The Man in the Grey Suit

Simone Gray lived in a small detached house in a little English town called Norrington.

Simone was in her early thirties and lived with her elderly mother Margaret. Simone’s father Albert had died a few years earlier of cancer. Simone was an only child. Her day-to-day life revolved around caring for her ailing mother and her work.
Writing was Simone’s passion and she had a daily column in the local Gazette. This kept her busy and on occasions she would have to go out of town for a night or two on assignment. This also gave her a break from caring for her mother.

Margaret was not at all demanding but being housebound due to her lung condition meant that Simone felt that apart from her work, a social life was not on the cards at the moment.

Simone’s work colleagues would often ask her to go to the local pub for a drink but generally she felt she needed to get home to her mother.

Sometimes Simone would take her car into the office and sometimes depending on the weather she would catch the bus which left just across the road from the house.

**

Over the last few weeks Simone had noticed a very smartly dressed man in a grey suit at the bus stop in the morning. He usually had his head in the paper, but on the odd occasion he would give Simone a quick glance and a smile.

On this one particular day it started to rain while Simone waited for the bus, she had not brought an umbrella and tried to keep her hair dry by putting her handbag on her head.

The young man looked over at Simone and offered his newspaper, “This may be a bit more helpful,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you – I actually write for this newspaper,” Simone blurted out in reply.

“Oh really? Well I must read pay more attention then,” he smiled.

Simone handed back the newspaper as she got on the bus and pointed to her column. The man just gave a nod and a smile.

**

The next couple of days were wet so Simone decided to take her car to work.

On the second day she noticed the man in the grey suit at the bus stop. Simone rashly decided to stop and offer him a lift to town – not something she would usually do at all. The man thanked her and accepted the lift. In the course of their chit-chat it he told her worked for an insurance company which was only a block away from Simone’s office. The two talked freely and the man said he had enjoyed reading Simone’s column that morning.

On the way into town he said, “I think it’s time we swapped names, I am Jeffrey. What’s yours?”

Simone laughed. “Well you must know it as it’s on my column – Simone, of course.” They both laughed.
“Maybe we could have a coffee sometime?” Jeffrey asked.
“Sure, that would be nice,” replied a flattered Simone as he shut the car door.

**

The next day was raining again so Simone offered Jeffrey a lift.
“This is getting to be a nice habit,” he chuckled as he got in the passenger door.
Simone smiled in reply.

“Are you free to meet coffee at one?” asked Jeffrey, looking over at Simone.
“I need to check my diary at work first if that’s ok, can I text you?” she offered.
“Of course,” Jeffrey said as he wrote down his cell phone number.

Later in the morning Simone texted Jeffrey to say she would be free for half an hour at one and suggested they go to a café next to her work.

They met up at one and Jeffrey ordered coffee and cakes for them both.
“Oh there goes my diet,” Simone laughed as she eyed the sweets.
“You don’t need to diet,” said Jeffrey over his coffee cup.
“Oh hush…” she blushed.

The two chatted for the whole half hour. Both already seemed comfortable in each other’s company. Simone told Jeffrey that she shared cared for her sick mother and that they lived together.

“I see…” said Jeffrey frowning a little, “well actually I care for my wife. She was seriously injured in a car accident seven years ago…”

Jeffrey went on to say she had a carer during the day while he worked but he took care of her evenings and weekends.
Simone immediately felt flustered at his admission.

“Oh I see…poor woman…” said Simone, feeling her cheeks getting redder. Jeffrey could see she was uncomfortable.
“It’s perfectly alright for me to have coffee with you Simone. My wife wants me to have friends and in fact she has been trying to encourage me to be more social,” he offered as he took another sip of coffee.

“I don’t feel we should get too involved…” Simone stammered, “it feels disrespectful…” Simone looked as if she wanted to leave.
“If you are uncomfortable…I understand,” he replied looking dejected.

Simone quickly thanked Jeffrey for the coffee and headed back to work her head in a whirl. As she walked to the office she realised that she was attracted to Jeffrey, and that she afraid to let her feelings get out of hand given his revelation.
She got back to work and threw herself into writing her latest article, hoping it would keep her mind off him.

**

The next week Simone took her car to work. She saw at Jeffrey at the bus stop but drove straight past. She felt guilty but it was easier to ignore him than be confronted by him.
There was no doubt she felt sad but she knew in her heart it was not right to get involved with a married man, even if his wife was an invalid. She felt it safer not to be his friend at all than to let things get complicated.

**

A few weeks later Simone found she had car troubles so was forced to catch the bus. Fortunately Jeffrey was not at the bus stop. Simone gave a sigh of relief; she did not want a confrontation with him.

For the next few days Simone had to take the bus while her car was being repaired, however each day there no sign of Jeffrey.

Relief at not seeing him soon changed to curiosity as to where he could be. Simone casually asked one of the other regular passengers at the bus stop if they had seen him.

“Oh did you not know? His wife died suddenly about a week ago. Very sad,” said the man.
Simone was shocked but held her composure.
“No I didn’t. That is sad indeed,” she replied.
Simone felt sick. Poor Jeffrey, she thought. It must have been awful for him.

**

A couple of weeks later Simone finally saw Jeffrey as she drove passed the bus stop. He saw her coming and put his head in his newspaper. Simone called to him to hop in the car. Jeffrey was obviously reluctant.

Simone put out her hand to him when he got in the car. “I am so, so sorry to hear about your wife,” she said quietly.
Jeffrey pulled his hand away but nodded in acknowledgment, he was obviously very upset.

“Melanie was the love of my life. We thought we would have this amazing life together, and then the car accident took it all away from us. She was only 36 when she died…it was horrible she suffered so much,” Jeffrey went on to say they had wanted a family and that was taken away from them as well.

“I am just so sad for you…and for Melanie. I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through,” said Simone.

Jeffrey gave a half smile and thanked Simone for the lift as he got out of the car.
“Anytime,” she called out as he walked away.

**

Over the next few weeks Simone still took her car on wet days and occasionally Jeffrey would accept a lift.

Gradually Jeffrey began to open up more, on the odd occasion he accepted a lift, and he told Simone his wife died in hospital from pneumonia complications. It was obviously hard for him to talk about his wife and Simone didn’t push him for more than he offered.

On one of the trips in the car Simone decided to ask Jeffrey if she could take him out to dinner. At first he said he was not sure if he was ready. Simone insisted there was no pressure but it might do him good to get out of the house. Eventually Jeffrey agreed.

Simone decided to take him somewhere casual. Her mother was happy to see her daughter get out as well and had a friend come over while Simone went out.

After a couple of glasses of wine at the restaurant Jeffrey started to relax. He admitted he felt better, and it was good to get out.

Simone replied that she was happy to do it as often as he felt like getting out.

They were again becoming more comfortable around each other and Simone could see Jeffrey obviously starting to relax more. He was quite a handsome man, tall probably just over six feet, dark curly hair with blue eyes. He had a tiny fleck of grey starting to appear on his temples which made him look distinguished.

Simone realised she was starting to have feelings for this man. She knew she needed to keep things in check as she didn’t want to ruin their friendship.

**

As the weeks went by Jeffrey seemed to be happier, on a couple of occasions he held Simone’s hand when they went for a walk at lunchtime. Sometimes he would accompany Simone at a weekend when she took her mother for a walk on the beach. They would stop for coffee and Elizabeth was pleased to see her daughter happy.

Weeks turned into months and the relationship was still quite platonic when one afternoon over coffee Jeffrey asked Simone if she would be able to get away for a weekend.

Simone was quite surprised but excited at the prospect. She could ask her cousin Mary to keep an eye on her mother. She quickly agreed.

Jeffrey told Simone his parents had a beach property up the coast and he had not been there in such a long time. He thought it might be nice for them to get away.

Simone was happy, but still felt she needed to keep her feelings in check.
They travelled the hours’ drive up the coast in Simone’s car until they arrived at the small bay.
The little cottage was quaint; it was almost dark when they arrived. It smelt a bit musty and Jeffrey apologised, “It’s been locked up for a while,” he said.

“It’s lovely,” smiled Simone as she looked around.

After they settled in they walked up the road and bought some fish and chips to take back to the cottage. Jeffrey found a bottle of wine in the cupboard.

The evening was lovely; they talked about their childhood and their interests until the wee small hours.

Jeffrey went to his room, and he gave Simone the room his parents usually used. Before going to bed he gave Simone a peck on the check and said “thank you,” before retiring to his room.

Simone felt too happy to fall asleep, and she didn’t wake till around 9.30am when Jeffrey tapped on the door with a breakfast tray.

“Oh my gosh, sorry I didn’t mean to sleep so late,” she said.
“You obviously needed the rest,” Jeffrey chuckled as he put the tray on the side table, “There is no rush and no timetable,” he added as he closed the door behind him.

Simone soon ate up her breakfast. It was tasty and she had to admit she enjoyed the pampering.
After they both showered Jeffrey suggested they go for a walk.

“Make sure you wear sensible shoes,” he called out to Simone.
“I am a sensible girl,” replied Simone with a grin.
Jeffrey laughed.
Simone loved to see him laugh, his eyes sparkled and his mouth curled up at the sides.

Walking down the beach Jeffrey reached for Simone’s hand. As the wind blew her hair into her face Jeffrey gently brushed it aside.

Simone smiled at him. Words were not necessary. It was obvious Jeffrey was feeling more and more comfortable in her company.

They had fun on the beach collecting shells and stones, which they put into Jeffrey’s handkerchief.
“I hope your hanky is clean,” she teased him.
With that Jeffrey gave her a playful push.
They then chased each other up the beach. When they stopped Jeffrey spun Simone around and kissed her. Simone was initially shocked but soon happy.

“I have been waiting for the right time to do this”, Jeffrey said excitedly.
“Are you sure…?” Simone replied, looking into Jeffrey’s face quizzingly.
“Yes I am, I feel happy again. I just want to take it slow though, for both our sakes. Is that ok with you?” he asked, searching Simone’s face for an answer.
“Of course, it’s just fine,” said Simone giving Jeffrey another kiss.

The rest of the weekend was sheer bliss. On the Saturday night they went out for a special dinner at a little café, just down the road. It was such a lovely evening, everything was perfect.

Simone didn’t want the weekend to end. She was so happy. She knew she was falling in love with Jeffrey and that he felt the same way. Life felt good.

When they got home Simone rushed in to tell her Mother about her weekend. Margaret was overjoyed to see her daughter so happy.
“Don’t rush things sweetheart”, she told her daughter as they hugged.
“We are not going to,” Simone assured her mother.

**

As the months passed Simone and Jeffrey spent all their free time together. They were so happy and the future looked promising.

Jeffrey eventually decided that he needed a new start life and persuaded Simone and her mother Elizabeth to sell their little cottage and move up the coast. Simone was at first reluctant to leave her job but decided to go ahead when she was offered the job of correspondent for the area. They would all live in Jeffrey’s parents little cottage until they could find a bigger house to accommodate them all comfortably.

Just over a year after Simone and Jeffrey met they were engaged and six months later they married. It was a quiet wedding; Jeffrey was not keen for a big fuss.

They bought a lovely house with views of the sea. Margaret lived with them for two years before she passed away. Her health gradually deteriorated and Simone was grateful she could work from home so she could be near her.
Jeffrey was doing well as an Insurance broker and he hoped Simone could soon stop work and have a family.
They had been through a lot together but love had come through for them.

By Kay Rayner. Read more here.