It was the summer holidays, a beautiful sunny day and I was annoyed I had to spend several hours stuck in a clapped out old car, with no aircon, as my stepson had chosen to spend his summer with us instead of returning to his mother and apparently needed to practice before his test.
His father, feeling generous, bought an old Ford escort (probably some fond memories of his youth) for him to ruin the gearbox in and saving our own in the process.
Mikey had arrived late last night and was due to appear any minute. His father had a business meeting (golf) so had snuck off early.
I was having to miss a Pilate's class and wasn't impressed at being kept waiting.
Eventually Mikey ambled into the kitchen "morning mummy" I glared at him! OK technically at 37 I am old enough to be his mother but I neither look, nor feel it.
"Morning Mikey" I said through gritted teeth.
Apart from a few fleeting visits and the occasional Facebook post, I'd had very little to do with Mikey in the 4 years I'd been married to his dad. In that time he'd become a man. Gone was the awkward boy, before me a lithe and handsome young man. He looked exactly like pictures I'd seen of his dad at 20!
"You ready?" I snapped throwing the keys at him, unsettled by the strange sensation that had just overcome me.
"Sure mum" he caught the keys and headed outside.
Once in the car, seats adjusted, mirrors altered, seatbelts fastened, sun glasses on he started the engine. As he only needed me there for legality I got comfy in my seat and stared out of the window.
We made idle conversation, him talking about Uni, me about what his dad and I had been planning for our holiday (we were heading to a health retreat, my husband has a stressful job and it's been affecting his ability to perform lately, not that I told Mikey that part)
As he drove the heat in the car increased, even having the windows open did little to cool me down.
A couple of times Mikey grazed my leg with his hand as he reached to change gear. At first I thought it accidental but on the third occasion he didn't apologise, just glanced at me with a strange smile on his face.
I peeked at him from behind my shades, noticing the muscles in his arms as he turned the wheel, I was impressed, and he'd filled out a little.
I was regretting wearing a cotton shirt and jeans. I was getting so hot. I undid a shirt button and fanned myself with a cd case from the door pocket.
"Getting a bit hot mum?"
"It's a hot day" I muttered,
He laughed to himself quietly.
