Just Like You 3

This story is long, 14,300 words, 4-1/2 (approx) Literotica pages long.

The story, dialog, colloquialism's, terms of reference and descriptions are in UK/Australasian English. All spelling and grammatical errors, blah-blah-blah is on me.

There is sex. The story contains swearing. If any of this is not to your taste, this may not be the story for you Mate.

---

She came into my view unannounced. I forget exactly when, late winter or early spring not that it matters, she was here. We belong to the same local social club. Cheap piss. Counter top meals. Pool, darts and pokies. Bullshit fishing stories. You get the picture.

Work takes me away so club visits are Friday or maybe Saturday nights. Sundays on the rare occasion I don't make it one of the other two nights. I play pool not often, have a couple of stubbies, Jamesons over ice or rum and coke, bit of a convo.

Never gave her a second glance first up. I pretty much sit with one group, predominantly male but not exclusively. She wasn't part of that group, more inclined to hang with the pool addicts.

When I'd noticed her as the

'new guy'

it was peripherally and in the background. She to and fro'ed her ways passed our bar leaner to the ladies room. I glimpsed her only because it occurred to me she went by a bloody lot. I dismissed it thinking she was probably puttin' something up her nose.

I couldn't tell you what she looked like. All I'd glimpsed was her long shiny black hair. She stood taller than other women in the club.

The clothes she wore were typical for the time of year; blue jeans, black jacket and sneakers; rural social not suave city. I'd sensed her eyes looking my way but when I looked up her focus was always on where she was going.

A mate I'd not seen in a whiles turned up. He was back for a funeral of a well liked older local identity, also a club-member, so the club was where the wake was held. I caught up with Mike Forster.

The place was full to the bloody brim, the atmosphere winding up by the time we arrived. Full enough

'She'

was helping on the bar down the far end and damn near everyone was flocking to her for their drinks.

Leon got done with his last customer so I wasn't about to look a gift-horse in the mouth and ordered, Mike looked and asked, "Whose the little cutie down the end of the bar serving mate?"

"Don't know her name mate. Ask Leon."

(Leon heard me.)

"Names Rachel Brannigan Mike. She's lived here for sometime. Her and her boyfriend joined a few months back. Straight up volunteered her services for when we get stretched. Corker little barman she is too. Knows her stuff."

We made for an empty leaner. Before long others came and we all settled in. Kerry Dillon parked herself in front of me, "Evening Forster, been a while. How's it hangin' mate?"

She got a

'Great Ker, your lookin' flash as normal.'

I watched Kerry's eyes fix a cheeky look in my direction, "And as for you Mr Harbison, where's that bloody marriage proposal you offered me. Huh?" I heard the snigger's and giggles in the background.

Always with the marriage proposal shit. I returned the glare, "Every time I've gotta bloody remind you... Don't I? We were four and a half years old for cryssakes."

The laughs started,

"WE were literally just outta nappies. Literally."

Now they were all openly laughing,

"Besides, if we get married Vaughany's gonna have to set himself up in the spare room. No way am I'm sleeping with him again. The prick snores like a pig." The laughs got louder.

Kerry Dillon and I lived next door to each other 'til we left college. Our parents are still great friends despite the fact both family's have moved. Kerry will always be my best mate. Vaughan and Mike were flat-mates and went to Uni.

I went to trade school, had block courses so I'd rent a room every coupla months for one, two weeks.

I introduced my best mate to Vaughan Coker. Mike has an on-again, off-again relationship with Vaughan's sister, Claire. I think its been on-again for a whiles now.

We're all hovering around thirty-six'ish years old, I'm unattached and not looking. You know how it is - work. Didn't bother Kerry though, "So Mate, where's Mrs Harbison tonight?"

"My mums fine, thanks for asking." I gave my stunning blonde blue-eyed best mate a smile.

"Smart-arse." We broke out laughing. In amongst the mix was another laugh, a rich happy melodic laugh that stood out against the rest. It came from Kerry's right. My eyes were centered on Kerry from the time she sat opposite me but now that laugh drew me to where it was coming from.

Our eyes briefly met and what passed between us felt like a shared familiarity. I watched her, she felt it too. Still, it was fleeting. Familiarity from a former lifetime perhaps.

She had this whole staring thing going on though. It took a monumental amount of effort for me to draw my eyes back to engage hers.

Wasn't any form of embarrassment on my part. Okay. Maybe just a teeny bit intimidated by a very pretty young woman making me the centre of attention. Despite the stare her smile never waned one little bit.

She's gorgeous, the smile and laugh added to her finer features: bright happy playful eyes. A smattering of coloured freckles across the top of her cheeks and bridge of her cute nose. Very kissable lips framed by that long dark hair.

Ker' did the intro. For some reason she was studying my face hard-out as she spoke. That was weird, even for Kerry. She's a come straight out and say-it, I-don't-do-subtle type of girl, "Rob, Mike. This is Rache Brannigan."

Rache held out her hand to us both but wasn't in a hurry to let mine go. Mike lead the conversation, his forte is asking embarrassing or awkward questions of the ones hes just met. He asked her both, Rache asked if he was

'Freakin' serious'

and everybody burst out laughing. We've all

'been there'

with Mike and his bloody questions.

The talk was free-flowing. Kerry and Mike had scores to settle on the pool table, wanted partners. I begged off as Kerry asked Rache. She begged off too but a pair of likely lads in our group stepped in. That left four girls, three were happily chatting.

Rachel came and sat next to me and started up a convo. It was easy, we both found subjects that we were comfortable with that weren't of a personal nature. Once those dried up we were at ease enough to just sit quietly watching the world go by.

We needed refills, I picked up her empty and went to mosey off to get a refill, "Rob, I wouldn't mind some fresh air, you wanna meet me out in the garden bar?"

I gave her a nod, got our refills and headed outdoors. She'd found a table and seats a ways from the only others out there, the smokers and vaporers. She looked worried, "You okay Rache?"

"I've a bit of a story to tell you but I don't want it to end up offending you. It's Kerry that convinced me I should have this conversation with you. Not that I didn't wanna anyway. You know, nerves an' all."

That peaked my curiosity, I didn't understand any of what Rache was getting at, "Okay. Look, if Ker' knows what it is that you wanna tell me and doesn't see that as a problem then tell me. I'm a big boy, I don't easily offend. Go ahead. Tell your story Rache."

Rache took a deep breath, "Okay. Here goes. My mum's maiden name was Donna Fluery." She paused and watched for my reaction."

'Oh. Fuck.' I knew exactly where this story was going,

"Lyndell Fluery-Calter is my aunty."

I looked again at Rachel. How could I've been so blind, "You do look so much like her Rache."

"My mum? I look like my mum."

"Probably. But I've never met your mum. She'd left college a year before I joined, she's four, five years older than me. I don't remember if Lyn even mentioned your mums married name Rache."

I paused, smiled. Continued,

"No. I meant you look so much like your aunty. I should've realised before now but we've only been... "

Rache broke in 'Five minutes, we met five minutes ago.'

Now I knew what Kerry's weird look at me was all about, "Yeah. That won't stop Kerry dishing out a whole lotta grief 'bout me not immediately puttin' two and two together."

Rache's face broke out in a huge smile

('God that smile takes me back'),

"But you DID recognise my face, the familiarity. I read it in the expression on your face the moment we looked at each other Rob."

I nodded in agreement, she was right but I still didn't recognise what happens to be a very strong resemblance between niece and aunty.

I had a question, "Did you say Calter. Did Lyndell marry Baz Calter?"

"Yeah she did but it didn't last long. Two years according to Mum. She said he turned out to be a right prick. Didn't beat aunty up but he got close to it. Last anybody heard he'd headed off to the Philippines."

Well that's not far enough away for him to be safe. May have to take some vacay time, "Sorry Rache, I'm getting you side-tracked. You were saying?"

"So I know you and Aunty Lyn were really close in college. Aunty Zara said you were inseperable. You don't have to go into details over that. I was wondering how you felt or if you still felt anything for Aunty Lyn Rob?"

"Zara's right. We, Lyn and I were all but joined at the hip at college. We loved each other. Had plans, pretty much mapped out our life. I'd even met your grandmother and grandfather. God Rache, they're such great people. Then I went and fucked it all up. As to feelings about Lyn and I; probably best left in the past. For my behaviour and the way I treated Lyn twenty years ago she's every right to hate me."

Rache looked puzzled, "But Aunty Lyn said she fucked up your guy's relationship. And Aunty Zar said she had a hand-in your break up."

"Rachel. Sweetheart neither of your aunties had a role in our break-up. Lyn was a victim of my idiocy, it's that simple. I listened to someone I trusted. A so-called friend. What he told me turned out to be a lie. Worst of all, how I reacted to the situation before I found out I was lied to doesn't even make it a break-up. I just walked away and never spoke to Lyn. Ever. I never gave her the chance to explain. I left."

I hated reminiscing over this part of my life. It left a dark black hole in me for a long time so I've made a concerted effort to forget. Well, until now.

"At first it was a suspicion but it came well after the fact. The liar convinced another friend that the information he had was true. That other friend and I are life-long friends. It's not Kerry or Mike. We all went to college together. That friend is Alan Kurton. Alan, Kerry and Mike have talked and Alan started to have reservations about the information the liar gave me. Alan and the liar caught up and when Al mentioned his doubts, parts of the original story had changed. From day one neither Kerry or Mike believed the story."

"I told no one why Lyn and I split. I suspect Lyn did the same. Kerry was incredulous that we'd split because of what Alan told her, she called the story absolute bullshit. If I'd confided in Kerry and Mike maybe Lyn and I would still be together but by that time it was eight years too late."

"Alan lost touch with the person about that time and hasn't heard a word from him since. I never contacted Lyn. I was pissed off I'd listened and been convinced by a liar who I'd called a friend. But more to the point because I did what I did with no regard for Lyndell I knew it would be arrogant, wrong to break back into her life especially after so long. I ruined her and therefore our lives and hopes of a future together. My mum never really forgave me for the split-up. She adored Lyndell and she and my dad met your grandparents. My dad and I have never spoken about any of it but I'm pretty sure he feels the same way as mum."

Rachel spoke, "Rob. That friend, the liar you talked of. Is that Calter?"

"Yes. He ruined our lives initially. I set fire to what remained. FUCK IT! That prick married her. Fuck it!"

Whoops, smokers were making for indoors with worried looks cast my way,

"Sorry Rache. Its just that... Why in the fuck did she pick that prick."

"Rob. She told me that she waited eight years. Calter was always around, always looking out for her. He said he'd tried talking to you about getting back together but none of it worked. He told her you always had a new bit hanging off your arm. He finally told her you'd got engaged and he was going to your stag do and the wedding. It killed her Rob. I could see it in her expression as she told me the story. It was like the light went out in her eyes. She said she settled. When she married him, she settled for the prick. I was fourteen when they married. Mum and Aunty Zara had a rip-roaring argument over it all. It sent Aunty Lyn into hysterics. I've only just found out what it was all about recently when Aunty Lyn told me the full story."

I stopped Rache continuing, "Rache, this has got to do with why Lyn and Zara blame themselves for our split-up."

(Wasn't a question).

"Yes. I don't know you know but Aunty Zara was a wild child in her teens?"

No. I didn't. She was just really nice, and I really liked Zara. Lyn and her were close friends as well as sisters,

"And she wasn't particular where or with who she practised the 'wild' part with. Or on might be a better word for it. So both aunty's worked weekends at our local hotel, the one Calter's old man leased. So, turns out Aunty Zara offered other

'services'

besides housekeeping and waitressing. Don Calter caught her one night with one of her mates 'entertaining' some punters in the flats out the back of the hotel. Old man Calter was too slow to catch Aunty Zara's mate, she'd hidden in the bathroom and scarped when his back was turned. Zara and the two perps both refused to give up the other girls name."

"He marched Aunty Zara home, confronted grandma and grandad and told them he was doing them both a favour not calling the cops. He was just covering his own arse and his customers, the old prick. Even though he didn't know the other girl he finger pointed Aunty Lyn. Both grandma and grandad knew Aunty Lyn was at home all night. Fortunately both grandparents made sure Aunty Lyn worked weekend days in the kitchen and waitressing only, no evening work. They stopped both girls working and grandad never set foot in the pub again. Aunty Zara left home not long after, they were both already past the age of consent so there was bugger all the cops coulda done anyway but Aunty Lyn got caught in the cross-fire when she'd not been involved. What grandad did get out of her was the fact she knew and hid some of what Aunty Zara had been up to but not the extent. So that's why they blame themselves. And that's how that prick manipulated the story to you as well as lied about you to her."

I sat not knowing what I really felt; anger, pain. Sadness. A dose of shame for sure. In the end I was seriously considering drinking myself into oblivion. I went to the bar, got us both another to start on the journey. I saw Kerry eyeballing me from the pool room.

Rache went to speak, hesitated twice then began, "Rob. I have a question to ask you from Aunty Lyn... Oh god this is hard to ask. God, I shoulda made her do it. Okay. So. Would you... No. Could you see anyway that you could talk to Aunty Lyn about... Well. Everything. Anything. God, I'm stuffing this all up."

"NO you're not! And yes he can!" She plonked herself down, slammed her half empty premix bottle on the table and looked at me dead in the eyes. To exaggerate the look she moved her face, chin-first closer to mine never dropping her gaze, "Can't cha." She even wiggled her eyebrows for effect.

I had a hard time not smiling at Kerry. She was right but it had to be done right, "Yes we can talk. But Rache, Lyn has to tell me she wants to talk to me. It's not a case of me deciding when or what or where. I lost that right when I got up and walked away."

Mike's voice broke the silence, "DILLON! Fuck ya. Are you still playin' pool or fuckin' gossiping?"

"Keep ya fucking shirt on Forster, I'm coming... Got the KY out mate. Ya gonna need it."

Kerry whipped her head around toward us both looked at Rache then me with a big smile, "Well kiddies, looks like my job is done here so I must away to give Forster a jolly good rogering."

She grabbed my head and kissed my forehead,

"I'm especially proud of you. Go get her."

"When would you..."

I broke in and said 'that's up to Lyn not me Rache,'

"Shall I ring now? Yeah. I will."

The call rang twice, "Aunty Lyn, It's Rache. I'm with Rob now. He said yes but he also said you have to tell him what you want him to do, like when you want to meet and where... What?"

I could hear Lyn babbling away in the background,

"No. Rob said he has no right to ask you for anything..."

More babble,

"Because he said he lost all rights when he walked away... from you

." The babble seemed to have raised up an octave,

"No. He doesn't see it that way... He takes the blame... "

Rache frustrated, looked at me, rolled her eyes then lent her forehead against the palm of her hand,

"Aunty Lyn... LISTEN... That's not what's important right now... No it isn't. LOOK! All you need to do is tell me a date..."

I indicated to Rache for her to hand me the phone, she softly spoke,

"Brilliant idea Rob. Yes please, you deal with her."

Lyn hadn't stopped talking, I listened then spoke, "Lyndell. Honey, it's Rob."

There was complete silence,

"You only have to say three things. Firstly; tell me you agree to see me. Secondly, tell me when you want to see me. Third, tell me where you want to see me. Okay?"

Silence,

"I'm passing the phone back to Rache now Lyn. I'll see you soon."

Rache mouthed

'Thank you'

took a deep breath, "Okay Aunty Lyn, you wanna see Rob? Yes. Great... Secondly where? Here... At the club. Really! Oh, Okay. Finally, when do you wanna meet, what day?"

"WHAT! Now... As in tonight. Right now? Crikey... Hang on I'll ask Rob."

I gave Rache a big smiley nod 'yes,'

"He said yes aunty. Okay. See you soon." I had a thought.

"Rache tell her to pack a bag, Lyn can stay with me. I've got a spare bedroom." She did and Lyn would stay.

Lyndell and her families home town is a good twenty-five minutes by car from my town. Her parents grain and cropping farm is out beyond the town. By the time Lyn gets herself ready and arrives she maybe close to an hour away.

We both sat quietly with our thoughts. I broke out of mine first, "Sod the beer Rache, I'm gettin' me a Jamesons." She'd have a Canadian Club.

By the second round we'd both calmed, got over our nerves, kept the conversation uncomplicated. I answered questions that Rache had about Lyn and I during earlier times and together we let a comfortable 'settling in' process begin.

"Good grief Rachel, I know nothing other than your family relationship. I know Lyn said your mum and dad married straight after college but that's about it. Tell me something about you. You have a partner do you not?"

"I do. How did you know that. I haven't even mentioned Peter in our conversations... Have I Rob?"

"When we arrived Mike asked who the cutie down the end of the bar serving was. We hadn't met yet, Leon filled in some of the gaps."

Rache went red as a beetroot and I couldn't stop a small laugh,

"And Mikes right you know. You are. And you come from a long family line of cuties."

She looked despairingly at me. It was a 'please stop' look. I took one more cheeky stab, and gave her a wink,

"Good genes Rache. Very good genes."

I changed gear,

"Sorry. No more giving ya a hard time. So tell me some of your story."

"Okay. So Pete, my partner's Peter Higgins. So we came here three years ago. Pete works out on Grayson Hughes farm. Pete mentioned that you'd project managed the building of Grayson's grain processing plant and silo's. Pete said hes met you."