LITTLE SISTER
Chris Shand had lived alone for 9 years now since his wife of 8 years had died, he didn't mind his own company and he had no interest in making a new relationship. His wife's illness had been cruel and debilitating, and he'd shied away from becoming emotionally involved again in case of a repeat of the pain and turmoil they'd been through before she'd finally succumbed.
Chris had been 22 years old when he married 21 year old Marie. They'd had 5 wonderful years together before the cruel disease had struck, then a 3 year nightmare before it finally took her. Now aged 39 he still missed Marie but tended to remember the good times rather than the bad, but he still had no urge to seek a new relationship. He'd moved from the house they'd shared in Cambridge as it held too many bad memories, and he'd bought a two bedroomed cottage on the edge of a small village, a hamlet really, in the Cambridgeshire fens. It was still handy for his daily commute into Cambridge where he worked as a computer programmer.
Apart from the people he worked with, Chris's main contact with other people was at the country pub within comfortable walking or cycling distance from his home, and the shop cum post office in the larger village a few miles away. He'd made a few acquaintances at the pub and occasionally played darts with some of them. He'd settled into his single life and was happy enough.
In the 9 years since his wife had died, he'd also lost both his parents. Now his only living relative was his much younger sister, Nicola. Nicola had been 12 years old and a bridesmaid to Marie at their wedding, she was now 29. Chris' parents had had both their children late in life but Nicola had been born particularly late in their marriage.
Nicola was a bit of a free spirit, she'd never married but had had a number of relationships with men, both single and married, and had been living in Spain with her latest boyfriend for the past two years. The last time Chris had seen Nicola was at his mother's funeral three years ago, but they still just about kept in touch mainly by sending each other birthday and Christmas cards, and the very occasional letter.
Chris was home early on Friday evening after work, getting his evening meal together, when the doorbell rang. Wondering who would be calling on him at this hour he opened the door to be confronted by Nicola. "Hallo, Nicky," he said, "This is a surprise, what are you doing here?"
"I've come to visit my big brother," she said, "Aren't you going to invite me in."
"Er, yes, of course," he replied, standing to one side, "Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"Well, I didn't really have time," she said, "It all happened very suddenly. Peter (the latest boyfriend) sort of threw me out. I had nowhere to go and only a little money, so I decided to drive home to England and hoped you'd put me up for a bit. I won't be a nuisance, I promise."
"Of course you can stay here for a while," said Chris, "I'm afraid this place is a bit basic, not what you're used to, but you're welcome. At least the spare room is furnished and comfortable, although it's never been used since I've been here. You can use it as long as you want to. So, why did you get chucked out, you and Peter had been together for a while?"
"Well, it was a sort of misunderstanding."
"What sort of misunderstanding?" he asked.
"Um, he caught me in bed with his friend, and he thought we were supposed to be exclusive." She replied, with a mischievous grin. "I was surprised he hadn't caught me before, you know what I'm like. I've never liked being tied down, but I do wish I'd been more careful, I liked Peter a lot."
"Yes, I do know what you're like," he said, "You've got to learn to keep your libido in check. Where have you parked your car by the way?"
"It's at the roadside," she replied.
"Well, you'd better park it in the drive behind mine," he said, "The road's too narrow for parking in for any length of time. Presumably you've got your clothes and things in the car?"
"Yes, just a couple of cases, UK customs went through them at Dover when I came off the ferry from France, I think they liked my lingerie, will you help me bring them in?"
It turned out that there were four large suitcases, all packed full. "Seems like a lot of luggage, said Chris, "But not really much to show for 29 years of life."
"Don't lecture me tonight, big brother." Nicky replied softly. "I'm know I'm a butterfly, but I do want to settle down. You'll help me, won't you?"
Seeing the appeal in her cornflour blue eyes, Chris had no option but to agree. "Ok, no more lectures for the moment. Let's just get you settled into the spare room, then we'll go to the pub for a meal. I was getting something ready but there isn't enough for two."
An hour later they parked outside the pub and walked in, it was cosy and cottagey, Nicky liked it immediately.
Terry, the landlord, looked up as they entered, "Hi, Chris," he called. Then he noticed Nicky behind him.
Chris saw the appraising look that Terry ran over his sister. Despite having travelled all day Nicky looked good. Her thick, blonde hair fell about her shoulders, she was wearing very little make up, but she looked pretty and fresh and her wide sensuous mouth was wearing her usual winning smile.
She was five feet two inches tall, small and trim, wearing a thick sweater and tight blue jeans. Her sweater didn't hide the swell of her 35 inch bust and the jeans emphasised her trim waist and the curve of her bum.
Chris suddenly felt very protective towards his little sister, Terry was a divorcee and was always latching onto any attractive women that came into the pub. "Who's the lovely lady," he asked with a wolfish grin.
"Hi Terry," said Chris, "This is my girlfriend, Nicky."
"Hallo, Nicky," Terry replied with a grin, "I didn't know Chris had a girlfriend, he kept very quiet about you. I hope we'll see you in here often, we don't get too many beautiful women in a small place like this."
Nicky glanced quickly at her brother, before she offered her hand to shake Terry's. "Hi Terry, nice to meet you," she said. "Thanks for the compliment. I think my boyfriend just wants to keep me to himself, but he needn't worry I'm a one-man girl."
"Nicky's going to be staying with me for a while," said Chris, "And tonight we're going to risk one of your notorious dinners, I suppose it's pie and chips or pie and chips, right?"
"Yeah," replied Terry with a grin, "That's about right, it's a choice of real meat pie or pretend meat pie, both served with frozen oven chips and frozen peas. Menus are on the tables, help yourselves."
They got their drinks and took them to a table in a quiet corner.
