“Do you know what Liam; nothing ever happens here, and that’s what I love about this place.”
The rustle of the Sunday papers on the bed, remind me today is a day of rest and personal indulgence.
Spending the morning in bed with Liam is no hardship and I just wish we could enjoy more days like this because it’s becoming increasingly obvious my working life is spiralling out of control.
His bare leg brushes against mine and my heart flutters. He turns and sweeps the papers to the floor and growls, “I’m making the most of having you here, you know things have to change, don’t you?”
“Hush.”
I place my finger on his lips and say softly, “Not today, let’s just enjoy a moment when nothing else matters but us.”
The love that burns in his eyes makes everything better as he crushes his lips to mine and I taste perfection. Everything was worth it, the sacrifice, the arguments, the loss, it was all worth it because we have each other and need nothing more than that.
But we do.
I ignore that voice in my head that won’t go away and set my mind to pleasure instead. We will deal with the rest later, it’s this moment that counts and I’m selfish for a reason because if I let the darkness in, it will destroy us in a heartbeat.
It’s lunchtime before we roll out of bed and after a leisurely shower head off for a walk to the local pub for some Sunday lunch. It’s a beautiful day and relaxing in the local beer garden seems like pure bliss to me right now and I can’t wait to eat something nice. Skipping breakfast was a big mistake because eating is suddenly the most important thing on my mind and so, we set off at a brisk pace.
Almost as soon as we step foot outside the door, I hear a loud, “Good afternoon.”
Looking up, I groan as I see Keith dead-heading his window boxes. “Hi Keith, lovely day.”
Liam, ever the polite one saves me from making conversation and Keith stretches and looks to the sky. “Yes, to be honest we could do with some rain, the garden is suffering.”
He casts a disparaging eye over our own wilderness and says tightly, “Although in your case, that’s hardly a problem, it’s probably best not to feed the weeds.”
Feeling a little sheepish, we crawl past him and as soon as we’re out of earshot, Liam says with a sigh, “We need to employ a gardener, either that or try to do it ourselves at least. As much as it pains me to admit it, the Wickham’s are right to complain.”
Nodding, I look at the houses as we pass and see the extremely well-tended gardens and feel ashamed of our own lack of interest. In fact, it’s only ours and Charlie weirdo’s house that looks uncared for and I would hate to be branded the same as him.
As we pass, I notice the drooping plants and weed strewn lawn and wonder if people look at our house with the same disgust as they pass. Liam interrupts my thoughts by lowering his voice and nudging me. “Don’t look now but Esme’s heading out from their side gate.”
I look up in astonishment, to see Esme looking a little sheepish heading our way holding a football, and she blushes as she sees us watching her.
“Boys!”
She rolls her eyes and as she steps nearer, I whisper, “God, I wish I’d thought of that. What’s it like?”
Liam looks confused as she giggles. “As bad as the front. You know, I couldn’t get round here quickly enough just as an excuse to knock on the door. I’ve been itching to meet my back garden neighbours , but it looks as if I’ll have to wait.”
“Why, was no one home?”
“No. I tried the bell and even knocking, but there was silence, so I thought I’d try the side gate. It was unlocked, so I called out as I went through because they may have been in the garden, although they weren’t when the ball went over.”
“How do you know, the cars not here, they must be out?”
She looks at me and frowns and then whispers, “I thought someone was in. I’m not sure why but I was looking up at their windows at the back and thought I saw a glint of something, you know, a reflection off a mirror or a window opening catching the sunlight. I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself, so I’m afraid I chucked the ball over myself and called out. There was no answer. So here I am.”
“And?”
“What?”
“What did you find?”
She laughs. “The ball.”
Liam shakes his head as I whisper, “Did you look through the windows?”
“Honestly, Jasmine, why would she do that?”
“I would, just on the pretext of looking for someone. Honestly, Liam, you don’t have the first clue about snooping and gathering information.”
Esme laughs as Liam rolls his eyes and I turn my attention back to the house in question.
“So, anything?”
“No, although I’m almost one hundred percent positive somebody is in there. Archie told me he couldn’t sleep the other night and was staring at the moon. He asked if they had children there because he saw a hand appear through the window.”
“A hand, he must have been mistaken, it was dark, after all.”
“Perhaps, but he also told me he’s seen someone looking at us through the shutters. On more than one occasion. Weird, don’t you think?”
“Just a bit.”
I can sense that Liam’s getting impatient and so is my stomach, so I smile brightly. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation about it. Why don’t you drop one of Keith’s leaflets in and ask them to come to the meeting? That’s a great excuse to go knocking.”
Esme laughs and shakes her head. “I’ve tried that already. To be honest, if they are looking, they must think me a typical nosy neighbour. I’m fascinated by that place and I don’t know why? There’s probably nobody there, just the owner who works a lot. My imagination is off the scale and I should probably just mind my own business.”
I shrug and look up at the house again. It stands there like an abandoned wife, unloved, cold and slightly rough around the edges. I can taste the bitterness on my tongue as I feel an affinity with this house, and it’s only when Liam’s hand finds mine that it brings me back to reality.
“Come on, babe, I’m starving, all that exercise this morning has given me a raging…” he winks at Esme, “Appetite.”
She blushes and I elbow him sharply in the side and say apologetically. “Listen, despite what the Wickham’s think, Liam and I are not sex pests, swingers, or anything resembling it. We kind of wind them up about it and play on their impression of us. Sorry if you got the wrong idea, we’re so used to playing a part, we forget sometimes that other people might not get the joke.”
As Esme smiles softly, I feel a flash of something that hits me in the gut as I see the look she gives him. There’s a yearning in her expression that makes me hold my breath. Her eyes appear to be devouring every inch of his face, and she can’t seem to move them past him. As I see the look my new neighbour gives him, my heart sinks. Great, Esme Williams fancies the pants off my man and that’s the last thing I need.