lorel had been the happiest he had ever known, He should have realised Amelia would not give up. With unwavering determination she had fought hard to win back his affection. Her arms outstretched, she appealed to him for support, but he turned away in disgust. How could he ever forgive her for shattering his dream?
Paled and silent, he stared in horror at Lorel’s cold, disfigured face. Their future together had been assured - now it was over.
Although completely different from his usual style, his artistic friends agreed Lorel was the best statue the sculptor had ever created