Note from author:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 3
I woke the following morning with a smile on my face as I replayed the night before in my mind. Naturally, as usual I saw that I had taken care of myself and then quickly did a mental plan for the day.
I had to clean out the coal shed today in work which was never a pleasant job so needed to make sure that I took spare clothes to work as mine would be very dirty. Following that, I needed to see mother and then it hit me, I hadn't passed on mothers message to Liz. I quickly made a note and stuck it through Liz's letterbox on the way to work.
It was a glorious sunny day, and I walked jovially to the bus stop. I resumed my metal to do list and added getting some flowers for Liz as a must do. I wasn't going to turn up empty handed again, no way.
Once I got into work, I did the other bits and pieces I needed to and it was around 2pm by the time I got to the coal shed. It was at this point that I realised that I really should have done this job first as the scorching sun had heated the shed and I broke out in a sweat just sticking my head inside to get a feel for it.
I made a decision to do the work inside topless so I wouldn't reinforce the dirt and dust by sweating into my shirt. It was tough going but after about an hour, I had managed to sort the shed out, sweeping the dust out, moving the coal which had collated into the corners towards the door so that it could be used. Another coal delivery would take place in a week or so's time and what was there should be fine to keep the household running until that point, especially with the hot weather.
I exited the shed and made my way to the scullery to wash up. I used cold water into a bowl and started to wash down the upper part of my body. It was at that moment that Anne the scullery maid, or Annie, as she was known to the staff, entered the room. Anne was a short blond girl, quite pretty with smallish breasts. I knew her vaguely, more so from my mother talking about her than any conversation that I obviously had with her, as I hadn't dared to previously.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "I wasn't expecting anyone in here, sorry Trevor."
"That's fine Anne, I'm just cleaning up, wont be long."
"Well, I need to sort these pans before supper, I will wait if you are fine with that. And please call me Annie, I hate Anne."
"No problem Annie." and I flashed a smile in her direction. She looked shocked but recovered her demeanour quickly as I turned my attention back to washing up.
Suddenly, I became very aware of her intently staring at me as I was using the cloth over my arms and chest and I glanced up unexpectedly. Annie blushed, as she knew I had caught her, but I decided to make it easy on her and just went back to what I was doing. Inside, I had a smile of satisfaction as I wondered if she was turned on by my naked torso but I let the thought go as I finished up and put my shirt back on.
"All yours Annie." I said as I smiled and walked past her and out of the scullery.
When I visited mother later, she confirmed that Liz had visited and that they had had a great catch up chat. This seemed to have invigorated my mother and she asked all sorts of questions about my day and how the Fernsby household was doing. I reassured her that everything was fine and that the arrangements, which she had put in place prior to her stay in hospital, were working out well.
I said my goodbyes and left the hospital, stopping by the gift shop outside to grab a bunch of flowers for Liz and then made my way home.
Even though I had washed down earlier, I still bathed when I got home and 7.30 on the dot I knocked on Liz's door to hear her familiar greeting.
I walked into the kitchen to see her at the sink. She was wearing a white, backless, free flowing dress and I approached her from behind, put my arms around her, kissed her neck and presented her with the flowers "Oh Trevor! They are beautiful, thank you so much!" and she turned in my arms to face me. Our lips met and I enjoyed a long lingering kiss.
"You must be hungry, have a seat and I will find a vase for these and then dish up."
I sat down and we ate, freely discussing our days and what we had done. Liz told me that my mother had asked how I was and we both laughed when Liz said she had told her that she was most definitely looking after me.