Intervention

by Rob Mclean

  “I should get Zeke? Or perhaps Mrs. Campbell?”

  “I just need to talk to Zeke, please.”

  “Si, come in. He’s lucky man, no?”

  Angela just smiled. Inside, the entrance lobby was flanked by openings and led to a majestic, curved stairway.

  Inside she could hear Zeke’s mother call, “Who is it Juanita?”

  “I get him now,” the housekeeper said to Angela, then called out to Mrs. Campbell as she went through to find Zeke. “It is la bella senorita, Angelina,” Angela felt herself blush. “She comes to see her hombrecito.”

  Caroline Campbell emerged wearing navy exercise tights and a bright blue sports T-shirt and joggers. Her svelte curves suggested that she might have just been to the gym, but her make-up, lipstick and pearl earrings said otherwise. She greeted Angela with an embrace. Her perfume confirmed that the gym gear was for show. Like a lovingly restored car, Caroline Campbell, in her mid forties, was high maintenance, but the result was most attractive.

  She radiated concern; it marred her otherwise flawless features.

  “You poor thing,” she said, “I heard about the shop.”

  “It wasn’t so bad,” Angela said. “All the graffiti’s gone now.”

  “No, I mean that dreadful man stalking you,” Caroline said. “You were far too nice to him. I would have called the police.”

  Angela was momentarily stunned. So Zeke hadn’t told his sister or his mother about her drink being spiked. They all knew about the clubbing, so it must be that Zeke didn’t want them to know about the drugs. Maybe he was protecting her; after all, they wouldn’t be happy about why she wanted the drugs. Or maybe he didn’t want anyone to know about his own plans. She knew Zeke well enough to know which one she thought it was.

  “Oh no,” Angela said, “He’s okay. He’s a security guy from the nightclub that Zeke and I went to last Friday.”

  “Really? Whatever did he want?”

  “He had found my phone at his nightclub and was giving it back to me,” Angela said. She wasn’t exactly lying, but she knew she wasn’t telling the whole truth either.

  “That was extraordinarily nice of him,” Caroline said, her eyebrow arched.

  “Yeah, he seemed nice.”

  “Maybe I’ll have to go with you kids next time you go ‘clubbing.’ We’d have a great time and I’d be able to keep an eye on you.”

  Despite her age, Angela had no doubt that she would be very popular there.

  “Of course, you’d have to keep an eye out for me. Gordon would pop an artery if he knew I was out clubbing.”

  “Especially if a bouncer followed you home.”

  “Chelsea said yours was rather cute?”

  “Oh yeah,” Angela nodded, “but she went and chased him away.”

  “Shame,” Caroline said with mock sincerity. “Still, I‘m surprised this sort of thing doesn‘t happen more often. You’ve been truly blessed when it comes to looks.”

  Angela felt the heat glow in her cheeks. “Thanks,” she said.

  “Though it’s a pity Zeke got his father’s looks.” Caroline said in a conspiratorial whisper. “Looks like we’re counting on your genes for the gorgeous babies.”

  A cunning smile flashed across Caroline’s face when she saw Angela’s blush deepen. Angela could see that she was enjoying her discomfort. Angela found her girly teasing and faux friendliness a bit hard to handle from her future mother-in-law, so she just tried to smile and be polite.

  Mrs. G returned and announced that Zeke was ready to see Miss Angelina.

  “Gotta go,” Angela said. “Later, Mrs. C.” She made her way through to the pool, meeting the housekeeper on the way.

  “You be staying for dinner, Miss Angelina?” the house keeper asked.

  “Come now, Juanita,” Caroline called from the lobby. “We should leave the two kids to their fun.”

  Angela ignored the innuendo. She said to the housekeeper, “No thanks, Mrs. G, I just wanted to see Zeke for a bit.”

  “Just a quickie then.” Carolyn smiled.

  “A quick talk is all,” Angela replied.

  “Well, off you go then,” Caroline winked. “Better not keep him waiting.” She smiled and left for the kitchen.

  The housekeeper put her hand on Angela‘s arm.

  “Today he is not good. You be careful.”

  “It’s probably about the alien thing,” Angela said, putting her own hand on top of the housekeepers, “but thanks, I’ll be fine.”

  Angela made her way past the kitchen through to the sun room. It had huge glass windows that looked out to the pool. Masses of indoor plants flourished in the heat and the humidity in the room, which clung to her as she passed through.

  Once outside she walked around the pool. Masses of Rhododendrons flowered in a bank against the fence. They formed long showers of pinks and mauves. Dotted around the pool were frangipani trees; their delicate scent hung in the still air that was trapped between the house, the rhododendrons and the guest house.

  The pool area was deserted. She could hear the dull bass thuds coming from the upstairs bedroom that belonged to Chelsea. Besides Chelsea, Zeke had three other brothers, all of which were younger and lived at home. She knew their bedrooms were on the same floor as Chelsea’s. She supposed they were either out or had their earphones in, as their rooms were quiet.

  She knocked on Zeke’s door and waited. She could hear the clacking of a keyboard and then he called her in.

  His room was large, built for a visiting couple, but seemed smaller because of all his belongings. His unmade king-sized bed lay directly ahead opposite the door. A window to the right of the door looked back towards the house. She had often peered out this window while making love, fearful that his parents might suddenly appear. But that was long ago, when they were first doing it. Now, no one seemed to care. Everyone knew, but said nothing. Chelsea just turned up her music.

  French doors to the left of his bed led to a small deck behind the guesthouse. They sat there sometimes, just talking and looking over a half acre of lawns interspersed with imported gum trees.

  She had a dresser with some of her things in it; toiletries, cosmetics, spare clothes including some of the racier attire that she wouldn’t let her mother find out about. At first, she had thought that having some of her stuff at Zeke’s house was a step towards setting up a home together, but she soon found out that it was to meet a practical need and that it held little, if any significance for Zeke.

  On the right of the bed was the en-suite. The spa was fun, but the double shower was more practical. She had often needed to use it after a sweaty session of passion before going home to her parents.

  She opened the door and found him in a room off to the right. Originally it had been the bedroom, but his bed was too big to fit comfortably, so he had made it his entertainment room. He had his computer, flat screen and games consoles. As well, there was a lounge and two lounge chairs with a scuffed coffee table in between.

  Scattered about both rooms were dozens of models. Planes, cars, trucks, helicopters. They had been his passion, but she knew that he had lost interest in his boyish toys somewhat since she had come along.

  He was at his computer. An internet page was up with the latest updates on the alien visit, as it was being called by the media.

  Zeke got up, strode to her. He wrapped one arm around her waist; the other held her as he leant her back and kissed her long and full on the lips.

  “It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” he said. “I sure missed you.”

  Angela felt the sincerity of his words. She remembered what Chelsea had said to her, and already she could feel her resolve wavering.

  He dragged his hand from her waist and in a lazy carefree way traced a meandering pattern across her abdomen towards her breasts.

  “Missed me? Or missed my body?”

  “You, of course.” He took his hand from her chest and gently held her face. Her jaw rested between his thumb
and forefinger. He moved her face up to look into his eyes as he kissed her again. She returned his kiss with a growing passion, holding him tighter. Her head grew light. She tried to remember the things she wanted to say but she couldn’t focus.

  His hand left her chin. He gently ran the back of his hand down her neck. His soft lips followed, leaving their own tantalizing trail of pleasure.

  He manoeuvred her towards the lounge. She felt the cushioned armrest behind her legs. He then pushed her over the edge, and she fell onto the soft lounge cushions. One of her legs was still draped over the armrest, the other on the floor. She was glad she was wearing a long summer dress.

  He didn’t seem to mind. He started unbuckling his belt.

  “We’re not having sex now,” she said as she tried to get back up.

  “Come on,” he said. “It’s been a few days, so I’ll be real quick.”

  “Ninja sex?” she shook her head, “No, we have to talk.”

  Zeke groaned. “Nah, we can talk after.”

  “No. We talk now.”

  Zeke stopped. He tilted his head to look closely at the woman before him.

  “Who are you?” he asked, “and what have you done with my Angela?”

  “Your Angela?” Her voice got louder as she got angrier. She sat up. “That’s what I want to talk about.”

  “Not the marriage thing again.”

  “It’s been four years, Zeke.” Her voice changed to mimic and mock his, “We’ll have a rumspringa for a while, so we know we’ll be compatible, and then we’ll get married.”

  She jabbed her finger into his stomach. “Well?”

  “Well what?” he asked. “You want a proposal now? This instant?” His features hardened. He clenched his jaw and his lips were pressed thin. “Well, forget it.”

  “I need to know where we’re going. You have to tell me. I‘m not going to wait another four years.”

  “Don’t you give me ultimatums,” he snapped. “You don’t know how lucky you are.”

  Angela stared at him, her mouth hung open wordless.

  “You should count your blessing. You, of all people, should know how hard it is to find a Christian man, especially one as good as me.”

  His arrogance was well founded. He had always been incredibly popular amongst the church youth groups. The girls had always outnumbered the boys, often more than twice their number. The boys that did show up were usually socially awkward and struck her as sexually odd. They physically bumbled and verbally stumbled around her, all the while trying to stare at her without being too obvious. Compared to them, Zeke had always stood out.

  “I haven’t been looking, so I wouldn’t know.”

  “And from a family as wealthy as mine.”

  “I don’t care about your money,” she said. “It’s you I want.”

  “What about that ape from the nightclub?” Zeke spat the words out. “I know you met up with him for lunch.”

  Angela’s whole face and neck reddened.

  “That’s nothing. He just wanted to give me back my phone.”

  “He went to a lot of trouble,” his eyes narrowed to slits. “He must like you.”

  “So what if he does?”

  “By the time the family lawyers are finished with him, he’ll be homeless.”

  Angela laughed. “You can’t sue him for liking me.”

  “No, he assaulted me. Punched me in the guts while his tame gorilla held me.”

  “Really?” Angela couldn’t believe John would do something like that. “When was that?”

  “While you were drugged at he club.”

  “But…”

  Zeke sighed. “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “What?”

  “You shouldn’t be worrying about him.”

  “I’m not,” she lied, hoping to sound convincing, but she fidgeted with her dress fringe.

  “We are supposed to be promised to each other, remember? Ever since we first hooked up, we were married in the eyes of God. Does it really matter what the rest of the world thinks?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “Well, I have kept myself for you, babe. I haven’t looked at any other girl.”

  Angela knew she should be feeling ashamed for even thinking of being with John, but strangely she didn’t. She hoped her feeling about John didn’t show, but she suspected that Chelsea had filled Zeke in. Angela sat herself up but didn’t look at him.

  “You know that I could have almost any girl I wanted, any Christian girl…” he said it as a given fact and Angela knew that amongst the girls in the churches they went to, it was true. He was rakishly good looking with his surf bleached blonde hair, and she truly enjoyed the sight of his wiry, lean body.

  He had been popular and sought after for as long as she had known him, and he knew it. She had always felt special that he had chosen to be with her over all the others who would have loved to be in her shoes.

  “…but I have kept myself exclusively for you.” He knelt before her and put his hands on her knees, pressing them lightly together.

  The truth of his words hung over her and wore at her resolve. She knew she really should be feeling guilty, but reasoned that it was what he was trying to make her feel.

  She wanted to tell him how she felt it was all so unfair. He might have been keeping himself for her and her alone, but so he should. After all, he was getting everything he wanted from their relationship. He had no need to change and didn’t seem to want to make their partnership any more official or formal than it already was.

  It angered her that it was all one way. Sure, she enjoyed the sex, sometimes, but a relationship was more than just the physical. Sometimes she thought that it was all he really wanted her for. More often these days she was beginning to feel like some sort of fun hobby.

  She wanted to shout it at him. To let him know how unfair it was, but she worried that if she did that, she would push him away and maybe even lose him. She didn’t want to upset the current situation, except to make it more secure. So she kept her mouth shut and bottled her annoyance away.

  “I know,” she said. She leant forward and hugged him. He buried his face into her lap. She stroked his head.

  “But he’s not a Christian. Is he, the rock-ape?” Zeke suddenly asked.

  “No, but don’t worry about him,” Angela said and immediately felt a pang of loss burrowing a cavity in her heart.

  “But he isn’t, is he?” Zeke persisted. She could hear an excitement and almost a relief in his voice.

  “No, but so what?”

  Angela knew this was where her mother’s plan had lead her with Zeke. She half hoped it would work and spur Zeke into action. But she also felt astonished at herself for half hoping it would cause Zeke to fly into a rage and dump her. She felt totally confused. She looked to Zeke.

  “Your parents would totally disown you if you went out with a non-Christian, especially your mother.” He searched her eyes, trying to see into her soul. He sat down next to her and took her hand in his.

  “A Christian marriage is special,” he said. “It is a commitment before God.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “We’re already committed,” he said, “or at least I am.” Angela felt his words dig into her. Guilt washed over her and threatened to drown her. She saw now how much she had been flattered that John had shown an interest in her. But he was not of the faith and she knew that it just couldn’t work. She had told him as much herself, but it didn’t stop the images she had of them together and she felt so bad because of it…

  “I want to marry you,” he said.

  Her heart sighed.

  Part of her had always wanted to hear those words, and yet another part was disappointed and annoyed that she couldn’t now be with John because of them. Overall, the reassurance of Zeke’s words won and she felt relief. She hadn’t realized how stressed she had become waiting for years to hear those words that had always been implied but never said.

  A flood of anxiety drained from her as
his words tipped her indecision in his favour. She hugged him tightly and recalled all her much thought over plans for their future.

  She kissed him. She had to hold herself back from saying ‘thank you’ such was her relief that he had finally said that he would marry her.

  His fingers ventured down her leg, to her knee. He lifted the hem of her dress and slid his hand underneath, back up her inner thigh. She didn’t stop him.

  She gave herself to him, happy that this time he had given her the words she had wanted to hear. She gave to him now as she had given to him her time and devotion in the past, and again, he happily took from her.

  Moments later, he was finished.

  She felt like a warm receptacle, but reassured herself that it was for a higher good in the end.

  Once she had cleaned up the mess, they held each other on the lounge. She nuzzled into his embrace and drank in the moment. Her thoughts drifted to plans of their wedding day. It was a well rehearsed dream, and although she hadn’t revisited it lately, she had often conjured it up in her quiet moments. She had planned almost everything over and over in her head.

  “I love you,” she said, going over possible wedding ceremony locations in her head. She waited for him to reciprocate, but he was staring out the window, his mind obviously far removed from the present.

  Her anger flared. How can he say he wants to marry me, have his fun with me, and now forget that I’m even here? She nudged him continuously and more vigorously until his attention returned.

  “What’s up?” he said, momentarily disorientated.

  “What were you thinking?” she asked as sweetly as she could despite her annoyance at his post-coital inattentiveness. She could excuse little or no foreplay, but as far as she was concerned, for his mind to wander off afterwards was much worse.

  “I was thinking about the alien thing,” he said.

  “Not about how much you love me?” Despite the heavy sarcasm, she knew she sounded needy and she hated herself for it.

  “Of course I love you,” he said, kissing her lightly. “That’s a given, but you know there’s a lot happening right now with this so-called alien rolling up on our doorstep.”

  “I don’t see what the big deal is,” she said. “It’s not as if they want to take over the world.”