“Hey,” Sam said as she joined me at the table in the school canteen, “I’ve been looking for you.”
“And I’ve been looking for you,” I said as we leaned over the table and kissed each other. “How were your classes this morning?”
“Boring – and that’s what this weekend’s going to be without you there.”
“Yeah – well, your mum booked this trip for you and your aunt, and it’s important you go and see these relatives.”
“I know – but THIS weekend? Valentine’s Day?”
It was true – the most romantic day of the year, falling this year on a Saturday – and Sam was going to be in Florida, visiting her grandmother. Life, as Scar put it so eloquently, is just not fair.
“Got something for you though,” Sam said as she took a red envelope and a box wrapped in red paper out, and handed it over to me. “Try not to use it all at once.”
“I’ll keep it for Saturday,” I said quietly as I looked round, “if you promise to keep this until Saturday as well.”
Opening my bag, I took out a card and a small package, and handed it over to her. “Hmm,” she said as she felt the package, “am I going to like this?”
“I think you will – you can tell me when you get back.”
“It’s a date – we’ll be back late Sunday night, but you could always come and pick us up at the airport. Sound good?”
“Sounds fantastic,” I said as we kissed again. At least the weekend would not be a total washout – I hoped Mum and Kristen would be for a few games.
“Mum, Mark – I’m going to be away this weekend.”
“Oh,” Mum said as she looked over the dinner table, “and where exactly?”
“I don’t know – Danny said he’d pick me up Friday night, bring a few things, and I’d be back Sunday afternoon.”
“Oh wonderful,” I said as I put my fork down, “so I’m on my own this weekend?”
“Well, I’ll be here?”
“Yeah, but are you and Sheila planning anything?”
Mum blushed a little at Sheila’s name. She and Sheila Cann had admitted their relationship to me and Kristen in December, but it was still not common knowledge.
“None of your beeswax, Mark – but I’m sure we’ll find something to keep you amused,” she said as she cleared the dinner plates away. “Anyway, right now, given you’re away this weekend Kristen, do you fancy a challenge tonight?”
“Oh,” Kristen said with a smile, “what do you have in mind?”
“Let’s both go and shower first – and hope the nasty intruder doesn’t break in while we ate doing that?”
No prizes for guessing who plays the part of the nasty intruder in this. So it was, an hour later that I pulled Kristen’s bound ankles back and secured them to her chest ropes as she lay face down on the bed. She had a large bath towel wrapped around her body, and one around her hair, but the rope holding her arms to her sides were keeping the larger towel in place for now. Her wrists were crossed behind her back and tied together, while there was also a band of rope under her knees.
As for Mum, she was lying next to my sister, wearing a white towelling rope. That had already come slightly open, despite the ropes around her chest and legs as well – not surprising given the way she was wriggling round, trying to get out of the hog tie I had placed her in.
“You’ll never get away with this,” Kristen said before I pushed the folded bandana into her mouth, and then wrapped the duct tape round her head, so that she matched the silver band around mum’s head.
“Now stay still,” I said as I gently smacked them both on the bottom, “I’ll be back in a little while, once I’ve found all your valuables.”
Heading down to the front room, I turned the television on and sat down – but before long the telephone started ringing so I went to answer it.
“Mark?”
“Hello Mrs Cann,” I said quietly, “what can I do for you?”
“Oh come now Mark, I don’t mind if you call me Sheila, you know that.”
“Sorry – what can I do for you Sheila?”
“Are you busy on Saturday?”
“Not particularly – Sam and Kristen are both away. Why?”
“Good – I need your help with something for your mother. Listen carefully...”
“Have fun,” I said as Kristen jumped into Danny’s car, and I closed the door.
Walking into the front room, I saw Mum reading a magazine, wearing a polo shirt and jeans.
“Nothing planned for tonight,” I said as I sat down.
“Not particularly – unless someone calls round and...”
The doorbell ended speculation on that front, as I went and answered it, coming back with a parcel.
“Did you order something,” I said as I handed it to Mum, who opened it and took out a red silk teddy nightie.
“Nope – must be from a friend,” Mum said as she held it up. “My size too.”
“Maybe you should wear it to bed tonight?”
“You know, I just might,” she said as she went upstairs, and I smiled.
Stage one was underway.