Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 912 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I managed to convince Simon that he needed a bike ride as much as the girls did, and seeing as we’d have Meems, Trish and Livvie riding with us, he decided he could cope with the pace. The last time he rode he got knocked off his bike by a white van, so his reluctance was understandable.

To give Meems a chance, she rode on the trailer bike, on the back of my Scott, Si rode his Tarmac and the two older girls their Barbie bikes. We probably did a mile or so before little legs began to get tired and then we turned back along the cycle path and headed home.

At least we all got a bit of fresh air and a sort of leg stretch, but on twenty inch wheels, and little legs–a mile can seem a long way. Livvie was whingeing a bit before we got home, but the promise of an ice lolly cheered her up when we got there.

When the boys got back, I was making dinner–a pasta dish, with tuna and white sauce which I did with some mushroom soup. Again, it was for quickness as much as anything, and it was on the table an hour after we got home.

This time Trish got to help me in the kitchen, so her temper improved–and she made the fruit salad almost entirely by herself. I even let her whip the cream–yeah, forty lashes–with my hand blender.

Julie was still flirting with Leon, but less obviously than before. I did mention she needed to be careful offering something she couldn’t deliver. She then completely shut me up by asking how I’d coped before surgery.

I blushed profusely–we were alone in the kitchen, supposedly bringing through the food–“I, um, didn’t flirt, that’s how I coped.”

“So how did you develop your boy catching skills?” she continued.

“Boy catching skills? I don’t think I have any.”

“Well you caught Daddy, and I saw you in action with Dr Sage, you were pretty hot then–for him anyway,” she said and tittered, enjoying my floundering.

“Hot for him–good gracious, Julie, I’m a happily married woman.”

“Yeah–but you do like him, don’t you?”

“He’s very good looking, I’ll grant you that...”

“Who is?” said Simon behind me–the pasta nearly went over the floor as I jumped.

“Nobody, darling.” My face felt so warm, I’m sure it was hotter than the actual pasta.

“Don’t believe her, Daddy, she’s got the hots for Dr Sage, the wildlife officer.”

Julie poked her tongue out at me as my mouth opened and closed without saying anything. I was thinking that the next time someone cuts her throat, it stays cut, in fact it was likely to be me–little cow she is.

“Wildlife officer? What’s one of those when he’s about?” asked Simon, who seemed to be equally enjoying my discomfort.

“You know, he’s there if you want some, like–wild life,” Julie twisted the screw.

“He’s the field officer for Natural England, he’s involved with the survey.”

“Yeah–for like, a romp in the field,” Julie winked at me then left before I could put her down.

“Cheeky little madam,” I snorted picking up the baking dish.

“I’d like to meet him, if my wife fancies him.”

“Simon, it isn’t like that–I’m happily married–to you, remember?”

“It’s not me who has to remember it–is it?”

“Hang on a minute–“I put down the dish and grabbed his arm.

“You are choosing to believe the silly games of an adolescent girl over the word of your wife?”

“No, I believe my wife–but if this guy is a dishy as you seem to think, I’d like to check out the opposition.”

“What opposition? Stella and I had a flirting competition while the poor man was here. That was it. I’ve been to a meeting with him since and it was pure business. He’s a very decent man and I like him, but I love you–so that’s all I have to say about it.”

He didn’t say anything, he made me put down the dish once again before he grabbed me, pulled me to him and kissed me aggressively, forcing his tongue into my mouth. Lower down, something else was pushing against me too–I guess he was pleased to see me.

“You’re mine,” he said and released me before walking back to the dining room, and this time I did manage to carry the dish to the table–albeit on shaky legs and cheeks burning. Julie was so going to pay for her cheek.

After dinner, while Julie and Leon were whispering to each other, I decided to act. “Here’s your money, Leon, we don’t need you tomorrow, so we’ll see you next week–okay?”

Julie’s expression fell several storeys hitting the ground with a grumble. “Aw, Mummy, you’re rotten.”

I smiled a false smile at her before Tom wiped it off my face. “Aye we dae, Leon, can ye help me with yon vegetable patch, tomorrow?”

“Of course, Professor.”

“Well, I’d like tae get it dug over and some muck spread on it. Guid man,” he went back to the dining room and his conversation with Simon–they were talking about cars or something.

“Ha ha,” Julie poked her tongue out at me.

“Fine, see you tomorrow then, Leon, Julie and I have some shopping to do–so it’s just as well you’ll have plenty to do.” I smiled sweetly at them both and waited for him to go. As she went to escort him to the door, I told her to go and unload the dishwasher, I’d see Leon off.

She stalked off swearing at me under her breath, which I chose not to hear. Two can play at being a bitch–and I have a bit more practice, as well as status.

I saw Leon off, knowing he’d clear off and come back and she’d be out the kitchen door as soon as my back was turned. I could have exercised more power–but I’d made my point, now she’d have to give him a quick peck and a grope and dash back into the house, before she thought I’d missed her.

Why do teenagers think we’re all stupid? Do they forget, we’ve all been teens ourselves, and okay, I wasn’t as devious as she is–but that’s probably because I didn’t waken to the attractions of men as sex partners until later. Naïve doesn’t begin to describe it–comatose might.

The game is all about keeping her safe, because teens take risks–they can’t see danger, especially when their hormones start pumping–so that’s my job. I’m glad it’s Leon, she’s using as practice material–I can talk with him, well, as much as I can with any young man–I also suspect he won’t do her any harm, and he knows her situation.

What will happen when the two boys grow a bit older–they call themselves brothers and sisters, but they’re not, however much they want to be. Will there be attractions between them and the two remaining girls–Leon demonstrating that having slight plumbing problem isn’t necessarily a hindrance to attraction. I suppose my own history reflects that with Simon–he still loved me even though he knew I was incomplete–and he kindly waited for that to happen. Then–Simon is a special sort of man–which is one of the reasons I love him so much.

“What’s this about your car stopping and starting all the time?” Simon asked.

“It’s stopped doing it now,” I replied

“Why’s that?”

“How do I know? I’m a biologist not an engineer.”

“A biologist who can take a bike apart and put it back together.”

“So–? I’m cute too, but I don’t hear you complaining about it,” I decided I was going to be sassy this evening.

“It’s haunted,” said Julie, looking flustered from her stolen liaison.

“Haunted?” Simon’s eyes almost popped right out of his head.

“Yeah–it breaks down when it wants her to do something.” Having thrown this grenade into the room, Julie disappeared upstairs, leaving me to persuade Simon that there was nothing wrong with the car.

“I’ve got the chance to swap it for an A class,” he threw at me, “But if there’s nothing wrong with it...”

“A Mercedes like I had before?”

“Yeah, a couple of months old–ex demonstrator.”

“Oh this one is a real pain, yeah you need to change it really–totally unreliable...” I did like my little Merc.