'I spent the journey trying to finish the novel I had been reading at home. It had been by my bed at home since the summer because it hadn't really grabbed my interest sufficiently to make me want to know what happened next. Stories need to do that, don't you think?' I nodded to her and suggested we walk around a little. We had been on the studio couch for a long time. Most of the couples had gone to bed and the large lounge area was deserted apart from a sleeping dog by the door. 'Shall I continue as we walk?' Lyn asked. I nodded again and squeezed her arm. We picked up a glass of white wine each as we passed a tray near the way out to the garden.
The journey was uneventful and uninteresting. The scenery as you head into East Anglia is depressingly flat and monotonous and to make things worse it was pouring down with rain. My book seemed to match the landscape and my mind wandered. I seemed to be thinking about my mum and hoping she could find outlets for her emotions and her needs. Also I fretted again about Ben's family. What if I didn't like his dad or his mum? Would his sister seem to like me but resent me deep down? Was all this shared family stuff capable of masking more sinister feelings? I needed Ben I realized all the more urgently as I got nearer to him. I wanted to feel the calming touch of his hand in mine. I could face anything if he stood beside me. I smiled to myself as I imagined him in his anorak in the rain waiting on the platform in Norwich.
The train stopped outside Norwich and I wondered if we had broken down in the middle of nowhere. A guard came round and said there was a signal failure. Fate was conspiring against me ever being in the arms of my soul mate. At last we moved off slowly, then stopped again. I picked at a piece of dried-on mud on the bottom of my bag and broke a finger nail. I swore inwardly.
The five car diesel unit rattled across the bridge and into Norwich station thirty-five minutes late. I spotted Ben on the platform as we passed him. He didn't see me through the coloured glass.
I snatched my bag and pushed past people to get out. I wasn't normally assertive like that. Tumbling off the train, almost losing my footing, I ran back to where I'd seen Ben. He saw me coming and held out his arms. I threw myself at him in relief.
'Oh, Ben, do you still love me?'
He ruffled my hair and said: 'Only just. Another five minutes and you were history! Have you any idea how long I've been on this platform?' He pulled me to him and we kissed. I melted against him and all my anxieties melted away too.'
'Where's your dad?'
'Oh he decided to keep dry. I said we'd find him in the Bull over the road.'
'The Bull?'
'Yes. Pub, silly.
'Oh of course, sorry. Brain dead today. Shall we go?'
We found Dave sitting with a beer reading a paper. He stood up and said 'Hello, Lyn. Welcome to Norwich. We've heard a lot about you.' He held out a hand and I shook it.
I blushed heavily and wondered just what Ben would have said about us. Perhaps he described how I pleased him in bed and things. I wanted the earth to open up.
Dave must have realized what I was thinking. He said: 'Hey nothing you wouldn't mind us knowing. Just about your family and your sister, you know. He did tell us you were beautiful, though.'
I blushed again but began to relax. He asked if I wanted a drink before we set off.
'No thanks, I'm fine. How long will it take, Dave?' I admired my confidence in calling him Dave so soon. He probably didn't even notice. I liked him already and could see a lot of Ben in him, especially in the way they both talked and certain mannerisms. He would be easy to get on well with.
'I'm afraid it's a thirty minute drive. Can you ring Clare on your mobile, Ben and tell her to tell mum we're only just setting off?'
'Yes, fine,' Ben said. We climbed in the car. Ben gave Clare the message and was clearly being interrogated. 'She's wearing a green fur coat and tall beige suede boots', he said, seeing just how big a lie he could get away with without Clare suspecting. 'No, I don't know what she's got on under that, probably nothing. Don't be so nosey!'
He rang off. He looked at me and laughed. 'She has to know everything first.' I realized he was describing me but didn't care. I got the joke. We cuddled in the back as we drove along but apart from one long kiss I talked to Ben and Dave about my holiday and they told me what they'd been up to. I said my mum and I had got on really well, much better than usual but I didn't say why. I'd tell Ben later. It would turn him on and I knew he would approve of what we'd done together.
oooooo0000oooooo
We reached the house just after 6 o'clock. I met Gail and Clare for the first time. I felt I knew so much about them. There was a lot to take in. I was being assailed from all angles. Gail told me to ring my mum to say I'd arrived safely. Clare grabbed me round the waist and said she'd take my bag to my room. I wondered what 'my room' meant. Was I sharing with Ben or was I on my own? I trusted everything Ben had told me about his family; I was unsure how I fitted in at the moment. I suspected everyone else knew the answer to that question except me: however I knew no-one was hiding the answer from me. I just needed a bit of time to understand how things stood in the Roache household.
Gail passed me a cordless phone and I gathered my thoughts and dialed home. I was thrilled it was mum who answered. 'Hi, it's me, mum.'
'Hello, love. Are you all right?'
'Yes, I've arrived safely. Is everything all right with you?'
'Yes. Your dad got home an hour ago. He's having a late dinner in the lounge.'
'Where are you?'
'I'm in the kitchen, Lyn. Lyn, I don't know who else is there. Please could you use my name again; it was so nice of you?'
I was so touched to hear her request.
'Jenny, I love you. We must get together again very soon.'
'I love you too, my darling. I need to know we can do it again. Say something to help, please.'
'Is dad going away again soon?'
'He'll be in Vancouver for a fortnight in May, from the seventeenth,' said mum.
'Would you like to come to stay for a weekend while he's away? It needn't be a secret and you could get Sam to stay over with Victoria again, I'm sure. Jenny? Would you like that?'
'Would Ben mind, do you think?'
'No, but he might want to watch us - how would you feel, Jenny?'
'You're turning me on, Lyn!'
'Good.' I laughed. I thought you'd like me to, mum, but you haven't answered me!'
'I'd like to say yes but I need to meet your Ben first. I do love it when you call me Jenny. Can it be our secret code, Lyn?'
'Sure. I presume you are on your own?'
'Yes, Lyn.'
‘I'll put those dates in my diary. Tell me what you'd like me to do when I see you.' I looked around to see if anyone was listening. Gail was just next to me; everyone else had wandered away.
'I want you to push into me and feel me and hurt me in my cunt. I want you to use me to make you cum and make me cum. Can you understand?'
'Yes, Jenny, I can do that for you. Ben will want to be there too. Can you think about that, please?' I wondered if Gail had grasped any of that. In a strange way I hoped she had. I glanced at her.
'I'd like that, Lyn,' said Jenny. 'If you're there, I feel safe for anyone else you want to join us. I trust you.'
'You'll have to book a room at an hotel,' I said.
'You're right. I'll drive down early and get a room at the 'Long Boat.'
'I must go, Jenny.' I said.
'Of course. Enjoy. I envy you, you know.'
'Bye mum'
I put the phone down. Gail smiled at me. 'You and your mum clearly have something very special,' she said.
'Yes, but only since I told her about Ben and me,' I smiled up at her. 'We showered together before we left this morning,' I said simply.
After very gently brushing her hand across my bum and kissing the back of my neck very lightly, Gail said: 'Ben's very lucky to have found you, Lyn. I hesitantly turned and kissed her on the lips; she responded and put a hand on the small of my back, pulling me in against her. She pushed her tongue forward and our tongues entwined. I pulled gently away and smiled.
'I've delayed the meal. What with the train and everything dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes. That should give you time to check your room out and freshen up. I'm sure Ben can help.' I caught her eye as she winked at me. I understood that she was giving us time to be together before dinner and just catch up. I was so grateful I held out a hand. Gail took it and said: