"I'll be the judge of that Ross," Shirley said coolly. "Come girls we'll show out guest through the house."
Carrying Shirley's gin and tonic, Ross caught up with them in the main bedroom to hear the guest say, combining two bedrooms like this to provide a larger bedroom with a walkthrough dressing room to the bathroom and adding glassing to follow the original roofline has been expertly designed and accomplished. There is no sign of the steel joist supporting roof where the former bearing walls were removed to enlarge area."
"Did Shirley tell you we incorporated another bedroom to end up with this result?" Ross asked curiously.
"No Ross but doesn't everyone know family homes of the 1930s didn't incorporate dressing rooms and en suites?"
Ross grinned and saluted their guest with his beer bottle.
"Daddy designed all the alterations and supervised the construction," Kim said and added proudly, "He even sent the main steel beam back for replacement because it wasn't to specification. That caused a delay and he and the building contractor almost had a fight."
"That daddy would have won," Lesley said loyally.
"Yes good old daddy," Shirley said and looked at their guest, her lips parted.
Harden made an intelligent decision, deciding to not allow Shirley to get close to him. She appeared to be on heat. That worked successfully apart from her stroking his pants leg several times during dinner with her shoeless foot.
During dinner Harden talked about Chicago, found out where the family lived who would be hosting the Kiwi student. Kim and her parents showed their relief when he said he knew the locality and actually knew the school she would attend as having an excellent all-round reputation.
Glancing at Ross Harden said, "Actually Helen Merryweather graduated from that high school."
"Is she a film star?" Lesley asked and her mother hiccupped and said probably.
But Ross said almost reverently, "She is one of the world's foremost design engineers in suspension bridges and at present is a design team leader on some of the amazing construction development in Dubai."
When Harden was leaving he was farewelled as if he were the most important and influential guest ever to visit the family. Shirley was almost asleep on her feet so didn't attempt to molest him. Ross shook his hand and said they probably would be working together soon.
"How's that."
"I know who you are. I'm consulting structural engineer to Newcomb District Council. It's chief engineer told me he was at a meeting addressed by Terry Oblinger, you and a hydrologist and Eric said amazingly you guys appear to have all the answers to their dilemma over their flood-threatened land and offer the break-through to get our stalled project up and running. If the council agrees to the proposals of you guys it is likely I'll be commissioned to supervise the piling contract on behalf of the council."
"That's great news Ross. We've heard nothing about Newcomb Council's reaction."
* * *
Three days after Frank had returned home after delivering a very damning report to the meeting Terry had organized, Harden was walking down Pioneer Boulevard when a blonde rushed him screaming, "Darling!" and was all over him, flattening her tits over his chest, ramming her groin against his, pulling his head back painfully by his hair and crushing her lips against his.
It was Loretta.
He though jeepers, what sort of dope had she taken?
"Dad met we at the airport and we both reunited like a very happy father and daughter, both agreeing all was forgiven. He took me home and oh Harden, I'd expected to find every trace of mom vanished but the first thing I saw was the display of pictures of her in the passage, a true memorial. In the guestroom I her jewelry on the dresser where I'd left it and then he told me to open the wardrobe door and then I saw the unbelievable, her wedding dress, her two best dresses that I loved and her pair of battered red shoes that I used to wear round the house when I was a girl."
"Oh darling, I knew it had to be you. It would be impossible for him to think like that. He said you'd come up with all the ideas and then you guys destroyed everything else. Oh I'm so happy. Driving to Taupo I cried thinking of those red shoes and mom's wedding dress being tossed out and that night grandma had to come in to settle me. I had this nightmare of walking down this boulevard and seeing every second woman coming towards me wearing mom's clothes. Oh it was so devastating."
"Harden will you marry me?"
Now Harden was completely shocked. He asked was she on something.
Loretta looked down and said no, she wasn't standing on his feet.
"No I mean drugs?"
"Harden, I don't take fucking drugs."
Two women standing near them moved away, looking at Loretta a little anxiously.
Harden mopped his brow.
Loretta asked why was he sweating? It was cold not hot. "Omigod you're drunk."
"No just under pressure and mighty anxious. Look let's go somewhere for lunch. I can't give you a decision about marriage until we talk everything through. If I don't start pile driving work within the next couple of months I may have to leave the country for not meeting my terms of entry into New Zealand as an alien but possessing required skills."
"Oh god, what a mess," Loretta said as they began walking off, passing the two apprehensive women who eased farther away from Loretta.
"Not necessary. Your father has initiated talks to involve me in that piling contract across river, with you setting up your independent company dealing only in piling. I have move to possess barges and most of the associated equipment by provisional contract, due to expire in sixty days unless I complete the purchase. It is little use me purchasing the equipment if I don't have the contract."
"Wow, it's all likely to fall into place. Look I'm not hungry. Can we go to your place and you welcome me home? Um you'll know how. Your new furniture should have arrived."
"Yes it came yesterday and the drapes, curtains and blinds were installed yesterday afternoon and this morning."
"Good, let's go."
* * *
After fighting with her father about her mother's possessions being left out and displayed in guestroom and eventually they both backed off and then hugged. Both of them were crying and Loretta had felt a huge sense of relief, knowing it was she who'd screwed up on this issue from the moment they came back from the funeral. She saw it now, so clearly, that her mind about wishing to remember her mother physically she'd had gone off the rails a bit and found it impossible to let go.
Loretta had been acutely aware she was going against her father's wishes so she had avoided the conflict by shifting everything into the guestroom so she could isolate herself when grieving with her mother. Her grieving finally dissipated but she still had no wish to let go: sitting in that room talking to her mother and eventually only having thoughts about her mother but it remained a daily ritual. She knew it was awkward for her father but that he really wouldn't care. But then Harden pointed it out Loretta hadn't been aware her behavior had stopped her father getting on with his life.
Driving towards the lake-end town of Taupo she's cried, "I've stolen at least six months of life from dad, keeping him pinned down like that."
She knew of course that wasn't quite true and he'd been rutting around because she'd heard whispers and had even seen him with woman but not the type of female she would imagine him marrying. But did she really know her father? Loretta conceded that could be true because she'd always been mummy's girl. Since his wife's death he'd allowed his business to run down.
"God, I'm responsible for that."
Jessica Arthur her grandmother was delighted to see her.
"Sorry Gran, I should have called. I need to stay a few days."
"Family has no need to call," Jessica said fondly. "You father called so I know what this is about."
"Oh Gran," Loretta wailed and began receiving the hugs and whispered assurances she desperately required.
At breakfast on the morning after the nightmare Jessica looke
d at her granddaughter and said, "Darling you look more at peace. I believe you are over it. You know I loved my youngest daughter more than my other two children and so did Harold. We didn't mean to but your mother was that kind of woman; she had an infectious manner. We were appalled when she married your father, going away to live with him at that river town. He didn't appear to be her type, being rough and vulgar and for a while her spirit faded but then you came along on her life regained its old zip. When she died I suspected we'd have trouble with you."
"You did?"
"Yes, you gave up your teaching position to nurse her through that long sickness. You grandfather and I visited often and I remember Diana saying towards the end, "Where is Loretta, she gives my life."
"Well I did love her."
"And not your father?"
"I-I think so but in a different way."
Jessica took her granddaughter's hand and said softly, "Perhaps you ought to review your relationship with him. He must still be feeling terribly lost although being Terry he won't show it."
"But he doesn't care and never has."
Jessica just smiled and Loretta and shook her head and said, "That's not true darling and it never was."
CHAPTER 3
Loretta and Harden entered the house hand-in-hand. She looked into the kitchen and then walked him through the living-dinning room to the lounge and gasped. "You have been back to Megan to buy more things."
"Yeah but I didn't think you'd notice. Um Loretta, I did that after deciding to ask you to move in with me."
"Then ask," she said excitedly.
"Things are looking brighter. I think Terry has done enough to get Newcomb Council to let a piling contract."
"That's good but ask me what I want to hear."
"Loretta darling, I'd like you to move in here and share life with me."
"Yes, yes!" Loretta screamed, hauling Harden to one of the leather sofa's in the living room.
She slumped on to the sofa, hitched up the hem of her dress high and lifted her ass high, a clear invitation for Harden to remove her panties and get cracking.
Harden licked his lips, pulled the panties down over Loretta's knees and dove in between her legs.
Delighted to be caught by surprise, Loretta pushed off her panties with her foot and running fingers through Harden's hair cooed, "Oh my darling boy wants it."
Harden slurped and ginned, thinking that was an understatement.
They were both thirty-four and sex was a central consideration in their life and they both knew that and knew you got more sex and possibly sex of greater quality by teaming up with someone and extending their interests round that central focus that could only enhance such a union.
Harden looked up at her, juices running off his chin.
"If I'm kicked out of the county you can come to America with me."
"God are you thinking that while licking me?"
"Yeah."
"Oooh, good boy," Loretta said, squeezing a breast and looking at him fondly. And why do you think that?"
"Your pussy has to be just the very best and I also am fired up by you."
Loretta's eyes rolled up and her body shook.
"Jesus," she gasped.
Harden, who'd left a couple of fingers in her, pulled them out dripping and sucked them, staring at her."
"When can I shift in?" she gasped. "Dad is at the airport waiting for my aunt and uncle to arrive."
"After we finish here, say in two or three hours."
Loretta gurgled.
* * *
Almost two years galloped by.
Terry had run a string of women through his home after Loretta had vacated and finally settled on one. Terry and a homely divorcee Molly Holmes were married at a small ceremony in Ambrose Park beside the river six weeks ago. The relationship between Molly and Loretta had begun to thaw since then, much to Terry's relief.
Loretta's business selling treated wooden piles for river flood protection work and building excavation sites was booming. After completing the industrial riverbank protection piling contract for the Newcomb Council, her company supplied piles to Harden's company for three more river-bank protection contacts and it had three land-based crews working on commercial, farm and residential pile-driving contacts.
Ten months after Kin Blake had gone to America she was due to return home. Harden and Loretta had become very friendly with Shirley and Ross and Shirley had backed off Harden after he said he wasn't interested, having learned from Terry that Shirley, although a lovely woman, had a reputation for 'spreading it around."
"You mean her loveliness," Harden had said slyly. Terry had cuffed him over the ear and said, "No you idiot, she's promiscuous."
Working with Ross as a consultant on another project for Newcomb County Harden said he had been thinking of taking Loretta to Chicago to meet his parents.
"Why don't you and Shirley come with us for say ten days and we'll bring back Kim with us."
Ross really didn't know but minutes after he told Shirley that evening she was banging at Harden's door. She dashed in kissed him and grabbed Loretta and dance her around the kitchen yelling, "America, America. Here we come. We are going to America with you guys."
"With whom?" Loretta asked. She looked at Harden who looked sheepish. She said tartly, "Is there something you've forgotten to tell me Harden?"
The visit to LA and Chicago went wonderfully well and Kim, her hair now blonde and her mannerisms very sexy, impressed her friends with her faked American accent.
Shirley decided to go blonde as well but Ross said, "No and I mean that Shirley."
In tears Shirley consulted Loretta who calmed her and said it was an easy fix. All Shirley had to do was to each fortnight over three mothers get her hair tinted slightly and by the time she was blonde Ross wouldn't have noticed the change.
"Do you believe that?" Shirley asked Harden doubtfully.
Harden could see Loretta behind Shirley give him the sign of a finger across her throat, suggesting he'd be in big trouble unless he lied.
Harden decided he could get by if he eased back on the lie but to accomplish that successfully he'd need a diversion.
"That deception has great possibilities. Is that a new bra?"
Shirley removed her hand from her hair and looked down at her boobs.
"No. Are you suggesting Ross would take greater interest in me if I bought new bras."
"Higher lift in a tighter bra Shirley, guaranteed to work," Harden said, not lying.
Next day he came home to find Loretta trying on one of the four new bras she'd purchased. He said "Wow" and moved in to help her adjust the straps.
Three weeks later Loretta received confirmation she was pregnant so they set a wedding date
They were discussing the wedding party when Harden remembered his promise to Neville McEwan at the used machinery and wrecker's yard.
"I'd like to include your godfather."
"I don't have a godfather," Loretta laughed and then saw the look on Harden's face.
"Oh god, my unofficial godfather. You have been talking to Neville McEwan. What line has he been spinning you?"
"The poor guy has no one and has been a pal of you father's since they were at primary school together. He regards you guys as family."
"Well what he told you is bullshit. Dad owed him money just after I was born and saw how Neville thought I was so cute. So dad offered him the title of unofficial godfather and acceptance would mean the gambling debt was written off. Neville agreed. That's all there is to it."
"And Neville has never shown kindness to you since then?"
Loretta was embarrassed.
"Well?"
She said Neville never missed buying her a birthday present, he also gave her a Christmas present and he'd bought her a dress to go to her high school graduation ball and had insisted and picked up the tab at the restaurant on the night she graduated with her masters in education.
"So there is a long-standing connection.
"
"Well I was intending to invite him to the wedding providing dad agrees to get Neville cleaned up."
"Well I'll not be satisfied with the wedding arrangements unless Neville is one of my groomsmen to partner the maid or matron of honor."
"Harden there's no way am I..."
She stopped when she saw Harden's jaw jut forward.
"Oh I'm wrong about that aren't I?"
"Yes."
"Well you arrange this with dad and find him a partner. The only woman I know who is old enough is Shirley and I'm not having Neville ending up trying to screw Shirley because after a few drinks she'd probably roll over for him."
"Loretta, this is a wedding we will plan, not a fuckfest."
She grinned and told him not to be so rude.
Terry received a triple whammy when he called around, learning his daughter was pregnant, a wedding would be held in six weeks and his pal Neville McEwan would be invited to be best man.
"Neville McEwan?" said Molly with obviously distaste and for the first time Loretta looked at her new stepmother and 'understanding' passed between them.
Molly appeared delighted about that. She stood and said to Loretta, "Come on dear, let's go shopping and choose the engagement present Terry and I can give you."
As the two women went through the doorway Molly offered the crook of her arm and Loretta closed the gap between them and slipped her arm into it.
Terry gaped, "How the hell did that happen?"
"Dunno," Harden said going off to pour another whisky for Terry and get another beer for himself. "It could be Loretta has decided to pull in her fangs a bit but perhaps now that she's pregnant she feels the need to be in touch with an older woman."
"Yeah a substitute mother desire could be the answer. I really can't understand why she wants Neville in the wedding party."
Not feeling the need to explain Harden said, "We want you to take responsibility to get up into acceptable shape for the wedding. Perhaps you could put him though a dry-cleaning machine."
""Yeah okay, he's a pal from way back."
"Loretta also wants to line up someone as maid or matron of honor to partner him."
"Me, who do I know like that. I'm married and am not expected to know of other women?"
The Dirtiest Daddy's Taboo Page 8