Julie ushered the man from her terrace, through the living room to the front door. She was being polite as she stood on the steps and allowed her visitor to say his farewells. He left. She breathed a sigh of relief and went back inside her house.
From the kitchen, Marcus called, ''Not your type. Get rid of him!''
''Oh yeah. What does my 28-year-old boy know about my likes and dislikes?'' Julie came into the kitchen and examined her son-in-law. He had a boyish charm, an innocence that made him look vulnerable. Julie's daughter had fallen for him, proclaimed that she'd (the daughter Tam) would earn enough money to look after both of them and married him.
''Likes and dislikes? I know exactly what you want,'' he said. ''Tam is just like you. Since I'm married to her and she tells me everything about her mother, it follows therefore that I know a lot about you.'' He paused, licked his teaspoon which he'd just used to stir his tea and laughed. ''That guy you've shown out, from the dating app, is not your type.''
Two years after her divorce, Julie had joined a dating site. This fact was not a secret to Marcus who lived with Julie part-time while his wife Tam was away on business. As Marcus was an actor, he was often in the house during the day and Julie didn't mind this because he was good company. She thought about her latest date and made a face. ''You're right, Marcus, that guy is fucking hopeless.''
Marcus howled with laughter. One of his hands swept back his dark hair, the other hand still held the teaspoon which he rubbed with the pad of his thumb suggestively. He said, ''You know you are attractive. I've told you that. Take your time with that dating thing.''
He stood and went to the sink to run the tap. With his back to her, Julie assessed his firm butt and his tanned legs on show because he wore shorts. She remembered overhearing one of his friends say that Julie was a milf which surprised her. Perhaps this was due, she thought, to resembling Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame. Julie had the same dark features.
''I have a film part,'' said Marcus as he turned to dry his hands. ''My big sister put me forward. I'm doing several scenes with her.''
Julie knew his sister was very ambitious and was busier as an actor than Marcus. ''That's nice,'' said Julie, ''to have Lisa looking out for you.'' Lisa was 5 years older than Marcus. ''What's the part?''
He hesitated. ''It's a story with adult scenes.''
The silence was deafening until she said, ''Porn?''
Marcus shrugged. ''No. Well, ok. Maybe soft porn.''
''When do you start?''
''I've already been in for auditions and we start tomorrow. I'll be given my script then.''
Julie didn't want to embarrass him with further questions now. She wondered if Tam knew. ''I'd love to know what goes on and how you're doing.'' She watched Marcus brighten up and become more relaxed. She continued, ''Promise to tell me everything you do on set?''
''Yeah sure.''
''Every detail? No secrets? No holding back with your mother-in-law?'' She paused. ''Promise me?''
''I promise.'' He nodded to reassure her but Julie sensed his vulnerability. She could imagine Lisa doing a porn movie, her feisty spirit would drive her forward. But her younger brother, Marcus? Julie felt a protective streak towards him and she couldn't figure out why her nipples had hardened and had caught in the thin, crosshatch, mesh stitching of her bra.
The following evening, after his first day at the studio, Marcus was quieter than usual. Julie didn't push him but the day appeared to have been about scene-setting, learning lines, and film shots that didn't involve Marcus or Lisa.
The following evening, Marcus said, ''The director seems to have forgotten Lisa and I are related. Or maybe he doesn't know.''
''Or maybe he doesn't mind?''
''Lisa has told me to keep quiet.''
''Otherwise what?''
''I suppose,'' said Marcus, ''it might mean we lose our acting roles.'' He drank some water while standing in the kitchen. ''We're in the same scene together.''
''Just the two of you?''
''Yes. We role-played today. Tomorrow we do our first shoot.''
''I'm guessing Lisa is cool with it and you're not?''
Marcus nodded.
''Come here,'' said Julie. ''Let's have a hug.'' As they hugged, she felt his body relax and spoke into his neck, ''Does this scene involve sex?''
He brushed his jaw along her cheek which sent her into goosebumps. ''Yes. Simulated sex. Pretend sex.'' His words had no conviction.
She pushed her head back to look into his eyes. ''You've gone over the scene and you know what is expected tomorrow. You're going to be naked with Lisa?''
The way he cast his eyes upwards told the real story.
She placed her hand on his cheek and his grip around Julie's waist tightened to draw her closer. ''You're going to fuck your sister.'' It was more of a statement than a question.
''It has to look like I am.'' Marcus bit his lower lip.
''Listen to me, Marcus. The only way you're going to get through this is to have someone you can offload with. You will need to talk to me to get it off your chest. And I will listen and help, make suggestions, do whatever I can. Agreed?''
He hesitated a couple of seconds. ''Agreed.''
The following evening, Marcus returned from the film set and went to shower. Julie thought it best to let him relax before he talked about his day. After supper, she came and stood behind him while he sat on the sofa. She put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed. ''You're quiet this evening, Marcus.''
He looked up, angled his head back towards Julie and said, ''I can't believe I got myself into this jam. It's totally embarrassing. It couldn't be worse.''
''How does Lisa feel? Is she uncomfortable about it or upset like you?''
''Lisa is game for anything. She says we've just got to do what the director tells us to do. There's no way out.''
''So, Lisa puts a brave face on these joint scenes. Is that it?'' Julie still had her arms around his shoulders.
''More or less, yes.'' Marcus hesitated and put his hand over Julie's. ''Let's face it. It's a porn movie. We have to kiss. We have sex. We try and make it look like real sex. Not easy.'' He lapsed into silence.
Julie thought it best to wait and let her son-in-law tell his story in his own time. She kissed the top of his head and stroked his rough chin. ''It's good to get it off your chest. I'm a good listener.'' He nodded.
Sometime later, Julie went to bed and Marcus said he'd turn in shortly. It was a humid night and she read in bed with the door of her bedroom slightly ajar. She could tell that Marcus had his light on but she decided it was time for her to sleep and switched out her light. She didn't know how long it had been before there was a faint knock on the door.
Marcus whispered loudly, ''Are you awake?''
''Come in, Marcus.'' The light from the other bedroom was enough to see that Marcus wore only pyjama bottoms with a tie knot around his waist. He had a good upper body, thought Julie as she watched him gingerly sit on the end of her bed.
''Sorry. I can't sleep. It's impossible.''
''My double bed is meant for two.'' She flicked back the top sheet on the unoccupied side of the bed. ''I'll help you sleep.'' Julie didn't know where her confidence came from. Her words simply came out without thinking, ''To sleep, you need to offload your problems and then you can relax. Get into bed.'' She thought that her tone of voice was kind but firm.
Marcus got up and came to lie down to face his mother-in-law. ''This is weird,'' he said but she could tell he was pleased. His tension had lessened.
''It is weird I suppose. Best not to tell my daughter. Tam might wonder what we're doing in bed.'' She giggled innocently.
Marcus smiled, his even teeth picking up the small amount of light filtering from his bedroom. He said, ''As they say in the acting world, 'What happens on tour, stays on tour.' Affairs remain secret.''
''Oh,'' said Julie who had propped her head upon her folded arm to look at him. She'd heard of this actor's expression but decided to play dumb. ''We should have our own saying, 'What happens here stays here.' Or something like that.'' A voice in her head told her that she was playing with fire but Julie's mouth refused to reword her last sentence.
Marcus mumbled, ''Okay.''
The beat of her heart thumped louder as she said, ''You need to tell me everything.''
There was a moment's silence before he said, ''Lisa and I were on set, in a kitchen, preparing dinner. She's wearing a T-shirt and short skirt, similar to a short tennis outfit. We follow the script to talk about sex. We go into an embrace. Then I take her top off to reveal her bra.''
''A sexy bra?''
''Yes. Her nipples show through the lace.''
''Does that turn you on?''