This is a story that was listed originally under science fiction. However it is set in the present day and might more accurately have links to (mild) horror and mind control. I have six completed chapters that I'll add over the next few days and weeks. I'm always interested in feedback and any comments you might have. There will be some (quite graphic) sex in future parts but it is very limited.
I hope you enjoy the story.
"What do you mean you'll be here 'directly'!? No! Please don't hang up...I... Damn it!"
Kane Daniels looked up to the heavens in sheer exasperation as he threw his phone on to the sofa.
"It's almost as if they don't want the work! I mean it's a simple enough question isn't it? When can you come over and give us a quote to re-plaster the downstairs rooms? And what does he say?"
"I'll be over directly...?" said his smiling wife.
"Yes! But what does that mean? This afternoon? Tomorrow? Next week?"
"Any and all of the above. You should know that by now, love."
Kane lapsed into frustrated silence.
Emma smiled at her irritated husband.
"It was just the same with the electrician. I don't know why you'd expect a plasterer to be any different."
"I know," he sighed, "but it doesn't mean that I'm enjoying the 'directly' Devon experience."
Emma laughed, far more used to the slower pace of life than her exasperated husband. She'd lived in this area of North Devon for most of her life. The exception was her time at university. She went to King's College, London earning a degree in psychiatry and then spent the following six years building her career.
She was a determined, driven, career woman and loving the London life. Thoughts of settling down hadn't even crossed her mind when she walked into a networking event on the South Bank.
That same night, Kane was bored out of his mind, being talked at by a very earnest colleague when they saw one another. His piercing blue eyes and comical expressions managed to convey just how badly he needed saving from the bore of the century... and just how much he wanted her to be the one to do the saving.
She was intrigued, amused and turned on all at the same time. She was transfixed by his eyes and the rest of him was a close second. She swept in, kissed him deeply on the lips, excused themselves from the bore and the two of them had hardly been separated since.
"Earth to Emma..?"
"Hmmm??"
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Just remembering the first time you flashed those eyes at me."
His expression softened at the memory and he gathered her lovingly in his arms.
"That was quite a night if I remember right."
"It was quite a weekend...if my memory serves me right."
Her hand stroked lazily over his rear as her breath came a little faster. His eyes widened in excitement and he leaned forward to kiss her every bit as passionately as she'd kissed him all those years ago.
ding-dong
They broke apart like teenagers caught by their parents before realising that they were both nearly forty and were in their own home.
"Bloody doorbell! Who could that be?" grumbled Kane as he headed through their 19th century cottage, ducking under the sitting room door lintel and opening the front door.
"You Mr Daniels are ye?"
"Err, yes, that's me."
"Oi'm Dave...the plasterer..? 'Bout tha' quote you wanted?"
"Oh, yes, the quote, excellent. I wasn't sure when you'd be here."
"Oi tole you oi'd be eer d'rectly."
Emma had to muffle her laughter in the background as Kane ushered Dave into the house to show him what they wanted doing.
They had moved out of their Clapham flat eight years ago. Jason had just turned two and Lauren was a six month sized bump when they'd first seen Furze Cottage. It was a traditional worker's cottage that had been extended to provide four bedrooms, a good sized garden and a gate that opened on to the glorious Exmoor countryside.
They'd spent every penny they had to secure it and had to live very frugally for the next couple of years but it had been worth it. The cottage was painted white with a slate roof and a pale yellow door with a large door knocker. The windows were wooden and made up of multiple small panes that all somehow managed to let a draught in from somewhere.
Their first winter had been a huge learning experience. The pipe from the well that supplied all their water had frozen. They'd nearly run out of heating oil, unaware how quickly their Rayburn (an Aga like cooker) and oil-fired stove in the front room used it up. And it took a very resigned looking plumber to tell them that their cesspit needed emptying. It was all a million miles away from their London lives.
But they loved it. They loved the peace, they loved the access to nature and they loved the open, friendly nature of their neighbours. Not that there were many of those. Furze Hill was a small hamlet with maybe eight houses, most of which were old farm workers' cottages. They were maybe twenty minutes drive from Lynton on the North coast and a similar distance to the local schools, shops and pub.
The cottage was now very much
their
cottage as they'd decorated it and upgraded things like the bathroom and electrics when they could afford it. Jason and Lauren both had their own rooms and they'd finally managed to get fibre broadband which allowed both parents to work from home when they could.
Thursday morning started much like any other school day. Jason was only a few weeks into his first term at secondary school and was tired all the time. It was normally a huge struggle to get him up and out of bed. But today was a football day and as Kane opened the door his son was already pulling on his socks.
"Looking forward to school son?"
"No one looks forward to school, Dad."
"Oh. Well I did. I was kind of hoping that you would too."
"It's alright. I like seeing my friends. Can Phil and Evan come over for a sleepover on Saturday after the match?"
"I'll ask your mother."
"Thanks Dad."
