Too Late... I Love You

by Archer, Kiki

  ****

  “Just call Connie,” said Evelyn, chastising her son for the umpteenth time that morning.

  Karl knee-shuffled along the old-fashioned maroon-coloured carpet. “No, I have to prove I can do this. Come on, Noah, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “You can’t do this. He’s crying. He’s been crying since you brought him round here this morning. What did she say when you picked him up? Is he ill? Has he been under the weather? And who’s this Liss he keeps shouting about?”

  “I was late, she had to dash off.”

  “Where?”

  Karl moved the cat out of his way. “I don’t know.”

  “Watch Malcolm! And why don’t you know?”

  “We’re not together anymore, Mum. She can do what she wants.”

  “In your house? With your money? Your father would never hear of such things.”

  “Good job I’m not my father then.” He knelt down in front of his son. “Let’s go out, Noah. Where shall we go?”

  The little boy suddenly stopped crying. “Narnos.”

  “Where’s Narnos? Is it a play centre?”

  “No, Narnos and Liss.”

  Evelyn picked up her cat and paced around her living room. “Liss, Liss, that’s all he’s been saying.”

  “Mum, I’ll be in my new place in a couple of weeks. Could you please just try and help me out while I’m here?”

  The woman peered down at the boy. “What’s Narnos?”

  “Muh Narnos.”

  “Bananas? You want a banana?”

  The tears were back. “Narnos!”

  Karl stroked his cheeks. “What do you do at Narnos?”

  “See Liss.”

  “What does Mummy do at Narnos?”

  “Drink juice.”

  “Juice?”

  “Hot juice.”

  Karl reached under the little boy’s shoulders and threw him into the air. “Mariano’s! You want to go to Mariano’s!”

  “Narnos! Narnos! Narnos!” squealed the little boy.

  “Okay then, let’s do it. And then afterwards shall we go to the zoo?”

  “Yay! With Liss.”

  Evelyn tutted. “I’ll get my mac. The zoo’s always windy.”

  “Mum, you’re fine. Stay here and enjoy your day.”

  “And surrender my already restricted hours with my grandson. I don’t think so.”

  ****

  The air in the small massage room was warm and infused with the delicate aroma of sweet spices and the sound of soft music. Incense sticks burned in a corner and pan pipes poured from speakers in the ceiling, creating an atmosphere of real relaxation, which somehow managed to put Connie on edge. “What are we waiting for?” she whispered, lifting her head up from her table’s face hole.

  Maria propped herself onto her elbows on the nearby bed, their heads only inches apart. “They give us time to get ready.”

  “We only came in in towels!”

  “You should have taken it off under your sheet.”

  “What? I’m wrapped up tighter than a mummy. I thought they’d loosen me up.”

  “It’s fine. Lie down, relax. They’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

  “Wait, you’re naked under that sheet?” She grinned naughtily. “Prop yourself up a bit?”

  Maria did as instructed.

  “And a little bit more.”

  “What are you hoping to see?”

  Connie smiled as Maria’s cleavage came into view. “You’re so incredible. So…” she struggled with the word, “…so hot.”

  “I’m a woman; this is what women look like.”

  “I don’t look like that, like some Agent Provocateur model; I’m more the BHS bird with big boobs and big bras.”

  “You couldn’t put me off you even if you tried. And anyway I saw the sets from Ann Summers. Ryan showed me while you were wrestling that huge strap-on of yours.”

  “It wasn’t my strap-on and I made him take the bras back.”

  “I hope you didn’t?”

  “I did, and that DVD. And what was the other thing he made me buy? Oh yes, lube. He took that back too.”

  “Why buy lube in the first place?”

  “He said I’d need it to open you up.”

  “What are you? Some sort of surgeon?”

  Connie laughed. “Stop it. I was confused and flustered and he was the only help I had.”

  “Why did you need help in the first place?”

  Connie glanced towards the door. “Because I’m a novice. I’ve got no clue what to do.” She lowered her voice. “What you like.” She smiled. “How to pleasure you.”

  “This is pleasuring me. This morning pleasured me. Last week pleasured me. Simply spending time with you pleasures me, Connie.”

  “Okay.”

  Maria propped herself up even further, inadvertently lifting her breasts into full view. “I don’t mean to be dismissive, but it’s like I said, we just see where this takes us and if it takes us to bed then we do the same thing and just see where that takes us too.”

  “But I don’t know any routes! At all! And I’m lying here with your tits in my face, just wanting to drive drive drive.”

  Maria glanced down at her chest before looking up at Connie, slowly exposing her position some more. “How?”

  “How do I want to drive you? Right now? Right up the road and round the corner. But you’re torturing me by keeping me active. Keeping us surrounded by people. We could have stayed at home. You could have cooked. We could have spent the whole weekend all alone, just the two of us.”

  Maria smiled. “But isn’t the wait half the fun? Isn’t the build-up what makes the moment more special? I want to wine and dine you, Connie. I want to spend time making memories of us, real memories, out and about doing regular things, not just playgroups and play-dates. I want to get to know you for who you are, not just for who you become when you’re Mum. I’ve seen you carefree today, dangling from a precipice, clawing your way up to victory, never giving up.”

  “Was that the ten metre wall?”

  “No, the five, but you were great, and you’ve been funny and endearing and so so cute in your little harness, and I like you. I really like you.” She smiled. “So much.”

  Connie looked at the beautiful woman lying opposite her, not quite able to not stare at all the flesh still on show, but trying her best all the same. “How did this happen?”

  “Fate, soul mates, a collision of destinies, you know more than I do.”

  “Why?”

  “You write about it.”

  Connie smiled. “I finished my novel.”

  “And does Bonnie get her happy ending?”

  “The happiest.”

  Maria reached out to Connie’s bed, cupping her face in her hands. “Like ours,” she said with a smile.

  “Do you really think so? Do you really think we can—”

  Chiiiiiiiing.

  Both women turned to the doorway where their ladies had marked their entry by chinging on their tiny finger cymbals and bowing their heads. “Serenity,” they whispered. Chiiiiiiiing. “Peace.” Chiiiiiiiing. “Calm.” Chiiiiiiiing.

  Connie tried to tuck herself back into her blanket, feeling anything but calm, serene or peaceful. Maria had just declared her feelings. This was real. This was happening. This was a moment of great excitement, not a moment of tranquil reflection. She closed her eyes as the towel was pulled away and the warm oil made contact with her skin. Or maybe it was, she mused with a smile.

  ****

  “Lissssssssssssss!” screamed Noah, running straight towards the playpen in Mariano’s, ignoring his father’s request to wait in the queue.

  “I’ll get him,” snapped Evelyn, bustling past the small tables and marching after her grandson.

  “Mum, it’s fine, he obviously wants to play.”

  “No, you’ve asked him to stay in the queue, so he should stay in the queue. Come here, Noah,” she said, finding the boy trying to unlock the safety catc
h on the little white gate. She picked him up with authority. “We asked you to wait in the queue.”

  “Lissssssssssssss!” he wailed, kicking his feet out in fury.

  “Stop it right now, or we’ll take you straight home.”

  “Mum! It’s my job to discipline him, not yours.”

  “Start doing it then! Look at him, he’s like a wild animal!”

  “Lissssssssssssss!”

  “You put my Noah down,” said the elderly Italian woman, letting herself out of the playpen and shuffling towards the screaming. “My Noah just want Alice and my Alice make me come here on day off because she hope to see Noah.”

  Evelyn looked the intruder up and down. “And you are?”

  “Aunt Maddalena. My niece own Mariano’s.”

  “Thank you, but this is a private matter.” She paused, unable to control the thrashing any longer. “And this child is not your Noah.” She placed him back on the floor. “He has nothing to do with you.”

  Maddalena watched him run straight to the playpen. “He is good boy. Son of special special lady. I tell Connie I look after him, but she say he already looked after.” She scowled. “I tell her he not.”

  Evelyn straightened her now ruffled coat. “I am Noah’s grandmother and this is Noah’s father.” She took her son by the arm. “Karl, this person thinks she knows Noah.”

  “She may well do. Connie comes here a lot.” He smiled. “Hi, I’m Karl. So that’s the Alice we keep hearing all about?”

  “I tell Connie and Maria to keep them together, let them play. Why should they have all the fun and not the bambini?”

  Evelyn frowned. “Fun? Karl, who is this Maria?”

  “Just a friend of Connie’s.”

  “Special special friend,” added Maddalena with a look of particular triumph.

  ****

  Karl placed the tray of coffees and cakes on the table before finding his phone in his pocket. He looked towards the counter at his mother who was still trying to pull rank. Tell me again what you said about Connie, he typed.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The warm evening air lovingly greeted the women as they walked down the wide stone steps from the restaurant. Connie paused to look back at the grand architecture and huge clock face that stood proud from the brickwork. “Well I never thought I’d be dining at The Holly,” she said with a smile. “And this evening sun is just glorious.”

  “Did you enjoy it?”

  “Oh my goodness, Maria, it was the best meal I’ve ever eaten, and I’m telling you, that was Bobby Davro sitting in the corner.”

  “That wasn’t Bobby bloody Davro.” She laughed. “And even if it was I wouldn’t start shouting about it.”

  “Why not? I’ve never seen a celebrity before.”

  Maria rubbed her nails on her shirt, blowing on them in one-upmanship. “Rick Waller was in there last time I went.”

  “That huge guy from the singing programmes? He hardly beats Bobby Davro.”

  “That wasn’t Bobby Davro!”

  “It was!”

  “Oh come here, you cutie.” She threw her arm over Connie’s shoulder and tugged her in tightly. “Shall we walk for a bit before we catch a cab?”

  “More delaying tactics?”

  “No, just enjoying the journey. And delaying for what? I thought I was dropping you home?”

  Connie looked up in mock anger. “You did not!”

  “No, I didn’t. I’m taking you back to mine so I can kiss you slowly, undress you carefully and touch you tenderly. Giving us the perfect end to the perfect day.”

  Connie fanned her face. “Shall we walk a bit faster?”

  “No!” laughed Maria. “Describe this to me. You’re the writer. Describe the image of two women walking along together, lost in each other’s arms.”

  “Okay.” She smiled. “I wouldn’t call myself a writer, but Bonnie might say: ‘Happiness isn’t an illusion. It’s the feeling of your true love’s arms wrapped around your waist as the warm summer sun makes its final descent. Distant noises blend into the background as the soft tune of your heart is exposed.’”

  Maria smiled. “And what tune’s your heart playing?”

  “Right now I think my heart’s dancing.”

  “Connie, you really are adorable.” She paused. “But why does Bonnie even pose the suggestion that happiness might be an illusion?”

  “Because it always was. The whole novel focused on Bonnie’s refusal to accept the idea of fate, love, soul mates, all of those things,” she paused, “and she was doing really well. But then she met Mark and the standard happy-ever-after happened and my novel sold itself out.”

  “I very much doubt that. You should send it off.”

  “Where?”

  “To an agent.”

  “No, it’s just a hobby.”

  “Okay, so keep writing as a hobby but let Bonnie run free. See where the wind takes her?”

  “Maybe.”

  “At least let your two walking lovers stop for a kiss as they gaze over the river?”

  Connie smiled, feeling herself guided towards the stone wall that ran the length of their walkway. “Only if the water’s glimmering.”

  “Glimmers, ripples, look, we’ve got it all.”

  Connie succumbed to the smile and kissed the beautiful woman standing in front of her, moved by the passionate response she received in return. Looking up, Connie lifted her fingers to Maria’s soft cheeks, surprised by her emotion-filled eyes. She kissed the lips once more and whispered with true meaning. “I need you in my life.”

  Maria pulled her even closer. “I’m here.”

  ****

  Connie gasped, feeling her shoulders forced backwards into the soft leather. “What happened to taking it slowly?”

  Maria held her in position, kissing her deeply. “You happened.”

  “You happened first,” replied Connie, pushing up and moving Maria back, responding to every advance with a reactive move of her own. “I want you so badly.”

  Maria slid her hand up Connie’s thigh, holding it tightly. “Where?”

  “Everywhere.”

  The knock on the plastic divider shocked them both back into their seats. “We’re here, love,” said the taxi driver, completely nonplussed.

  Maria straightened her hair and fumbled in her handbag for her purse. “Sorry, thank you. Sorry.” She handed over notes worth double the fee as she hurried Connie out of the taxi. “Bye. Thank you.”

  Connie stumbled, giggling as she tried to get as much distance as possible between herself and the taxi. “Oh this breeze is nice, isn’t it?” she said, waving her hand in front of her face. “Quite hot in there didn’t you think? Has he gone yet?”

  Maria ushered her up the wide path. “Not yet,” she said, finding her keys and pushing on the ornate doorknob, scooping them both inside as quickly as she could. “There,” she said locking the bolt and keying in the alarm code. “I’m sure he didn’t care one bit, but I’m always irrationally scared that they’ll follow us in.”

  “You and all the women you bring back to your mansion?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Connie smiled in the sudden darkness, sure that her voice was echoing up the curved stairs and onto the balcony landing. “So,” she said.

  “So indeed.”

  “Do you need to make any calls?” she asked, aware that Maria was stepping into her space and closing the distance between her and the wall.

  “No, I’ve been informed that all’s well. You?”

  “All’s fine.”

  Maria stepped even closer. “So it’s just us. Alone. With no curfew.”

  “And no sleepers insisting we’re quiet,” she added, taking Maria’s arms and switching positions, pinning her against the cool wall instead. “I want this, Maria.”

  “What do you want?”

  “This.” Connie pressed their bodies together, lingering her lips close enough to make contact, wanting to memorise the first few
magic moments where their skin danced softly together, circling back and forth before their mouths parted fully with pleasure.

  “More,” groaned Maria, lifting her hands to the base of Connie’s head, pulling her lips even closer.

  Connie responded quickly, fast absorbed by the deep heated passion, pressing their breasts together and pulling on Maria’s waist so their thighs were forced into each other’s. She kissed deeper, harder, unable to get enough, needing to be closer, wanting to feel more. “I need you,” she gasped, sliding her fingers under Maria’s top, feeling the smooth skin of her waist.

  “Wait, wait,” Maria breathed quickly. “This way.” She took Connie’s hand and raced them up the curved stairway, crossing the balcony landing before reaching the large bedroom door. She pushed on it gently, allowing Connie to enter the room first. “Horrendously cheesy, but doesn’t everyone have this dream?” She opened the chest of drawers and found the matches, carefully lighting each candle in turn. “For you,” she said, gesturing to their surroundings.

  Connie stayed still, mesmerised as the draping white curtains and four poster bed became illuminated in the soft flicker of flames. She walked forwards and picked up a petal. “Red roses?”

  “Petals and a four poster. I’m sorry, it seemed like a good idea this morning.”

  Connie inhaled the sweet scent, turning around slowly. “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s everything.”

  Maria smiled. “Would some gentle music add to the effect?”

  “As long as you promise to dance.”

  Pressing play on the sound system Maria took hold of Connie and pulled her close. “You’ve done something to me, Miss Parker. You’ve made me want to wait.”

  Connie moved their bodies together. “Haven’t you been giving me time to be sure?”

  “No, it’s because I felt sure that I needed this to be perfect.”

  “And not in some dark tunnel at Bounce-a-rama?”

  “Exactly.” She smiled. “But I did want you so much in that moment.”