No Bra Required! (8 page)

Lucy put her head on one side, frowning as she contemplated
Nate’s idea.  “Okay, if I have to…GO!”  Then off she flew, racing
ahead of both Ed and Nate.

“That’s cheating,” Ed called after her.  “Quick Nate,
she’s going to win.”

Father and son raced after Lucy, their laughter escaping
into the air as they ran.  Lucy looked over her shoulder, to see where
they were, Ed was gaining on her more quickly than Nate, who was running in the
rear, calling for Ed to wait for him.  Then suddenly, Lucy found that she
was being hoisted in the air and carried, at some pace, back to where they’d
just run from.

“Put me down,” she squealed, unable to stop herself from
giggling.

“Run Nate, run,” shouted Ed, now passing his son running in
the opposite direction.

“This is cheating,” Lucy cried.

“You cheated first.”  Ed was laughing now as he carried
on running for several feet, until eventually he dropped Lucy, with a thud,
onto the grass verge of the pathway.

Not wanting to hurt herself, Lucy hung on for dear life,
pulling Ed over on top of her.  Lucy pulled in a sharp intake of breath,
because with Ed on top of her Lucy’s body felt electrically charged, ready to
respond to him.  It was as though he’d flipped a switch inside her, as
waves of excitement churned in her stomach and then bubbled down between her
legs, her whole body was tingling, desperate for his touch, and she was almost
sure that she could feel something hardening against her! 

“Brilliant,” said Ed, breathing heavily from his
exertions.  “I think Nate may win now.  Sorry am I hurting you?” he
asked, suddenly aware that he was lying on top of her.  He looked down at
Lucy and tried not to sigh, she smelled so good and looked extremely beautiful;
her red hair fanning out over her shoulders, contrasting with the dark-green
grass verge.  He felt as though every nerve ending in his body was being
set alight as a slow, insistent throbbing began to grow in his groin.

 “It’s okay,” she said breathlessly.  “I’m fine.”

Realising that if he didn’t get off her soon, Lucy would be
patently aware, of how much he liked her in that position, Ed stood up and held
his hand out for her.  He looked in the direction of Nate, who initially
had stopped running to watch them for a few seconds before carrying on in the
direction of the tree stump in

“Come on, we’d better get Nate something to eat before he
starves.” 

“Thanks,” she said allowing Ed to pull her up.  “I’ve
really enjoyed myself this afternoon.”

Their eyes locked as they stared at each other intently, the
electricity between them fizzing through the air as Ed held Lucy’s hand in his.

“Good,” Ed finally replied huskily, before running off in
the direction of Nate.

Lucy watched as he picked up Nate, under his arm, and spun
him round, father and son laughing loudly.  A warm glow flowed through her
body as she decided that she was going to like working for Ed.

Once Ed had spun Nate around a couple of times he dropped
him to the ground, and now breathless from exertion and laughter they waited
for Lucy.  She finally caught up with them, patting grass and twigs off
her jeans as she approached them.

“Sorry about that.”  Ed said, laughing at her. 
“You’re not too dirty are you?”

“No,” Lucy said breathlessly, “I’m fine.”

“You cheated Lucy,” Nate joined in now, smiling
widely. 

“I know, and I'm sorry Nate.  I promise not to cheat
next time, if we come again that is.”  Now she was looking up at Ed, from
underneath her eyelashes.

“Oh I’m sure we will,” Ed replied.  He was breathing
deeply now, desperately trying not to kiss her.

“Can we go now please?” Nate interrupted the lustful
thoughts of both Lucy and Ed.  “I’m hungry.”

"Well actually," said Ed.  “I was wondering,
how about going to see Nanny instead of going for a burger?”

“Is she making fish pie? Because if she is; I don’t want
to.  Urgh it’s disgusting.”  Nate licked out his tongue and shook his
head.

Ed laughed and ruffled Nate’s hair.  “No, it’s meat and
potato pie.”

“Oh okay,” Nate replied and he skipped off back down the
pathway.

Ed and Lucy laughed as they watched him run away from them.

“Is that okay with you?” Ed asked as he drew a line in the
soil with his toe.

“No problem, you can just drop me off at Dad’s.”  Lucy
ran a hand through her hair.

“No, no,” he protested.  “You’re invited too.  I
told Mum we were going for a burger, and she insisted that we go there instead,
so she can meet you.  She’s quite protective of Nate you see.”

“Oh blimey, what if she doesn’t like me or think I’m good
enough for her son, erm her grandson?”  Lucy blushed, hoping that Ed
hadn’t noticed her slip of the tongue.

He didn’t appear to.  “God, no she’ll be fine.
 She's lovely, and I’m sure that she’ll like you.”

“I don’t want to intrude though.”

“I’ve told you, it was her idea.”  Ed looked at Lucy
expectantly, waiting for her reply.

“Oh…okay then if you’re sure.”

“Great, that’s brilliant.  Come on then, let’s catch
Nate up.”  Ed went to catch hold of Lucy’s hand but quickly thrust it into
his hoodie pocket instead.

“Okay,” Lucy sighed, feeling nervous already.

As they pulled up on the drive, Lucy felt her stomach lurch
and her hands start to sweat.  What if Mrs Bryce didn’t like her and
insisted that Ed find someone else to look after Nate? She was actually looking
forward to it now as Nate was such a lovely little boy.

“Are you okay?” Ed asked.  “You look a little scared. 
Nanny isn’t that bad is she Nate?”  Ed laughed as he turned to Nate, who
was unbuckling himself in the back.

“She’s okay.  She shouts at Grandad a lot but never me
and Daddy.”  With that, he jumped out of the car.

“Now I feel worse,” moaned Lucy.  “You two are
obviously her golden boys.”

“Believe me, she still tells me off from time to time. 
Come on, she won’t bite.”  Ed opened his door as he smiled at Lucy.

“Let’s hope not,” she muttered to herself.

“Mum, Dad, anyone in?”  Ed shouted as he stepped into
the large hallway.

“In here love,” came the reply.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Ed explained, nodding towards a door
on the right. “Come on through.  Hi, Mum,” he said to Georgina’s back as
she stood at the sink, washing a pan. 

“Hi love, are you okay?”  She turned to face her
son.  “Hello dear.”  She now looked at Lucy and wiped her hands on
the tea towel slung over her shoulder.

“Mum, this is Lucy Meadows.”

“Pleased to meet you Lucy.”  Georgina took Lucy’s hand
and shook it firmly.

“Hello, pleased to meet you too Mrs Bryce.”  Lucy gave
what she hoped was her most winning smile.

“Georgina, please, Mrs Bryce makes me sound like my
mother-in-law, and if you’d ever met her you’d understand why I don’t want to
be like her - dreadful woman.”  Georgina’s laugh tinkled in the air. 
“Anyway, sweetheart, how are you?” she asked Nate, hugging him to her.

Nate hugged her back.  “I’m okay Nanny,” he replied,
now escaping from her arms.

“Listen Nate, how about you go and introduce Lucy to Grandad,”
Ed said, turning Nate towards the door.

“Okay, come on then Lucy, let’s get this over with.” 
He caught hold of Lucy’s hand and pulled her out of the room as all three
adults laughed at his precociousness.

“Ed,” Georgina hissed.  “Why didn’t you tell me that
you were bringing Lucy for tea?”  Georgina slapped Ed on the arm with her
tea towel.

“I know I’m sorry.  I asked her to come for a walk and
burger, to get to know Nate a little more before she looks after him next
week.  I’d forgotten that you’d asked us for tea until it was too
late.  There’s plenty isn’t there, or is that a silly question?” Ed
whispered as he hugged Georgina.

“Good job I don’t understand portion control isn’t it. 
So, why did you feel the need to bring your babysitter home for tea then, is
there something I should know?”  She smiled at Ed, standing, on tiptoe, to
ruffle his hair.

Ed blushed as he pulled his head away.  “No Mother,
there isn’t anything that you need to know.  I just thought that you might
like to meet her, seeing as she’ll be looking after your favourite boy.”

“Ah, but which one?”  Georgina asked, moving over to
the oven.

“Nate, obviously.”  Ed snapped back.  “Mum, don’t
even think it.  She’s just come out of a marriage and isn’t ready for a
relationship.  Nor am I for that matter.”

“Ed don’t be so ridiculous, you’ve been single for nearly
four years, so of course you’re ready.  And,” she whispered as she moved
back to Ed, “it’s obvious that you fancy her, and I’ll bet you £100 that she
fancies you.  Just because I’m your mother it doesn’t mean I don’t know
about sex, your father and I…”

“Urgh no, don’t say anything else, please!” Ed cried,
sticking his fingers in his ears.

“Stop being such a baby, anyway she seems lovely. 
She’s very pretty.”  Georgina looked at Ed, who was now gazing into the
distance.

“Hmm, more than pretty I’d say,” he replied, distractedly.

“Is that so?” said Georgina smiling at her son.

“Grandad, tell Lucy about when you fought with General
Custard,” Nate said, scrambling on to his grandfather’s knee.

Jack Bryce winked at Lucy.  “You mean General Custer,
well you know Nate I’m not supposed to tell anyone about that.  It’s top
secret, Lucy would have to take the oath before I can tell her.”

“Shall I go and get the book then?” Nate asked as he started
to climb down from Jack’s lap.

“Hey, hey, no hang on,” said Jack, pulling Nate back. 
“You have to know someone for a little while before you let them take the
oath.  She might be a spy,” he stage whispered in Nate’s ear.

Nate nodded solemnly and tapped his nose with his
finger.  “I understand, I understand.”

Lucy giggled behind her hand as Jack turned away, not
wanting Nate to see him laughing.

“I understand too Mr Bryce,” Lucy said gravely.  “You
need to be sure that you can trust me first.”

“Exactly,” said Jack.  “Now shall we go and see what
Nanny and Daddy are up to?”

“Ok.”  Nate jumped down from his perch and ran off in
the direction of the kitchen.

“He’s a lovely little boy.”  Lucy smiled widely at
Nate’s disappearing back.  “I’m really looking forward to looking after
him.”

“He’s very precious to us.  I believe you know about
Katie and our other son, Luke?”

Lucy nodded.  “Ed told me about it, yes.”

“It was a terrible business and knocked poor Ed for six.
 Anyway, it will do them both good to spend some time with someone other
than me and Georgina.  If truth be told,” Jack said, lowering his
voice.  “Georgina mollycoddles them both, a bit too much, so don’t be
afraid to kick some butt while you’re helping out.”

“I understand,” said Lucy, mimicking Nate’s nose tapping of
a few minutes earlier.

Jack laughed heartily and patted Lucy on the back.  “I
think I’m going to like you.  Come on then, let’s go and get some dinner
before Nate eats the lot.”

Lucy had been looking after Nate, alongside working at the
surgery, for over a week, and everything was going well.  Her mornings
were spent at the surgery, usually with much hilarity, thanks to Callie and the
throng of strange and wonderful patients who visited every day.  Her
afternoons, from three, were spent playing pirates with Nate, supervising play
dates with visiting friends or doing his reading and homework with him. 
Ed was generally home between five and five thirty, which meant that he would
cook for himself and Nate.  Lucy was so scared that he would ask her to
stay for dinner she normally had her bag on her arm and keys in hand as Ed came
through the door.

Dinner at his parent’s house had been lovely, a thoroughly
pleasant evening, spent laughing and joking within the bosom of, what appeared
to be, a real happy family.  Ed had sat opposite Lucy at the table, and
she couldn’t help but gaze at him as he talked animatedly with his father about
football.  As she watched him, she thought about what had happened in the
woods, when he had lain on top of her.  She was convinced now that she had
felt something hard, and not imagined it as she first thought, she touched the
top of her thigh where it had touched her and shivered.  Lucy crossed her
arms, to cover her erect nipples as she imagined him lying on top of her,
totally naked, the excitement bubbling inside her.  After dinner, Ed gave
her a lift home, and all the way Lucy wondered whether he might kiss her. 
He didn’t; Ed simply thanked her for a lovely afternoon, and evening, and said
he’d see her at the surgery the following day.  Somewhat disappointed,
Lucy had waved goodbye to him and Nate as they disappeared around the corner.

Now that she’d had time to think about things, Lucy realised
it was probably a good job that he hadn’t kissed her.  It would only make
things messy. She was going home in six weeks or so and, no matter what Sarah
said, Lucy didn’t think she could have Ed as just a “shag buddy” while she was
here.  She knew that if anything happened between them that would be it,
she would be smitten, and she couldn’t stand the chance of having her heart
broken again.  However, she would then see Ed looking gorgeous, and
momentarily think “oh what the hell”.

Georgina had left for America a couple of days after Lucy
had met her, but she rang every afternoon almost, to speak to Nate.  For
the first couple of days, Ed had seemed a little grumpy during surgery, barely
speaking to anyone, but then he’d had a long phone call from Georgina and
seemed to have snapped out of it by the time he’d arrived home.  He’d
apologised and said he’d been worried about his mother, but having spoken to
her he now felt he could relax a little.  Lucy thought that it probably
had more to do with his brother and ex-wife, but didn’t feel it was her place
to ask for any other details.

As she thought about the last week, Lucy suddenly realised
that it was almost two forty-five, so she should go and collect Nate from
school.  It was only a five-minute walk from Ed’s house, so she left her mini
parked on the drive.

As Lucy approached the school, she sighed.  The usual
gaggle of mothers and grandmothers were gathered at the school gates tearing
their latest victim to shreds.  As an ex-teacher, she knew what it was
like, the ones who stood apart, not wanting to join in the gossiping, were
usually the subject of all manner of criticism and rumour.  Over the last
week, Lucy had tried to steer clear of them all, but because Ed was the
handsome doctor and because Lucy worked for him, they were all desperate to
pump her for information on him.  By the time Nate came out of school
every day, Lucy felt as though she’d been interrogated, to such a point that
she was mentally exhausted.

“Hi,” she said, nodding her head at the group as she stopped
a little way from them.

“Hi Lucy.  How are you?” Karina, the mother of a chubby
little blonde-haired boy called Bradley, asked.

“Fine thanks.  Are you all okay?” The gaggle nodded in
unison.

“How’s Dr Bryce?” asked Beverley, a rather large, sweaty
woman, who appeared to have a least one child in each year group in the school.

“He’s fine,” Lucy replied, turning her back slightly to
avoid further questioning.

This was what it was like every day.  They started off
asking how she was, how Ed was, and then they would close in around her, in a
pincer movement, like a crack SWAT squad about to take down the enemy,
encircling her so there was no escape, before firing questions at her. 

“Does Dr Bryce have a girlfriend?”

“Do Dr Bryce and his ex-wife get on?”

“Does Dr Bryce actually have an ex-wife, or were the rumours
true that Nate was from a surrogate?”

Lucy could see out of the corner of her eye “Big Bev” as she
had nicknamed her, was moving towards her, actually, Lucy heard her legs
rubbing together before she spotted her.  Lucy smiled and then fished in
her bag for her mobile, hoping that would deter Big Bev, but she’d obviously
been sent on a mission.  The rest of the gaggle were all nudging each
other and whispering behind their hands as they looked in Lucy’s direction. 
Lucy certainly didn’t want to have to answer any questions so grinned at Bev
and said.

“Must make a call, sorry.” 

She thought about pretending, but knew that, with her luck,
her mobile would ring out while she was supposed to be on a call.  She rang
her Dad’s number, safe in the knowledge that his friend Monica had picked him
up earlier and taken him to her house, in Durham, for a couple of days for a
change of scenery.  

Eventually, the machine kicked in, and Lucy started to
gabble away to her father’s recorded voice.  Bev muttered under her breath
and shaking her head, returned to the group of disappointed women.  Lucy
smiled at them as she talked to the machine about absolute drivel for two or
three minutes until the school bell rang and chattering children surged out
from every doorway, racing excitedly across the playground towards the gate.

After a few minutes, most of the children were disappearing
with whoever had come to pick them up, but there was still no sign of Nate or
Bradley, Karina’s chubby little boy.

“Where the bloody hell is he?” Karina moaned, to no one in
particular.

“Nate is usually one of the first out,” responded Lucy,
slightly worried.  She started to walk toward the door for Nate’s year
group.

As she got a couple of feet from the door, it was pushed
open by Nate’s teacher; Mrs Bushnell.  Lucy didn’t like her much. It
wasn’t professional jealousy, she was too set in her ways.  Apparently Mrs
Bushnell had taught most of the parents too, and was now almost ready to
retire.  Nate had told her only yesterday that Mrs Bushnell had called
Dylan Foster “a stupid buffoon”, not a nurturing and encouraging term of
endearment for a six year old, Lucy thought.

Mrs Bushnell moved into the playground pushing Nate and
Bradley by their shoulders.  She stopped just in front of Lucy and
beckoned Karina over with a long, bony finger, her square chin jutting out.

God, thought Lucy, she didn’t look happy at all.  “Mrs
Bushnell, is there a problem with Nate?” Lucy asked.

“The problem with Nate is that he is an extremely naughty
boy, Miss, erm, sorry I seem to have forgotten your name.”

“It’s Lucy,” Nate butted in, looking up at Mrs Bushnell.

“It’s Mrs Meadows, I’m Nate’s child minder while his
grandmother is away.”  Lucy smiled at Nate and got down on her haunches in
front of him.  “What’s the problem Nate?” she asked.  “Why is Mrs
Bushnell cross with you?”

“I’ve told you what the problem is, he’s been
disobedient.”  Mrs Bushnell bent down and pushed her face in front of
Lucy’s.

“What about my Bradley?”  Karina, who had been silent
so far, now stepped forward and poked Mrs Bushnell in her bony shoulder.

“I’ll thank you not to touch me Mrs Biggs, but for your
information, he’s been disobedient too.  They are a pair of fiends”

Karina and Lucy now both stood tall in front of Mrs
Bushnell, hands on hips, affronted at her name calling of the children.

“Why what have they done that is so bad that they should be
called fiends?” Lucy asked, as she stepped towards the teacher and held her
hand out to Nate.  “Nate, come here, and tell me what happened please.”

Mrs Bushnell nudged Nate forward but placed her hands on
Bradley’s shoulders. “Go on tell her.”

“I needed a flag for my pirate ship, that's all,” Nate
looked up at Lucy with his enormous brown eyes and gappy smile.

“What happened then, did you use the wrong paper or
something?” Lucy asked.

“No, he didn’t, he used something else he wasn’t supposed
to.”  Mrs Bushnell now edged Bradley forward and then turned him around.

“Bleeding hell,” Karina cried.  “Look at his new
trousers.”  The whole seat area of Bradley’s trousers was missing,
revealing a pair of Ben 10 underpants.  “He’s cut the bloody arse out of
them.”  Karina rushed forward and dragged Bradley to her for a closer
look.

Lucy’s hand flew to her mouth.  “Oh dear, I’m sorry
Karina.  I’m sure that Dr Bryce will pay for a new pair.”

“Anyway, what about my Bradley, why is he a fiend?” 
Karina asked, suddenly remembering what the teacher said.

Mrs Bushnell didn’t speak but now turned Nate around by his
shoulders.

“Bradley!”  Karina cried.  “You bloody little
bugger.”

“Oh dear,” groaned Lucy.  “I think we may have to call
that quits.”

Nate also revealed his underpants, as the whole backside of
his trousers was also missing.

“I needed a flag too,” whimpered Bradley, wiping his nose on
the sleeve of his jumper.

“Oh dear,” Mrs Bushnell sighed.  “Please just get these
boys home, they’ve been given inside playtime for a whole week, and if anything
like this happens again then the punishment may see them excluded from the farm
trip in three weeks.”

“A little harsh,” Lucy muttered, pulling Nate towards
her.  “They’re only six for goodness sake, and how on earth did they get
hold of scissors that cut material?”

“Firstly, they took them from my desk drawer while I was
helping another pupil, and secondly they sneaked off into the book cupboard to
do it, so they knew it was wrong.  I’m sorry you think I’m being harsh but
do you understand how difficult it is to teach delinquent children like
this?”  Mrs Bushnell folded her arms across her chest as she turned to
Lucy.

“Actually I'm a teacher myself, on a sabbatical at the
moment.”

“Well surely you understand that this sort of behaviour
should be nipped in the bud.  Why do you think we are a nation of ASBO
teenagers, because their behaviour wasn’t nipped in the bud when they were
children?”  Mrs Bushnell pinched her fingers together, to demonstrate how
she would “nip it in the bud.”

“Well I hardly think that they are fiends, or delinquents in
the making.  It’s just two six year old boys, using their imagination and
their initiative.  Yes, they were wrong, and I’m sure that both will be
punished by their parents, but there was nothing nasty or malicious in what
they did.  Don’t you think that you’re overreacting a little?  Also,
I’d prefer it if you didn’t use the term fiend or delinquent when speaking
about Nate, or Bradley for that matter. It's that sort of attitude that helps
to create our ASBO society.  Tell children long enough and often enough
that they’re bad, and they’ll believe you and start acting like it.  So
can I ask you to refrain from using such words please, Mrs Bushnell?” Lucy
looked Mrs Bushnell directly in the eye as she spoke.

“That’s told you,” said Karina, grabbing hold of Bradley’s
arm and dragging him from the playground.

“Come on Nate, let’s get you home.”  Lucy took hold of
Nate’s hand and walked toward the gate.

 “Thank you Lucy,” he whispered, before pulling her
hand up to his lips and kissing it.

Lucy felt her heart would melt for this beautiful,
mischievous little boy, and wondered how his mother could leave him.

“Hmm, well I don’t think you’ll thank me when I tell your
dad what you’ve been up to.”  She smiled to herself and squeezed Nate’s
hand gently.

“Right, so let me get this straight.”  Ed was standing
in front of Nate, hands on hips.  “You cut the backside out of Bradley’s
trousers for a sail, and he cut yours out for a sail too, is that right?”

Nate nodded solemnly.  “Yes Daddy.”

Ed ran a hand across his eyes and sighed, before flopping
down onto the sofa.

“Are you okay Ed?” Lucy peered at Ed and frowned. "You
look a little pale.”

“I don’t feel well at all. I think I might have the
flu.”  Ed closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his
thumb and forefinger.

Lucy instinctively felt his head against the back of her
hand, and then snatched it away quickly.  “Erm, you are burning up, so
maybe you’re right.  Perhaps you should go to bed.”

“I can’t I’ve got Nate’s dinner to sort out, perhaps when
he’s gone to bed.”  Ed tried to stand up, but flopped back down again, his
skin was now pale and sweaty.

“I think you should go now.  I can get Nate something
to eat and put him to bed.”  Lucy looked at Ed closely. His eyes were now
closed as he rested his head against the sofa.  “Look, why don’t I stay
the night. You don’t look well at all.”

Ed shook his head.  “No, honestly Lucy I’ll be okay. I
just need a couple of hours to sleep.”

“I know that you’re the doctor, but I’ve seen enough ill
children in my time as a teacher to know that you’re not well.  I can take
Nate home with me to get some clothes while you get yourself off to bed.”

Ed opened one eye and grimaced as he looked at Lucy. 
“Are you sure, it would help to know Nate is being looked after?  The
spare bed is already made up.”

Lucy fought the urge to smooth Ed’s unruly hair down, his
colourless pallor took nothing away from his handsome face.  “Go on,” she
urged.  “Get yourself up to bed, I’ll pop up and see you when I get
back.  Is there anything you can take?”