Found a Place

I watch Heather leave in a state of disbelief. My new girlfriend and life partner had just given me the green light for nookie with her pretty young niece while she was away at work. Even though the topic of me being the family’s ‘honey hole’ had been broached it still seemed completely unreal to me. I’d heard of couples with open relationships but that was never something I thought I’d ever be involved in. This situation though was different from the norm in three major ways. The first, these were not your standard issue women as they were packing some extra special anatomy. Second, they were ladies who by the fate of their biology could not ‘play the field’ and enjoy the company of men with the freedom that other women enjoyed. And third, unless I was misunderstanding something the openness of our partnership would be exclusively one way. From what I could tell Heather would be entirely devoted to only me while I could have the freedom of being with her family members. I didn’t quite know how to feel about any of those factors. Was I curious? Of course. Was I tempted? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. Mia, Lily, Julie, and even Rebecca…they had qualities I found alluring. But would sleeping around damage my loyalty or my bond with Heather? Would I treasure her less if she wasn’t my one and only lover? Would she think of me as less special if I slept around? These answers were not forthcoming.

I am still wrestling my thoughts as I mow the front lawn until a voice from across the fence pulls me out of my daze.

“Huh?”

“I said…” Comes Ms. Hancock’s cracked and wavering voice. “…be careful along those borders. You’ve already nipped some of Heather’s pansies.”

“Oh no!” I say, letting go of the handle so that the mower died.

“They’ll grow back.” She says. “No lasting damage. They look delicate but they’re survivors.”

“Thank goodness.” Kneeling down I inspect the wounded plants now standing a quarter tall than their neighbors and without their bright, cheery blooms.

I could feel Ms. Hancock’s eyes on me as she leaned on the low fence that separated the two front yards. “That’s great you can chip in while you’re around. I am sure Heather really appreciates it.”

“Um, yeah.” I stand. “Happy to help.”

“Have you found a place yet, Elliot?”

“Huh?” I turn to face her. She had an amiable smile and her tone was friendly, but there was something in her eyes. This wasn’t simple neighborly chat, she was pumping me for information. I had the distinct impression that I was talking to the neighborhood gossip.

“To rent.” She says. “Heather mentioned that you were you only staying for a couple of days. Until you got on your feet.”

“Oh, yeah. That.” I scratch the back of my sweaty head. “Turns out I’m going to be staying longer.”

“Oh really?” She says, her voice lifting as she unearths a fresh nugget of info. “Having trouble finding a place?”

“Um…” For a moment I am frozen. I would have much preferred having this conversation with Heather present and taking the lead. Would she the truth revealed so soon or would she prefer us simply be older landlady and tenant for a bit longer in the eyes of the outside world? The pause only lasts a moment though as a couple of seconds later my chest fills with pride. We had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to hide from anyone. We loved each other and if people couldn’t understand that…fuck’em! “Actually, I’m going to be staying here permanently.”

“Oh?” She tilts her head, her shrewd brown eyes studying my every movement. “She’s decided to take on a tenant after all? She always said she wasn’t going to do that, in case Liam needed a place to land when he got back.”

“Yeah.” I smile and walk up, leaning on the fence a couple feet down from her. “The spare room’s still empty if ever he needs it.”

“Oh? Oh!”

I chuckle. “You might as well know, Ms. Hancock. Heather and I are…more than just housemates.”

“I knew it!” She points at me. “I knew it!”

“Were we that obvious?”

“Heather was.” She says. “She used to carry around such sadness. The moment you showed up I saw a twinkle in her eyes that I never saw before.” It pained my heart to hear of Heather’s long melancholy, though lifted it again to know that I had lifted her spirit. Looking over her shoulder as if worried someone might be listening in Ms. Hancock then leans in and adds. “And those walks you two take in the park were a pretty big hint. Ha! You two seemed awfully friendly with each other.”

“Why Ms. Hancock.” I gasp dramatically. “Are you snooping on us?”

“Never!” She says, aghast. “It’s hard to miss when it’s right outside my front window.”

“Whew. I was worried we were living next door to a busy-body.”

“Well no worries there, deary. Live and let live, that’s what I always say. You can ask anyone.” She gives me a look only a grandma could give. “But you mind that sassy tongue of yours.”

“Sorry, Ma’am.” I smile.

She smiles too. “Things certainly are different than they used to be.” Looking me up and down she shakes her head. “My word. Fresh outta the cradle you are. Well…it’s not my place to say but…”

“Ms. Hancock.”

“Hm?”

“Respectfully, sometimes opinions are best kept to yourself. Live and let live. Don’t you agree?” I say with polite authority. The old me wanted so say something far more spicy but that wouldn’t have helped a thing and it would have put Heather’s taste in men in question. The last thing I wanted was to cast a bad light on her. When she doesn’t reply right away I add. “I’d hate for this sassy tongue of mine to get away from me.”

Her wrinkly smile grows larger and warmer. “Fair enough, young man. Message received.” The fact she offers no further clarification confirms to me that what she’d about to say wasn’t the most flattering. Though I understood it I was not going to let such things slide unanswered. Better to nip it off in the bud like I had. “Sooo, neighbor?”

“Yeah?”

“How do you feel about mowing the lawn of a snoopy old busy-body?” She says. “20 dollars?”

“Keep your money.” I hold up my hand. “I’d be happy to help a neighbor.”

“Ha!” Stepping in she pats my hand. “The name’s Pearl.”

“Pearl. What a beautiful name.”

“Welcome to the neighborhood, Elliot.”

A short time later I have the cord coiled around my shoulder as I walked the mower around the front from our yard to Pearl’s. Her yard being no larger it doesn’t take long at all to have hers neatly mowed. With just a few minutes work I had gotten off to a great first impression with my new neighbor, an investment I knew would pay dividends. Besides, it felt really darn nice to help out my elderly new friend.

I was just wrapping up when my ear catches among the passing cars, yard sounds from around the neighborhood, and the cries of children in the park a sound that defied description. It was music. But that simple word fell so short of describing what I was hearing that it would be like trying to sum up the majesty of a sunset with just the word ‘evening’. Yes it was music, but it was so much more! It was emotion. It was passion. It was a fragile soul laid bare and bleeding for all the world to witness. It was like something from a dream or higher realm yet more real than reality itself. I’d never heard anything like it! In a sort of trance I wander back out to the front yard to find the source of such magic. There I find Pearl sitting on her front step leaned back against her front door with her eyes closed as she too was enraptured by the Violin’s lonely, heart-wrenching melody that floated from the open kitchen window next door.

“That Mia.” Pearl says softly without opening her eyes. “God shed his grace on that girl. What a gift she has.”

“That’s Mia?” I whisper. “Woah!”