“One thing I know they can do well here,” Ben added, “Is margaritas. Now I know we’d all like to try one of those.” He beckoned the waitress over and in flawless Portuguese ordered a round of margaritas for the table.
Ben was absolutely right and they all enjoyed the well prepared and perfect drinks. So much so they had another and Chuck was put on cola as they ordered more.
Everyone was having a laugh and taking turns going over to the water closet when Ben wandered over to one of the paintings on the wall and straightened it with a piece of silly putty he had in his pocket. Mary watched him, and burst out laughing as she pointed it out to the rest of the table, teasing him about his obsession lightly. Ben shrugged and walked back to the table with a self-deprecating smile.
“Nothing worse than a wonky picture I think, don’t you?” he said, sitting down. “Lillian, I do have something to ask you. I’m sure you do this in America too.”
“Ask me what?” Lillian replied, puzzled.
“Would you mind if I dated your daughter? I thought it only decent to ask you first. We seem to be getting on. I’m rambling but I just thought I should let you know is all,” Ben finished, sitting down abruptly and putting an arm round Mary.
“Oh how gallant!” Edna cried. “How very gentlemanly of you Ben.”
“Well, I’m guessing that decision was made yesterday, but I’m flattered you cared to let me know, thank you. Yes, of course you may date my daughter. Assuming, of course, she wants you too.”
Edna and Chuck gave a spontaneous round of applause and the table erupted into fast chattering and laughter.
After a long day, they drifted back home and with Lillian’s approval, Mary and Ben made their way up to his bedroom.
Chapter 13
Mary sat with her mother on the patio drinking coffee, the next morning. The Vogelsangs were picking her up at ten o’clock to go sightseeing again. Lillian was excited and totally in love with Portugal.
“I love your Pa, Mary. I love him dearly, I do. But dang I don’t want to ever leave this place. I know the food can be weird and the folk talk funny, but tell me this isn’t the most wonderful place on earth,” Lillian announced as she finished the last of her coffee.
Mary had just got herself a mug after coming round from Ben’s apartment and was nodding.
“But we have to go home, Mom. Not like we have a choice is it?” Mary replied, shaking her head as she sat down.
“Anything wrong honey? With you and Ben I mean?” Lillian took her daughter’s hand and gave her a probing look.
“Oh good grief no, not between us anyway. Just the big stinking reality that we only have one week left and then we fly home. Like you Mom, I really don’t want to go. I love Ben and I know he loves me. There must be some way I can stay. Somehow?” Mary replied, almost sobbing.
“I don’t think the authorities would take too kindly to that Mary. Last thing they want is illegal American immigrants cluttering up the place, I’m sure,” Lillian said, not sure of how to solve the problem.
“I’m going to talk to Ben while you’re out today with the Vogelsangs. Maybe he knows a lawyer.” Mary chewed at her bottom lip as her mother stood.
“Well, my dear, we shall all find a way to make this work, I’m sure. I only want your happiness and there’s something about you since you met Ben. Maybe it’s just the vacation, maybe it’s being in somewhere new, but something in you has changed and I like it.” She leaned over to give her daughter’s cheek a peck before walking back to the patio door. She paused and turned back to Mary. “I bet he’ll make beautiful babies as well.”
With a shriek of laughter, Lillian disappeared into the house once more, ignoring the flip-flop that came sailing through the curtain.
Mary sat back in her chair, waiting for Ben to come around as the sun warmed her face. She thought about Ben, the sometimes OCD but very adorable man she’d come to love so quickly.
He was intelligent and funny. Sometimes he seemed a bit stuffy, but he was British, that could happen. She smothered her own giggle and looked around guiltily. She knew there would be problems to face in the future, far more than just a shared language spoken in an entirely different manner. They were different people, they had different approaches to life, but she knew he brought out the best in her and she brought out the best in him. That had to be a good thing, right?
She sat up from her reverie when she saw Ben coming through the gate, a mug of coffee in hand. She held her face up for a kiss, and tried not to laugh when he poured his coffee all over the patio as he leaned over.
“Go ahead, I’ve made an idiot of myself again.” Ben laughed as he went for the mop standing on the side of the house. “I’ll clean up my mess.”
Mary laughed with him. “Don’t bother, it’ll only dry off in five minutes anyway.”
Ben ran the hosepipe over the mop, then put the mop down and sprayed the baked tiles of the patio. He pointed the flow of the water to a drain and waited until he knew the water had flushed it all away.
“Nope, around here you have to clean up or you’ll be invaded by ants. There’s enough sugar in that coffee to put an ant into a diabetic coma!” He settled into a chair after putting the hose away and she’d brought him a fresh cup and the sugar bowl.
“Yes, we noticed the ant situation on our arrival. They’re incredible to watch but when I started having nightmares about them we started pouring cinnamon down to keep them out.” Mary twined her hand in his as he leaned over to kiss her.
He pulled away and asked, “Why cinnamon?”
“It confuses them and they can’t find the scent trail they leave behind. It’s safe around humans and dogs, and makes the house smell nice.” She gave him a smile as he pulled away further.
“You are a brilliant woman, you know that?” The kiss he placed on her nose spoke of his own adoration.
She gave him a pleased smile as her mother came out of the barn once more, the matador hat on her head, a green summery dress flowing around her knees.
“Dad’s not going to know you when you get home, Mom!” Mary gave her mother an appreciative whistle as she sat across from them.
“It’ll do him some good. Shake him up, get the juices flowing, you know?” The mantle of sophistication and worldliness disappeared as she spoke but Mary knew Lillian didn’t care. She was what she was and that’s all there was to it.
“Your makeup looks nice. I stopped wearing it with this heat, it all just melted off of me anyway.” Mary waved at her green eyes, catching Ben’s attention. She had beautiful eyes after all.
“Oh, I expect this will as well, but it’s nice to start the day out feeling pretty. We’ll all wilt in this heat but nobody will notice me looking like a clown because the other tourists all look exactly the same.” Lillian laughed and waved a goodbye as she stood to leave. The Vogelsangs were in the street, waiting for her. With a blown kiss she turned to leave by the front door.
“It’s just us for the day then?” Ben asked, his hand draped over her shoulder, playing in her hair.
“Yes, the Vogelsangs seems to have adopted Mom. It’s not a bad thing, is it? She loves it here and it gives us time together.” Her eyes sought his out and he knew what she was thinking because he was thinking the same. Nobody else was home, they were totally alone.
He pulled her out of the chair, his body hungry for hers, his mind needing her to fill his senses.
He pushed her to a shaded wall, his spontaneity a result of her influence. He’d normally have his day planned, but Mary had brought him to a place of spontaneity he’d been lacking in his life. His lips found hers as he pressed his body to hers. She made quick work of removing his clothes as their hungry mouths worked together.
Soon he was naked, his muscled body tanned from head to toe, and she grinned as she pulled away. Her own clothes disappeared and then she was in his arms, rising in the air as he lifted her, pressing her against the wall again.
“I love you,” Mary whispered the wo
rds, words she hadn’t meant to say, but definitely meant.
“Good. I love you.” His response was growled just beneath her ear as he shifted, pressing his length into her welcoming opening, sliding in with ease. He paused as he slid home, taking a moment to enjoy being inside of this beautiful woman and her beautiful body. “Fuck, I love you so much.”
His lips found hers once more, and he began to move, thrusting into her in a way that had her gasping quickly. He enjoyed the view as she let her head fall back against the brick wall. Her face was a picture he didn’t want to forget. Ben fought back a sob of pain, pushed back his tears. She was leaving soon and this was a time to enjoy, not blubber all over the poor woman.
Besides, his dick was so happy he had to control himself. Mary was unlike any other woman he’d ever made love with. She enjoyed herself, gave herself up to it in a way he’d never experienced. And her enjoyment was his enjoyment.
Ben redoubled his efforts, shifting to kiss her neck, moving down the sweat dampened skin to her breasts. Round and plentiful, her breasts were a delight, and he wanted to memorize every inch of her. He thought about the costs of flights to America and wondered if he’d be able to eat anything there, gritting his teeth, trying to make it last, trying to wait for just the right moment.
His hands, strong and capable, held her bottom so he couldn’t touch her with them. He shifted again and her gasps turned to cries of pleasure as he rubbed against her clit. There we go, he thought.
Ben stopped thinking, stopped trying to control himself, and let his body follow hers as she began to ripple around him. She took him to a place that only they knew, a place where they were one. As her tight sheath grasped at him, he let himself go and pulsed into her, his body feeding hers with his essence.
They clung together, both lost in the moment, Mary’s legs still wrapped around his waist, her body slick with sweat, and their eyes locked together.
“I do love you, Mary. We’ve got a problem but I think we can overcome it. We’ll talk about that later. For now, I want to take you to the beach and love you in the water. Come on, let’s go.” He let her slide down the wall, took her in for a glass of water, and held her as she stared up at him.
“We’ll sort it, darling. Don’t worry.” He kissed her nose and led her out to the car, not sure how but knowing he could make this work, somehow. He just had to figure out who to call first.
*
They spent their final week in bed, in the water, watching the stars shine, and the sun come up together. They danced to the music coming from other villas around them, they danced at a bar he took her too, and they danced at the beach, before falling together in the darkness.
Mary began to plan her return, even though they’d agreed to wait to talk about it all. Ben had rubbed off on her as much as she’d rubbed off on him. She’d noticed he’d begun to loosen up; he wasn’t so regimented or controlled now. Heck, he’d even left a picture totally sideways at one of the restaurants they’d visited this week. It had bugged even her but he’d totally ignored it, even when she’d gone to wash up. She’d come out expecting to find it sorted but he’d left it.
She’d smiled to herself and went back to their table, kissing him softly before sitting down.
“You’ve changed, do you know that?” Her eyes gleamed when she smiled.
“I don’t know what you mean. None of your American rubbish has rubbed off on me. I’m British, we don’t change, madam.” He held his head in such a way that implied he was offended but she knew better.
“Oh, I forgot, you’re impervious to our ways aren’t you? So superior. I hope it doesn’t rain when we get outside.” She gave him a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
“And why’s that?” His handsome face told her he knew but he was playing along.
“Well, it would be shame for you to drown. You know, that nose of yours stuck up in the air like that could be problematic. Is it hard to breathe that way?” She teased him some more and he scowled playfully.
“I’ll show you drowning later, young lady. For now, let’s get home. Your mother will be home in an hour and you need a spanking.” He paid the waiter and they left, their arms locked.
“Spanking? I’ll break your hands first, buddy!” She glared up at him but softened it with a kiss.
“I think you’ll be begging me for more!” He closed the door to the car before he began a loud panting sound. “Oh Ben! Oh Ben, take me big Daddy, oh yes, take me, take me! Isn’t that how it goes?”
He turned to her with a totally serious look and for a moment she was too shocked to respond. Was he serious? He looked serious. Then he laughed and pulled her close. “That was too easy. Come on, I want your thighs around my ears, I don’t want to spank you.”
She pushed him away but laughed as he pulled onto the street. She was going to miss this. She sobered for a moment. Just one more day left. They were leaving early in the morning, a little over 24 hours from now. She turned to Ben, reality finally setting in.
“Are we sorting it, love?” Her eyes pleaded with him to give her an answer.
“Well, if you don’t mind coming here you can come back in a few weeks, maybe six to eight. But I need to get some papers sorted and it’s Portugal.”
Mary turned to him and they both laughed as they spoke in unison. “Amanhã!”
The Portuguese word for tomorrow. Mary knew that if it was meant to be it would be. There was no use in fighting what couldn’t be fought.
That night their lovemaking was frantic, a primal thing fueled by despair. It was sad, joyous, and left them both too stunned to sleep. Was it real? There were doubts, there were worries, but most of all, there was love and that was too precious to throw away. But could Mary handle leaving everything she knew for a place that was already showing its flaws? Could she live in a place where everything was so very different? It was a lot to think about, something for another time. Now they needed more of each other. They turned to each other and began again.
Chapter 14
Ben felt his heart break as Mary and Lillian disappeared into the airport the next day. Tears filled his eyes and he swiped at them as he waved one final time. She was taking his heart back to America with her. He didn’t think he could let her. He had to fight the urge to run in and see if any flights were available. He could do his job anywhere, he had no real ties in Portugal, no family and no obligations. He could do it.
But he turned and walked away as Mary finally disappeared into the security clearance zone. They’d spent as much time as possible together, he had her contact details and she had his. It wouldn’t be forever. He scuffed his feet as he walked back to his car, his entire body deflated. The normally tall, proud man was a shadow, he almost appeared to be 50 years older he’d sunk so far into himself.
Tenants came and went in the apartments. Some were fun, others irritating, some were attractive, but none had changed his life as much as Lillian and Mary. He knew being at home was going to be the hard part so he bought a bottle of wine and went to the beach, waiting for the planes to fly overhead. He knew what time Mary’s flight left.
Two planes flew overhead at the correct time, one coming in and one leaving. He waved the two beautiful women away, raised his glass one last time, and fell back to the sand, under the umbrella he’d pulled out of the car. Putting the cork back in the bottle, he decided he couldn’t put it off anymore. It was time to head back to the empty villa.
The silence at the villa was deafening and Ben quickly turned on his telly. He tried not to go to the barn but found his feet taking him there. He sat down, the bottle somehow in his hand once more. Sitting at the table he saw the wall where he’d made love to Mary, knew the bed would hold her scent. He knew his own would as well.
Slugging back more wine, Ben tried to tell himself it would ease, that he’d find a way to bring her back and that the pain would end. His lawyer was working on it now. He decided he needed more wine and went into his kitchen to search for some.
*<
br />
Mary watched the landscape of Portugal disappear, the sea full of jellyfish, and wondered when she’d see that coastline again. They had stops in Munich, one in New York, and another in Charlotte. It was going to be a long day and her mother was already doing her head in. She scoffed to herself, doing her head in, a term she’d picked up from Ben.
She ordered a glass of wine as soon as the flight attendant started passing them out. Taking a deep gulp, she wished she’d ordered something stronger. This tasted of the cardboard it came in. Setting the too-dry beverage aside, she decided to try for watching a movie on her tablet. Her mother had the window seat and Mary couldn’t see much of the view outside of the plane.
Mary knew she was trying to distract herself and the effort didn’t work. She missed him already and she’d had to hide her own tears more than once. Lillian had shed them the moment Ben disappeared from view and she’d held her daughter’s hand.
“I’m so sorry we have to leave him, darling. I’ll see what your father and I can do once we get home. Have you decided on where you’re going?”
“No, we haven’t decided if he’s coming to me or me going to him. It’s easier and quicker for me to go there. He’s missing some papers and it depends on how long that will take to sort out.” Mary had looked away, another instance of tears making her hide.
“We’ll get it done, honey. I promise.” Mary knew there wasn’t much her mother could do but knew she’d do what she could. Her mother had made a promise, she’d keep it.
Going back to West Virginia after being gone so long was eye-opening for both women.
As they drove up the winding mountain road to get to their town they both looked at the area with new eyes.
“How long has that house been collapsed, Mary? That’s new isn’t it?” Lillian was pointing out a house that everyone knew because it was painted a bright orange and green. You couldn’t miss it sticking out of the side of the mountain.
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