[Dear Reader, forgive me for dithering but I've not been happy with my previous story ("My Liam") and am hoping this revise will make a better read. Hopefully, also, it enhances the linkage to future (and more adventurous) episodes in the series. Please read it and see if you like it better. A lesson I can take from this is not to publish in haste!]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had a rather sequestered upbringing and had always been a reserved and nervous girl. My father had a very conservative and strict, even militaristic outlook, and my mother sometimes related cautionary tales about the nasty things that some males might occasionally do. It had all left me pretty confused about relationships with males. Even my interest in secondary school boys had been hampered by wariness of their boisterous behaviour.
So when I finished high school I was rather nervous about starting at university. I had grown up in a country town where even the local area secondary school was quite small, and transferring to a large university seemed a big challenge. Adding to my apprehension was the thought of having to board with strangers.
My anxiety on this last point was a little assuaged when my mother was able to arrange accommodation for me with a cousin of hers. She told me a bit about him and his wife. Ian, she said. was a fair bit younger than her, only about 38 or so, and Louisa a little younger still. Mother assured me that Ian was a nice man and she thought I would be very happy and comfortable living with them.
And so the day came when my parents kissed their 18-year-old Natalie goodbye and I nervously set off for the big wide world. As had been arranged, I took a cab from the train station to Ian and Louisa's home. It proved to be a very nice house. Louisa, a slender woman with smile lines and curly black hair, welcomed me warmly explaining that Ian would be home from work later. She showed me where everything was, including my room and the bathroom, adding that if I ever found the bathroom occupied I was welcome to use their ensuite. Then she helped me to unpack and make use of the wardrobe and drawers,.
I had already started feeling more relaxed about my new living arrangements, settling into my room and chatting with Louisa on and off until Ian arrived. And my mother had been right -- Ian was indeed a very nice man, quietly spoken if also rather reserved, almost shy actually. He wasn't stunningly good-looking but he had a kind face and a nice smile, and dark brown hair with lighter, coppery streaks in places. When we met he just smiled and said simply "Hello, Natalie" without any fuss.
