Silver Stilettos in Sainsbury’s

I know people look at me. Brian likes them to notice me. I don’t mind.

I’m not a regular at Sainsbury’s. Brian favours Waitrose, but the road was up and this was nearer. I could see the woman who was admiring my blue and white shirt. Not M&S, dear. A little place I know off Kensington High Street.

Blue and white shirt, white trousers, white hair styled by Jasmine every week, and the silver stilettos. A bold choice for the supermarket, but Brian likes me to be bold.

In my dress style.

I take pleasure in being able to walk comfortably in high heels. Not many can at my age. I suppose it’s because I’ve never given up. Women can get out of practice if they take to trainers. “Ugly footwear,” Brian says. “Not for you, my dear.”

I don’t mind.

It might have been easier to push the pram in trainers, but nobody wore them then. I did have a pair of wedge-heeled sandals that helped.

Brian said, “You can ditch those now the boys are at school. You need to look elegant at the school gate. Our sons’ mother, my wife, needs to be well turned-out.”

When we married I stopped working. Brian thought it would reflect badly on him if I continued. It would seem that he couldn’t support his family. I didn’t mind. I enjoyed being a home maker. “Not a housewife,” Brian said. “You didn’t marry a house, you married me.”

I joined various daytime education courses. Dinner party catering at first and upholstery. Then I branched out and studied history, literature, and politics so that I could hold my own at the dinner parties.

We still give the occasional dinner party with the Royal Doulton and the Waterford crystal. Our boys say we’re dinosaurs, but Brian sticks to our standards, says he’s not going to eat in an open-plan kitchen with guests lolling on an island quaffing martinis. He doesn’t want them to see me hot and bothered at the stove. Brian can be thoughtful like that. I take my time in the kitchen while he entertains people in the sitting room. When the meal’s ready he ushers them to the table, and I bring in the food.

Don’t think that Brian doesn’t help. He always lays out the dress I’m going to wear and the perfume he’s bought me. He says it saves me having to stress about clothes when I have so much to do in the kitchen.

He bought me this magnificent diamond ring for our fortieth. I wear it everywhere, even to the supermarket. When we were engaged he could only afford a laboratory stone set in silver. On the days when Brian plays golf, I get it out and slip on my finger. And remember.

Why the silver shoes today? I have black, brown, navy, red and nude stilettos. If Brian asked, I’d say they gave me a frisson of freedom.

He wouldn’t mind.

Would he?

Valerie says: I live in Kent with my husband (and dog) with my extended family nearby. My characters are often inspired by people I see when I’m out. I imagine their lives, homes, thoughts and conversations.