Thank you to my editor Scorpius1945 for your help and advice!
*****
I was lying on the bed reading when Clara came in. She walked straight past me to the bathroom, closing the door and turning the key in the lock. After half an hour she had still not emerged so I pulled on a shirt and went downstairs in search of my parents. I found them sitting in the living room watching television. Michael had an open beer in front of him, Nellie a steaming cup of tea or coffee.
"Grab a drink," Michael said, "I want to see the end of the game."
I glanced at the screen and saw a rugby match in progress. "Who's playing?"
"The Stormers against the Sharks. Sharks up eighteen six," Michael said cryptically.
I wandered into the kitchen and turned the kettle on after checking that there was enough water. Then I rooted around in the cupboards looking for a mug, tea bags. Nellie walked in asking whether I needed help. I glanced back the way she had come to check that we were hidden from view, then pulled her to me; kissing her, our bodies pressed momentarily together.
She looked behind her. "Not here..." She reached up and touched my cheek to take the sting out of the rejection.
"Did Dad say anything?" I asked, pouring the boiling water over the tea bag. Nellie reached into the fridge and pulled the milk out. "Just a little." She poured in a few drops before returning the bottle.
"No. He came in as though nothing had happened with a smug expression on his face. He didn't even bother to clean the spunk off his stomach. I could smell it!" Spunk, such an old fashioned term
"Did you enjoy it? What we did, I mean." I asked softly.
Nellie's eyes flew to the opening into the living room, still clear, a deep blush rising to her cheeks. She turned back, looking down at the counter. "Yes, for me it was the best I've ever had. Ever!" She glanced up at me then back to the counter. "Thank you."
After a while she said softly, "What we did was incest. We can go to jail for that. We've crossed a line that I suppose many thousands have crossed, but most have not. Society, especially a tiny one like here in Kenton, will judge us harshly if there is even a whisper of it."
"Are you saying we can never do it again?"
"What I'm trying to say is that we must be very careful. In public we must act normally, Mother and son."
"And the other two?" I asked.
"I don't really care how they act. If they want to make spectacles of themselves that is their choice, although I don't think Clara will ever do anything that is not socially correct. In public, that is." I laughed.
I took up my tea and we returned to the living room as the rugby match was ending. "Who won?"
"Who do you think?" Without a pause he answered his own question. "The Sharks, twenty two six. Where's Clarissa?"
"Up in our room, I guess," I said.
"I'm going up to shower, I'll check on her." He rose and left. I seated myself next to Nellie on the couch and took her hand, our fingers intertwined. She changed channels and we sat watching contentedly, not really concentrating on the screen
The next day passed with no more opportunities to be intimate other than a quick touch and kiss. I was very aware of being near her without being able to touch her.
At one stage during the afternoon Nellie mischievously sat opposite me in the living room and, checking that the others were not looking, spread her legs a little and lifted her dress for a long moment. I was riveted to the spot; she was not wearing any panties and her trimmed blond bush was in full view. I could clearly see that she shaved her labia, the inner lips protruding. Then the vision was gone. I looked at her face and she was smiling demurely, her cheeks flushed.
I watched as Clara flirted with Michael focusing her full attention on him. He was like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Well, maybe not a rabbit, more like a fox. She would touch him as she talked, his arm, his leg, his hand. I had witnessed, felt, this scene played out innumerable times and I almost felt sorry for my father. I pretended not to watch, waiting for the inevitable cock squeeze. I saw her do it twice during the day and I saw Michael goose her somewhat ham-handedly in response. He slid his hand up the back of her dress and between her legs. She took off like a rocket, spinning away, dancing out of reach.
That evening Michael and Clara were sipping white wine, Nellie and I read as we sat out on the deck watching the sunset. There was no wind and the colors from the sky reflected on the water in the river mouth.
"I have to go to work tomorrow, through to the university in Port Elizabeth," Michael said by way of explanation. "Do any of you want to come with me? It'll just be for the day, very boring I'm sure." He was looking hard at Clara.
"Well, I..." She said using her baby-doll voice. She looked at me.
"I don't want to go. I came here to relax, walk on the beach, soak up the sun; to get away from civilization." I looked at Nellie.
She shook her head. "Count me out. Anyway, I'm meeting my girlfriends for tea. You know we meet every Tuesday. Catch up on all the latest skinner." Colloquial term for gossip. "The best, and the worst, part of living in a small community is that everybody knows everyone else's business, true or false. One has to be careful how one treads." She was looking hard at Michael
"Yes, well... Looks like you and me, my dear." He patted her hand, she stuck her chin out.
We had an early dinner and then went to bed after watching the news on television.
In the bedroom I undressed, threw my clothes onto the chair in the corner, and then went into the bathroom to shower. I emerged naked and, feeling horny from the sexual tension of the day, walked across the room with a semi-erect penis before climbing into my side of the bed.
"I wish you would wear pajamas like any civilized person. I bet Michael wears pajamas." I ignored her. She got up and went into the bathroom closing the door after her. I read my book.
When she emerged she was wearing a mauve nightie, very brief; her panties peeking out, the top low cut with the swell of her small breasts visible. She climbed into her side of the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. I put my book on the bedside table and turned out the light still feeling horny. I reached across under the duvet and caressed her back, she moved away from me.
I moved closer and reached further placing my hand on her breast. "No!" She pushed my hand away. "Not after the awful things you said to me at the airport. After humiliating me in front of your father."
"How have I humiliated you?" I asked baffled.
"Don't pretend ignorance! You know exactly what you've done. Unforgivable!"
I lay still wondering whether I wanted a fight now. No, my time would come. I continued lying still and felt Clara relax and get comfortable on her side of the bed.