Chapter Nine

 

 

Monday morning, and the three of us and Roxie have settled into our new environment. I’m only wearing boxer shorts when I come to bang my fist hard against the door of Alan’s room, but he’s either ignoring me or he’s dead. My knuckles sting when for the fifth time I knock with a hard force. No answer. He better be bloody dead.

“Alan, you shit, are you decent?”

There’s finally a soft groan in return, and without needing any other form of invitation, I open the door wide and barge my way in. He’s curled up in bed with only the tip of his head poking out from under the blankets. I still for a moment and wait to see if the blankets move with the up-and-down rhythm of breathing. It does, which means he’s ignoring me.

“Alan. Get up. You have school to attend today. Did you not take me seriously? When we were leaving the hospital I told you your dumbarse was going back to school.”

“I’ll go tomorrow.” His voice is gruff.

“You’ll go today. Uniform is sitting on the desk. Go shower and put the darn thing on. Breakfast is twenty minutes away. If you make me come back in here I’m going to whoop your arse.” I don’t close the door on exit, and when I make my way towards the kitchen I’m grateful for the smell of cooking bacon.

“Morning, Finlay.” Tessa smiles in my direction.

“Shit. Was I like this at fifteen?”

“Yep. You were a pain in my arse.” Two things about Tessa is she doesn’t hold her tongue and she always tells the truth.

Sitting at the breakfast bar, I watch Tessa drop a piece of bacon to the floor.

“Floor hungry?”

“Well, not so much the floor as the midget flea bag standing between my legs.”

Roxie. She’s a garbage disposal unit.

Perching myself up on my elbows, I shuffle until I can bend over the bench enough to see the floor and Roxie doing exactly as Tess said. “Go on, get, you mongrel.” I try to scold Roxie. Instead, I say this with a definite tone of humour laced in my words. Her black nose points upwards and when she looks me in the eyes, I know she’s not taking me seriously in any way.

“Leave her alone, Fin. She’s not hurting anyone.” Tessa’s tone changes pitch when she looks at the floor and says, “He’s a big, bad boss, isn’t he, Roxie?”

Safe to say, Roxie has Tessa wrapped around her finger.

“Bitches. Can never get them under control.”

“You better have not referred to me as a bitch, Finlay, or you’ll starve.” Tessa’s back is turned to me when she sternly says this.

“Sorry,” I relent immediately.

“Yeah, you better be sorry, mister.”

“Whatever,” I huff under my breath.

“Did you say something?” Bloody hearing of a bat has our Tessa.

“Nope.”

“I thought as much.” Tessa is the boss of this manor. Arguing this fact would be mute.

Tapping my fingers against the marble, I find myself drifting off in thought, and again I’m struck with the vision of the girl who lives in the top bedroom of the house next door. Who is she?

Yesterday morning, I walked down to the mailbox at least five times, even though it was Sunday and the mail isn’t delivered on this day. I’d hoped I might catch a glimpse of her walking around the yard, or maybe she’d be coming or going in a car and I’d be able to catch a glimpse of her through the car window. It never happened.

Last night, however, I hovered by my window, shade up, eyes planted in the direction of her room in the hope she’d appear once more. It was only a short wait until she stood unaware of me enjoying her as she removed all her clothing. This time, she stripped right down beyond her underwear. She’s like forbidden candy to me. Candy I want to lick and suck every bit of.

I’d stared as she reached behind her back to unzip the fitted dress she was wearing. I could see her clearly as her dress slid away almost as if for my enjoyment. I’d wanted her to be alone. She was. Even when she’d disappeared and then reappeared with a towel wrapped around her, she was by herself. The lights went out after she slipped on a slimline negligee, and I assumed she had turned in for the evening. I wish I could have removed her beauty from my mind with the sudden darkness, ending a delightful show she hasn’t even been aware she plays the lead part in, but I couldn’t. My neighbour is like crack. My neighbour is going to be my addiction—I just know it.

I want her to be mine.

I need to be the man who encroaches from behind and grabs her voluptuous breasts.

Continuing to tap my fingers against the bench has me still wondering if she’s in a relationship, or if the guy who was in her room the first night I came to be here was no more than a mere hook-up. Here’s hoping it’s the latter of the two.

“Are you fucking happy? I look like a tool. Tank, you cannot expect me to wear this.” Alan is not a happy camper.

Swivelling in my seat, I try desperately to hide my delight when I scan his new outfit. I’m tragically failing. “What’s wrong with it?” I snicker.

“I look like a tool. A tie? Really? What am I supposed to be, a male version of a girl scout or something?”

I laugh due to the strained and taut expression he displays.

“Laughing, really? Great. I’m not going to this bloody school.”

“You look adorable,” Tess adds in her two bobs’ worth. “The red and white stripes on the tie look good against your white button-down shirt, and the grey tailored shorts fit you nice. I like it.”

Fuck, I love Tessa.

“Hey, Ms Simon, how about you take a few hard sucks through your nose? Your brain needs more oxygen if you think this looks nice.”

Tess giggles before turning back towards the stove once more.

“Watch your mouth.” I’m still laughing.

“Well, she does need more oxygen. Tank, come on. Don’t make me go.”

“Sit your butt in the seat and be nice or Tessa might just spit in your breakfast.” I pause, scanning his uniform right down to the grey, almost knee-length sock. “You’re going. Get used to it.”

“Fine,” Alan huffs.

The three of us devour our breakfast like savage wolves. Unfortunately, listening to Tessa’s raspy breathing has me thinking about this nurse situation. What if Tess goes downhill fast? I mean, she’s capable now, but for how long? I’m going to just have to ask her what she wants.

After every hungry bite, Alan restarts his fight not to go. I have to give him credit, though; he fights like a warrior hell-bent on taking control of this situation. He won’t win.

“Mr Tumbling, I’m ready to take you now.” Rance must have let himself in with little regard for the formalities that come with being given a key to the house for emergency purposes. I’d expect nothing less from him.

“Not going,” Alan spits.

“Hey, little shit, you’re going to school. Tank is doing you a favour, so take your crutches and get yourself in the limo.”

“Limo.” I’m chuckling. I can’t help it. Rance is dressed in a black suit with a top hat and all. Why?

“What are you laughing at, you git?” Rance spins and even does a little tap recital for our entertainment, which has Tessa snickering. “I’m looking schmick, mate. You just can’t handle my professionalism. When you hired me as this young fellow’s driver, keeper, whatever the hell I am, I took it deadly serious.”

“Limo? Really?” I cock my eyebrow.

“You said ‘buy a nice transport car’. I heard you. Come on, you’re sending him to private school and …” Rance leans forward and places his hand in a way that shelters his mouth. It’s pointless, because he doesn’t whisper. In fact, he speaks loudly. “Not sure if you know this, but the kid is missing a leg, and I want him to have a chance. High school is rough. You want him to have some sort of a shot at the hot teenage pussy pool, right?” Rance wiggles his eyebrows, like this will sell his point.

“Yeah. Okay. I’m up for that.” Alan takes his crutches to his armpits. “Let me get my backpack.” He disappears and on return he says, “Rich girls, here I come.” Alan winks at me before taking a green apple from Tessa’s outstretched hand in passing. “I’m all for the hotties.” He follows this statement with a ferocious bite out of the apple. “So juicy and sweet. The girls better be gorgeous, is all I’m saying.” He taps Rance on his arm when he reaches him. “I like the way you think, Rance.”

“Dude, the suit—don’t crimple my expensive suit. After all, I didn’t pay for it.” Rance smirks as he flips me the bird, and the two of them make haste to the front door.

“Have a good day, and, Rance, no using the limo to score chicks to occupy your day. You’re responsible for this kid.”

“Damn straight I will be using the limo to score hot chicks. Don’t worry, though, I’ll keep Al safe … won’t I, Al?” His voice echo’s when he yells to me, no longer in my line of sight.

I jolt when the door slams.

Shaking my head, I take a couple of deep breaths in preparation for a conversation I’m not even sure Tessa will be ready for or happy to have.

“Well, Finlay, I’m going to go bathe, and then I think I might lie out on the deck for a bit and read. It’s beautiful outside today.”

“I’m sure it is.” My tone shakes. I’m uneasy, and Tess must realise there’s a problem because her lips purse and her hand places onto the back of mine now resting on the breakfast bar.

“Don’t look so serious.” She sits. “You’re a man with a big future in front of you, and you do good, Fin, so much good.” Her eyes narrow with her risen cheeks. Although Tess hasn’t aged well, her smile is still as beautiful as ever.

“We need to talk, Tess. I need to talk,” I blurt out.

She pauses, and her smile vanishes.

“Can we talk?”

“Always.” She drags her oxygen tank under the stool. “What’s wrong?”

“You know how when …” I stop and momentarily close my eyes, thinking back to the day I came to be in Tess’s care. I remember her comforting hand folding over my small sausage fingers, and her eyes, which were a vibrant blue back then. I swear they sparkled like a diamond being struck by a beam of sunlight.

“Hi, little tyke. Don’t be scared. I want to care for you. I will make everything better, I promise. I’ll never leave you. So how about you tell me what your name is?”

“Fin.” I was petrified until those eyes sparkled, and then I wasn’t scared anymore. Not even a bit.

“Finlay, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“Where did you go in your head?”

“The stairs. The stairs where I first met you. Yellow sundress and white heels ... That’s what you were wearing.”

Tessa’s lip quivers for a split second until she sucks it between her teeth. “You owe me nothing, Finlay, nothing—”

“I owe you everything, Tess. You saved my life.”

“No. I was there merely as a guide.”

“Tess, I want to care for you. I will make everything better, I promise. I’ll never leave you.”

Tessa’s eyes fill with liquid. Not a drop spills.

“I want to get you a nurse. Someone to keep you safe, comfortable, and company. I know you’re still independent now, but for how long will you be?”

A single teardrop rolls down either cheek. “I’ll be fine,” she croaks.

“You need this. Let me do this for you, Tess. Please.”

A single bob of her head—it’s all she offers me in answer before standing with a slight hunching of her shoulders. Her oxygen tank rolls behind her as she puts distance between us, and I wish I’d told Tessa how much what she did for me meant before today.

“I’m sorry you’re sick, Tess,” I whisper for my ears only.

Two calls to the hospice nursing service they offer in this community, and I’ve secured a nurse by the name of Caterina. I’m assured she is best suited for Tessa’s needs and will assist Tess just how I require. I’m feeling accomplished when I decide to take to the driveway by foot and wander down to check the mailbox for the first time today. There will be no mail since barely anybody knows I live here, and the people who do wouldn’t send mail. However, the thought of maybe getting a closer glimpse of the auburn beauty who is continuously playing on my mind keeps my feet moving.

There’s a small slope before I reach the gate, and once over this hump, I hear a man and a woman talking. I hurry the last few steps, then try not to be obvious as I check them out. But I can’t get a good view from behind the bush, so I straighten my spine and stare blatantly.

Long flowing auburn locks fall farther than halfway down her back. They’re not curly, yet also not straight. A yellow sleeveless blouse, a tight skirt hugging her shapely arse ending just below her knees, and heels higher than I think I’ve ever seen on a woman wrap around her feet. I’m captivated. It’s her. It must be.

Clearing my throat has her spinning away from the gentleman who has silver hair and is wearing a navy suit—that’s all I can see due to her frame blocking my view.

“Rose.” I breathe. I’m drawn to her like a moth to light. My eyes fix on her plump stained lips.

She makes her way without hesitation towards me. It’s only a smile, yet it has my heart pumping wildly. Her lips part and she speaks my name. It’s one word, and if my eyes weren’t glued to her mouth I swear I wouldn’t have heard it. My heartrate escalates tenfold. I never expected to have such a reaction being this close to Rose again. How did I not realise it was her when I saw her through the window? She stands close, her sweet scent is overpowering, and her skin glows. She renders me speechless.

“Mr Finlay Crossley. Are you stalking me? It seems as though you might be, sir.”

My tongue is tied because no matter how hard I try to respond, nothing is happening.

“What brings you to my neighbourhood?”

She’s more beautiful than I remember her to be.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One. It’s as if my brain counts backwards internally, trying to help me process words to speak.

“Are you okay?” Her lips stretch in a smile as her head tilts sideways. Is she sizing me up or is she curious? What’s going on here? “I’ll give you a moment, shall I?”

“Hi.” I finally manage to say something.

“Hello.”

“Is this your …” I point towards the gate beside mine.

“Yes. This is my house. Well, technically, it’s my parents’ house. However, I live here. I’m assuming you knew this.”

“Well, no.” I wrap my hand to the back of my neck and squeeze tight just to ensure I’m still living. I feel the pressure, so I’m pretty sure I am.

Her thin eyebrows dip inwards.

“I didn’t know you lived here. I’m being honest.”

“So, you’re not stalking me. That clears one thing up.”

“No. I’m not.” But am I? I’ve spied on her in her private space at night. That is the definition of what a stalker does, I believe.

“Good.” Her smile is so beautiful.

“I just moved in here on Friday.”

“What?” Her eyes grow wide. “What do you mean you moved in here?”

“I honestly had no idea you lived next door, I promise.”

“You cannot be serious.” She’s short and very rude in how she speaks to me. It’s a quick twist on her heel and Rose stomps away.

“Okay.” Before I press this one word from my throat she’s gone.

What the fuck was that about?

“Daddy, Daddy,” she calls.

Where is he? I can’t see either of them now.

“I think you should definitely have the tree trimmed back. I’m going inside.” I hear Rose say.

For a short while I listen to the heavy clumping sound of her heels meeting the pavement of her drive, but it grows more quiet and distant until it can’t be heard any longer. What was her problem? Rose went from hot to cold in seconds. A sweet Cinderella to a mega bitch. What the fuck did I do?

“Finlay. What are you doing here?” He’s got swagger as he approaches me. “I thought it was you. I see you’ve already pissed my daughter off. What were you discussing anyway?”

“Mr Horton.” Oh fuck off, he’s Rose’s father? She just called him Daddy. He just referred to her as his daughter. Can this day get any worse?

“Don’t tell me, you’re here to beg for your job back at the steel mill and you thought you’d try to sweet talk my precious Roselette? The answer is no. Get out of here. Trash like you doesn’t belong in these parts.” He has such a smug look plastered across his face, I want to wipe it away, but I refrain. “Why are you standing there?”

“I’m not here for my job back. I hope you feel guilty about what happened to Alan.” I don’t know why I say this. The thought wasn’t even on my mind, yet my tongue spoke it.

“This is not my problem. You were given superiority and couldn’t supervise, so the onus is on you.”

“Come on, man, he lost his fucking leg.”

“He was a young piece of white trash anyway, with no future prospects in life, so I don’t believe he’s any more limited than he originally was.”

My fists squeeze tightly by my sides, and the vision of blood running out of Mr Horton’s nostrils has me wanting to smack him square in the nose until he bleeds profusely. I don’t. Instead, I grind my teeth and stare him straight in the eyes. “Listen here, you prick. I did nothing wrong. However, I’ll be seeing you around, neighbour.”

He clears his throat and exaggerates his smug expression. “Don’t mess with me, son. You hear?”

“I probably have more money than you now, so all I’ve left to say is you can suck my …” Turning, I leave him to conclude what it is he can suck. What an arsehole. Great! The fucking Hortons are my neighbours. Maybe this is why the puny little runt Haldon thought this humorous on the day I claimed the keys. “Arsehole,” I spit softly.