Page 64 of His Wife

*

Lisa pulled up to the Manor a few hours later, filled with fatigue and desperate for a drink of some sort. The stronger the better. She exited her Lexus, made her way to the front door and knocked, hard.

With no reply, she knocked once again. Still no answer. Frustrated, she started to make her way back to her car when a voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.

“Hello, can I help?” It was a deep male voice.

Lisa turned around to see a well-built, self-assured young man in an army uniform standing behind the door.

“Hi there,” said Lisa. “Sorry I think I may have the wrong address.” She continued on her way.

“Hey,” he called out. “Are you Lisa?”

Lisa stopped and turned. “Yes.” Who is this guy? she wondered. How does he know who I am? How does he know my name?

“Hi,” he said. “My name’s Tim I’m Marie’s son. She mentioned that you might pop by. Would you like to come in?”

Lisa nodded and followed her old friend’s handsome son into the beautiful manor.

*

The living room looked like a museum decked with beautiful, exotic artifacts, antiques and expensive paintings. It seemed that Marie had done all right for herself, despite her sudden disappearance from Lisa’s life.

“Have a seat.” Tim smiled, and his bright blue eyes crinkled. Ah, those dimples! “My mom had to step out for a moment but she promised that she wouldn’t be long.”

Again Lisa did as she was told and sank into the chesterfield by the crackling fireplace. Tim walked by her, picked up a few logs and threw them into the fire. She couldn’t help but notice his well-toned body, and the way his muscular butt stretched the heavy material of his uniform.

“So,” said Tim, turning to look at her. “My mum mentioned that you were old friends.” His eyes scanned her body unashamedly. The way he looked at her made her tingle. My god, girl, she told herself, he’s young enough to be your son! Get a grip!

“That’s right,” said Lisa. She couldn’t help the squeakiness in her voice.

“That’s cool.” he said. He stood, legs spread, hands in his pockets, facing her now. Ohmygod, that body… “Hey, can I get you a drink or something?” he asked.

Finally, she thought. “Yes,” she said. “Anything with alcohol.”

“Coming right up,” he said. Her eyes followed him hungrily as he left the room.

Lisa took the opportunity to look around the place. She spotted a family portrait on the mantle above the fireplace. The picture depicted a younger Marie, Tim and Marie’s husband - Ron! Lisa gasped, staring wide-eyed at the photograph Marie’s husband was Lisa’s ex-fiancé.

Tim walked back in with a neat whiskey and handed it to Lisa. As he did, his hands brushed hers, sending a spark of electricity through her body. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His dimples, his mannerisms, his smile … they were so like Ron’s. Suddenly all those feelings from the past came flooding back like an unsuspected hurricane.

He can’t be more than twenty, she thought. You can’t start thinking or feeling this way. He’s Marie’s son, for god’s sake!

Tim sat on a couch opposite her, leaning back, his legs sprawled out. “So,” he said, “my mother said that you used to be best friends.”

Lisa smiled, “We were.” She took a sip from her drink. “But that was a long time ago.”

“Well, it’s cool that you guys are catching up again.”

Lisa sank back into the couch, feeling a little overwhelmed. He reminded her of his father, a man she had loved long ago. A barrage of emotions surged through her. They were like a drug in a needle, pumping her back to life from the brink of extinction. I can’t think like this, she thought, I just can’t.

She took another sip from her drink and tried to take control of the conversation. “So, have you just returned home from service?”

“What?” said Tim, before looking down at his clothing. “Oh this. I’m going to a costume party tonight, and this was the handiest thing I could find. I was just trying it on when door-bell rang.

“Well you had me fooled.” she said as she downed her whiskey and placed he empty glass on the coffee table directly in front of her. “Listen,” she said as she stood up. “Tell your mum that I stopped by. We can do this another time.”

He stood and picked up her glass. “You’ve come all this way,” he said, “How about another drink?”

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