To Love Thy Neighbour

by S M Mala

  ‘What are you doing here?’ She checked her watch, and it was just past seven. ‘I thought you were coming back later.’

  ‘I gave my mum a large bunch of flowers and told her that I just about forgive her for paying Bennylita off. I added that I’m in love with you, and she doesn’t have enough cash to pay you to stay away.’ Then he smiled. ‘And I want to spend some time alone with you. The past few weeks have been pretty tough.’

  Letting out a sigh, she realised from her breath he was going to know she had a few drinks. He moved closer and sniffed. Esme shrugged her shoulders.

  ‘And I don’t need to take you out for a drink because you’ve had some.’

  ‘I went to Alicia to tell her what was going on. She was shocked. Thinks I’m a bit mad for waiting to see what you’ll do but, hey, I’ll find out the hard way.’

  ‘Don’t say that.’ Leon stepped closer and started pulling bits out of her hair. ‘I want you to be happy.’

  ‘She wants you,’ was all Esme could say.

  ‘I’ll be honest.’

  ‘Please don’t.’

  ‘Sometimes I thought about the good times with Ben. When I did, then I became confused because all that I really remember were the times she made me feel bad about myself. I became angry, and I wasn’t a nice person. You’d have hated me then. I was jealous and insecure.’

  ‘You never said,’ she whispered, moving closer, touching his face. ‘Why don’t you tell me things you should, but are good at telling me things you shouldn’t?’ Then she hesitated. ‘No, I take that back. You tell me what I need to know but sometimes not in the right way.’

  ‘I’m not good with words.’ He grinned. ‘But I am good at showing you how I feel in other ways.’

  Bending down, he pulled the clip out of her hair, letting her hair fall loose. Slowly, he smiled before planting a gentle kiss on her lips.

  ‘Show me again,’ Esme grinned.

  And he did.

  That’s when she was lost in him and couldn’t tell the wood from the trees.

  But she knew a squawk of a parrot, or something similar when she heard it.

  ‘What the hell!’

  Melanie was marching across the road, followed by a shocked looking Ralph.

  ‘How bad could things get?’ Esme said, seeing Leon close his eyes and shake his head. ‘Hello Melanie!’

  She stepped away and smiled at the pair.

  Neither one looked very happy.

  ‘You and her?’ Melanie said, pointing to each one.

  ‘Her and me. Correct,’ replied Leon, grabbing Esme’s hand and moving closer. Esme wasn’t quite sure what he was up to, but her focus was on Ralph’s horrified expression. ‘And we’re very happy, thanks for asking.’

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Very seriously.’

  ‘Esme?’ Ralph said, clearing his throat. ‘Is this right?’

  ‘It’s not legally wrong,’ she replied, looking at Melanie. ‘Age is inconsequential where love is concerned.’ Leon squeezed her palm. ‘And fall in love I did. How could I not? We share white van stories and logo problems. It’s a match made in self-employment heaven. Sometimes,’ she let out a false laugh. ‘We talk about the problems of getting the vehicles cleaned and valeted.’

  ‘This isn’t funny!’ snapped the angry young woman. ‘Did you plan this? To steal him off me?’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’ Esme looked up at Leon.

  ‘I knew you were after him,’ she said, wagging an angry finger at her. ‘The way you pretended to be the caring and friendly neighbour. I noticed the way you’d eye him up. Even using that little brat to take your side.’

  ‘Don’t you dare speak about my daughter like that!’ Leon said, sharply. ‘She sussed you out so quickly. Pretty I didn’t do the same thing.’

  ‘You didn’t mind humping my brains out twice a week when she wasn’t there!’

  ‘Oh,’ Esme said, smiling. ‘It much quieter now. Leon has to be very careful with me, so as not to dislodge a disc. Ralph, is that the same for you? Given that you’re with someone nearly thirty years younger than yourself.’

  ‘I think you’re a disgrace,’ he said, under his breath to Esme.

  ‘I don’t think I am,’ Esme replied, feeling hurt over Ralph’s comment. ‘I’m in love and if you like me as much as you say you do, you will be happy I found someone at long last.’

  ‘I didn’t take you for desperate,’ said Melanie, flashing Esme a dirty look. ‘She’s old enough to be your mother.’

  ‘At least she doesn’t look like she could be,’ came Leon’s startling bitchy reply. ‘I think she looks great! So much so, I’m going to take her into her home and shag her senseless. I bid you both a wonderful evening. And may I say, you are perfectly suited.’

  Melanie and Ralph looked speechless.

  Esme was dragged to her front door as Leon took her keys and pushed her in.

  ‘Leon?’ she said, watching him smile. ‘You were a little bit mean.’

  ‘No one speaks to you like that.’

  The next thing, he moved forward and flung her over his shoulder, carrying her up the stairs.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she shouted. ‘Can you put me down? You’ll slip a disc, not me.’

  He put her down in the bathroom, and she looked at her dishevelled appearance in the mirror.

  ‘It hurts, the snide remarks,’ she said, looking down at her feet. ‘What will they say when you have an addition to the family? That’s going to create a big stir.’

  Leon unbuttoned her overalls and helped her take off her boots and clothing until she was standing in her sports bra, knickers and socks.

  ‘Do you know how gorgeous you look?’ he said, smiling down at her. ‘And hurtful comments are made to be hurtful. Ralph looked more upset than shocked.’

  Then he grabbed her face and kissed her gently on the mouth, before pushing his tongue through her lips and planting an extremely passionate kiss.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  And from the sound of it, neither could he.

  Esme pulled away and noticed the pink lips and pretty face staring at her. She put on the shower, removed her clothes and went under the water. He stood there and watched as she washed her hair and cleaned her body. When she finished, he stood holding the towel, covering her, before he walked out.

  After carefully drying her skin and moisturising, she walked into the bedroom, and he was sitting at the end of the bed, naked.

  ‘Is this your idea of a peace offering?’ she asked, going slowly up to him. ‘I like it.’

  ‘I want to show you how much you mean to me.’

  Then he took the edges of her towel, moving them from side to side and pulled her closer. She placed her hands on his shoulders, kissing his face and feeling the towel drop to the floor.

  His hand caressed her breast while the other one squeezed her bottom. Leon’s tongue filled her mouth, and she didn’t want to stop kissing him. Then the hand on her arse started to stroke her thigh. There was high anticipation in her body that his fingers would caress between her legs. Slowly he moved in that direction.

  Looking down, she watched how he kissed her breasts, his tongue stroking her skin.

  The sight was a turn on.

  Then he looked up at her, while his fingers touched her where she wanted, massaging and teasing her slowly. Esme caressed his head and kissed his face, wanting to make sure their lovemaking lasted longer than usual.

  With Mali, they both came silently, not wanting to wake her.

  When alone, the sounds were louder and more appreciative.

  ‘I want to lie down,’ she whispered, as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her gently onto the bed.

  Opening her thighs, he put his hand back, and they looked at each other, not kissing.

  ‘I want to watch you,’ he said, rubbing his nose against hers. ‘It turns me on when I turn you on.’

  And he started to turn her on, knowing how her body worked and m
assaged her gently, but with enough pressure that her nub was starting to feel the excitement.

  ‘Oh,’ she groaned, closing her eyes, as her thighs spread wider, wanting an orgasm to combust her fanny.

  Then she jolted, when he licked her nub at the same time as rubbing her off.

  Again and again, he licked and rubbed until she couldn’t hold on anymore then gasped out, ‘Please fuck me,’ opening her eyes to see him on his knees, pushing himself inside her. His dark hair was now rubbing against her own.

  She jolted hard, her hips moving with him as he lay on her, the weight of his body pushing her into the mattress.

  They were both grinding on the bed and looking at each other. Her hand travelled up and down his back, squeezing his arse and she couldn’t stop moaning. He felt so hard; she didn’t want him to stop. Leon grabbed her breast, squeezing it firmly, turning her on even more.

  ‘I love you,’ she moaned. ‘I love you so much.’

  The movement from his hips started to up speed, and she came again in his arms, holding on for dear life as she heard his familiar groan.

  ‘I never want to stop screwing you!’ he said quite loudly. ‘Never!’

  And she hoped he never would.

  ‘I’m in love.’

  Leon was looking at Mali, who sat there glancing at Esme’s shocked expression. ‘I’m in love with Esme and she’s my girlfriend.’

  ‘But does she love you? Do you love daddy?’ Mali asked, and he could see his lover was at a loss for what to say. ‘Is that why he sees your boobies?’ Then she giggled.

  ‘I do love your daddy, but I didn’t expect him to say anything to you, here,’ Esme whispered.

  They were sat in a Japanese restaurant on the High Road having lunch.

  It had been over a fortnight since he had spoken to Bennylita and the idea of having another baby seemed a million miles away. He had an amazing time with Esme but now he wanted to let his child know what was going on.

  ‘Are you going to get married?’ asked Mali, making Leon choke on his beer. ‘I’d like that.’

  ‘One step at a time,’ he said, as Esme wiped his face with a napkin, and he could see she was going to laugh.

  ‘And Mr Alfie Reeves will be my brother, won’t he? And we can go on holiday together, can’t we?’

  ‘Mali, are you happy that I’ve got a girlfriend?’

  ‘Well, Nana says you make a pigs hair out of most things and that you need a woman in your life.’ Mali looked sheepishly away. ‘But Esme, not a Jew so I don’t think Nana will be happy.’

  ‘I don’t think anything would make Nana happy,’ he mumbled, watching Esme frown.

  ‘And what about my mummy? What does she say?’

  That question jolted him as Esme reached out and stroked Mali’s braid.

  ‘It’s none of her business,’ he replied diplomatically, seeing the dumplings and tempura arrive at the table.

  ‘I saw her walking down the road to Nana’s house when I was with Esme.’ Mali smiled and looked at Esme, who shrugged. ‘Is that when you told her Esme is my new mummy?’

  ‘Oh baby!’ Esme said, wrapping her arms around Mali, who placed her head on her chest. Right now, Leon wished he was in that position with his woman. ‘Your mum will always be your mum. I’m your friend, and I love you with all my heart.’

  ‘Can I call you mummy? Can I tell people I have a new mummy?’ she asked, looking up at Esme.

  ‘Well,’ Esme said, taking a deep breath. ‘It’s not actually-.’

  ‘If Esme doesn’t mind,’ Leon said, his heart thumping hard. ‘You need a mummy and I need a girlfriend.’ He knew he had put Esme on the spot, as she closed her eyes, breathing out slowly. ‘Or you could call her Auntie Esme.’

  ‘Call me Esme,’ she said, opening her eyes and looking at him.

  ‘Mummy Esme is what I’ll call you and I’ll call my other mummy, mummy witch.’

  Leon just laughed as Esme frowned.

  ‘That’s not nice,’ Esme said, shaking her head. ‘And your daddy shouldn’t be laughing.’

  ‘It’s funny,’ he said, taking a prawn and dunking it in the soya sauce. ‘In a couple of weeks, before you go back to school, I was thinking about us all going on holiday together.’

  ‘Really?’ asked Esme, now looking more stunned than usual.

  ‘Are we going to see my mummy in Spain?’ asked Mali, reaching out for a prawn as Esme helped her.

  ‘No,’ he said sharply. ‘I thought about Italy or France.’

  ‘They do chips, don’t they Esme. French fries. I like chips!’ she said eagerly, taking a massive bite of the prawn. ‘But they eat frogs. I not eat frogs.’

  ‘When did you decide this?’ Esme asked, looking straight at him. ‘You’re not running away, are you?’

  ‘I ran away from a boy in the park who tried to kiss me. I not like him, so I kicked him hard. Nana said I not nice because he was four. But he was yukky!’

  ‘I’m not running away,’ he replied, glancing at the other tables and then at Esme. ‘I want to go away and it’s a ‘thank you’ for being so lovely and wonderful.’

  ‘What are you up to?’ Esme whispered so that Mali couldn’t hear. ‘We need to talk. Why didn’t you mention this before?’

  ‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’

  He looked at her inquisitive stare and realised he loved her so much; it made him ache.

  In the past few days he tried to figure out why there was such a desperate need for a child.

  Right now, he was happy with the way things were.

  He knew seeing Bennylita would only confuse him, and he didn’t want that.

  Looking at the two beauties at the table, he smiled before reaching out for a dumpling. A small, sticky hand, moved his fingers away before taking the last one.

  She smiled cheekily at her father as he let out a sigh.

  ‘It not yours, it's mine,’ Mali giggled, biting into it and making Esme laugh.

  Then he looked at Esme then again at Mali and realised he had everything he ever wanted with him, right now.

  ‘Hello?’

  Esme was stunned to see Bennylita standing at the coffee van late on Monday morning. The woman was staring. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘You’re sleeping with Leon I take it?’ The young woman looked at her, then frowned. ‘You’re the neighbour Esme Reeves.’

  ‘This isn’t the right place to talk,’ Esme replied, starting to pack up. Her hands were shaking as the visit was out of the blue. ‘I don’t know how I can help you.’

  ‘But you know who I am, don’t you?’

  ‘You’re Mali’s mum.’

  ‘And Leon’s former lover.’

  Esme didn’t like the way she said ‘lover’. It sounded far more intimate.

  And then it gripped her.

  The overwhelming tide of jealousy about Bennylita carrying his baby.

  It was shocking to realise that her main upset with the situation was that Bennylita could once again produce another heir for him, which stabbed at Esme even more.

  ‘I don’t think there’s anything I can help you with,’ Esme diplomatically replied. ‘I know you’re conversing with Leon and it isn’t my business.’

  Putting everything away as fast as possible and cleaning down, Bennylita didn’t move. Esme looked over her shoulder.

  ‘His mother would never approve of you. You’re far too old, not Jewish, can’t give him kids, and I’m sure she’ll find more reasons.’ Bennylita laughed as Esme felt herself turning red. ‘I’m just pointing out the bleedin' obvious.’

  She was surprised at how cockney the young woman was. Taking a closer look, Esme stopped and looked at her potential love rival.

  There was a small similarity between her and Melanie. The brash, confident and youthfulness of how a woman could be under the age of thirty-five.

  Though Bennylita looked a little worn and ragged around the edges. It certainly wasn’t the look of someone who was married to a wealthy older m
an.

  Then she remembered that the madam was after Leon.

  ‘Why do you want him back?’ Esme asked, stepping closer. ‘Why after all this time would you do that?’

  ‘Believe it or not, I love him. Always have and always will.’ She looked away and then back at Esme. ‘It seems you’re the one stopping him. Have you thought that by standing in his way, you’re going to make him unhappy? He always wanted a large family, I know that. We discussed it so many times. I can give him that. You can’t.’

  ‘How do you know I can’t?’ Esme asked, knowing she was opening herself up for attack.

  ‘You’re fifty years old with a twenty-three-year old son, who teaches at Mali’s school. You’ve been divorced for a while and own two businesses,’ Bennylita began, flicking her brassy dyed orange blonde hair with long dark roots. ‘Your son’s father is not only very wealthy, he’s an extremely important man.’

  ‘How the hell do you know?’ Esme’s heart was thumping hard, seeing the woman had checked her background. Closing up the doors of her van, she turned to Bennylita. ‘Why are you doing this to him? Why put him on the spot about having a baby? You know how much he loves Mali, don’t you?’

  ‘Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but aren’t you a little too old for him? He wants a family, and you’re not, how can I say?’ Esme noticed how awkward she looked on trying to create her sentence. ‘Aren’t you past it?’

  Esme couldn’t help but laugh at the comment as Bennylita scowled.

  ‘I am past it,’ she sighed, looking for the keys to her van. ‘Men can have kids any given time. We woman run out of juice soon enough. Do you really want more children?’

  ‘Yes.’

  From how she said it, Esme wasn’t convinced.

  The expression on the woman’s face looked like she was being challenged.

  ‘Then why don’t you have some with your husband, and give your son a brother or sister?’

  ‘I’ll get Leon back, one way or another.’ The sentence sounded ominous and not in a romantic or challenging way. ‘We’re meant to be together and I need to have access to my daughter.’

  ‘What about your son?’

  ‘I’ll get custody for him,’ she said, looking around. ‘I don’t want to upset you, but I thought it was best I told you face to face. I’m not the evil witch Barbara said I was. I mean, what sort of woman would pay someone to keep away from their son? That tells you a lot.’