Fast Fiction: Just A Hunch
...’She'll be there.'
'Who will?' I asked.
'Your fiancee.'
But did he find his fiancée at the big old house?
Richard Malinson reveals whether or not a hunch was confirmed.
To read more of Richard’s spicy short fiction please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/fast_fiction/
'Take the bus as far as the third stop beyond the village. Get off, walk back along the grass verge, then go up the lane until you come to a big old house. She'll be there.'
'Who will?' I asked.
'Your fiancee.'
'Is she back in this country, then?'
'Yes, of course she is.'
'I don't believe it.'
'Well, go and see for yourself.'
At the house, I saw a sunhatted middle-aged man on the lawn. 'Are you looking for somebody?' he called.
'Ye-es,' I said, moving nearer. 'I'm looking for my fiancee.'
'Oh ... and what makes you think she's here?'
'It's just a hunch,' I said.
'Well,' said the man, 'the only women who live here are Lavinia, who is my mistress, and Petula, my fitness trainer...and young Mrs Tollins, my housekeeper.'
'Really? May I see them, please?'
The man went into the house and came out with three women. Displaying them, he said, 'I bet she isn't one of these, is she?'
'Oh, yes, she is,' I cried, vaulting the gate. But when I got close to one of them it wasn't her - as I knew it wouldn't be. I shook my head.
'Hm, bad luck,' said the man. 'Now, why did you think she was Mrs Tollins?'
'Because Mrs Tollins is the prettiest of the three,' I said, relishing the mixture of perplexity and outrage on the face of my (by then former) fiancee, Lavinia.
