Housekeeping

by Summer Cooper

  “In Portugal, there are wines you like and wines you don’t, but cheap or expensive there are no bad ones. Yes, I’d love a glass thanks,” Ben responded, his gaze on Mary, her walk enticing him as she headed down the steps to get glasses.

  They took their drinks out onto the garden patio and enjoyed the silence for a moment. Then a dog barked and the sound of clopping hooves filled the air.

  “Is that a horse and cart?” Mary asked, turning to look through the windows in the kitchen. All she caught was the end of a wooden wagon.

  “Yes, he comes through twice a day. There’s another one that has bells on the horse. You’ll hear him later.” Ben took a sip of his drink and smiled at Mary.

  “Wow. I had no idea they still used those anywhere.” Mary looked contemplative for a moment.

  “I guess they think if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. It’s probably cheaper than owning a car.”

  “I suppose so. How lovely, doing things the old way. I quite like that.” Mary beamed at her mother and Ben felt his heart catch. She really was beautiful.

  Ben finished his wine and stood up. He didn’t want to wear out his welcome.

  “Thanks for a great day. It’s been fun to be back on the bike again and you two are great company.”

  “Now don’t you go disappearing, Ben. We’re going to cook tonight and we’ll need you to identify half the food we bought,” Lillian said, standing up herself. “Us country gals know how to light a grill but I’ll be darned if I know what half that meat is. So we’ll kick it off around seven? Okay with you?”

  “Seven will be just fine. I’ll look forward to it,” Ben said as he went through the gate. He made his way back to his own little apartment and smiled. He knew he’d made new friends at least. That Lillian was a charmer, but her daughter... Well Mary was a pure, unadulterated stunner in need of a good time. And Ben wouldn’t mind giving it to her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ben arrived at the gate at seven to find Lillian hunched over the small charcoal grill, blowing with all her might to get it lit. She turned as she heard him enter the patio.

  “It’s going to be a tad longer than I had planned, I’m afraid. Can’t get this darn charcoal to catch to save my life.” Lillian looked rather bewildered as she glanced down at the lumps of apparent charred wood that served as charcoal in Portugal. It was vastly different from the square briquettes she was used to at home.

  Ben made a hasty retreat back through the gate leaving Lillian confused as she went back to blowing on the paper and charcoal.

  “Didn’t I just hear Ben, Mom?” Mary asked as she came onto the patio.

  “Seems seeing my big butt sticking in the air over this grill scared the boy off,” Lillian laughed.

  Ben returned a couple of minutes later with a box of charcoal lighters.

  “Here, let me get that going for you. We have a little trick over here we use for lighting barbecues. Won’t take too long with these.” He eased her to one side and rebuilt the charcoal. The lighters was a pack of what looked like white Styrofoam, and if the smell was anything to go by, soaked in something flammable. The charcoal sprang to life quickly when Ben held a match to it.

  “We’ll give it half an hour and it’ll be good to go,” Ben sat himself at the table. Mary smiled at him as he sat down and proffered him a glass.

  “What’ll it be Ben? Beer or wine?”

  “A beer will be just fine, thank you, Mary,” Ben replied, smiling at her as she passed him a bottle.

  “Best you open me one too, baby girl. I’m all out of breath trying to get this thing going,” Lillian said as she joined them at the table. “Those lighters are miracle workers but they stink to high heaven, what’s in them?” Lillian took the glass of beer her daughter offered and swallowed a sip. With a face that said it wasn’t bad she settled into her chair and looked at Ben expectantly.

  “Oh. Well. I think it’s a chemical you use in America to tranquilize horses.” Ben named the chemical and both ladies looked at him in astonishment.

  “But people use that to get high back home!” Mary exclaimed. “Is it safe to use with food?”

  “Perfectly safe. Just imagine going home and telling people what they use to snort up their noses is used for lighting fires on this side of the pond.” Ben sounded amused and happy to see the women laughing with him.

  “I just can’t wrap my head around it.” Mary sipped at a glass of wine and looked stunned. Then she stood and disappeared into the barn once more, coming back with several plates expertly cradled in her arms.

  “I got us olives and cheese, and these crackers whatever they might be, and some of that fancy bread we had at the beach. Oh, and some of these. Not totally sure if they’re big olives or old grapes but I thought we’d give ‘em a try,” Mary said as she laid out plates of assorted foods on the garden table.

  “Ah, those are dates, Mary. They might take some getting used to. It all looks wonderful thank you,” Ben replied, helping himself to an olive.

  “Dates? Right. Well, don’t get finer than a bowl of dates at a garden party, right, Ben?” Lillian laughed at her overplayed country accent. Sometimes she could be wonderfully self-deprecating.

  “So, you’re going to have to explain to me, how did two young women from the mountains of West Virginia end up in Portugal?” Ben asked.

  “Well, should I tell him or should you, Mary? It’s a vacation, Ben. Not quite how it was intended or planned, but a vacation nonetheless. A mom and her daughter having the trip of a lifetime sort of thing,” Lillian answered looking at Mary to fill the gaps.

  “I was dumped at the altar, is what she’s trying to oh so delicately step around. There, I said it. I know if I don’t she will! So yes, the man I was supposed to marry ran off with a stripper and left me with tickets for this trip…” Mary stammered, getting up from the table and running into the house sobbing.

  “Oh dear!” Ben said “I’m really sorry I asked. I didn’t mean to pry. Shall I go and apologise?”

  “She’ll calm down, just let her get over it. The sting is still a bit fresh, that’s all. Help yourself to a date,” Lillian said, rising from her chair. “I’ll go have a word with her, you get yourself another beer.”

  Lillian went into the house after leaving Ben staring after her in confusion. Should he stay or should he go? He really didn’t need any drama in his life, but he felt really sad for Mary. Perhaps he could cheer her up at least. Assuming she ever came back out again. He helped himself to some olives and cheese and was just taking a sip of his beer when they both returned from the barn.

  “Oh, Ben, I’m so sorry about that. I really don’t know what came over me,” Mary said as she and Lillian re-joined him at the table. He saw her eyes were rimmed in red and her nose was pink and wished he could take away her sadness.

  “You have nothing to apologise for. I’m sorry for asking in the first place and bringing it all up for you,” Ben replied, feeling sheepish.

  “How in the heck were you going to know?” Lillian asked with a soft smile of understanding. “Anyhow, them’s the facts. It seemed silly to just throw away the tickets. Truth is, the guy was a no good waste of oxygen. Best thing he ever did for her was walk away, I reckon. Anyhow, more to the point, how’s a handsome English guy end up in a place like this?”

  Ben sighed and reached for his glass of beer to fill his hands. Yes, he would tell them how he ended up here but it too might be painful to go through. Lillian and Mary were hanging on his every word as he described his army career and marriage. Mary popped up occasionally to grill some meat and a selection of vegetables as he talked and Lillian asked questions.

  The ladies gave the appropriate sounds of “aww” in the happy moments and the sad and he managed to get through his glass of beer as he spoke. Mary wordlessly handed him another and he continued the story.

  They were all chewing over a strawberry tart that Mary had whipped up when Ben got to the real reason he was in Portugal; the real reason h
e was by himself in a place where he wasn’t bothered by people knocking on his door constantly to ask if he was alright.

  Fate had stepped into the wonderful life he and his wife were making together, and brought it crashing down by tragically taking her away. His choosing to move to the peace and tranquillity of the Algarve and his casual profession as a travel writer was only a reflection of the peace he needed to get through life without her after she passed away.

  The ladies were fascinated, both by his story and of course the accent in which he delivered it. He sat quietly under the large umbrella that had protected them all and realized the sun had long since gone down. Hours had passed without any of them really noticing.

  Lillian attempted to stand up and make her way to the bathroom but ended up plonking herself back in her seat. She looked confused as she struggled to stand once more.

  “Oh my, I didn’t think foreign wine would be quite as strong. I think I might be just a little bit tipsy,” she said with a girlish giggle.

  “Perhaps I should help you to bed, Mom. I’ll sit and chat with Ben some more if you don’t mind,” Mary said as she stood up to help Lillian to her feet.

  “I don’t mind at all, baby girl. Thank you for a lovely evening, Ben. Until I see you again.” Lillian gave an airy wave of her hand as she mimicked a queenly accent as Mary led her into the house.

  Mary gently guided her mother to the bathroom and her bed. Ben sat patiently, playing with his half empty beer bottle. Mary seemed interested in him, but was he as interested in her? They’d lived such different lives and he failed to mention, during his story telling, just how much effort his wife had made to get used to his need for extreme organisation. Ben needed things to be just right and in the right place. No time or patience for chaos and disorder.

  Could Mary handle his obsession of straightening picture-frames and wobbly tables, or taking his own table clips to restaurants? Would she even be around long enough to notice?

  As Ben sat, pondering his inadequacies, Mary returned and slid into the chair alongside him. She put a hand on his shoulder.

  “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness, Ben. We’ve had a wonderful time so far, thanks to you,” Mary said with a grateful smile, her eyes telling him she had for more on her mind than gratitude.

  Ben gazed into her eyes as she looked at him smiling. He was totally swallowed up in her beauty and could barely stammer a reply. His normally smooth stockpile of responses to the occasional sultry neighbour had flown straight out of his mind.

  “Well, erm, it was nothing really Mary, nothing at all. Was a pleasure for me too really,” he murmured, flustered. He really wanted to kiss her and drag her to his bed but he thought it might be too much for her to handle.

  Mary giggled as she poured herself a glass of wine and handed Ben a fresh bottle of beer.

  “We had no idea where we were or what to do once we got here. We were just determined to get here is all. You’ve made it special. We’re going to have a wonderful time thanks to you, and we really appreciate it,” Mary said as she raised her glass to him.

  Ben raised his bottle back and leaned forward to clink her glass in a toast. As he did, he saw Mary’s beautiful face in front of him. Her smiling lips so close. So very, very close. He leaned closer and Mary did too.

  Ben reached out to grasp her chin, smoothing a finger down her cheek before doing so. She looked at him, her longing for his touch more than evident as her lips parted and he saw her eyes go wide. His touch made her shiver and he knew he had a chance with her. Their lips were just an inch apart and their eyes fixed on each other as their glasses clinked when they moved to seal the moment.

  With a clunk and a click, they were plunged into total darkness as the power went out.

  Ben leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply. Mary gave a slight yelp. From inside the barn, Lillian let out a piercing scream.

  Mary and Ben instantly jumped up and headed to the barn door.

  “Mom? Mom? What’s wrong?” Mary yelled, stumbling into the barn.

  “The power’s gone, I’ll go sort it out, won’t take a minute,” Ben said turning to head to the apartment office. He made his way through the dark carpark to his apartment to retrieve his keys and a light, then back to the office. There he entered the building and reset the breaker. Light was restored. After locking up the office, Ben made his way back to Mary and the barn, which was now fully lit up.

  “It was a snake! I know it! Or one of those lizard things!” Lillian was yelling. “Ran straight across my face, the evil little thing! Scared the life out of me. And no lights Mary! I could have died twice when I tried to find the light. Straight across my face it went.”

  Mary shivered in her chaste-looking nightgown.

  Ben stood listening to the tirade in shock and then smiled, trying his best not to laugh at Lillian’s discomfort. It was too funny!

  “No snakes around here, Lillian. Any that might be around would be well out in the gardens and orchards. Maybe it was one of those small geckos. They do like these old houses,” Ben said with patience, hoping to alleviate her worries.

  “So where did all the lights go, Ben?” Mary asked, now happy her mother wasn’t being attacked by a hungry python.

  “Electric can be a bit delicate around here. These villages haven’t had it for too long and the cables are all a bit of a mess in these old places. Just overloaded with the air conditioning is all. I should have mentioned it before, sorry,” Ben replied, returning to his chair and picking up his bottle of beer to allow Lillian to settle into bed in peace.

  Lillian made her way out onto the patio wrapped in her dressing gown instead, a scowl crossing her face before she found her glass of wine still sitting on the table.

  “I know it isn’t your fault Ben, but someone should have mentioned the wildlife sharing the bedroom with me, I think. That Jenna lady for one. Mary pour me some of that wine, mine’s gone warm. A big one. I nearly had a heart attack in there,” Lillian gasped as she plonked herself in the seat between Ben and Mary.

  Mary poured and handed Lillian a new glass with a happy laugh.

  “Relax, Mom, it was just a little gecko. Not like we don’t get those black and green ones at home.”

  Ben didn’t know which lizards Mary was talking about but they sounded interesting. Well, as interesting as anything could be when he’d been interrupted on the verge of kissing a very beautiful woman.

  “Well springing out at me all unexpected and then the lights dying scared the snot out of me, Mary. I hope the little, ahem, booger has found its way out of my bedroom by now,” Lillian replied, taking a large gulp of the wine and waving the glass at Mary.

  Mary topped up the glass and settled back with her own and looked frustrated at Ben. So close, he could read in her eyes. So close and yet so far. He smiled back at her apologetically.

  “I have a key for the office. It’s where the electric panel is. It does trip now and then. Unusual, but at least now you know,” Ben said as he rose from the table. “I guess I should leave you ladies for the night and get to bed myself. Maybe if you’d like we can take a trip out tomorrow on the bikes. Perhaps to the beach?”

  “That would be fantastic. If we’re not keeping you from anything of course,” Mary replied quicker than she had planned. Ben saw the way she tried to hide her flinch of self-condemnation and smiled to himself. She was definitely interested.

  “No problem at all. Assuming Lillian has recovered from her shock of course,” Ben replied with a pat of Lillian’s shoulder.

  Lillian glanced between the two of them and smiled to herself.

  “That would be delightful, thank you. We shall look forward to it won’t we, Mary?”

  “Yes, yes we will, thank you again, Ben. For everything,” Mary said, almost sad as he turned and left.

  As Ben made his way home his mind was in utter turmoil. Did that really just happen? Well, almost happen? That kiss? Had he really lowered his guard so low that he almost kisse
d his new neighbour, his newly dumped and vulnerable neighbour, or was it just the drink taking over?

  He lay in his bed tossing and turning. He was happy here. Happy in the Algarve as almost a silent stranger. He was on nodding terms with a few of the locals and some he was even happy to see if he went out for a meal or a drink, but here, one of the things he liked best was his privacy and space. Time to read. Time to sit and contemplate. To eat when he felt hungry and eat whatever he wanted. He didn’t want to think about how to cope with a relationship. He certainly didn’t want to think about how he would handle the changes relationships might bring.

  Ben lay in a state of confusion as he pondered again and again if the kiss might have happened. An affair with an American. A woman from the mountains with little understanding of the world outside of West Virginia. They had little in common, but still Ben was both fascinated and deeply attracted to Mary.

  Tomorrow was another day. He would think about it tomorrow. Tonight he would sleep. If sleep ever came.

  Mary lay restless in her bed. She had eventually got her mother back inside and was now alone, gazing through the large window at the star studded sky. Ben was handsome. There was no doubt about it, he was good looking and athletic. No doubt a life of soldiering had built him into what he was now. His voice, she sighed, was like music to her ears. An accent she’d only ever heard in the movies. Her legs turned to jelly every time he spoke.

  But they had nothing in common. Could she have a simple affair? Mary wasn’t the type for that, though she wasn’t a virgin. She’d had relationships before Jason. Long relationships, not sordid little affairs. Ben wasn’t the type for relationships though, Mary could tell that much from the fact that he seemed so happy on his own. Would he consider a relationship with her, she wondered, staring into the darkness.

  Mary was happy in her mountain home, surrounded by people she knew and loved. People she’d known all her life. The whole town was family to her as she was to them. How could she possibly leave it all if this blossomed into something more than a holiday flirtation?