Chapter 12

When they got home Bill and Theresa had their first argument. He took her bag to his room and opened an empty cupboard which had shelves and hanging space. It had clearly been his wife's.

"No, darling," said Theresa. "I'll stick to my old room for the time being."

"Why on earth?"

"We're not married."

"So what?"

"And what happens when Wendy comes home and finds a fait accompli before we've told her?"

"We'll have to tell her before she comes home then."

"Bill, darling, what did we agree?"

"Not to tell her yet while she's still clingy."

"And?"

Bill's face fell. "Sorry," he said. "I'm being selfish and unreasonable. It's just that I love you so much I want you to be with me as much as possible."

Theresa's eyes twinkled. "Oh, I will be," she said. "I never said anything about not sharing your bed, did I?"

His face lit up again and he pulled her into his arms. "I love you," he said hoarsely. "Very, very much."

Theresa pressed against him. "Show me," she purred.

"Not until I've had a shave and a shower. I've had neither for two days and must pong something awful."

"Would my little boy like Mummy to wash him?"

Bill grinned delightedly. "Yeth, pleathe, Mummy," he lisped.

They both fell into each other's arms again laughing weakly at their appallingly childish humour.

She washed and dried him meticulously. She then pressed up against his back with her arms round his waist as he shaved.

"I've always thought shaving to be a pretty boring occupation," he said, "but I could happily do this twice a day."

"There are things I could do which might make you want to do it even more," she said mischievously.

"Such as?"

She giggled. "Patience, my boy. Just wait and see."

He bent forward to rinse his face and she tickled his bottom. He straightened up sharply banging his head on the glass shelf above the basin. A plastic mug with his toothbrush and toothpaste fell off it into the water. Theresa pealed with laughter.

"Clumsy boy," she scolded.

Bill turned in her arms and gently smacked her bottom.

"Ooh!" she squealed. "Nasty temper too!"

They both held each other up again as they laughed themselves silly. Suddenly Theresa pushed him away and looked up at him, her face the picture of happiness.

"I love you so much, Bill Ainsworth. I love you with all my being. Bed!"

Bill swept her up into his arms. "I love you too, my darling, my little teenage mummy."

Theresa laughed happily and joyously. "All things to all men," she spluttered.

"One man and only one man," he replied totally seriously, "and I'm so lucky to be that man."

He laid her on the bed and they clung to each other desperately. When he started to caress her she shook her head, "No, darling, don't hang about. Now, please, my darling, please."

He entered her slowly and gently but she was having none of it and bucked underneath him. "Do it," she urged. "Hard!"

He did so and she came with a shriek. He did not and resumed a gentle pace, holding her on a high for many minutes. Eventually he knew he could last no longer and became forceful again. This time she screamed his name and he roared as they came hugely together. Their hearts pounded and they gasped for air.

Neither fell asleep. The feel of each other and the intensity of their love kept them stroking each other and murmuring endearments. They were blissfully and ecstatically in love.

At last Bill stirred.

"I'm beginning to feel a bit peckish," he said.

"Feed on me," she whispered.

"Theresa darling, I have done: your body, your smell, your juices and your love but we both need to eat something as well." He chuckled and said, "And don't say eat me."

She giggled. "All right, my darling love. Have you got some ambrosia in the fridge?"

He pulled her to him again. "You are Heaven," he said, "and irresistible. Come on. Food."

"Music?" she teased him. "That's supposed to be the food of love."

"Theresa," he growled.

She giggled again. "Oh well, we poor mortals! Lay on, MacDuff!"

They made their way slowly downstairs to the kitchen.

"Make the most of it, darling," said Bill. "Sally'll be coming back sometime this weekend."

"And Wendy'll be discharged at some stage. Let's indeed make the most of it."

It was another five minutes before Bill delved in the freezer and found a lasagne that could be micro-waved from frozen. He poured them both a drink which they took through to the drawing room. They had hardly sat down before the telephone rang. Bill answered it. It was his mother.

"Darling," she said, "I tried to ring you yesterday but no answer."

"No, Mum, I spent the night at the hospital in case Wendy needed me."

"How is the poor girl?"

"Doing well. She's perked up a lot but she's still jolly sore and she gets tired quite quickly but the doctor's pleased with her. She had the added burden today of having to give her evidence to the police."

"Has her mother arrived, your fiancée? Congratulations, darling. We look forward to meeting her."

"Yes, she arrived this morning and is staying here with me. I can't wait for you to meet her but we'd like to get Wendy up and going first."

"Of course. She must be the top priority. I won't keep you but if there is anything Dad or I can do to help let us know."

"Thanks, Mum. I will. Speak to you soon. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, darling."

He returned to sit with Theresa. He put his arm round her and kissed her softly.

"Mum's bursting to inspect you," he said.

Theresa smiled. "I'll bet she is. I couldn't wait to inspect you when I thought Wendy was falling for you. Changing the subject, my sweet, where are we going to live, here, my house or both?"

"Both I'd have said. I ought to keep this place on at least until the girls have finished and, although I'm comfortably off, I can't afford to give up work for a long while yet. I'd prefer not to have to commute in from your place daily too. On the other hand, you love your house, the garden and the dogs would certainly be happier there than here. What do you think?"

"I agree with both. We could be entirely flexible but as a basis I'd have thought you could commute on Mondays and come back down on Fridays. I would come here for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night but if there was something on at either end work round it."

"That sounds fine. There is a large park about four hundred yards away beside the river where you could walk the dogs mid-week."

"Ideal. Let's go for it."

"Are you ready for the other half of your drink? I ought to put the lasagne in too."

"I'll come and help you."

They went to the kitchen together. Bill poured their drinks while Theresa popped the lasagne in the micro-wave and set the table. Bill also found a bottle of Chianti. They stayed in the kitchen.