W Is for Wendy

"Will, I need to talk!"

My cousin Amanda pushed past me through the hall and strode into the lounge. I'd not been expecting her, not at all. I made sure the front door was closed and then turned and followed her. When I got as far as the lounge she was already sitting on the sofa with a glass of something-or-other in her hand. Vodka, maybe. It wasn't just that though, Amanda hardly ever drinks except when she's stressed. It was the fact that she looked just drop-dead gorgeous.

I looked across towards her and smiled, rather weakly. I grabbed myself a can of beer and sat facing her. She always did look good but that Friday evening she was, as I said, looking particularly stunning. She'd clearly had her hair done, her long red locks were piled on top of her head, strands hanging down the sides of her beautifully made-up face as far as her gorgeous neck. I didn't at that moment fully realise why, but she was clearly dressed up for a night out, short low-ish cut dress, nice high heels, the business. She really did look good.

"Wow, Amanda! You look amazing! Is this for a special occasion?"

I remembered - many years ago, when she was about ten and I was fifteen when we'd been playing in auntie's back garden. She'd declared her undying love for me and that she was going to marry me 'as soon as I'm old enough, Will'. We'd always been close, almost 'kissing cousins' but not quite. We'd lost track of each other when I'd gone away to University and then when she'd moved to London for a few years after that. But after she and Jeremy got married they'd settled down about five miles from my own flat and we'd got back together quite often.

"It's my husband, Jeremy" she said, nervously crossing her legs, revealing totally gorgeous nylon-clad thighs.

I was having trouble controlling myself.

"What about him?" I asked, wondering just what was coming.

"I think he's having an affair. In fact I know he is!" She looked down, seeming a little tearful, her voice quivering slightly. "I don't know what to do."