Read Online Dessi's Romance by Goldie Alexander - Free Book Online

unbuttoning my shirt. Now he’s running his fingers down my skin.
His mouth on mine, he caresses my breasts, then slowly moves between my thighs…
     
    If I give myself to you,
    will you hear my cry
    Or will I be just another
    Notch on your gold handled cane?
     
    He asks, ‘What else do you know about
those aunts?’
    I tell him about the books,
catalogues and letters I found. ‘All addressed to both Lilbet and Ella.’
    ‘I’d love you to show me
those catalogues.’
    ‘Sure,’ I agree, wondering
if this means another date? And if so, when? But all the time a little voice
deep inside is asking: how are you going to convince Emma that Abdul made the
first move?
     

14. EMMA, Surfers
     
    I wait for Robert to make
the first move. If I half expect him to hug me, all he says after a few
strained moments is, ‘Give me five minutes to change.’
    Laura dashes out
with three pairs of bathers. I choose a blue bikini and go inside to put them
on. I’m confused, embarrassed, angry and self pitying. Right now, I really hate
him. Not even a hug. But if he dared to try and hug me, I don’t know what I’d
do. Maybe shove him away…
    My answer is to
dive into the pool, tread water and watch him emerge from the house. In
bathers, he looks good. Not tired and chaotic like Julie. Something tightens in
me as I feel a wave of pity for my poor discarded mum.
    He slices into
the pool and does a few laps. This gives me time to get out and dry off.
    ‘Don’t forget the sun block
and repellent,’ Laura calls from the kitchen. Nosy bitch, I think. I decide to
first take a shower. In the bathroom, there’s a heap of fluffy towels, and
buckets of hair and body lotions. All this tells me he’s going to invite me to
stay. Just for this holiday or forever? I feel my anger grow. How come he’s
taken so long to remember my existence? But what with this lovely house, I’m
sorely tempted. Then I remember Julie. How will she ever manage on her own? And
what about Abdul? If only Dessi was here offering her support, this would be
easier.
    ‘Emma? We’re
having a drink. What’ll you have?’ Robert sticks his head around the bedroom
door.
    I scowl
fiercely. ‘Can’t you knock?’
    ‘Uh, sorry.’ He
ducks his head. ‘Forgot you’re almost grown up.’ He grins and looks
embarrassed.
    ‘Yes…’ wanting
to punish him. ‘Well you missed a lot of it, didn’t you?’
    His grin slips
slightly. ‘We need to talk. The three of us.’ He turns to go away.
    Typical. He’s
always run away from anything unpleasant.
    When I go back
into the sunroom, the table is all set up with bowls of nuts and olives. Laura
is sipping a long frosty drink, Robert holding a short squat glass. They make a
handsome couple.
    I allow my scowl
to hang out.
    ‘What will you
have, Emma?’ He asks. ‘Lemonade? Coke?’
    I just stare.
Where’s he been these last three years?
    ‘I think she’d
like a beer, Rob,’ Laura puts in helpfully.
    ‘Beer?’ His
eyebrows shoot into his hair.
    ‘I’d prefer a
vodka,’ I say just to annoy him. ‘Got any orange juice?’
    ‘Since when have
you been drinking?’
    ‘I am eighteen, Dad,’ I say
sharply. ‘Means I can drive, vote and drink.’
    ‘Yes, of course
you can,’ Laura nods vigorously. ‘Rob? A vodka and orange, please.’
    Though Dad
doesn’t hide his displeasure, he busies himself mixing my drink. Laura turns to
me and whispers ‘Don’t be too hard on him, Emma. He really is trying.’
    ‘Yes.’ I hide my
give-away hands in my pockets. ‘It’s hard for me too.’
    Laura sighs.
‘We’re all trying, Emma.
    Robert puts my
drink on the table without looking at me.
    How soon can I
leave?
    ‘The bugs are
nearly ready, darl,’ he calls from the back yard.
    ‘You’re going to
love these, Emma,’ darl carols. She opens a bottle of wine and the bugs are
brought in on a huge platter.
    Robert looks
pleased with himself. ‘One of my secret recipes.’
    My chin drops.
The last time I recall him cooking