Chapter 1

The Ultimate Birthday Present

Exactly eighteen years later Toby woke early and lay for a while contemplating with pleasure what was in store for his birthday. He was always grateful for the fact that the Easter holidays often coincided with his special day and when that happened there was no school. He was already sure that the high point of the day was going to be his lunchtime visit to the fabulous ranch-style bungalow near the hamlet of Northolt, where his best friend Andrew Stevenson had lived with his parents and twin sister Natasha for the past two years. Andrew’s steady girlfriend of some two summers, farmer’s daughter Emma Knight, who was a whizz in the kitchen, was putting on a special birthday lunch. Toby already knew that they would have a wonderful time together, as they always did, with much banter and good humoured laughter. He was just somewhat sad that Andrew’s twin Natasha, with whom he had been secretly in love since the three of them met in school when they were five years old, would not be there. This year she was spending most of the holiday with her recent boyfriend Rupert and his family.

Bouncing out of bed Toby caught sight of himself in the full length mirror which was part of the fitted wardrobe in his bedroom and paused for a moment. He was now six feet tall but still rather skinny. He chuckled at the sight, simply because although he needed to pee he had a rampant ‘morning wood’ as was usual first thing. He was reminded of the very funny conversation that he had had with his friend Andrew, some eight years previously, when Andrew confided that his mother had actually pleaded with him to sit on the toilet first thing in the morning. Leaning forwards as far as he could enabled him to point his stiff penis into the bowl and thus he no longer ended up peeing all over the floor.

Toby had an easier, more effective and much more enjoyable solution. Taking his bottle of baby oil from his bedside cabinet he carefully anointed his erection, lay back on his bed and started to caress himself expertly. Just a few minutes later he gave a quiet gasp of delight as he climaxed and covered his lower chest and belly with his seed. In Toby’s book this had long been the very best way to get rid of a stiffy, as well as being a lovely start to the day.

Once finished in the bathroom he thundered downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. His mother greeted him with a warm hug and a kiss and wished him a very Happy Birthday. The postman had already called so there was quite a selection of cards waiting beside his plate. He was particularly delighted to find that a couple of them contained cheques as well as the usual birthday greetings.

‘What time do you want me to run you over to Northolt?’ asked his mother.

‘Well, I guess I can drive myself if you don’t want the car.’

‘You know how boozy meals always end up being at Northolt,’ laughed Mary, ‘I don’t want you picked up by the police on the way home.’

‘You’ve got a good point there,’ admitted her offspring, ‘I’ll ring Andrew in a bit and see what time they want me.’

In the event, not long after their conversation, Toby was to receive a call from Andrew rather than the other way around.

‘Oh, Hi,’ cried Toby enthusiastically, ‘How are tricks?’

‘Fine thanks. Hey, Happy Birthday while I think about it. Listen, how do you fancy being picked up this morning rather than having to make your own way over?’

‘Sounds fine, but who’s my chauffeur?’ asked Toby suspiciously.

‘Aunty Lol.’

‘Hey, that’s fantastic,’ exclaimed Toby in delight, ‘Aunty Lol. I haven’t seen her for years.’

“Aunty Lol” was Andrew’s nick-name for his father’s youngest sister, Laura, who was an air stewardess. For the past four years she had been working for PanAmerican Airlines and because she was based in the United States, the family had seen almost nothing of her.

‘She’s only here for about five minutes of course,’ said Andrew, ‘You know Lol, she’s never anywhere for long.’

‘Has she changed since you last saw her?’

‘No, she’s crazier than ever. This time she has turned up in a flipping Aston Martin Volante that she got hold of from somewhere or other. Honestly, she shouldn’t even be allowed out on the road on a tricycle, if you ask me.’

‘An Aston Martin?’ Toby was most impressed.

‘Yeah, she wants to come over and pick you up in it. She’s been dying to scare the shit out of somebody ever since she got here, but neither of us will go out with her. Shall I tell her you’ll come over on your bike?’

Toby laughed.

‘You’re as bad as my mother. Where’s your sense of adventure? No, you tell her I’ll be delighted to ride with her.’

‘I bet you will!’ chuckled Andrew. ‘She looks sexier than ever too, by the way.’

‘Ooh,’ murmured Toby, the significance of Andrew’s remark not escaping him. He had thought Laura was a dish when he was only fourteen years old and he realised that she would, indeed, probably appeal to him even more since he had grown somewhat older.

‘I’ll send her over at about midday,’ said Andrew, ‘That should give you plenty of time to make your will, arrange extra life insurance and put on your brown underpants.’

‘Andrew, you are dreadful,’ laughed his friend, ‘OK, tell her I’ll be ready.’

‘Oh and while I think about it, bring your tennis stuff. If we don’t get too drunk at lunchtime we might have a game or two during the afternoon.’

After he got off the phone, Toby went upstairs to inspect his tennis gear. Much to his annoyance, he found that he had forgotten to give his shorts to his mother for washing after the last time that he had worn them. Unfortunately they were badly marked by grass stains. Casting his mind back he remembered that he had fallen flat on his back when reaching for a high shot while playing on a grass court, made slippery by a shower of rain. He cursed inwardly and started to search for something cleaner to wear. The only suitable item that he could find was a pair of gym shorts which he had not used since he was in the fifth form at school. Slipping off his jeans he tried them on, snorting with amusement as he did so. He had obviously grown somewhat since they were bought, for he almost needed a shoehorn to get into them. He surveyed his reflection in the mirror.

‘Oh well,’ he said to himself philosophically, ‘At least they’ll give everybody a laugh.’

Having located a clean white tee-shirt, his tennis shoes, socks and racquet, he then turned to what he was going to wear for the day. Choosing a pale blue shirt and his best pair of jeans he got ready and had no sooner finished when he heard a car scream to a halt in the lane outside and the strident blare of an airhorn shattered the still calm of the morning. Grabbing his sports bag and tennis racquet, Toby rushed downstairs and through the front door. Outside the gate was a very smart Aston Martin Volante, the top down and the engine rumbling throatily. At the wheel was the familiar figure of Laura Stevenson.

‘Hi Auntie Lol,’ sang out Toby as he made his way down the drive, ‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’

As the young man came to a halt beside the car, “Auntie Lol” lowered her sunglasses onto the end of her nose and looked at him appraisingly.

‘My word,’ she said, ‘Haven’t you grown since I last saw you?’

The way that she was inspecting him sent a slight shiver down Toby’s spine and he hurried round to the other side of the car, avoiding her gaze and trying not to look embarrassed.

‘What a fabulous car,’ he commented, throwing his racquet and bag carelessly onto the back seat and lowering himself in beside her, ‘Where did you get it from?’

Laura laughed lightly.

‘Let’s just say that it belongs to a friend,’ she replied vaguely as she revved up the engine and let out the clutch.

The car roared off up the lane, sending gravel flying in all directions as it took off.

Conversation was impossible over the noise of the engine and the wind and in any case Laura was obviously concentrating on her driving. Toby had never experienced speed like it and it left him breathless with excitement. He was reminded strongly of the time when he had been taken out on the back of his cousin’s motor cycle, but a glance at the speedometer told him that this time he was moving considerably faster. He was intrigued to find that he felt quite safe with Laura at the wheel, despite her nephew’s comments. It was as if she was an extension of the car itself, sitting there in the driver’s seat looking assured behind her sunglasses. Her mass of long curly auburn hair was tied back loosely and was flying behind her in the wind. The journey was over in a flash far too quick for Toby’s liking. Laura executed a neat turn into the driveway of the Stevenson’s house and grabbing the handbrake and swinging the wheel, caused the car to cover the last few yards sideways.

‘Wow,’ gasped Toby, ‘Where did you learn to drive like that?’

Laura looked at him again, the same strange smile playing round her lips.

‘The owner of the car taught me,’ she replied, ‘He taught me a lot of things as a matter of fact.’

‘Maybe you’ll give me some lessons sometime,’ said Toby lightly.

‘Hmm,’ responded Laura thoughtfully, ‘Perhaps I will.’

Somehow Toby got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t talking about driving lessons at all. He felt himself beginning to blush and turned hastily to open his door. Jumping out quickly, he went round to open Laura’s too.

‘Not only a young man, but a young gentleman into the bargain,’ murmured Laura, ‘I see what Jackie means.’

‘Sorry?’ said Toby.

Laura took off the hair-tie and shook her head causing her long hair to cascade round her, the sun catching the gold highlights in its red colour, like leaves in autumn.

‘We must hurry,’ she said, just as if she had not heard his question at all, ‘Emma will have lunch ready at any moment I expect.’

They walked into the house together and were greeted enthusiastically by his good-looking blue-eyed blonde-haired best friend, Andrew, who was just opening a bottle of wine.

‘Hello there, great timing,’ he said, ‘Emma is just about to dish up.’

They went through into the kitchen and sure enough, Emma was just putting servings of pasta out onto four hot plates and that was shortly followed by some extremely appetising smelling Bolognese sauce. She paused momentarily and pursed her lips to offer the birthday boy a kiss and at that point they quickly took their places around the kitchen table.

‘Happy Birthday, Toby,’ toasted Andrew and they tucked in.

The Bolognese was followed by a wonderful-looking pineapple pavlova and finally a cheeseboard which they all picked at happily.

Conversation flowed easily and Laura seemed to fit in with the little group perfectly.

‘Well,’ she exclaimed, ‘This is absolutely wonderful. When I arrived last night I was rather disappointed when I found that Tom and Jackie were away. I wondered quite what I would do to pass the time with a bunch of kids. You’re not kids any more though are you? I’m sure that you were the last time I was here. What on earth happened?’

‘We grew up I suppose,’ laughed Andrew, ‘This is what comes of only visiting once every four years. I’m glad you didn’t bother ringing first. If you had realised that Mum and Dad weren’t going to be here then I don’t expect that you’d have bothered coming.’

‘No, you’re probably right. I always knew that being spontaneous was a good idea.’