To Love Thy Neighbour

by S M Mala

  ‘And she’s a bee keeper?’ asked Barbara, sitting on the other side of Mali.

  Esme glanced at Mali, knowing this wasn’t a good time.

  ‘Buzzy Bee!’ replied Mali, putting her finger to her lips. ‘It’s a secret.’

  ‘Well, I like the idea having a lovely bit of food in the company of so many beautiful women,’ said Stan, looking in awe. ‘What time are we expected?’

  ‘In forty-five minutes,’ she replied, looking at her watch. ‘She only lives around the corner but I have to go and help her out in twenty minutes. You’ve got the address.’

  ‘But can I have chips?’ asked Mali, taking her finger away from her lips.

  ‘I’ll let your Nana decide.’

  ‘We’ll share,’ Barbara replied and she noticed a smile on her lips. ‘And why is Steph being so accommodating?’

  ‘Because she’s a lesbee,’ said Mali, then put her finger back on her lips.

  ‘I’ll get the drinks and order some frites,’ said Stan. ‘What would you like Esme?’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  Staring at her glass, she dreaded what was going on.

  ‘Nana, I love Esme and she loves me and daddy. We are happy, and we have lots and lots of fun. I don’t want to see my mummy witch.’

  ‘Mali, you shouldn’t be mean,’ said Esme, but agreeing wholeheartedly with the sentiment.

  ‘You said ‘don’t’,’ Barbara replied. ‘You see, you are learning.’

  ‘And you like Esme, don’t you Nana?’ Mali said, holding Esme’s hand.

  ‘Let’s take one step at a time,’ the woman replied, smiling uncomfortably.

  Right then, Esme knew Barbara might be on her hands and knees by the end of the day.

  ‘Oscar Reeves is my son.’

  Steph poured the tea and Leon watched Bennylita’s shocked face. ‘We have our problems but I won’t let anyone blackmail him or his family.’

  ‘I’m going!’ Bennylita said, walking towards the door. ‘I’ve been set up.’

  ‘You best to sit down, young lady,’ Steph said sharply. ‘If you know what’s good for you.’

  ‘Who are you to tell me what to do?’

  ‘I’m here on behalf of my son and as it’s got to do with money, you’ll listen.’

  Leon had no idea what Steph was up to but tried to catch her eye.

  ‘What’s your price to stay out of the press?’ Steph asked, handing out the cups as Bennylita refused. ‘The exact figure as I’ll have to sort it out, should we proceed.’

  ‘Thirty thousand pounds.’

  Leon felt ashamed that this woman was in Steph’s house and looked away.

  There was a knock on the door and Steph got up, walking out. Before Bennylita could speak to Leon, Angus Grimshaw walked into the room.

  ‘Where the hell have you been?’ he asked, shouting at her. ‘I’ve been looking all over the place for you!’

  ‘What’s he doing here?’ she asked, going bright red. ‘Who said I wanted to see him?’

  ‘Ah, that was me. I wanted to speak to both of you,’ Steph said, sitting down. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  ‘I’ve been worried sick,’ he said, stepping closer to his wife who pulled away. ‘Why didn’t you call me?’

  ‘It’s over. I told you and-.’

  ‘Leo’s missing his mum. Can’t you come back and we can work this out?’ he pleaded, anxiously looking at her. ‘Benny, don’t do this.’

  ‘Do what? You were all up for this beforehand. Now you’re upset that I want to do this on my own.’

  ‘But a baby?’ he said, questioningly.

  ‘She can’t have a baby,’ Steph said, turning to look at Leon, who wasn’t quite sure if he heard correctly. ‘The woman was sterilised after Leo. Seems she met a man, he fell in love but when she was ready to leave the baby with him, he walked away. Left her holding the child. Mr Grimshaw was with her at the time and was all for it. But even a cold-blooded scheming man wasn’t prepared to let the child go into care. Isn’t that so?’

  All he could do was stare at Bennylita, who seemed startled by the information.

  ‘No, that can’t be right,’ Leon said, standing up to walk towards Bennylita. ‘You were going to sell another child to his father?’

  ‘I was stuck and it’s not as she says.’

  ‘She’ll twist it,’ Steph said flatly, sipping her tea. ‘Oscar has been very helpful. He managed to find out that Angus and Bennylita have been scamming people for years. It all backfired. This lonely young man became totally infatuated with her. And Angus,’ she said, turning to the man. ‘You like to prostitute your wife’s womb like this?’

  ‘It’s a lie!’ he barked back, stepping away. ‘You can’t prove it.’

  ‘Oh, we can. We got statements from two other couples you’ve approached. You took their money and ran. What sort of people are you?’

  Speechless, Leon stared at his ex, not knowing what to say.

  He felt sickened at the level of deceit.

  ‘What were you going to do?’ he asked, trying to catch his breath. ‘If the idea was to be with me so that we could have a baby, how would that have happened?’

  There was a heavy silence in the room as Bennylita looked at Angus.

  ‘I’m going to the police,’ Steph said, sipping her tea and looking at them. ‘Oscar is giving me the finances to aid Leon to press charges against you for blackmail. Even offering to have a baby when you can’t, is fraud of some sort.’

  ‘You can’t do that!’ Bennylita said, shouting out loudly. ‘I’m Mali’s mother! He’ll never let that happen!’

  ‘Jesus!’

  Angus said, rushing out of the house and looking startled when he saw Esme.

  She stepped back and let him run away.

  Sprint would have been the correct term.

  Then all she could hear was shouting from one person in particular.

  ‘You’re a fucking bastard!’ Bennylita wailed. ‘A waste of fucking space! I hate you!’

  Holding her chest and knowing Steph must have told Bennylita what she knew, Esme stepped into the room and examined the scene.

  The woman was having a rant; Steph was sipping her tea, semi bemused, and Leon looked devastated.

  And that’s what hurt Esme.

  ‘Get out,’ Esme said calmly, walking up to Leon and holding his hand. ‘You tried to cause a problem and failed. We know what you are, what you’re like. Oscar isn’t having any of it, neither is Leon or myself.’

  ‘Leon!’ Bennylita screamed, starting to cry. ‘They’re lying about this! It’s not me! It’s not what I’m like!’

  ‘Leo’s not even his son?’ he mumbled as if coming out of a daze. ‘And you happily left him?’

  ‘Angus loves the child.’

  ‘But you don’t, do you? You thought it was a bargaining tool. You were going to do the same to another poor bastard, but they sussed you out. Figured what sort of woman you’re like.’ He turned his back to her. ‘I’m too ashamed to look at you.’

  ‘Oscar told me to tell you, Mrs Grimshaw, a solicitor will be in touch with your solicitor shortly. We have costs to recover. And there’s the small detail of you signing to keep away from Mr Sachs, his family and…’ Steph looked threateningly at the woman. ‘Most of all … mine.’

  Esme let go of his hand and walked towards Bennylita.

  ‘Go now because I have no hesitation in going to the police. I’ll do it to protect the people I love.’ She stared into her eyes. ‘I’d run as fast and as far as you can. I was married to a powerful man, and he’s still my son’s father.’ Just as Bennylita was going to walk away, Esme grabbed her arm. ‘And I love Mali and Leon more than you’ll ever know. He was too good for you. Someone like yourself would never appreciate that!’

  Bennylita threw Esme’s hand away and marched off, slamming the door shut.

  ‘Well, that went well, didn’t it?’ said Steph, cheerily.

  The next thing Esme knew, Leon had collapsed i
n tears.

  ‘I’m fine and I’m so sorry.’

  He repeated it again and again, while Steph pushed a glass of brandy in his face, after ushering the pair into the summer house in the garden. ‘Esme, forgive me for even thinking about it.’

  ‘Don’t say anything. It’s fine,’ she replied, her warm brown eyes staring at him.

  ‘Your parents are coming, and Lucia will be here any moment,’ Steph said, anxiously looking around. ‘It’s not a good start finding I’ve made their child cry, is it?’

  Leon felt useless and confused.

  The woman he had fallen in love with all those years back was a scam artist, and she was going to fleece him again.

  Now he was left with humiliation and the worse bit was he could have lost Esme.

  ‘That’s Mali’s flesh and blood,’ Leon sobbed, wiping his face roughly with his hands. ‘How can she be so…’

  There were no words to describe how he felt.

  Esme wiped his face with a tissue then held him tightly in her arms.

  ‘She lied to me about being able to have a baby,’ he said, looking straight at Esme. ‘Who would do something like that?’

  ‘A desperate woman.’

  ‘I’m so ashamed. Esme, forgive me for putting you through this.’

  ‘Shoosh,’ she said, holding his face. ‘You don’t have to be ashamed. It’s not your fault. You’re a wonderful man, and I love you so much. Oscar helped us dig a little deeper, but Steph did the work.’ Esme glanced to the side. ‘I expect she was doing it for your sister, not me.’

  ‘Just hold me,’ he said, not wanting to leave her arms. ‘Don’t ever leave me.’

  He didn’t know how long they were in that position while his head spun, and his heart sank.

  There was no way he would ever let Bennylita near his child again.

  ‘Daddy! Daddy! Where are you?’ The sweet voice of Mali was ringing around the garden. ‘Auntie Lucia is here and Grandpa and Nana and I had chips.’

  The child stopped short when she noticed her father’s face.

  ‘I don’t like it when you cry,’ she whispered, stepping closer.

  ‘She’s saying ‘don’t’ now,’ whispered Esme, stroking the back of his neck.

  ‘I’m not crying,’ he gulped.

  ‘You have a red face.’

  ‘I’m hot.’

  Mali went up to him and sat on his lap, wiggling her feet then put an arm around his neck.

  ‘Did mummy witch make you cry? She made me cry,’ Mali said. Her green-brown eyes were staring straight at him. ‘I not… don’t like her.’

  ‘I don’t like her,’ he said, starting to smile at the innocent face.

  ‘I don’t want to be her friend.’

  ‘That’s fine.’

  ‘I don’t want to see her.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘I don’t love her as much as I love you.’

  Again, he started to well up as Esme stood, scooping Mali up in her arms.

  ‘You are a wonderful, good child,’ she said, kissing her cheeks.

  Leon looked up at the two females and felt happy.

  They were his saviours.

  One younger. One older.

  His life had changed for the better and he had momentarily wanted to risk it.

  ‘I am a good child,’ Mali said loudly as Esme stepped out of the summer house. ‘I did not tell anyone that Auntie Lucia and Steph are lesbees and like to kiss and hug and love each other. I did not tell anyone.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Barbara said loudly, making all three of them turn around. ‘Lesbian? They’re lesbians?’

  ‘Yes I am a lesbian,’ said Lucia walking out of the garden, holding hands with Steph. ‘And this is my mature lover, Stephanie, who is also Alfie Reeves’ grandmother and Esme’s ex mother in law.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Barbara asked, trying to catch her breath.

  ‘It’s a small world and I’m in love very much like my little brother.’

  ‘Stan!’ Barbara called, looking like she was going to keel over. ‘Stan, did you hear?’

  ‘It’s alright, petal,’ he said, rushing towards her. ‘We Sachs do like them a bit older. And I always knew Lucia liked them a little bit more girlie, if you get my drift.’

  Just then Leon looked over at the others standing around as his eyes landed on Esme.

  To him, just then, he had the most perfect addition to his family.

  The woman he loved

  ‘‘What a bloody marvellous day!’ Leon laughed out, wiping his stray tears.

  ‘It’s not nice to say ‘bloody’, daddy,’ his child said before running around and shouting, ‘I not a lesbee! I a bumble bee! Buzz, buzz, buzz! And I’ve seen Esme’s boobies and daddy’s bum bum going up and down to make them bounce!’

  ‘I love you.’

  Esme gasped as he moved slowly then picked up speed, putting her legs around his waist. ‘Don’t stop.’

  He wasn’t.

  Faster he went, looking at her all the time and kissing her lips.

  All she did was stare back and stroke his body. Leon seemed on a mission to please her and he had done so for two weeks since Bennylita’s revelation. It was his way of showing Esme he loved her, and she wasn’t complaining.

  Then he pulled out and put his hand over her pelvis, starting to rub her off quickly, looking at her while kissing her face.

  ‘I’m so close,’ she gasped then felt the tightening of her thighs before his tip decided to go a little bit inside her.

  He was moving his hips, gently teasing her while rubbing her very sensitive nub.

  Esme was going to groan loudly as the orgasm fired through her body, but he placed his mouth over hers, covering the noise then pushing in quickly, making her jump and shudder at the same time.

  His thrusts were rocketing through her body as their tongues were still entwined as well as their limbs. She felt another spasm then he groaned into her mouth, trying to keep his noise down to the climatic end, shuddering when he did.

  Holding him close, she felt him press his skin against hers, his lips kissing her throat and neck.

  ‘I love you,’ he whispered and she gulped, nodding in agreement.

  Pressing her lips against his, she felt his tongue protrude in her mouth, touching her gently. Then he let out a massive sigh, rolling off and panting like a little puppy.

  Glancing at her young lover, his eyes closed and enjoying the glow of post lovemaking, she let out a little sigh. He was also glancing at his tablet now and again while recovering.

  They lay together in silence. Only their heavy breathing could be heard.

  She knew Leon had been tossing and turning things in his head, thinking about Bennylita and how she was willing to stitch him up.

  It didn’t take a fool to see it had wounded him.

  All Esme wanted to do was make him feel better and loved.

  That was what she felt.

  Pure love.

  ‘Greece?’ he asked, flicking through the information on his tablet as she stroked his hair. ‘We can get some flights for mid-week. Leave the rest to me.’

  She pulled his chin so she could place a kiss on his sweet lips before giggling.

  ‘What are you laughing about now?’

  ‘I’m happy.’

  He started to laugh then rolled on top of her.

  There was the familiar smile that had slipped for a while. It had returned with a vengeance that evening, making him look more devastatingly handsome than usual.

  ‘Now my mum wants to throw a massive coming out and love of older people party in aid of her children!’ Leon’s laughter made his body vibrate against hers. ‘It didn’t turn out that badly, in the end.’

  ‘Even though you’re going out with someone like me.’

  ‘She likes you. It’s not perfect in her eyes, but she’ll come to my way of thinking. On the other hand, it’s less of a shock than knowing your own daughter likes going down on mature puss
y.’

  ‘Leon!’ she said, gently punching his arm. ‘Don’t be mean.’

  ‘I love it. Must be a family thing.’

  He kissed her again, this time fondling her bare breast. Esme smiled and stroked his back, pulling up the sheet to cover their lower halves.

  ‘Are you all right? I was a bit worried when you found out about Bennylita not being able to have a baby. When Angus let slip, my heart simply broke for you.’

  ‘I don’t care now. It’s not important.’

  ‘It is important.’ She closed her eyes and felt his lips on the end of her nose. ‘I would do anything to make you happy. And if later on you want an addition to our family, I want to be there with you.’

  It was a deep gasp as she opened her eyes and noticed the green haze of his eyes.

  ‘Our family,’ he sighed. ‘I wanted someone to love me, like I said. I found it in you, Esme. Do you understand? I want us to be together and happy with Mali. Everything else will fall into place.’

  ‘The offer is there. But you can’t have sex with anyone else.’

  He let out a little laugh and sighed.

  ‘I love you,’ she said, feeling her heart squeeze and the release of butterflies in her gut. ‘I never thought I’d find someone to fall in love with ever again.’

  ‘Aren’t you lucky I moved in next door then?’

  They stared at each other, and she was completely enraptured by him.

  ‘I’ll always be true to you and will never let you down.’

  ‘Of course you won’t,’ she grinned, kissing his nose. ‘And to love thy neighbour you have to make sure not to piss her off.’

  ‘Other than commenting on your gardening skills. Seriously, I adore you but you aren’t very good and look dangerous with your pruning shears.’

  ‘And if you annoy me, I’ll come at you with my secateurs and give you a double circumcision you’ll never forget!’

  Published by S M Mala

  Copyright © S M Mala 2015

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication is to be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any forms or by any means, including photocopying, recording or any other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.