He'll come through

Chapter 17 - Village Life

Chapter 17

                “Lilah!” she turned to the sound of Maria’s voice and caught the hurtling child in her arms.

                “You having a good day?” Her hair had several decorated plaits and her face was painted as a very feminine tiger, so there was no doubt she’d been busy. Sitting next to Lilah she proceeded in telling her all about the horse rides, the balloon sword she’d had but had burst in a mock fight with some of the other village children. Lilah nodded appropriately and laughed at her antics.

                “So I’m going in the tug-of-war with the other girls in a bit too!” She finished.

                “Sounds like a very busy day!”

Maria nodded before promising to be good and disappearing off into the chaos. Lilah smiled, kids these days had such a restricted life always being where they should be, that Maria was embracing the day and the unlimited freedom. Lilah remembered that every school holiday had been filled with days like this, running around through forest, over hill, with little regard for her own safety.

                “Penny for your thoughts!” The voice grated through her as she looked to see Quinn striding towards her grinning, as she scowled he only grinned more, “I have to confirm that your Mrs Munroe is a pussy cat. LOVELY lady!”

Lilah ‘pftted’ at him and turned to look away. She felt him sit beside her, and when he took the beer bottle from her hand and took a drink she flipped. In a tone that left no question of her anger, but an a hushed volume so as not to draw attention, she snarled, “everyone here might think you are the dogs bollocks, but I don’t! You can ingratiate yourself into this town, my family, but it’ll make no difference on me. I will not change how I feel, do you hear me?”

The casual smile, the knowing eyes only inflamed her further, “you make out that I’m faking, what to get you into bed?” He laughed then, “I already told you,  when it happens it’ll be what you want, how I act in this town has no bearings on that.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “and I AM the charmer that everyone loves Blondie, this is not an act!” He stood up, “time for cricket!” Blowing her a kiss, he strode across the green and out of view. Leaving Lilah once again in a confusion of desire, anger and frustration...how the hell was she going to survive the weekend. Then a thought flashed through her head, what if he didn’t leave after the weekend, he might stay for a week, or two. She’d never hold out that long! 

When Freddy woke, shouting for food, Lilah took him somewhere quiet and fed him, as usual he fed hungrily then fell back asleep, the darling that he was. So settling him once again into the pram, she made for the green; the cricket match was just about to start. Searching the crowd she saw her mother craning to see where she was, and waving Lilah cut through the crowds grateful to see the two deckchairs set up in a slightly sheltered part of the green.

                “Have I missed much?” she asked after securing Freddy in the shade and flopping down into the empty deck chair.

Her mother shook her head, “we won the toss, and are bowling. Your father is keen to open the bowling, despite his dodgy knee and his arthritic shoulder. He’ll moan for weeks, but I suppose that’s a man for you!” As Lilah made herself comfortable, her mother handed her a beer, “I got a few in from Alfie, so we haven’t got to get up for a while!”

They watched the team, all dressed in mismatched whites, spread out into their fielding positions, her father Tony controlling from the middle. This was more important than anything else that the summer brought to these men, and Lilah could barely believe that Quinn was so engrossed in it all.