The two weeks that comprised the end of term one holidays in New South Wales, which also included Easter this year, had come and gone so fast. It only seemed like yesterday that I had left the mercurial Clare on what had effectively been the last school day of the term, for Clare and I; the government schools still had the Friday to negotiate.
My wife worked through the break, as was usual (she referred to bank her leave and use it during our summer holiday period). However, my daughter and I had not done anything overly exciting during that time but, then again, it had not been boring either. A bike ride or two and a game of squash and tennis, things of that nature, had filled in some time, plus some school assessment tasks required a visit to the library for additional research. We had had a good time together regardless and the days had slipped by quickly. To my pleasant surprise, leading up to the last Friday of the break, one of her friends had asked her around to their place. After dropping her off early that morning I had taken the opportunity, after doing a few domestics, to put the feet up and relax.
"Arrgghhhh! Who the fuck..." I moaned and cursed under my breath.
The phone had rung which made me jump; startling me back to reality from the cosy, dreamy world I had slipped into, remembering that last week of term one and all that amazing sexual activity I had come my way (pun intended). That had been one crazy week for me, and I would gladly do it all again and again and again.
"Hello?...Ray?"
"Yes." I replied, still trying to clear my head.
"Sorry, it did not sound like you at first. I hope I haven't disturbed you
too
much?"
The soft, lilting intonations of the soothing, friendly female voice on the other end of the land line, slowly filtered into my foggy brain, "If you can, I would love to see you around here, but only if you have the time? I bumped into Daniella while I was on the return leg of my morning walk and she told me that you had just left after dropping your daughter off at her place. So I..." Her voice faded out, but I was not sure if it was intensional or just the bad line.
"Sure Michelle, like you said, I am flying solo today. Is everything okay?" I asked.
My senses had flown into hyper-drive upon hearing her sultry voice. I had not expected to hear from my dear, lovely and extremely sexy neighbour for at least another three weeks.
"All good. I dropped my son off last night at a mates house and now, like you, I have some free time. I know surprises are not your thing, but..."
I listened closely as the land line connection was not a good one...I got the distinct impression that she was up to something. "Are you sure?"
"Definitely! I was just pottering around wondering
what to do with myself.
You know how it is, sometimes having unexpected free time can be difficult to fill in. Anyway, I thought of
you
, as I do often when I am alone (this last comment was made in a hushed sext tone), and I got to wondering if you might like to
come
around
and catch up..."
"What are you up to?" I asked warily. I knew that she was conjuring some sort of mischief, which knowing Michelle would be of the 'fun' variety, but I did not want to go spoiling things for her either. As she said, I am not usually good with surprises but for this particular lady, I was willing to make an exception.
"Little ol' me?" she asked in a really bad Henny Penny voice. Her laugh that followed her reply brightened my day considerably.
"I will be on your doorstep in about 5!"
"Could you make it 10? That would be so excellent if you could. See you then." She promptly hung up. I shook my head in disbelief, not only at the coincidence of both of us being sibling free on the same day during the school holidays, but also at the rather unusual verbalisation Michelle had used.
"Oh well," I said out loud to myself. "beggars can't be choosers. Besides, it is a great opportunity to tell her my news about Clare and the music tour."
The day was a touch grey and overcast. Though the clouds were not low and foreboding, the light was still dull and uninspiring. Everything looked drab...to be expected when winter is approaching I suppose. However, I was not going to let the weather keep my heart from soaring as I hopped the small fence into Michelle's carport, rounded her small silver grey Mazda 3 and bounded up onto her veranda.
I rang the doorbell. A long moment of silence greeted my ears as I stood there eagerly awaiting the door to open. I was just in the throws of ringing again when Michelle finally answered.
"Hi Ray!" she said excitedly. "Um...sorry, I got caught with another phone call, and therefore, I misjudged the time it would take for you to get here."
"Are you okay?" I asked quizzically.
"Me! Sure. Well...yes and no." She looked (facially) as beautiful as always, but her expression told me she was caught in two minds about something.
"Can I come in?" I asked, laughing slightly at her indecision.
"Yes.... NO! Wait, please." She looked at me smiling wanly.
"I can come back?"
"Ugh, I knew I should not have rushed." She said aloud, although it seemed more of a reprimand of herself. She looked at me apologetically. "You don't have a clue what I am talking about do you?"
Her infectious laugh and cute smile made me reciprocate as I shook my head.
"I wouldn't have the foggiest. But I do get the impression you have something planned. Would it be something that you were going to deliver after your holiday, which you are now rushing to try and deliver today?"
"Very perceptive." She said with a cute, shy look.
"
Hand caught in the cookie jar
." I thought looking at her expression.
"I know you don't like surprises,
but
