Loneliness Trilogy Bundle Boxset (31 page)

“Jo, I was thinking of firing this client, anyway. He was more trouble than he was paying me, always trying to manipulate me into giving him more than he had contracted for. I’ll find another client to replace him. Don’t worry!”

Marcus knows his value. He was right to tell me not to worry two weeks ago, when his bad client left. He was just contacted via email by a much larger, potentially much more lucrative client! This new organization wants Marcus to write several tech articles per month for their magazine and for online readership. The best: Marcus will be earning at least double what his previous client paid him! We go out to celebrate, we are so excited! This means that Marcus has now “arrived” as a freelance tech writer! All his hard work is now beginning to pay off!

“Johanna, do you realize what this means?” Marcus asks me. He sits back in his chair at the restaurant and sips from his mug of ale.

“More money! You’re finally being paid what you are worth!” I tell him.

“True, but beyond that, we can start setting more funds aside every month. We can afford to fix up those issues with our house that need attention. And, we won’t be dipping into our current savings!” Marcus exults.

As we talk, a fan approaches me to ask for my autograph. She has copies of our existing CDs, so I agree to do so.

“Mrs. Hadley, we really enjoy your music in our house! My younger brother has gotten hooked! He’s ripped the music to his computer, so he can listen while he’s doing his…Oh, is that okay to do?” the fan asks me.

“Oh, yes, it’s fine! As long as he doesn’t burn the ripped tracks to a blank CD for the purpose of selling it. If he did it for his own personal enjoyment, he can rip away!” I tell her.

“Oh, thank God. I don’t want to get him in trouble. I think he’s now dreaming of a career in music. He’s played keyboard since he was in primary school, but never dreamed he could turn his love of music into a potential career.”

“If he wants a true career in music, miss, he needs to find an excellent music program that teaches him the core nuts and bolts of music and how to compose and play. Is he in secondary school at present?”

“Yes, mum, he is. Just entered. Are there good programs available for secondary students?”

“Let me write a list for you. Give this to your parents and discuss it with him. He can probably transfer to one of these programs and get a good start. I was invited to audition for the Queen’s Public School of Music, myself. I got all my required coursework, along with excellent musical education and training. It’s a public school, but students are required to audition. Those selected enroll and attend until graduation. What he learns there will give him a good, solid basis for further music education at university,” I tell her.

“Oh, thank you! I’ll show all this to my parents and brother. Thank you!”

I give the girl a hug on impulse - she is truly excited for her brother. This is why I love my job so much. I enjoy giving young people hope and encouragement to follow their own dreams. I look lovingly over to my husband, and feel like we are finally in a good place in our lives. What else could go wrong?

Chapter 20

F
inally, the gray, cold wet of winter is over! It’s May and the temperatures are now warming nicely. We go to my inlaw’s home on one Saturday evening. Lizzie runs around playing while we discuss Millie’s return to England. Robert Smythe, Millie’s husband, is a social worker, apparently. He was able to work in the U.S., so he should be able to find a posting without too much trouble once they come home.

“Now it’s warm, we have more options for parties. We can have a picnic or a garden party, which will allow us to invite more people. Her school mates and friends from before her trip to the U.S. are excited to learn she’s coming home. Once we decide what and when, it’s a matter of inviting people and planning a menu,” says Ruby, Marcus’s mum.

At home, once we have bathed and put Lizzie to bed, Marcus and I begin talking about his memories of Millie.

“Oh, I remember, she was never afraid to speak her mind. Be it the treatment of others at school, which is what led her into ministry, or politics, she formed her opinions, stood by them and stated them. She stood up for the weaker, less popular students at school - she was their champion and, when she spotted someone abusing them, she let them have it! I expect she’ll be much the same when she comes home. One thing - she and Laslow are estranged from each other - have been for years.”

“Why?”

“Not sure. All I know is one day, shortly before she left for her divinity program, they had a tremendous falling-out. By all accounts, it was a flaming row. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what instigated it. They have barely acknowledged each other ever since.”

“Oh. Laslow is such a kind and accepting guy!” I think about this, wondering about the implications for my daydream of acquiring a new sister. “You know, we should let Lizzie know she has an auntie living in the U.S., who will soon be returning home. This way, auntie Millie won’t be as much of a surprise to her and she may not be quite as shy of her.” Now that Lizzie is eighteen months old, she has a mind of her own and she’s not afraid to state what she’s thinking or feeling. She’s also gotten quite shy of new people, clinging to daddy and me when in the presence of someone new.

We also begin discussing having a second child. Lizzie will soon be out of nappies, and this will make it easier for us to care for two small children. Even though we chase after a very healthy, active and busy little girl, she’s much more independent now she’s older. We decide it’s the right time to start making a sister or brother for Lizzie right away.

That night, I stop using my prescribed birth control and we switch to an alternative method which we will use until the hormones are fully out of my system. I’m thankful I have such an attentive doctor, who told me how to navigate this change when we decide to have another child!

We are excited, emotionally and sexually. As a result, our coming together is an intense, quick session that takes place against our bedroom wall. Marcus’s hand roam all over my body, exploring every inch of it. I do the same to him, focusing on the needs and feelings of him.

I strip Marcus of his sweater and pants, wrapping my hand around his stiff cock. I am standing on the floor at this point, so I’m right at the perfect height to nuzzle and suck on his nipples, which really revs him up. I rip the condom packet open and make putting it on him a part of my love play. As I feel his excitement growing, I feel myself throbbing in between my legs and I thrust against his leg.

Marcus pulls my pants and top off me, then fumbles with the hooks of my bra. Once I’m almost naked, he begins to suckle at my nipples and play with my clit. I feel my thong getting wetter and wetter the more he excites me.

Marcus picks me up and holds me in his arms so our faces are level. We kiss, our tongues flicking together, mimicking the act of love. He walks quickly to the wall just inside our bedroom - there’s no way we’ll make it to the bed at the far end of the room. We’re just too hot and bothered right now.

I wrap my legs around Marcus’ waist, opening my pussy to the full length of his cock, now standing at attention. He plays with my tits, kissing them and playing with them in between his fingers and thumbs. Leaning me against the wall, he holds me up with his torso and pulls my thong to the side. He’s trembling hard now, just as I am. He slides into me, finding the way in made easier by how hot and wet I am.

I throw my head back, struggling not to scream as he enters me - the feeling is so damn hot and good! He stretches me as he thrusts in and out, and I begin feeling myself rocketing to my orgasm almost instantly. As he withdraws, he nearly pulls himself out, then slowly slides back in. I feel the sparkling warmth in the center of my body becoming a conflagration, moving to the rest of my torso, then out to my limbs. Burying my face in his shoulder, I scream as I come hard. My pussy vibrations push Marcus over the edge and he growls into my ear as he comes, thrusting hard into me.

I feel his legs trembling, so I unwrap my legs from around his waist and I slide down. My legs tremble as badly as his, so we hold each other around our waists as we go to bed. Before Marcus joins me, he goes to the bathroom to clean himself up. In bed, we cuddle, going to bed in the nude. I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Finally, the end of May arrives! Millie sends an email to her parents and Marcus, letting us know that she has just graduated from her divinity program. She and Robert plan to fly back to England immediately. We should be at the airport, meeting them in a few days! I am so excited! Lizzie picks up on this and we talk about her aunt Millie and uncle Robert.

Ruby, Marcus’s mom, begins planning a garden party to welcome them home.

They’re home! We meet them at the Heathrow Airport. I’m holding Lizzie in my arms to keep her from running all over, so I allow Marcus to move forward first so he can welcome his sister properly. I notice that she has the look of her brother. She is tall with black hair. Robert, Millie’s husband, looks like a middle-aged British accountant who came into an argument with the wrong end of a knife. He sports a long, red scar that runs from one corner of his mouth and ending, probably at one shoulder. That is the only thing that stands out about his appearance - otherwise, he is a nondescript man with brown hair and eyes. He’s quiet and seems a bit shy, greeting us with a wide smile.

Listening to Millie as we walk through the airport to Baggage Claim, I realize Marcus is right - Millie does hold strong opinions. That night, my initial impression is strengthened even more, and not in a good way.

I choose to wear a sun dress with wide shoulder straps. It is quite warm out, so this dress is quite suitable. I slip on high-heeled shoes to complete my outfit, then style my hair into a French braid, so I can keep my hair off my neck. I brush on light cosmetics.

Lizzie’s dress is a miniature of mine - I found several really cute “mummy and me” outfits and bought them. She looks so cute! Her hair is now a light-brown and curly, rather than wavy. I comb it into a curly ponytail and tie a bright-pink bow around it so it matches the color of our dresses. She is wearing a darling, pink pair of sandals.

Marcus wears a pair of khaki slacks and a short-sleeved green shirt that highlights his beautiful eyes. His hair is newly cut, giving him the casual look of a young executive.

We have welcome home gifts for Millie and Robert. Marcus loads these into the back of our vehicle as I strap Lizzie into her car seat. We go into his parents’ house, where he sets the gifts to one side and I help Ruby with dinner preparations. Marcus and Andrew, his dad, finish setting up picnic tables and chairs in the back yard.

Shortly after, Millie and Robert arrive. She has chosen to wear a dark-grey minister’s shirt with a high collar and a black skirt. Hmmm. She will be quite hot, as our temperatures have edged into the 60’s. Still, she is an ordained minister.

I notice that, when Millie looks at me, she’s not as friendly as she was at the airport. I brush this off, believing she is jet-lagged from their long flight. I edge into the back of the group, just listening as I watch over Lizzie and gorge my eyes on the lovely sunlight and flowers in Ruby’s garden. I sit with Marcus - we place Lizzie in between us so we can both help her with her food and keep her entertained. After we eat, Andrew asks me several questions about our band. I answer them and, as I glance at Millie, I see her give a disdainful sniff! I am in shock, so I decide it’s time to talk about other topics, so I bring up Marcus’s work and Lizzie’s sayings and doings.

Sometime later, I walk behind Millie to scoop up some more dessert for Lizzie and me - the bowl and spoon are behind her. As I’m scooping up our portions, I overhear Millie as she whispers to Robert - “She’s a loose slut.”

Marcus has gotten up to help me, so he hears the same thing. We both look at each other in shock. We leave our bowls on the serving table and tell Ruby and Andrew that it’s time for us to take Lizzie home.

“I don’t want her getting overtired and unable to sleep,” I tell them.