It was late. The weather was hot and humid, too uncomfortable for sleep. Tahnee Ryder lay in bed, listening angrily through her open bedroom window to the heated discussion taking place between her neighbours Darren and Veronica Smalling.
"God Darren, what are you on about, he's just a kid" Veronica said.
"Kid my arse, he's a sly, dirty bastard and I told you, I don't like the way he looks at you, or the way he speaks to you or the way he fawns over you."
"Oh, for god sake Darren, he's just a nice kid, he's polite, well mannered, he is always happy and he goes out of his way to help me ..."
"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. No one does that unless they after something and I sure as hell know what he's after"
"Jesus Darren, don't judge others by your own standards. Can't you even see a kind, helpful and decent person when he's in front of you?"
"Not when it's T.I. And what's with that stupid fucking name anyway?"
"Darren, I don't know what you're on about, you're making something where nothing exists. He's just a nice kid and I'm not going to change because of your stupid jealousy. If he's nice to me, which he always is, then I'm going to be just as nice and polite back"
"Don't you fucking mess with me you bloody bitch. If I ever think you're leading him on ... well you want to be fucking careful is all I'm going to say. Just be very fucking careful".
Tahnee gently closed the window. She was angry. Darren had no right to say what he said. Especially Darren, yes she knew a lot about Darren Smalling, first class sleazebag, he would fuck anything on two feet given a chance. Not to mention the number of times he had made advances to her. So to have him criticising her son and his values pissed her off no end. She had brought her son up to be all the things that Veronica said and she was proud of him for adopting her values. God knows it had been hard enough since her husband died without this crap. But she also knew that T.I. had an infatuation with Veronica. Ironically it had only come to her notice a couple of months earlier.
***
"Just had a call from Pete. Off to his place for a couple of hours, gotta go, can't wait. See you mom." T.I. mumbled as he rushed out the door, a smile, a wave, pulling his hoody on as he rushed out the door.
She laughed to herself as she shook her head in amazement. Ah dear, he was such a bundle of energy, but he was a good son, she was proud of him. She went to his room to tidy up. She was surprised to find that his computer was still on, the screen saver rolling through some pictures. Tentatively she sat at his computer. Her mouth went dry and she was wracked with guilt as she pressed the enter button. A blank screen, file headings down the side. She looked nervously over her shoulder as if someone might be there and turned her attention back to the screen. She knew it was wrong, knew it was an invasion of his privacy but she couldn't help herself, she was a mother after all. She clicked on the heading "pics" and it was with some unease that she saw near the bottom of the list one labelled "Veronica".
She pressed enter.
Her mouth dropped open as the file began to load picture after picture. They started from the day three years ago when Veronica and Darren had shifted in next door. They caught her in her home, they caught her at the shops, in the park and there were any number that caught her sun bathing beside her pool wearing the skimpiest of bikinis. In spite of herself she could understand her son's infatuation. Veronica was an attractive 22 year old lady, a very attractive lady. Tallish for a woman at around 5'9" the smooth curves of her body flowed from her shoulders, through her waist, slim hips and shapely legs. Her breasts were full with nipples like oysters. Her face was pretty in a wholesome way. Straight nose, full lips that always seemed to be on the verge of a smile and dark, soft eyes framed by shoulder length auburn hair; the overall package one to admire. The pictures of her laying by the pool with just her thong on would make any man's blood pressure rise. But this was her son, not any man. She calmed her fears in the knowledge that whilst he may have been infatuated with Veronica his behaviour was impeccable, a fact that Veronica had commented on a number of times. "Let's face it" she thought "Every boy has a crush on someone in their life".
***
Tahnee fumed at Darren's comments. She contemplated telling Veronica that Darren had made a number of passes at her. "Passes? More than passes" she thought, "where does groping fit in?" No, it had to be something different and a plan started to hatch in her mind. "If that's what you think then let's make it a self-fulfilling prophesy then". The task difficult but the timing opportune.
A few days later she invited Veronica for a coffee down at Karva's.
"Hi Veronica. Thanks for coming for a coffee with me. Today is..." Tahnee said and she paused, her lip quivering. Veronica could see the emotion wash over Tahnee's face as she fought to control the burning behind her eyes. Tahnee took a deep breath to control herself before going on.
"Today would have been Mark's birthday. You know, it's been 18 months since he passed away ... 18 months, I can't believe it. God I miss him so much. I'm feeling a bit melancholy, I just need to be with someone, a friend to talk with".
For a few, long moments Tahnee stared vacantly into the distance before quietly wiping a tear from her eye. Veronica watched silently as Tahnee absent mindedly ran her index finger around the rim of her coffee cup, her emotions just below the surface. Tahnee took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
"You know ... Mark was a big man". She paused for a moment. "I don't mean tall, although he was tall enough but he was big ... down there" she said with a wry smile. And Tahnee gave Veronica a sidelong glance to make sure she understood the implications.