Unlikely Places (17 page)

September

Two weeks later....

Sam had been away in London most of the week, I had missed
her dreadfully. I realised how spoilt I had been having the pleasure of waking
up to her most mornings, cooking and eating together. Knowing she was due to
return tomorrow I decided to put plans in to action to try and create a
homecoming I hoped she would enjoy after a hard week away.

At one o’clock I couldn’t wait any longer and called to find
out what the e.t.a. was for her return.

“Hey...how’s it going today?”

“Not bad I was just about to call you....great
minds.....we’re at the hotel just about to check out and start traveling back”.

I smiled at the thought of cuddling up to Sam in just a few
hours. “Great what time do you think you’ll be back?”

“Umm not sure we need to go to the office and drop off some
paperwork first....so probably about five-ish”.

“Okay...I was thinking I could cook you supper?...If you’re
not too tired?” I asked hopefully.

“Are you cooking?”

“Yes I thought I’d give it a try?”

“Really what have I done to deserve this honour.....you know
I’ll check the bin for take-away cartons after last time”.

“I keep telling you those cartons weren’t mine.....I’ll come
round a pick you up about six is that okay?”

“Great....I can’t wait to see you....I’ve really missed you”

My pulse was racing already. “Me too......see you soon....I
love you”.

“I love you too”.

After showering and shopping for the required ingredients I
drove to Sam’s flat, letting myself in I began placing candles around the bath
and bed in preparation for later. Unpacking a large oven dish I prepared the
lasagne and laid the small kitchen table, taking time to select some music for
the evening. Realising the time I prepared the bath with plenty of bubbles, lit
the candles and shut the door to keep the heat in. Retreating to the bedroom I
removed my clothes to wait for Sam’s entrance.

At five twenty I heard a key in the lock followed by
footsteps, my heart glowed with anticipation for our evening ahead, adjusting
the duvet to reveal just enough. Just then I heard Sam talking, was she on the
phone? She sounded annoyed then I heard another voice shit, shit, shit. I
quickly got out of bed and hastily tried to get dressed, Sam must have realised
my presence and came into the bedroom as I was pulling on my t-shirt. Wearing a
smile and her smart grey suit with a white blouse she quickly made her way over
to me placing her hands on my face and kissing me softly.

She pulled away a grin on her face almost whispering. “What
are you doing here?” She began helping me button my jeans while I tried to
wiggle my feet into my shoes.  

I caught the gaze from her sparking green eyes, my knees
nearly buckled. “I...I missed you, I thought I’d surprise you....but you’re not
alone?” I asked.

Her smile quickly faded as she looked up to the ceiling with
a grimace. “Urgh my mother’s turned up...she was waiting at work when I got there”.

She sounded frustrated and saw the disappointment on my
face. She removed her jacket revealing the vague outline of her bra underneath
drawing my attention for a moment.

“She’s not stopping.....don’t worry I’ll see to that...she’s
not ruining our evening”.

“Where is she?”

“In the bathroom”.

“Shit...I ran the bath and lit candles”.

“I know I saw them...I went in before her....and in here too
your such a romantic....do you want to stay and meet her or escape while you
can?”

“Considering her reputation maybe I should meet her another
time”. I knew I was being a chicken, but being found in bed at her daughters
flat could have been too much to try and smooth over on a first meeting.

“I don’t blame you”. She smiled taking my hand pulling me
towards the bedroom door. “Come on I’ve secured you safe passage”.

She opened the front door quietly, pulling it too behind us,
we were face to face in the narrow hallway. We both stood there staring at each
other smiling for several moments, our eyes locked as we both moved closer, I
put my arms around her waist pulling her to me as she placed her hands to the
sides of my face kissing me deeply. Falling back against the wall, placing her
body firmly against mine, we were lost for a few moments we reacquainted
ourselves with each other. Sam pulled away breaking our kiss to look me in the
eye dimples on show, she was so beautiful, it had only been four days but I had
missed her more than I could say. 

She kissed my neck whispering in my ear. “Escape while you
can”. Taking a deep breath her hands travelled down my body. “I’m sorry about
all this...I’ll make it up to you I promise....I love you so much”.

“I love you too”. I pulled her into another kiss, we were
both unaware of her mother’s presence until I heard movements behind us.

“Samantha?...Samantha?......Where are you?....Oh”.

“Too late”. She whispered pulling away.

Sam turned exposing me to her mother’s staring eyes looking
at both of us with a heavy frown. Taking my hand she pulled me away from the
wall. “Mum.....this is my girlfriend Alex”.

Unsure of what type of greeting to expect, I was tempted to
formally offer my hand to shake, but managed to resist the urge. Her mother was
also blessed with green eyes although hers seemed a little greyer than Sam’s.
Her hair was dark and curled around her shoulders, dressed in smart trousers
and a blue blouse I could see the family resemblance. Although life and
cigarettes had not been kind to her, a waft of smoke and perfume filled my
nostrils.

“It’s lovely to meet you Mrs Johnson”. I tried to sound
jovial even though her face was anything but happy. She made no reply her eyes
racing from me to Sam and back again.

I could take the hint, we weren’t going to be best buddies.
“Well....I’d better get going”. I could see Sam looking at me out the corner of
my eye. I turned to see her smiling. “I’ll see you later?” I asked hoping she
would hear the subtle question in my statement.

“Yes...as soon as I am finished here, I’ll call you if it’s
going to be late”.

“Call me...I’ll pick you up if it’s late”.

“Okay”. She smiled. “See you later”. Placing a soft kiss on
my cheek.

I turned to Mrs Johnson. “Good bye Mrs Johnson, hope to see
you soon”. Squeezing Sam’s hand for a moment I turned and left down the long hall
way to the stairs leading out to the street. Did she refer to me as her
girlfriend not just a friend which she could have said although being caught in
a lip lock did kind of give it away? She could have brushed it off but she was
up front almost proud to introduce me, I made a mental note to bring it up
later.

The walk to my car allowed me time to process the events and
cool down a little, but the drive home did nothing for the shock of seeing
Sam’s mother. Why did she turn up now? Where was she when Sam really needed her
after Kim died? And homeless? Selfishly I was worried what this meant for us?
Arriving home I tried to unwind and began setting up the newly planned dark
room on the top floor while waiting for the phone to ring. With the window already
blacked out I covered the floor with hardboard, assembled some kitchen units to
create a developing and printing area in the room.

Two hours later I was surprised by a knock at the door, I
opened it to a frowning Sam now in jeans and work shirt with a bag on her
shoulder and pie dish in her hand.

“Hey....are you alone?” I said hesitantly shutting the door
behind her.

“Yeah....I bought diner though”. She said handing me the
foil wrapped dish.

“How did you get here?”

“I got a lift”.

I smiled at the dish not even registering what she had just
said. “Did you see what it was?”   

“Yes....my favourite...and the first meal you ever served me
as I recall”. She grinned.

I took the dish from her leading the way into the kitchen.
“You remembered?...I wasn’t sure you would?”

“Really?....Why wouldn’t I?”

I just caught the grin on her face preventing me from
apologising. “So?.....Where’s your mum?”

“Gone home I hope...my brother must have given her my
address”.

“What does she want?” I asked as she dropped her bag on the
kitchen floor.

“I don’t know.....to be friends I guess now it suits
her....can we talk about it tomorrow I want it to be just us tonight”.

“Sure.....drink?”

“Absobloadylutely.....come here you little romantic...I was
really touched by what you did”. She pulled me into a tight hug kissing me
firmly.

“I really missed you”. I said against her lips.

Pulling back our eyes meet. “I missed you too....shall we
eat later?” I watched her eyebrows flick as a sly grin formed on her face.

“Why not”. I smiled, feeling my face flush taking her hand I
lead her upstairs to my bedroom. Standing at the foot of the bed I slowly
unbuttoned Sam’s shirt kissing the exposed flesh as I removed it. Softly
kissing her covered breasts as I reached around unhooking her bra dropping it
to the floor.

I felt Sam’s hand on the buttons of my jeans, gently moving
her hands to her side. Placing my hands on her neck I kissed her parting my
lips, as she reciprocated I moved my hands to her breasts gently rubbing her
nipples. I pulled my lips away to suck a nipple in to my mouth gently grazing
it with my teeth moving one hand down to her jeans I swiftly unbuttoned them
dragging then down with my feet. I could hear her breathing increase as I
trailed kisses down her belly, slipping down her underwear I gently kissed
across her hips and thighs smelling her musky scent as I slowly moved up her
body to her neck. Whispering into her ear. “Lie on the bed”. Freeing her feet
of jeans and underwear as she moved onto the bed I straightened up seeing Sam’s
eyes burning into me I undressed slowly in front of her before climbing into
bed next to her.

Lying on our sides facing each other Sam immediately pulled
me close kissing me deeply our tongues meeting instantly, pushing me back I
felt her weight on top of me letting out a groan as she pushed her thigh
between mine. I flipped her over, dropping my hand I felt her wetness as I
circled her clit feeling the swell, she was as ready as I was. Raising myself
on my arms I felt Sam’s hands on my sides steadying me, grinding our hips
together I could feel myself begin to climax my breathing became ragged I bent
to kiss her neck. Moaning with every wave as I felt myself erupting across
Sam’s thigh, catching my breath I gasped. “Sorry...I couldn’t hold it any
longer”.

Sam pulled our hips together feeling my throb as she
whispered into my ear. “Don’t apologise for that”. After catching my breath I
lifted myself up kissing her neck trailing down to her breasts continuing on
down to her wetness. I could feel the tension in her body as I got closer to
the sweet spot. Caressing the inside of her thighs taking in her scent I
nibbled her lips gently licking her shaft moving up to her throbbing clit I
gently circled it with my tongue. Hearing Sam’s moans I sucked her into my
mouth gently nudging it into submission as her body began to shudder under my
mouth. Moving my hand I slipped a finger inside feeling her contractions as she
came hard into my hand with a stifled moan.

Climbing up Sam’s body I straddled her hips running my hands
up her torso to her neck I bent to kiss her.

“So?.....Did you call me your girlfriend earlier?” I said
smiling as I cuddled against her warm body.

“I did!.....Is that okay would you rather I said lover or
partner?” She laughed.  

I could feel her jiggling under me making me smile again.
“No....it just made me feel good......I have a girlfriend...you didn’t have to
introduce me like that to her”. I felt her body twitch under me pulling away I
could see her hurt eyes. 

“Hey of course you have a girlfriend....what else did you
think this was?....I’d never blank you like that....you mean too much to me”.
Her voice had become a whisper by the end of her sentence.

Cupping her face with my hand, I choked out. “I’m sorry...I
didn’t mean...”. Kissing her hoping I could take the hurt from her eyes, I felt
her hand move around my neck increasing the depth of our kiss as she flipped me
like a turtle. Her warm body pressed against mine as her free hand gently moved
down my rib cage and along my thigh as her body pressed into my wetness.

Saturday

We were woken from our slumber by a vicious rapping on the
front door, never one to answer the door if I’m not expecting anyone I ignored
it for as long as possible. Persistence and curiosity eventually got the better
of me, I ducked to look out the corner of the window. I saw what looked like
Sam’s mother standing in the driveway multitasking with a cigarette and mobile
phone while looking up at the house. Her brow was knitted together she looked
livid like her head was going to pop off.

“Sam it’s your mum....she looks like a crazy person”. I
whispered as if she would hear us. Realising her mother must have given her a
lift last night, I was a little annoyed. I liked my privacy I could never be
described as a social animal and I certainly didn’t want an irate absent mother
camping on my doorstep. 

“Oh god just ignore her she’ll go away....come back to bed
I’m not finished with you yet”. She pulled the covers over her head to drown
out the noise. 

I could hear Sam’s phone ringing in the distance as I
climbed back into bed I certainly didn’t want to get in the middle of whatever
was brewing. Cuddling up to Sam I began to drift off in the warmth of her embrace.

Finally surfacing due to our need for food, we drank tea and
watched TV while the Lasagne cooked. I decided I should broach the elephant in
the room, largely due to my selfish worry about the impact it would have on us.
Adjusting my position on the sofa I ran my foot up the leg of the wooden coffee
table preparing my words. 

Looking at her profile as she blankly watched TV, an advert
flashed up about European travel I took the opportunity to break the silence.
“Do you have a passport?....Just in case I wanted to whisk you off somewhere at
short notice?”

She continued to stare ahead impassively. “I do
somewhere....but I haven’t used it much”.

I locked away those details for future use, with the ice
broken I continued to thrash about with my words. “So?....Your mum seems pretty
determined to see you”.

Taking a deep sigh she turned towards me. “I know....I just
don’t want to talk to her at the moment... I can’t face her, I need to let the
idea of her settle for a bit.....I’d got used to not thinking about her....
........I’m not prepared for her to just appear and be part of my life again”.

“Is that what she wants?” I asked trying not to push her.
 

As I studied her I could see the effects of the week etched across
her face, her eyes seemed to have lost some of their sparkle. “I think so from
what she said last night........she said she feels really bad about what
happened”.

“Does she think it will be that easy after abandoning you?”
I said unable to hide my frustration.

“I know”. She placed her hand on my hip hooking her thumb
inside my pyjama bottoms.  

Worried I had been too aggressive in my annoyance I tried to
sound positive. “May be it’s a good thing....you must miss her?” I asked
considering the pro’s of Sam developing a relationship with her mother.

“I did for a long time........not so much now I’ve got used
to it”. 

I knew what it felt like to be abandoned by an absent
mother, only I was lucky enough to have a stable loving father to bridge the
gap left behind when she disappeared out of my life. In truth I was worried
about the impact she would have on the two of us. The black cloud of my
thoughts must have shown on my face.

“What are you thinking?” She asked tapping her fingers on my
waist. 

“I’m worried she doesn’t approve of your lifestyle choice”.

She frowned. “Do you mean us?”

I nodded. “Yeah”. I felt terrible my thoughts were purely
selfish, I didn’t like change especially when I felt helpless to prevent them.

“I don’t think she knew about me and Kim but she knew about
me before that”.

I was surprised by her revelation, realising we had never
really talked about our mothers I assumed because they weren’t part of our
current lives. “Really?.......How did she take it?” I watched as she focused her
attention on her feet rubbing them together like a grasshopper.

“She didn’t seem that bothered she’s always been quite
self-involved we’ve never been close really”.

“I’m sorry”. I took her hand in mine, my eyes fixated on our
entwined fingers until she broke the silence.

“I won’t let her come between us.....I told her how much you
helped me....more than she ever did....I told her she has no right to be part
of my life just because it suits her...she wasn’t there when I needed
her.....so it will be on my terms or not at all”. 

I was relieved by Sam’s words but I couldn’t help but worry
it was not going to be as simple as she made it sound. I didn’t want to be
responsible for preventing a family reunion, I wanted Sam to be happy more than
anything. “You know I’ll support you whatever you want to do”. If that meant
making an effort to acquaint myself with her mother, then that was what I was
going to do.

“Thank you......does that include dishing up Lasagne?”