by Lee, Mandy
I’m returning to reality, coming down from the trance. We’re back in bed together and he’s holding me, gently smoothing my hair. Raindrops patter against the skylight above us. The world’s a thousand miles away.
I could say anything now. I’m weak, suggestible, filters gone, all defences down.
‘I love my old man.’
‘Do you, now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, if we’re using clichés,’ he grins, ‘I love my ball and chain.’
His lips brush against mine.
‘That was perfect,’ I murmur. ‘I love a good spanking.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘I never thought we’d do it again.’
‘We just had to wait for the right time, and let’s face it, we were never going to hang the washing on that bench.’
He laces his fingers through mine.
‘So, there’ll be more?’
He gives me a look of total disbelief.
‘Good God, yes. I’ll still be spanking you when we’re old and grey.’
‘We’ll never be grey,’ I smile dreamily, and if ever there’s been a time to throw out a mantra, then this is it. ‘Because the colour’s back.’
‘Too right.’ He locks eyes with me, and I lose myself in those irises. They’re vibrant tonight, an intense sapphire blue. ‘It’s been back for a while now,’ he whispers. ‘And this time, it’s here to stay.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Dan
There’s nothing better than a morning in Bermuda. It’s paradise, pure and simple. I’d love to take my wife down to the beach and add another notch to that sunbed. The air’s fresh. The sun’s low in the sky. Perfect conditions for a good fuck and a quick swim with the woman I love. But the days of carefree sexual marathons are on hold.
And I never thought I’d say this … but I really don’t mind.
‘Emily?’ I whisper. ‘How about a pancake?’
Sitting at the veranda table, breakfast spread out in front of me, the next objective is to get some food into my two-year-old’s stomach. She stirs, her face still dug into my T-shirt, and shakes her head emphatically.
‘But you need some energy if you want to play in the sea.’
She pulls back her head and glares at me from behind a mess of wild blonde locks. I push back her hair and melt at the sight of those green eyes and that gorgeous little face, all screwed up into a scowl. Just like her Mum, she’s a bundle of stubborn energy, a total handful, and a complete beauty.
‘For Daddy?’ I ask, giving her a smile. She’s a Daddy’s girl, one hundred percent, a fact I’ll use shamelessly, whenever the need arises. ‘Just a little bit? I can put some magic sauce on it.’
‘Magic?’ She rubs her eyes.
‘Magic. It makes you … whatever you want to be.’
‘A fairy?’
‘If you like.’
She stares at the table, and I bite back the urge to rush. If I’ve learned nothing else, it’s that patience isn’t just a virtue. It’s an absolute bloody necessity when you’ve got kids. Holding Emily with one hand, I slice off a piece of pancake with the other, douse it in magic maple syrup, and spear it with a fork. I’m about to coax it into her mouth when I hear the sound of squealing from inside the guesthouse.
‘Right,’ Maya calls. ‘Jack, go and get your breakfast. Now.’
There’s a patter of tiny feet on tiles, the squeals grow in force, and Jack springs through the open window, ready for the day in his sun-resistant outfit.
‘Daddy?’ He swings to a halt by my side. ‘Are we …’ He trails into silence, scanning the food laid out on the table. ‘Are we going on a boat?’
‘Yes, we are.’
I slip the pancake into Emily’s tiny mouth.
‘Will you swim with me?’
‘Without a doubt.’
‘And … can I?’ Another silence as he watches a bird wheel through the sky. ‘Can I use the snorgel?’
I laugh quietly.
‘Of course. We’ll find some interesting fish.’
‘A stripy one?’
‘Definitely a stripy one.’
That should keep him more than happy. Five years old, and he’s already thoroughly intrigued by the natural world, constantly asking questions about anything with a heartbeat. A mini David Attenborough, that’s what Maya calls him. He climbs onto the chair next to me and while Emily reaches for another helping of pancake, I put down the fork and run my hand over his blond hair.
‘Where’s Mummy?’
‘Putting Ruby’s costume on.’
Pardon?
‘But I already did that.’
My son shakes his head. I push a plate of fruit towards him and watch hopefully as he picks up a slice of mango. He’s a fussy little chap, something I can’t understand. Even though Maya’s relaxed about the whole thing, I hate it when he doesn’t eat.
‘Mummy said you put it on upside-down.’
Emily shuffles about in my arms, dropping the pancake onto my lap. A pool of syrup spreads out across my crotch. I sigh and decide it doesn’t matter. After all, I seem to spend virtually every day covered in stains of one sort or another.
‘I’m sure I didn’t put it on upside-down.’
Jack rolls his eyes, bites off a chunk of mango and chews on it thoughtfully. Thank God for that. It’s the first thing to pass his lips this morning.
‘Inside-out,’ he says at last.
‘Oh, inside-out,’ I laugh. ‘I’m sure I didn’t.’
‘Yes, you did, Daddy.’
‘Oh well, I tried my best.’
I suppose that’s what happens when you’re dealing, single-handedly, with chaos and mayhem on a grand scale. Running a building company was nothing compared to sorting out three mini human spinning tops first thing in the morning. It didn’t help that Ruby, my three-year-old wild-eyed beauty of a daughter, couldn’t stand still for one minute while I was dressing her.
‘Where’s your brain?’
Maya’s voice sends tingles right through me. I turn, and what I see threatens to give me the first hard-on of the day. Every bit as beautiful and delicious as the first time I ever saw her, her hair tumbles over her shoulders, her skin’s lightly tanned from yesterday’s session on the beach, and she’s wearing a black bikini with a flowing flowery sarong tied at the hip. Eyes locked on her, I will the old fella to behave. Six years down the line, and I still have to pinch myself. But it’s true – she’s all mine.
‘Did you dress Ruby in the dark?’ she demands.
‘I was a bit overwhelmed, darling. Jack was a good boy, weren’t you?’
He nods emphatically, takes a small bite of mango and pulls a face as if he’s just eaten dirt.
‘He sorted himself out, but our two semi-feral daughters were a handful, to say the least.’
‘You should have woken me up. I could have helped.’
‘You deserved a lie-in. You didn’t sleep too well last night.’
She arches an eyebrow and my cock threatens to kick off again.
‘And whose fault was that?’ She pulls out a chair.
‘Daddy silly pants,’ Ruby squeals, emerging through the doorway, giggling like a maniac and skittering off across the lawn. She finds the ball we were playing with last night and begins to throw it about.
Distracted, Jack drops his mango and follows suit.
‘Come back here,’ Maya orders. ‘Hats.’
Obediently, the pair of whirlwinds return to us. They know better than to ignore their mum. Maya pops sunhats onto both little heads and they’re off again.
‘Sun cream?’ she asks, narrowing her eyes at me.
‘Already applied,’ I return, brim-full of self-satisfaction.
‘We need to pack the bags.’
‘Already done. I let them watch telly for half an hour and got on with it.’
‘You’ll have forgotten something.’
‘Come on, Maya. I’ve been doing this long enough.’ I reach
out and skim a finger down her cheek. ‘Louis’s sorting out the food and drink. Towels are over there. Arm bands. Deck shoes. The lot. You need to relax and let me take charge sometimes.’ I lean in. ‘Didn’t I tell you that on our first date?’
Her lips curve upwards. She’s clearly thinking back.
‘I’m sorry,’ she smiles. ‘But just so we’re clear about this, if you’ve forgotten anything, you can deal with the consequences.’
‘It’ll be my pleasure.’ I plant a kiss on her cheek. Jesus, she smells good this morning. There’s something about the Bermuda air that brings out the sweetness in her skin. If we weren’t currently surrounded by antsy children, I’d have her back in that bedroom in a heartbeat. ‘And I’m sorry I put Ruby’s swimsuit on inside-out. She wouldn’t stop dancing. And Emily needed a …’
‘Don’t even say it.’
Emily wriggles about on my lap, slowly slipping towards the ground. She’s interested in what Jack and Ruby are up to, and I’m about to get a break. Quickly, I grab her hat from the table and put it on her head. Immediately, she tries to take it off.
‘Keep it on, Em. The sun’s hot.’
‘No.’
‘For Daddy?’
She staggers about, her tiny frame wobbling, gives me a disgusted look and then totters out over the grass, running after the ball. As soon as we’re alone, Maya leans over and whispers into my ear.
‘I love you, shit head.’
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.
‘And I love you too, sweet pea.’
I brush my lips against hers. I’d go in for a full-on snog, but Maya turns away.
‘Bill’s here.’
I look up to find him making his way down the steps from the main house. He’s getting old fast, struggling with every move.
‘How’s my favourite family?’ he beams, finally reaching us and taking a seat. ‘You all sleep well last night?’
I give Maya another knowing look.
‘Yes, thanks.’ She helps herself to toast and nods at the kids. ‘We should get that lot to have breakfast.’
All three of them are busy scurrying after the ball, whooping and squealing and squawking.
‘Sort yourself out first,’ I tell her. ‘I’ll make sure they eat.’
But first I’ll give them five more minutes in the sun, running off some of their endless reserves of energy, before I shepherd them back to the table.
‘We missed you yesterday,’ I tell Bill.
After arriving the previous evening, our first day was spent in the cove and generally relaxing around the house. Bill waves a hand.
‘I had business to attend to. Solicitors. Dinner with associates. I’m sorry about that. Charles and Kathy looked after you though?’
‘They did,’ I confirm. ‘We had a beautiful meal with them last night. Louis and his family too.’
‘That’s good.’ He turns, squinting into the sun, watching the little ones. ‘How was the flight?’
‘Fine,’ Maya lies, with a wry smile. ‘Fourth visit with kids. I think we’ve got it sorted.’
In actual fact, it was trans-Atlantic torture. While Jack ploughed through an endless stream of films, or napped quietly in his seat, the two girls decided to fidget and complain and climb all over me for most of the six hours, much to Maya’s amusement. For the first time ever, I’d begun to wonder if Cornwall wasn’t a better idea.
‘So how’s it going, Dan?’ Bill asks.
‘How’s what going?’
‘The new gallery?’
Here we go. The yearly interrogation.
‘Great. We’ve just finished off a new wing. It’s light and airy. Some beautiful spaces. And Maya’s new work fits in there just fine.’
I can’t help it. I steal another look at my super-sexy wife. Good God, I’d love to peel that bikini off her.
‘What are you painting now?’ Bill asks her.
‘A lot of portraits. I’m overwhelmed with commissions.’
‘I’m surprised you get anything done, what with this little lot and Dan being so busy with the new gallery.’
I pour myself another coffee, one for Bill, and tea for Maya.
‘Lucy runs Slaters all by herself,’ I tell him. ‘She’s on maternity leave at the minute, but she’ll be back soon. I’ve got good staff at the new gallery, and Gordon’s a partner. I don’t need to be hands-on. I still get time to help with looking after the kids.’ I wave at them. ‘Jack’s already started school. Ruby’s starting when we get back. Emily’s in a great nursery. It’s getting easier. Maya’s got a reputation now. She’s in demand. She needs to paint, and I do everything I can to make sure it happens.’
‘You got yourself a good husband there,’ Bill grins.
‘The best,’ Maya grins back.
And my heart swells.
Bill takes a sip of his coffee. ‘Hey, I saw that spread in the Observer.’
My wife lets out a laugh: the most beautiful sound in the world.
‘Apparently,’ she chuckles, ‘we’re London’s new ‘power couple in the art world’.’
‘Great photos.’
They certainly were. Me in a tux, Maya stunning in a black gown.
‘Ooh, that was grim,’ she frowns.
‘How so?’
‘I’m not really a natural when it comes to photo shoots. I can’t do a normal smile.’ She points at her lips. ‘It’s all so false.’
And that’s why I had to pause the shoot, take her into my office and fuck her half way into next week. That certainly did the trick. Plenty of photos of her looking lovingly at her husband, and hey presto we were in business.
‘Well, you looked natural to me,’ Bill says.
‘Just like those people in the perfume ads,’ I quip.
She laughs again.
‘Daddy?’
I look down to find Ruby at my side.
‘What is it, Rubes?’
‘I want a cake.’
‘Ah, the monsters are getting hungry.’
I motion for her to climb onto the seat beside me and get her a pancake, drizzling it with syrup and passing the plate to her.
‘How’s your swimming costume?’
She ignores me and digs in.
‘Did I really put it on inside-out?’
She nods.
‘Daddy silly pants.’
With a snigger, she shoves a piece of pancake into her mouth. And now Emily’s back, climbing onto my lap without a care in the world. A tiny elbow lands in exactly the wrong place. I wince, pick her up and carefully reposition her.
‘Jack,’ Maya calls out. ‘Come and eat now, if you want to go swimming.’
Immediately, he drops the ball and returns to the veranda. And I relax. For the time being, they’re all in the shade, all suddenly interested in food.
‘Why don’t you come out with us?’ I ask Bill.
He watches as Jack helps himself to more fruit, and then shakes his head.
‘I’ll read the papers, sit in an air-conditioned room and sleep. You’ll have fun with Louis and his family. You don’t need an old man holding you up.’
‘There’s air-conditioning on the boat,’ Maya prompts him.
Because it’s more of a yacht than a boat, complete with galley, living area and two bedrooms, useful when you’ve got an exhausted, over-heating toddler on your hands.
‘And it’s Dan’s birthday.’
Oh great. She had to go and mention that.
‘Ah, happy birthday, Dan.’ Bill takes another sip of coffee. ‘You should have said. I haven’t got you anything.’
I mumble a little. ‘It’s okay. I don’t make a big deal of it.’
‘But you should,’ Maya interrupts.
Every single year, she insists I celebrate my birthday, and every single year I try to get away with it … and fail. I might as well throw in the towel. She gets up and saunters into the house. I watch her go, mesmerised by her backside, half-wondering what she’s up to now.
‘Right,’ she begins, returning with a handful of cards. ‘Here you go.’
One by one, she hands the cards to the children, and finally, one to Bill.
‘Aha,’ the old man laughs. ‘You think Maya would let this go? She emailed me last week and set this up.’
‘Good secrets,’ I murmur.
In turn, each of the children wish me a happy birthday and present me with their own hand-made card: Jack’s adorned with a picture of a turtle; Ruby’s with the words ‘Dady sily ponts’; and Emily’s with a random scribble. When I’m done, I open Bill’s, and finally Maya’s, closing it quickly when I spot the word ‘spank.’ My cock twitches. I’ll read that one later. Slipping it back in its envelope and hiding it under a plate, I reward my distinctly naughty wife with a reprimanding look. With a smirk and a shrug, she arranges the rest of the cards in front of me on the table, moving plates and cups out of the way.
‘Well, I’m one lucky man,’ I beam. ‘Thank you everyone. This is lovely. Now, let’s eat.’
We set about the usual rigmarole of a family meal, calming restless children, dealing with refusals to try something new, clearing up the constant mess. I never fail to be amazed by our wordless communication as we pass food and plates and juice cups between us, reading each other’s mind every step of the way, acting as one. When everyone’s settled, I finally dig in to my own plateful of pancakes.
‘So,’ Bill begins, pouring himself a second coffee. ‘Yesterday, I was busy updating my Will.’
I stop, mid-chew, and eye my old friend. That’s really put a slammer on the morning’s happiness.
‘I’m getting old, Dan. No family as such. I need to think about what should happen.’
And I’m pretty sure I know what’s on his mind.
‘What would you say if I left all this to you and Maya?’
I glance at my wife. She shakes her head, and I know she’s on the same wavelength as me, as ever. I need to knock him back, but I need to do it gently.
‘It’s an honour you thought of us.’
He sits back, a slight smile playing on his lips.
‘But?’
‘We’ve got more than enough. Perhaps you could leave it to Charles and Kathy, Louis and his family? Maybe it’s time to give someone else a break?’