Disclaimer: Whilst the writer does not necessarily condone inter-family relations, he acknowledges the fact it makes rather erotic reading! Enjoy.
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Matthew Ryder watched as the hands of the big clock inched round to 11 am, narrowing like the blades on a set of shears. Uncomfortable in the charcoal suit and matching sombre tie, he bowed his head to stare at a pair of patent leather shoes in which it was almost possible to make out his handsome yet sad features. Sartorially, if not mentally, prepared for what lay ahead, a single stray tear began a leisurely trail down the young man's cheek. At the tender age of twenty, losing a father was a heartbreaking wrench, particularly when the father in question happened to be the only family Matthew had ever known.
Close by in the cramped front room, his grandma rustled the curtains nosily as old folks do. Until two days ago, when his whole world imploded, Matthew hadn't even known she and his grandpa were still alive. Clad in black also, her shape and frizzled white hair made her look like a pint of Guinness. "The car's here," she announced, then more brusquely: "Come on Arthur, get your jacket...Okay, Matthew?"
The words directed the young man's way were sympathetic and measured as they had been for the past 48 hours. It was as if he was some precious piece of china that could so easily break. Matthew nodded silently and stood, smoothing himself down, his spiky brown hair ruffled compassionately by his grandfather, also colour co-ordinated in black. It was tough on them too, Matthew realised. Losing a son was not quite right in the great scheme of things or that parents should outlive their offspring, even if it was his selfish father. Fortunately for them the hurt was dissipated by Matthew's father having voluntarily distanced himself, fleeing to Manila some two decades back with their grandson in tow, and no word since β until now.
Silence prevailed throughout the journey as the hearse sauntered its way to the grey cemetery. The subsequent service went on around Matthew without his really noticing, the words hollow and worthless, his grief unquenchable. Distant relatives, made more distant by his father's stubborn refusal to leave Manila, offered condolences prompting Matthew to issue forced smiles. Then finally the coffin was lowered into the ground, taking with it his father.
Still in a daze, he was led away by his grandparents to be driven somewhere remote and leafy for the wake. Referred to as 'Hannah's house', in his state of mind Matthew didn't realise the significance at first. Head pounding, it was only after a couple of stiff brandies, foisted upon him by some anonymous uncle, that the surroundings began to take shape. Tangible features on those around him slowly formed, as if a thick fog had suddenly evaporated. And there before him stood an attractive blonde older woman, forced smiles on both sides. "We didn't get to talk at the cemetery. I'm so sorry, Matthew."
He thanked her politely as he had all the others, not knowing who she was or how she knew his father. "Matthew, I'm Hannah March...I'm your mother."
The young man's eyes bulged like a goldfish's and he broke out in a cold sweat. Wow was he supposed to respond to a woman his father's stubbornness had forbade him from ever contacting, let alone meeting? All he knew was that she was an evil woman with a fixation for American literature, who had fucked every guy she met and who had broken his father's heart.
Standing face to face, she seemed anything but evil and nothing like he'd imagined. She was on a par with Sharon Stone or Kim Basinger at forty. And oh those breasts... Matthew wasn't sure of the protocol, whether they should hug, kiss, shake hands, or what? Evidently Hannah felt likewise, the result an embarrassed-looking standoff.
Thankfully, the situation was salvaged by the arrival at her side of a petite and pretty young girl roughly the same age as Matthew. With smooth brunette hair, deep hazel eyes and a personable manner, she was as equally breathtaking as his mother. Hannah spoke, addressing her long-lost son. "This is Meg...she's, um, she's your sister...half sister."
Meg smiled demurely.
Matthew knew he had a sister, or several sisters to be exact. Even his secretive father hadn't been able to suppress that information. Yet Matthew had been given an ultimatum: warned to give up hope of ever meeting them. If he did, he could forget about his father forever. Even after attaining adulthood, when he could make his own decisions in life, his father's influence had been all-encompassing.
"Come on bro," offered Meg with a radiant smile, slotting her fingers into his, "I'll introduce you to the others."
Matthew took a deep breath, looking at his mother for approval. It didn't seem right to leave her so quickly. But she smiled warmly and indicated to go with Meg. There'd be time enough to catch up later, she affirmed: three more days before the flight 'home' to Manila. Her parting touch on his shoulder was tender and loving.
In the short space of time it took to wander from lounge to living room, Matthew had learned that Meg was the eldest of his four sisters. Actually they were all half sisters, each with a different father. His mother, it seemed, had been something of a slut β Meg's words not his β in her youth. That tied in with what his father had alluded to.
Yet despite his outward air of confidence, Matthew baulked at the words, especially coming from the mouth of a sweet young girl, even if she did happen to be two years his senior. For the truth was Matthew had led a sheltered life, his sole sexual experience at the hands of Mae-Lin, his father's Filipino maid. Pushing fifty, Mae-Lin was not the stuff of a teen boy's fantasy, but sex was sex to a lonesome individual who had reached adulthood still a virgin.
Meg introduced Jo who was the second eldest of the girls, and a year Matthew's senior. With short spiky boyish hair and eschewing make-up, she was not unattractive though in the company of three beauties she did not shine.