Loved But Broken

Chapter 4

Over the next few months William was there to help with the renovations too. He was the sort of guy who you could lean on. Soon feelings I'd never felt before were beginning to surface. I’d think back to my birthday not so long ago and remember the casual flick of the tea towel. Cake mix in each other’s face and hair. Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach whenever he was near. I longed for his luscious lips against mine again. Smiles across the room became more frequent, the slight brush of our fingers against each other, electric shocks going through my body. Mum and Dad were busy away sourcing the paint for the new walls. I started to prepare the walls by scraping the old paint away and cleaning them down with sugar soap. William looked at me and like magnets we were soon in each other’s’ arms. At first it was just our arms wrapped around each other, holding us closer, I looked into his golden eyes and he lowered his lips to mine. Instinctively I parted my lips and connected them to his. It felt like forever before we parted, and my heart felt like it was jumping out of my chest. I smiled at him and kissed him again this time with more passion in my heart. I was not ready for him to leave again I slid my tongue inside his mouth, and he did the same too me. It was magical when we parted again, we were both out of breath but did not want to let each other go. We knew though we would have to. We arranged a time when we could be alone again soon. Like nothing had happened between us we continued sanding and cleaning the walls ready for when Mum and Dad returned.

“Soph, you home,” a voice yelled from the other side of the house. I know that voice. Dread started forming in the pit of my stomach. Bracing myself for a million questions by the one person I knew couldn’t keep any secrets Mums’ friend.

“Yeah Delores, I’m home come in. I’m in the second living room.” Just like that this short plump middle-aged lady, dead straight ebony hair walks down our hall and comes into our living room.

“Where’s Mum kiddo?” and it began rolling my eyes before turning around and giving William a quick grin, he knew this wasn’t going to go down well. I didn’t like Delores she was the kind of person you just knew was bad news. Being polite to her was so difficult over the years growing up because she was Mums’ best friend. Today was like no other day. I had to be polite.

“Mums with Dad gone to the city for the week they're seeing Dad’s family and buying the new paint for this place. Grab a brush and give us a hand if you like. They should be back soon they were due back today.”

“Ah wondered why I hadn’t seen her for a few days old place is starting to look good.”

“Yeah it is all thanks to William and I. Been prepping these walls all week. Done the undercoat on the other living room a few days ago. Getting these ones ready now. William has been a great help. Dad was pleased to hear his been giving me a hand.”

“Oh William, didn’t know you were still here thought you'd be gone by now what’s it been now a year.”

“Delores what has that got to do with anything. This is Williams home he has every right to still be here. Besides that, it’s none of your business who Mum and Dad have in their home. William has helped out so much around here for the last few months and he is more than welcome to stay as long as he wants.”

Shocked that I had stood up to her Delores put her brush down. “Sophie Louise Porter how dare you speak to me like that. I have known you since you were a baby. I’m practically family you should respect your elder’s young lady. I was only simply asking why the young man was still hanging around here. Not like he has a job to keep him here.”

“Delores, he does have a job he is a shearer and a roustabout an helps out on a few farms around here. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Ah, ah Sophie really is that anyway to treat someone that is practically family.” She tried pleading with me.

“Delores Ann French, how dare you speak to my daughter that way, who we have in our home to live with us has nothing to do with you. Friend my arse. You judgemental, narcissistic, b***h. William does have a job here and he pays his way around here too. Leave my house now and don’t come back until Louise says to.” Dads voice boomed through the halls.

Dad and Mum had returned from the city, the car so quite we didn’t hear it pull up and Dad had just walked in as Delores finished her sentence. I didn’t get a chance to respond she had turned around and was out the door quicker than Dad could kick my butt.

“Hey Sophie, and William looking good in here now. Mums out the car getting the paint if you want to give her a hand. I’m going to put the kettle on. You two kids have a break for now. Soph let me talk to Mum about what has just happened in here. Delores should never have spoken to either of you that way. “

“No worries Daddy, my lips are sealed,” I hugged Dad, “Glad you guys are back the old bag just came in to sticky beak anyway and see what bush telegraph information she could get out of Mum this time.” Dad rolled his eyes at me as if to say Soph you’re right don’t let your Mum hear you though. With that he left and headed to the kitchen.

Silently I was pleased Dad was back I couldn’t put up with Delores million questions today. Every time she was around, I always ended up with a headache when she left. William and I headed outside to give Mum a hand with the paint cans. As soon as she seen us her face was a picture of delight. Even though it had only been a week without them it felt like a lifetime. Mum and Dad rarely left me home alone but I convinced them I would be alright and if I needed anything William was going to be there after work. It was kind of funny seeing Mum’s petite figure lifting these huge paint tins out of the car. William was the first to get to car. He took the bigger tins of paint inside for Mum and left us outside with the lighter tins. His such a gentleman I couldn’t help my thoughts.

“Sophie darling how are you, was your week good.” Mum could be the sweetest person in the world but she rarely called me darling and when she did, I knew I was in for a lecture and half from her. In my fifteen years of living, she had called me darling twice and actually meant it. This time though it was with a sense of sarcasm. Instantly I thought Delores you are an old b***h you had a whinge to Mum again because you got caught talking to us like dirt.

“My week was pretty good Mum, William and I got one living room done with undercoat and we are in the process of getting the second living room ready now. How was gran and pa. Did you get everything you wanted from the city? Dad also wants to talk to you when you get inside, his got the kettle on for cuppas.” With that I grabbed the tins and headed inside before Mum could grill me anymore. I quickly found Dad and told him Mum was in a sarcastic mood and get ready to tell her about the old bag. Dad never liked Delores and only put up with her because she was Mums friend. He just smiled at me and said “kiddo no worries I will tell her when she sits down with her cuppa.”

For the next few hours, I hid out in my bedroom, time slowly went by I could just hear Dads voice from the other side of the house, Mum didn’t sound too impressed either. But for once she wasn’t complaining about me. I was certain she would because Delores could do no wrong in her eyes. She had my mother wrapped around her little finger. This time was no different, out of the silence I heard my door open slowly, I looked up so engrossed in my latest novel and eagerly seeing what mischief Harry Potter and his friends were up too, glaring at my door wondering who was interrupting my story. It was William, he never came to my room and I was curious why he would risk it with my parents’ home.

I smiled at him, letting him know it was ok to enter. He closed the door gently so as my parents wouldn’t hear it. I slowly sat up on my bed, pins and needles had formed in my feet where I had been laying on them. I stood up and let him come closer to me. My room was on the opposite side of the house and I knew Mum and Dad weren’t coming near me for a while. They were still arguing over my latest debacle with the old witch. William came closer to me. My whole body felt like it was lifting off. William wrapped his arm around me and instinctively I put my arms around him. I looked into those eyes and my lips met his for the third time today. Deep down I knew we shouldn’t be. But I was falling for this angel and I couldn’t help feeling this way. I had been out with boys from school, I’d never gotten butterflies like this before though. His kisses set my whole body on fire and I craved for more of him.