Out on the concourse she saw Viv waving at her excitedly, and a moment later they were hugging and laughing.
“Mum! I can’t believe we’ve got three whole days together; we’re going to have an amazing time, I just know it. You haven’t seen the flat yet, so I thought we’d get something delivered, or grab some pizza from Antonio’s and chill out with a couple of glasses of wine. You can fill me in with gossip from home, though Greygarth gossip is usually a bit tame. How about it Mum?”
“Sounds good dear. Have you got plenty of wine?
“I think we should have enough Mum,” replied Viv.
“No, darling! Have you got lots and lots of wine. Greygarth gossip might surprise you, on this occasion.”
“Loads Mum, loads – you’ve got me intrigued. Is somebody suspected of having a quick illicit fumble somewhere then? Come on, we’ll grab a taxi.”
Forty minutes later Viv unlocked the door to her apartment on the 14th floor of East Wharf. “Welcome to my humble abode Mum. “What do you think?”
“Oh my goodness! It’s absolutely amazing. The view is incredible, and up here it’s so quiet.”
“Bit different if we sit on the balcony, but it’s totally private. Dump your stuff through there Mum – bathroom’s here. It’s all yours for the weekend as I’ve got en suite. Sorry I haven’t given it up for you, but you’ve got the better view. Now! What can I get you? Pot of tea or a glass of wine?”
“Let’s have a pot of tea and get the pizzas delivered shall we? In fact, I’m going to change and chill out if that’s okay with you? Then we’ll get the first bottle out of the way and begin on the Greygarth news.”
“Mum, this is getting scary; ‘the first bottle out of the way’? Just what are you going to tell me,” cried Viv laughing. “Dad rang me this afternoon and I have to say he was flying. I haven’t heard him sound so good for a long time, and I had been getting worried, so you can’t be about to tell me something bad.”
“I’m going to tell you something wonderful darling, at least it is for us. Your Dad and I hope you will think it is too. First pizza, while I show you some of the plans that Ron has surprised us with.”
They munched pizza and drank wine, while Jane described what was to happen to the Old Stable Block.
“Are you thinking of doing anything in the main house Mum?” asked Viv.
Jane smiled, and was quiet for a moment. She reached out to squeeze her daughter’s hand.
“Yes, quite a lot is going to be happening there darling. Now I come to the reason I wanted to be sure you had plenty of wine about. In fact, before I go on, top up my glass for me will you please?”
“Auntie Alison has moved in with us at Greygarth and we have made, what might be described as, a major lifestyle change. You remember that she and I went to Brackenthorpe last year for my birthday?”
Thirty minutes later Viv was staring at her mother like someone transfixed. Her mouth hung open. Jane was a bit anxious until her daughter exhaled, and then breathed deep with a grin growing on her face.
“Oh my God Mums! That is all just so, so fucking hot and so fucking cool at the same time. I wanted to cry when you were telling me about Dad getting you each rings; it’s subtle and beautiful.”
“Darling, are you really okay with this? How you feel about us is very important. We also know that Greygarth is your home and we don’t want you to feel the least bit inhibited about coming to see us. We want you to feel comfortable in your room. We’ve all decided that when there are visitors we will adopt a very conventional appearance.”
“Mum, I really am okay with it. I’m not sure it would work for many people, but you were always close to Uncle Ted and Auntie Ali. I think this is wonderful. As for behaving ‘conventionally’ around visitors, don’t worry about me. If it’s just me visiting Mum, then do your thing. I want to honour and accept the three of you as you are – I’m really looking forward to giving Auntie Al a special hug.
“Sure! If I bring a boyfriend to visit, then a bit of discretion is called for perhaps. Mum, I want to be part of your experience in a way that accepts and affirms what you’re living. I don’t want to be a voyeur, but if you never have anyone wandering around the house who knows what you all are, I think you might start to feel hurt. I want to salute you. I wish there was a way we could have something like a wedding reception, but how many people are ready for this?”
“Ali thinks Susan will be okay, but we don’t anticipate telling your Auntie Mary very soon.”
“So do you think Dad and Auntie Al will be screwing each other at this very minute?” asked Viv; feeling rather thrilled and wondering if this was one of the most unlikely questions she was ever going to ask her mother in her life.
“No dear, I think they’re probably having a drink, and feeling a bit nervous about how it’s going down here, and how you are feeling about the news.”
“Then we must phone them now Mum! I want you all to know you have my wholehearted support and love.”
“Thank you my darling.
Viv opened their third bottle of wine, while Jane dialled home. It was Ron who answered.
“Hello gorgeous,” said Jane. “Viv is good with everything, we’re having a great time down here but we might be a bit hungover tomorrow. She’s wants to talk to you – here she is.”
“Hey Dad! I’m never going to belittle Greygarth gossip again. It is all so super cool and steaming hot at the same time. I’m really happy for you all, but it’s going to take a bit of getting used to. I can’t wait to give you all a great big hug and plan how we celebrate this.”
“That is so good to hear darling, thank you. It’s a big load off our minds. Al is sitting here with a big smile on her face.”
“Dad, let me talk to her for a moment please.”
“Auntie Al? Auntie Al, I am so very happy for you all. I think for you especially now, since Uncle Ted died. I told Dad I can’t wait to come up and see you all and give you all a big hug. I don’t want you thinking you have to pussy foot around me either when I’m there. Have you explained it to Susan yet?”
“Not yet Viv though I am so relieved you’re accepting us. It’s going to make it a lot easier for me talking to Sue. I feel as if I’m on a dream cloud – it’s all so exciting.”
“I hope Susan is cool about it Auntie Al. I’d like to get together with her, and plan a celebration. Anyway, I’ll come up soon but here’s Mum for a word.”
“Hello Ali my darling, just wanted to remind you I love you both. Give my regards to the guys in the Trust Office tomorrow. Try and have a chat with Josie Welch if you can. She’s the one who will arrange the actual redecoration of your room when all the building side of things is done.”
When the phone call ended Allison turned to Ron. “Do you think I should go and see Susan? I could drive up to Durham tomorrow easily, and we could have an hour together while the kids are at school. What do you think? I’m so excited about Viv’s reaction that I can’t wait to see if my Sue feels the same.”
“I’m not sure Al. How about a stroll around the garden while we think it through?”
“Nice idea Ron. I fancy a holding a mug tea at the same time – would you like me to make you one?”
“Yes please.”
“I think,” said Ron as they walked around the area they were thinking of as a play area, “we need to plan your talk with Susan more carefully. Viv is single, living in London and she knows Greygarth as her home. I know Sue has been here but she doesn’t ‘know’ the house in the same way. We need to be able to show her round in detail and get her take on the plans. She has to feel secure and maybe you ask her advice on whether you actually sell ‘Windyrigg’ – do you think she might want to inherit it one day? I also think she needs to see just what we are planning for your personal space in the house, and see a few familiar things from the home she knows on our walls here.”
“Once she is bit more at ease, and she has seen the three of us interact with each other in a natural easy going way for an hour, then introduce our relationship to her. You might want to think about whether you tell her and Dave at the same time. Sue is a mum and homemaker. Our new lifestyle may seem threatening to her.
“Ron, I think you’re right, but I don’t want to have to wait long. I’ll call her tomorrow and see if they would like to come down next weekend, and stay at Windyrigg on Friday and Saturday nights. I’ll add a bit of mystery too, and say we need a bit of girlie time while Dave looks after the kids. There’s always the danger when they come that Granny has the kids, while they have some man and wife space.”
“We’re breaking some new ground tonight Al. Are you comfortable with it? We haven’t got Janie here, and we’re planning on making love.”
“Ron, I am very comfortable with it indeed. Janie will be expecting us to have some sex. There are combinations of circumstances that are going to be new for us all in this lifestyle. It did cross my mind however that we might have a couple of nights when we just sleep. If we abstained on Saturday and Sunday, we could both work on Jane on Monday night and have her climbing the walls; what do you think? Do you think we can manage to lie in bed together and cuddle up, without having full blown sex?”
“I think it’s a good idea to try,” replied Ron, “I like the idea of a pre-planned joint assault on all Jane’s sexual senses on Monday.”
Back in the flat in London Jane was feeling very relaxed, partly through the relief that all had gone so well, and partly through a higher than usual intake of wine. Her inhibitions fell away. She had openly announced her intention to employ her Rockin Rabbit in bed while she thought of Al and Ron together. When she began to reveal details of their threesome activity Viv declared ‘TMI’, and changed the subject to what they might do the following day. She did, however, declare that she too would have a battery driven friend in bed with her that night.
Back at Greygarth, Alison was just impaling herself on Ron’s cock.
“Oooooh! Oh yess! Oh fuck me hard, Ron. Fuck me hard.”
