From that night our relationship changed. I was contrite and tried to talk to her, to explain but she remained distant, aloof, untouchable. In public she remained the same, regal, demure, a tease. In private she was frigid. I was never again allowed to pleasure her and when I demanded my conjugal rights, she lay on her back in the dark, legs spread, completely unresponsive. She never permitted any variation from this routine.
Four months later we were going to join my parents for their twenty fifth wedding anniversary. We had missed the actual date due to my work pressure, but we wanted to share the special occasion with them, just them and us. It was also for a break from the dreadful monotony of our failing marriage.
After my father retired, my parents moved to a quaint seaside village called Kenton-on-Sea, about eighty miles east of Port Elizabeth along what is known as the Sunshine Coast, where we were now headed.
I pushed the trolley with the three suitcases out of the arrivals hall, across the road to the car hire where I had booked a car through Europcar. The girl behind the counter was young and pretty, and I smiled and flirted with her, a pleasant and light hearted experience. Clara stood by, a frigid expression on her face. We were on holiday, for God's sake! It was not as though I was trying to bed the girl.
When we reached the designated parking bay Clara stopped in her tracks. "There must be a mistake! We did not hire a common Toyota..."
Surprised, I looked at her. "What did you expect? We're only going to visit my folks."
"But what will your father think? The cheapest..."
Impatiently I said, "If you want an upgrade, go and get your own hire car. I'm driving this one and if you want to travel with me, get in and shut up."
"How dare you speak to me like that? Who do you think you are?" Her face was white with red spots on her cheeks.
"I'm your husband. I have tried my very best to get over that first night. I have pandered to your every wish, bought unnecessary shit, gone to snob places, been polite to social creeps put up with your mother. All to try to show you that I'm sorry, that I want to make things right." I felt the anger overwhelm me. "But no, nothing is enough. Nobody is good enough. You're a snob and I can't stand it anymore; won't stand it anymore!"
By now I was shouting and I saw people stop and stare but I no longer cared. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" I emphasized my second 'you'. I took a deep breath. "Now, either get in the car, or go your own way."
Clara stood looking at me, shock written all over her face. After a moment's hesitation she walked to the passenger door and stood there holding her handbag in both hands up in front of her breasts. Normally I would go and hold the door open for her then go round to the driver's side. I was so angry I opened the back hatch, threw the cases inside, pushed the trolley away, then went straight to the driver's side, climbed in and started the engine.
When Clara realized that I was going to drive off without her, she opened the door and clambered in. I started, reversed out of the bay before her door was closed, then accelerated away. I saw that she was about to say something and interjected, "There, that wasn't so bad, climbing in all on your own like most people do."
"A lady..."
"I've heard enough of that shit!" I shouted, "This is South Africa. You go on about being a lady. You also go on about equal rights. Well, expecting men to fall at your feet for any and every whim has nothing to do with equal rights. You try to be more English than the English. If that is the life you want, move to England, try and con some wealthy Pom to marry you. I doubt whether any will be as gullible as I've been."
Her mouth set in a thin straight line and she sat looking straight ahead, her purse on her lap.
It took about an hour and a half to reach my parent's house, by which time it was getting dark. Finally I pulled up in front of their home, not a word having been spoken the entire trip.
By now I had cooled off. "Look, Clara..."
"I don't want to hear it!" She spat. "We are here now, we will pretend nothing has happened..."
"Nothing has happened?" I interrupted not believing what I was hearing.
"Yes, as far as your parents are concerned, we must put our best foot forward and pretend nothing has happened. Especially in front of your father. All normal."
I looked at her in disbelief. But then it was too late, my father was walking down the driveway, a big smile on his face, his arms outstretched in welcome. I climbed out and stretched. Clara sat primly waiting for me to open her door and when I made no move in that direction Michael stepped into the breach, holding the door wide. "Hello Clarissa, you're looking as beautiful as ever!"
Clara climbed out, smiling, then accepted a hug and she air-kissed him, avoiding his lips. "You're looking good," she said.
"I try," he said, and moved round to shake my hand. My family was not into hugging and kissing between males. "Hello John, it's been too long. Here, let me help you with the cases."
Clara waited while we unloaded the cases. "Not moving in, are you?" My father joked, hefting one of the cases. Neither Clara nor I answered.
My mother was waiting at the front door. She and Clara went through the air-kissing routine. I, on the other hand, took her in my arms and hugged her, lifting her off the ground and kissed her warmly on the lips before setting her back on her feet. Smiling widely she said, "You're such a bully! Come in both of you. It's so nice to see you. Far too long..."
My father bustled about pouring drinks, my mother setting snacks on the table, before we sat and caught up on all the news of the last four months. Four months since the wedding.
Clara called him 'Michael', at his insistence, and my mother, 'Mother', both terms used quite formally. As we talked I watched Clara flirt with my father in the way I had become so familiar with. Very subtly; a touch here, a flutter of the eyelids there. If you were not in tune you would never suspect.
Needless to say I was almost entirely ignored.
I talked to Nellie, my mother. As we caught up I was aware, as always, of how beautiful she was, clear blue eyes set widely apart, small nose, wide mouth. Her hair was short and streaked blond having gone lighter over the years. She was wearing a simple blue dress, buttoned down the front concealing ample breasts, cut to the knees with a wide flare. When she went to the kitchen I admired her generous hips, narrow waist, flaring again to the shoulders. I could see the line of her bra and panties as she walked away hips swaying in a very feminine sort of way. Altogether a very sexy woman.
The next morning we were up early and after a cup of coffee we went to the beach. We walked along the deserted strand in the early morning coolness, the sea mist hanging low over the water before the wind came up. The sand in this part of the world is white and clean, the beaches wide, the sea a blue turquoise color.
We walked in two pairs, Clara and Michael walking slowly, Nellie and I striding out ahead with the Labrador, Wellington, running tirelessly between the two couples.
Nellie linked her arm through mine, our hips touching as we walked. She was nearly as tall as my six foot and she matched me stride for stride. "So, why are you and Clara not talking to each other?" Her eyes were focused on the horizon. Well, that was enough to burst the bubble. Words tumbled over themselves as I told her of the hell of the last four months, of the hell that preceded that, of the fight yesterday. When I ran out of words I was acutely aware of tears on my cheeks.
Nellie did not interrupt me during the monologue. When silence eventually settled she glanced over her shoulder. My eyes followed hers and I saw that we had outdistanced the other two, their figures small in the distance as they wandered along the water's edge. Taking my hand Nellie led me up the beach and behind a small rise in the sand, out of view of the others.
She turned and took me in her arms, holding me tight, our bodies touching from chest to knee. I could feel her soft breasts pressing against my chest, her groin against mine, our thighs touching, her face tucked into my shoulder. I could smell her fragrant hair as my nose nudged her scalp. I wrapped my arms around her body holding her as tightly as she held me.
I felt rather than heard her sniff and pulled my head back to look at her face but she held it tightly against me, shielding her expression. I felt her body shake as she wept. I started rubbing her back using both hands, from her waist to her shoulders, my fingers massaging her flesh as they moved.
I was very aware of the body pressed against mine and started to get an erection. I tried to move my pelvis away from hers, but her arms were down around my waist, her hands in the small of my back, holding me tight.
"It's okay. It's okay," I chanted softly as I continued to massage her back. Her hands moved further down pulling my groin with my hard penis against her. It might have been my imagination but I'm sure I could feel her pelvis tilt upwards and thrust against me, further stimulating my now raging erection. This was my mother so I must be imagining it.
