By
Jan
Chapter 11
The
look of pure joy on Sarah’s face when Lucy arrived on Saturday evening made Nikki
glad she had kept the visit a secret from her sister. Sarah had queried the six
settings at the dining table but had been told that Tommo and Claire were
bringing a friend to make up the numbers.
She
purposely seated them opposite each other at the table and it was obvious
throughout the meal they could hardly keep their eyes off each other.
“I
can’t believe how much older your hairstyle makes you look,” Lucy said to Sarah
at one point. “And you’re the spitting image of Nikki.”
“We
could almost be twins,” joked Nikki.
“It
doesn’t make her look that old,” put
in Tommo.
Nikki
pulled a face at her friend. “Don’t you be cheeky Ms Thomas or I’ll put you
over my knee.”
“Might
almost be worth it,” Tommo drawled with a sly wink at Helen.
“Hey,
you!” Claire exclaimed, digging her partner playfully in the ribs with her
elbow.
“Only
joking, honey,” she replied then looked at Nikki and said in a stage whisper.
“See you later behind the bike shed.”
They
all laughed and Sarah chose the moment to steal another glance at Lucy and
found the woman’s eyes on her. She smiled shyly, embarrassed that her hair had
become a topic for conversation but secretly pleased that it had made such a
favourable impression on Lucy.
“Either
you take your drinks into the other room or I’ll get you all doing the washing
up,” Helen ordered when they had finished eating the excellent meal Nikki had
prepared.
“She
means it because it’s her turn to do it!” Nikki quipped.
“I’ll
help you,” Lucy offered, picking up her plate.
“Joke,”
Helen laughed. “I’ll do the washing up in the morning.”
As
they moved into the lounge Sarah stuck close to Lucy’s side and sat down on the
settee beside her. Helen and Tommo took the armchairs leaving Nikki and Claire
to sit on the floor in front of their respective partners.
The
next couple of hours were spent in pleasant relaxing conversation until Lucy
stood up and announced it was time for her to leave.
Sarah
looked momentarily devastated at her words then forced a smile as she stood up.
“I’ll see you out.”
“I…I’d
like a word with Nikki if you don’t mind.” Lucy smiled apologetically at the
young woman then kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you soon.” She took her leave of
the others, thanking Helen for an enjoyable evening and telling Tommo and Claire
it was nice to have met them then followed Nikki to the door.
“What’s
wrong?” Nikki asked curiously.
“Simon’s
been to see me.”
“What
did he want?”
“He
wanted to know if I’d seen Sarah. I told him about the accident and that she was
living with you for a while. Was that alright?”
“I
haven’t any problem with him knowing she’s with me.” She looked at Lucy keenly;
something seemed to be troubling the young woman. “Was that all?”
Lucy
shook her head. “He wants me to go back to him.”
“Are
you going to?”
“No.
Simon’s not a bad man,” she replied more charitably than she felt. He had tried
to charm her into going back to him then when that hadn’t worked he had raised
his voice and that was the point when she had shown him the door. “So it
wouldn’t be fair to him when I have feelings for someone else.”
“Why
don’t you tell Sarah how you feel about her?”
“How
can I?” she replied dismally. “You said yourself I’m too old for her.”
“I
was wrong,” Nikki admitted. “I think she has the right to know how you feel
about her.”
“I
can’t.”
“Why
not?” Sarah spoke behind her.
Lucy
whirled round guiltily at the sound of Sarah’s voice then turned and looked
accusingly at Nikki. “You knew she was there! Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“You’ve
been sprung so why not make the most of it.” She patted Lucy’s shoulder as she
passed her then smiled encouragingly at Sarah. “I’ll leave you two to talk.”
“Are
you going to tell me how you feel about me?” Sarah asked as she walked up
behind Lucy and the woman shook her head. “But you do have feelings for me.”
“Of
course I do, you’re my sister-in-law,” came the non-committal reply.
Sarah
raised her eyebrows. It was going to take a crowbar to get anything out of her.
She edged round in front of Lucy so they were facing each other. “That wasn’t
quite what I meant. Did you leave Simon because of me?”
Lucy
hesitated. What was the point in lying to her? “Yes.”
“Why
didn’t you tell me?”
“Because
it would have caused a rift between you and Simon then, if we hadn’t worked
out, you would have been alone.”
“In
case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a rift between Simon and me now and we didn’t
need any help from you,” Sarah replied tartly. “Besides, I’ve got Nikki now.”
“I’m
also too old for you.”
“What
are a few years? I’ll soon catch you up.” She smiled disarmingly. “Any more
excuses?”
Lucy
thought hard. That’s just what they were…‘excuses’. She had seen how happy the
two couples in the other room were so why shouldn’t she and Sarah try and find
some of that happiness? “Not that I can think of at the moment.” She smiled too
for the first time. “What do we do now?”
Sarah
stood and looked at her, wanting to touch her but too shy to make the first
move.
Nikki,
who was on her way back out of the lounge to see what was happening, shook her
head when she saw them just standing there looking at each other. Did she have
to do everything for them? “For goodness sake, just kiss each other!” she
ordered from the doorway.
“I
think we should do what the woman said,” Sarah replied, her voice thick with
emotion. She had waited so long for this moment and couldn’t quite believe it
was happening. She moved her head slowly closer and placed her lips against
Lucy’s.
Lucy
drew back sharply, a stunned expression on her face then her lips relaxed into
a smile as she touched Sarah’s cheek. Their lips met again and Lucy felt warmth
course through her whole body as she wrapped her arms around Sarah.
“My
God!” she gasped when they parted. “I never thought it could be like this.”
“I
did, “ Sarah replied, her eyes brimming with love. “I’ve imagined it often
enough.”
“I’ve
tried not to imagine it,” Lucy admitted.
“Can
I come home with you?” Sarah asked urgently.
“Not
tonight,” Lucy replied gently then seeing the look of disappointment on the
young woman’s face quickly added, “Let’s not rush things. We have all the time
in the world to get to know each other better.”
“Will
you stay a bit longer?”
“Of
course I will. I was only leaving early because I couldn’t stand being so close
to you any longer.”
Sarah
took her hand and turned to go back into the living room but Lucy’s grip
tightened on her fingers and she drew her close.
“I
love you, Sarah. I fell in love with you when we used to snuggle up together
watching those old movies and when I used to sit brushing your hair.” She ran her fingers lovingly through Sarah’s
short hair. “A pleasure you’ve now deprived me of.”
“It
will soon grow again.”
“And
meanwhile I’m sure we have other pleasures to discover about each other,” she
said suggestively as she reached up and kissed Sarah with an intensity she
didn’t know she possessed.
Sarah
laughed shakily. This moment exceeded even her wildest dreams. “I love you
too.”
“Come
on, let’s go back in there, I could do with a drink.”
“It
was a lovely evening,” Helen told Nikki appreciatively as she cuddled up to her
in bed that night. “What happened between Sarah and Lucy?”
“Judging
by the delirious look on both their faces and the length of time it took Sarah
to say ‘goodnight’ to her, I think they’ve finally admitted how they feel about
each other,” Nikki replied, more than a little pleased about her part in
bringing her sister and sister-in-law together.
“Why
did you suddenly do an about-turn and push them together?”
“Because
I know what it’s like to want someone so much your insides ache. You think
they’re out of reach then suddenly they’re there and they want you as much as
you want them.”
Helen
raised her head and looked down at Nikki. “That sounds like something you know
about,” she said with a teasing smile.
Nikki
drew Helen’s head down and kissed her gently. “Only too well.”
“I
suppose I know what Lucy’s been going through too…trying to deny your
feelings…running away.”
Nikki
remembered the time in the potting shed when she had tried to send Helen away.
“But you came back.”
“I’m
glad I did. These past few weeks with you have been incredible,” Helen
murmured, feeling her flesh tingle where Nikki was running her fingers up and
down her naked spine.
Nikki
laughed softly. “They’ve been amazing. I’ve never been happier.”
“Me
neither.”
“Well,
since we seem to have got a mutual appreciation society going on here…” Nikki
murmured as she ran the back of her fingers down between Helen’s breasts.
“What are you suggesting, Ms Wade?” Helen
asked seductively.
Nikki’s
hand moved up to the nape of Helen’s neck and pulled her head down until their
lips met. They kissed with a passion they knew would never die as long as they
lived. When her mouth released Helen’s, she pushed her gently back against the
bed, placing her lips against each breast in turn, and then unhurriedly letting
her mouth trace a sensual path down Helen’s body. Her lips pulled at the soft
flesh of Helen’s inner thighs and her tongue drew teasing circles against her
skin.
Helen
moaned softly and arched her body to meet Nikki’s invading tongue. She grabbed
a handful of Nikki’s hair and she held her head in place until she felt waves
of pleasure coursing through her body. She exhaled noisily, her body went rigid
and her release was so intense she had to stop herself clamping her thighs
around Nikki’s head. She felt weak and completely boneless as she lay back
satisfied against the bed.
Nikki
raised her head, a smile on her lips. “What was the question?”
Mistress
of all I survey, Nikki thought happily as she looked around the bookshop the
following afternoon.
She
had been enjoying a lie-in with Helen…Lucy had picked Sarah up at the crack of
dawn and they had gone off for the day…when there was a hammering on the door.
She had dragged on her dressing gown…since Helen hadn’t made any move to get
up…and hurried downstairs cursing the unwelcome visitor under her breath. Her
heart had sank when she yanked open the door and saw Mr Babbage standing there
fearing he had called to back out of their deal but, with a smile, he had
dangled his keys in front of her. She had protested, saying the sale hadn’t
even been completed but he had pressed the keys into her hand and said he knew
he could trust her. When asked if he minded if she freshened up the paintwork,
he had told her that she was now the new owner so that decision was hers then
he had doffed his trilby hat and gone on his way.
She
looked across to where Helen was dusting one of the shelves and her eyes
darkened with desire when she saw the action was making her top stretch tight
across her breasts.
Helen
looked up, saw she was being watched and mouthed the word ‘what?’
Nikki
sidled across to her. “Just admiring the scenery.”
“You
can explore later,” Helen promised and licked her lips sensuously.
“There’s
not much work being done over there,” Tommo, who was wielding a paintbrush at
the other side of the shop, called out.
“Who
put her in charge?” Nikki whispered in Helen’s ear then dropped a kiss on her
lips. “I’ll leave you to carry on with your dusting.” She took a step backwards
and stood watching her with her arms folded and a lecherous smile on her face.
“Go
away!” Helen exclaimed, although she was having difficulty stopping herself
from smiling. “You’re making me feel self-conscious.” She started as the shop
bell tinkled and was relieved to see it was only Claire.
“Another
willing helper,” Nikki rubbed her hands together gleefully when she saw the
young lawyer.
“I
thought I’d come and make sure my girlfriend was behaving herself,” Claire said
jokingly.
“When
have you known me otherwise?” Tommo asked innocently as she came up to Claire
and gave her a kiss.
“I’ll
plead the Fifth on that one,” replied Claire. “What do you want me to do?”
“You
can help Tommo finish that wall off or give Helen a hand dusting the shelves
and putting the books back.”
“Hold
on a minute, Nikki.” Tommo held up her paintbrush. “If you want a good job
doing on that wall, give Claire a duster.”
“What
are you trying to say?” Claire
retorted.
“Honey,
you are to painting what Michelangelo was to bread making,” Tommo told Claire,
albeit lovingly.
“Hm,
if you weren’t right I’d clobber you,” Claire commented caustically. “I’ll go
and help my friend over there.” She
stuck her nose in the air and walked across to Helen.
“Looks
like you and me on the wall then, Tommo,” Nikki said with a grin.
“Any
news on Karen?” Claire asked as she and Helen were putting the books back on
the freshly dusted shelves.
“She’ll
be in hospital for a few more days then she’ll have to take things easy and
before very long…I hope…she’ll be back at Larkhall.”
“You
sound as if you can’t wait.”
“I
can’t! Always having to look over my shoulder when I go onto the wing is
fraying my nerves!”
“Aren’t
the police any closer to finding out who did it?”
“Not
a sausage. The only consolation is, we’ve still got the culprit under lock and
key.”
“You
could do with me and Nikki in there, we’d find out who did it,” Tommo said as
she came up behind them.
“I’ve
asked Barbara Hunt to keep her eyes and ears open for me. I just hope she’s
careful and doesn’t put herself in any danger.”
“Barbara’s
a wily old bird,” Nikki commented as she joined the trio. “She’ll not do
anything stupid.”
“I
still think they should send somebody in undercover,” Tommo persisted. “Send me
in, I’ll flush them out for you.”
“Don’t
even think about it, Catherine,” ordered Claire, calling Tommo by her given
name.
“That’s
telling you, it’s Catherine actually,”
Nikki taunted. “But I do think you’ve got a point. Pity my mug is so well
known.”
Tommo
nudged Helen with her elbow. “Go on, Helen. You know you want to.”
“No!
I’m not putting anyone else’s life in danger. Let the police deal with it. If
some has to go in undercover let it be someone with proper training.”
“No
one knows a con like another con.”
“There’s
a world of difference between you and the person who attacked Karen.”
“Not
so much, if that bloke had kicked that dog one more time I’d have killed him
and not just given him a good smacking!”
“You
had provocation, this psycho struck indiscriminately and without provocation.”
“Ah,
but was it indiscriminate? Was it unprovoked?
Nikki
and Claire exchanged amused glances at the verbal ping-pong being played by
their respective partners.
“What
if whoever did it,” Tommo continued. “Had something against Miss Betts?”
“Like
what?” Nikki interjected.
“It
could be the ghost of Jim Fenner,” Tommo replied in a spooky voice.
The
shop bell tinkled and, startled, they all looked at each other until Tommo
burst out laughing. “Relax! Claire didn’t close the door properly when she came
in. The wind will have blown it.”
“You
silly sod!” Helen exclaimed as she slapped Tommo’s arm. “You almost had me
going there!”
“Come
on, let’s get finished up here and go back to our place,” Claire invited. “I’ve
got a roast in the oven and a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge.”
Tommo
put her arms around Claire and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Now you know
why I love her so much. She’s a great cook.”
“I
hope you love me for more than my cooking!”
“Stop
cooing over each other, you two!” Nikki ordered. “You lot finish putting the books
back on the shelves while I go and wash the brushes.”
“Yes,
boss.” Tommo gave her a mock salute.
“’Boss’,
I like the sound of that,” Nikki replied with a smile. “Fancy a job?”
“Are
you serious?”
“Why?
Are you interested?”
“Not
half! I hate working in an office, always have done but it’s what my dad wanted
for me.”
“That’s
settled then. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it before,” Nikki remarked,
warming to the idea. “I’ll need someone to mind the shop while I go to book
sales and things like that and I trust you with my life so…you’ve got yourself
a job.” The two friends hugged each
other, broad smiles on both their faces.
“Now,
can we please get out of here before my roast burns?” Claire wailed.