Her Own Best Gift

MY OWN PRESENT

Emily Jenkinsan attractive blue-eyed brunette in her early fifties, curvy but only a touch inclined to fullnessstood by the window of her five-star suite, sipping hazelnut liqueur and thinking to herself,

Well, here I am Middle-aged divorcée, alone, at a hotel built for lovers. At least its a luxury suite and not a dodgy roadside inn overlooking the car parknow, that wouldve been too tragic.

She was quite confident that the romance in her life had fizzled out some twenty years ago, somewhere between the last slammed doors and her childrens awkward teenage phases. Men crossed her path from time to time, but it always ended in disappointment bordering on full-blown gloom, so shed concluded that relationships just werent for her.

And then Hed appeareda suitor from the digital wilderness. He sent messages that made her cheeks flush and her posture straighten all on its own. She half-wanted to have them framed for the fridge, both for re-reading and as motivation to keep away from late-night snacks. Sometimes, Emily wondered if her admirer attended poetry readings or just had far too much time on his hands.

She was suddenly Em again. She bought a dressone that left her coworkers grinding their teeth with envya bra that cost nearly as much as a flight to Rome, and even joined the gym. She attacked her squats with a seriousness as if world peace depended on them.

If tomorrow I drop dead from these squats, bury me in this dress. Let my ex gnash his teeth when he sees me, shed joke to her friends with a morbid grin.

They finally met. The date went splendidly. The details are best left unwritten, but lets say this: looking in the mirror afterwards, she saw a revitalised, happier Emily staring back.

But the second meeting didnt happen. For a romantic rendezvous, theyd chosen a charming seaside town. Emily had the whole thing planned, nerves and all, but at the last minute he was hit by a nasty bout of high blood pressure, leaving her alone, once again, in a strange towns hotel room. Clearly, life wasnt about to let her off scot-free. Fate seemed to whisper, Dont get too cheeky, love.

She sat by the window, liqueur in hand, trying to reason through it all.

Well, so what? Honestly, how would I tell the grandchildren? Granny, how did you reclaim your youth? Oh, darlings, on an airport car park, waiting for a bloke with a blood pressure pill. Now thats romance for you!

The next morning, she booked herself into the hotels spaenough was enough. Right then, love, time for a celebration for one. Lets go all in. The spa ladies promised her skin was glowing. Emily checked in the mirror and thought, Theres a shine, alrightbut probably more from the oils than from youth.

The town tour was wonderful. The guide was tall, silver-haired, and his voice smooth as velvet. Some old dear in a tracksuit chattered away nearby, but Emily only had ears for him. The guide spoke of ancient battles and legend, while Emily thought: men have fought over cities for centuries, women for attention. The symmetry remains.

You must try the apple crumble, the guide insisted, leading the group into the towns finest patisserie, his gaze meeting hers with a twinkle.

The crumble was divine. Emily nearly fell in love againexcept this time with pastry and fruit. Well, at least you can always count on crumble, unlike men, she thought, grinning to herself.

Next, a spot of shopping: an amber pendant and a turquoise dress that hugged her figure so closely she winked at her own reflection. The outfit was so daring it gave her pausebut not enough to stop her.

On the plane, Emily gazed out the window. The town seemed to dissolve beneath the clouds, along with any remaining romantic fantasies.

Wellmaybe theyd meet again, maybe not. It hardly mattered. Life didnt end here.

Ahead, a new wardrobe, a couple of holidays, and perhaps another apple crumblewhether with a man or without.

And if its just the crumble, at least Ill have a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, she smiled and drifted off contentedly.

What I learned that weekend is simple: the best company youll ever have is yourself. Treat yourself brilliantlyyoure worth it, companion or no.