The Service (Part 3)

[lex46]

Fortunately, the jobs I had lined up for that day weren't too strenuous. It wasn't that easy sitting or indeed moving freely after what Julie had done to my bottom the previous evening. The constant reminder meant I spent most of the day smiling and a couple of my customers noted that I seemed a lot happier than usual though they were polite enough not to ask why (and I dare say I wouldn't have told the truth!)

I bagged up the remaining hedge trimmings from my last job and via the local tip, I headed home to get ready to spend a much anticipated evening with Julie who had promised to cook tea for me. I also spent a little time sorting out my van for tomorrows work. Maybe a little presumptious perhaps, but I was hoping to spend the night with her again. As I pulled up outside Julie's house, the light grey cloud that had been with us all day had started to break and the weak evening sun was just starting to poke a few rays through picking out the colours nicely in Julies immaculate flower borders. I reached her front door and rang the bell. As Julie opened the door I could smell a mixture of aromas emanating from the kitchen but not enough to guess what she was cooking. I smiled at a flustered looking Julie but before I could reassure her she bent forward, kissed me quickly on the cheek then said rather disappointedly, "Sorry. we've got company. My mother turned up unnannounced and when she saw me cooking, she sort of invited herself and wants to meet my friend"
"Oops! Not to worry. I promise not to swear" Momentarily her usual self surfaced as she grinned and winked at me but then I could see she was still a little uneasy so I took her hand, kissed it, smiled at her and said "Don't worry, everything'll be fine" "You don't know my Mother. Anyway, come on in" As I stepped through the door I handed her a bottle of Chianti I'd brought along. I followed her into the kitchen and she said "Mum, this ........." "Hello Alex" interrupted her mother. Feeling slightly awkward and kicking myself for not putting two and two together as the resemblance was plain though Mary looked more like an older sister, "Hello Mary. Nice to see you again. How are you?" Julie looked ashen but stayed quiet. "I'm fine thank you - though a little surprised"
I wondered how much Julie had told her about her guest but continued the conversation. "Why surprised? Your daughter is a lovely woman" at which point Julie passing behind me stroked my bum - unseen by Mary - and smiled her wonderful smile. Mary obviously noted the smile and said "Oh I ...........just ............well I wasn't expecting to see my gardener" There was an inflection in her tone that made me feel both slightly uncomfortable and a little angry. I really didn't like people who thought they were better than others. Julie picked up on it too. You could tell by the way she said "Ah, of course, that's how you know each other - and it was you,....... mother........who gave me Alex's number in the first place. And you were right, he does a good job, and is reliable" Again, unseen by Mary, I squeezed her bum as she stuck up for me. "and what he charges is more than reasonable" We both laughed as Mary looked on perplexed but kept quiet.
"Right I'll just put the Yorkshire puddings in and we can sit and have a drink as they're rising" said Julie. She opened the oven door, and took out the tray, each cup sizzling as she added batter quickly to each one then quickly put the filled tin back in the oven. I opened the wine and poured three glasses, handing the first to Mary who took it saying thank you. I passed Julie a glass and picked the third one up and took a sip. Silence prevailed so I tried to break the frosty atmosphere. "Mary, you don't look old enough to be Julie's mother but I can see the resemblance" Mary's face lightened a little but she struggled to find words almost as if she wasn't used to being complimented. Again a silence followed but I was determined not to let it spoil the evening, though I hoped Mary hadn't invited herself for the night. I glanced out of the window and saw a nuthatch feeding on some nuts hung at the bird table. "Oh there's a handsome fellow on your bird table Julie" I was relieved as both Julie and Mary stood to look. "Oh he's lovely" said Mary. "What is he Alex?" asked Julie. "A nuthatch, and you can tell by his more chestnut breast he's a male" At last, some of the frostiness eased as we all started discussing the various birds that intermittently flew to the table. A buzzer sounded. "Puddings are ready" Julie said as she sprang up and went to the kitchen, "Come through you two". so we both followed.Julie opened the oven door and removed a tin containing a joint of beef surrounded by roast potatoes and said "Alex, would you carve the joint whilst I serve up the veg" and that's exactly what happened. Even though I'd only met her twice before, things just seemed to flow so naturally between us. Three plates of a gorgeous looking roast dinner were served up and I can tell you it tasted even better than it looked. Then things started to change! "Julie, have I taught you nothing? Yorkshire puddings first then the roast." commented Mary disapprovingly as she had chosen to sit as head of the table with Julie and I opposite. Julie just sighed but her mother hadn't finished. "I brought you up better than that. Got you married to Bob, a real catch. A wealthy city man but no -you couldn't even work that properly. Then you spend years alone and the next thing we're sharing a family meal with the ................. with Alex" I was shocked but bit my tongue. "What would your Father think if he was still with us?" Plainly this was news to me but I was glad I didn't say what I was thinking about her acid tongue and pretentiousness driving him to an early grave. I didn't like being belittled but could see Julie was close to tears so I stretched my leg out under the table and stroked her calf with my foot. She looked up as a forkful of tender beef entered her mouth and I smiled at her. She responded by stroking my leg with her foot. After a couple of minutes silence I commented on how lovely the food was. Julie smiled her genuine smile and probably for the first time in her life, even in a small way, stood up to her mother. "Thank you. It's really nice to be appreciated" there was no sarcasm but she had gone slightly red knowing she had laid a barb. Before Mary could come back with another put down I said "And appreciated you should be. This beef is superb and the Yorkshires are to die for. Don't you think Mary?" I could see the surprise in Mary's face as I had given her no option but to say something nice to her daughter. "Erm yes, delicious" was all she could muster. Julie glanced up as she gently kicked me under the table. But the atmosphere had changed and Julie with her new found confidence continued. "Well it was a pleasure to cook for you both" Good girl Julie I thought, taking the initiative away from the ascerbic Mary yet being nice to her as well.We ate the rest of the meal in an uncomfortable silence. The food was excellent and I placed my knife and fork onto my empty plate. Evidently I shouldn't have cleared my plate fully and hadn't set my cutlery on it correctly (as I was later gently informed by Julie) because Mary, talking down her nose chimed up "See what you're getting yourself into Julie, he has no manners whatsoever" I couldn't take that and decided better the devil she knows and I would let Julie see another side to me. Quite calmly and with no malice in my tone I said, "Mary, how dare you lecture me on manners. You have done nothing but carp and crib at your lovely daughter's choice of boyfriend. All evening you've taken every opportunity to put me down and criticise Julie at every twist and turn. I always enjoyed working for you. You were pleasant, even fed me a couple of times but I am seeing a side to you I really don't like one little bit. You see me as a gardener, beneath you but you know nothing about me DO YOU?" I paused. Mary looked shocked and Julie was blushing but her foot stroked right up my leg under the table. I waited a few more seconds and it seemed neither of them could find suitable words so I continued calmly, "Julie is more than capable of making her own decisions in life and if she decides I'm not good enough for her, she'll tell me. Not you" Julie took up the baton. "I'll never tell you that Alex. And mother, I'll tell you now he is more than my boyfriend, he is my lover. He knows how to treat a lady and I can't tell you how wonderful that feels after the time I spent trapped in a loveless marriage you forced me into with that self centred egotist." Julie stopped. Mary's face was a picture, her mouth was moving but no sound was coming out. I let the uneasy silence continue to see if either of them wanted to say more - silence being a wonderful tool to make people talk and reveal more than they'd like. In the end I spoke next. "Mary, you didn't even try to be civil tonight. You're behaviour, quite frankly has been disgraceful, like a spoiled brat who didn't get her own way. I'll tell you something now, If Julie ever behaves like that I'd give her a damned good hiding" Shit! I thought, I've over stepped the mark and Mary jumped on it but what she didn't see was the huge smile on Julie's face because she was glaring at me. "Yes, that's what the silly little girl needs - bring her to her senses. It's absolutely pathetic that she's even contemplating spending time with you." I was by now absolutely livid. "Did you not listen to a word either of us said? It is you who is behaving like the silly little girl and I've a mind to put you over my knee right now!" "You wouldn't dare" was Mary's response. I stood up and as I did so both their faces turned to astonishment. "Julie" I smiled at her as I continued,"A word of warning for future reference. Don't ever dare me to do anything!" She smiled back and simply said "I dare you."
I really wish I could describe accurately the look on Mary's face. Her daughter telling her boyfriend to spank her mother!

Well I could hardly back down now so took a couple of steps towards Mary, grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet. Julie just looked on as I pulled Mary through the kitchen into the sitting room, her protestations and threats of calling the police totally ignored. Still holding her wrist tightly I sat in one of the black leather armchairs and pulled her down over my lap. I let go of her hand and held her firmly round the waist. The fact Mary was around her early sixties didn't even occur to me. SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK my hand fell onto Mary's blue skirt and it was at this point I realised Julie hadn't followed. Perhaps even more surprising was Mary had stopped protesting and laid in position quite still which indicated to me this wasn't the first time she'd been in this situation. I raised her skirt to reveal a full firm rounded bottom partially covered by a pair of blue lace knickers and she remained perfectly still. I could see a slight red tinge to the visible parts of her flesh and even though she seemed to be resigned to her fate I still had a lot of resentment in me. Starting towards the top of her bottom and aiming at alternate cheeks SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK I worked down each cheek ensuring my hand was perfectly flat to inflict maximum sting. She wriggled slightly and I could see her bottom colouring up nicely."Mary, your attitude tonight has been despicable and you deserve exactly what your getting" No reaction from her. I put my fingers into the waist band of her knickers and eased them down. Once again I laid my flat hand onto her bare flesh SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK landing each again on alternate cheeks. She kicked a little towards the end of that salvo and let out one or two little yelps but I felt I wasn't really making much impression and that the message wasn't getting through. I held her waist still and leant back, unfastening my leather belt which was about an inch and a half wide. I pulled it through the eyes on my trousers and folded it in half resting the looped belt onto the middle of her bottom. As Mary felt the cold leather rest on her warmed flesh she just said "No, please" Unaware of her belated presence as I was focussed on the task in hand "Yes mother" said Julie. I looked up to see Julie stood in the doorway holding the cane. I drew the belt back and swung it through the air letting it land with a resounding CRACKKKK across the middle of Mary's bottom. She kicked and yelped so I held her more tightly. "Well don't stop Alex" said Julie and I had no intention of that. this woman really did need to be taught a lesson. CRACKK CRACKK CRACKK CRACKK CRACKKKKKKK I landed that last one right where the bottom meets the thighs and a lovely deep red that area soon went. Mary was by now wriggling and bucking considerably and oww ouches were coming from her mouth. I drew the belt back again but before I could bring it down, Julie gently took hold of my hand, whispered "My turn now" For a split second I wondered if Julie was expecting to go over my knee, but no. She had taken a position almost behind the chair but next to me. "Hold her tight" Julie said as she lay the cane across her mother's red behind. "Mother" she continued, "I'm really proud of Alex. it's about time someone took you in hand. And you need to learn (she drew the cane back - swishh THWACKKK) that I am my own person now" I was glad I was holding Mary so tightly. I felt her move against me as she let out a yell. Swishh THWACKKK the cane landed higher up her bottom. "And that's for being such a cow tonight." Swishh THWACKKK, it landed lower than the first one "That's for trying to run my life" I looked on intently, watching the welts grow angrily, fascinated by being able to watch Julie in action, almost to the stage of having sympathy with Mary as I knew exactly what she was feeling now! Swishhh THWACKKK the cane landed towards the top of the wriggling Mary's bottom but still I held her tightly as she screamed out."And that's because you need to learn manners" SWISHHHH KERACKKKKKK. That landed right in the middle of the deep red part at the bottom of her bottom where I'd landed the last with my belt.It took all my strength to keep her held there as she kicked and screamed , tears now streaming down her face. "And this - swish CRACKKK ,and this- swishh THWACKK- and this Swishh THWACKKK, is to make sure you understand" Three rapid strokes expertly placed between where the others had fallen had Mary absolutely bawling and it was as if she'd lost the will to fight. Julie raised the cane again and this time I put my hand up to stop her. "one more" she mouthed silently at me and I moved my hand away. "And this mother is because - swishhh kerRACKKKKK - is just because I can"
I let go of Mary but she didn't move, just laid sobbing over my lap."Go to the bathroom and make yourself decent mother"said Julie and slowly she rose leaving her knickers lowered and waddled out of the room as her skirt fell, covering her red streaked bottom. I stood and Julie just flung herself at me held me tight and burst into tears.

"You did really good, girl" And I kissed her on the lips. "But......... she's my mother" "I know, I know. but what she did was unforgivable" I said comfortingly. "I do feel strange, I've never stood up to her before but I also feel so relieved I did and it's only because you gave me the courage to do it" and she kissed me. We eased our grip on each other and I sat on the sofa. Julie laid on the sofa, her head resting in my lap and I stroked her hair. "You've always had the courage, and you've shown me you can take the lead, it's just you found the right time." and I leant forward kissing her forehead. "I'm going to have to offer her the spare room. She can't travel home alone like that can she?" However reluctant i was, I had to agree.
Presently, Mary walked uncomfortably back into the room her face red but no tears."Please can I say the night?" she asked meekly. "Of course you can mother. The bed's made up" replied Julie not moving her head from where it laid. "Thank you.I'll make some cocoa and go up then. Can I make you two a drink?"
"Yes please" replied Julie. "Two teas, both white no sugar" and Mary went into the kitchen. We sat in silence - - just being with each other was more than enough and it was plain Mary's punishment had certainly had an effect.
Mary came back into the room and pulled a small coffee table over to us, then went to fetch the teas and placed two steaming mugs (not the china cups and saucers) on it. She went back to get her cocoa popped her head round the door and said "Good night you two" "Good night" we both said together and off she went. We drank our teas and Julie just said, "Bed time I think. Come on. Oh I hope you don't mind, but I bought you a tooth brush and some shaving stuff for morning" I just smiled at her, took her hand and we went to bed.
We lay in each other's arms and , warts and all, we exchanged life stories and we both knew there would never be skeletons to haunt whatever our future held together.

I woke first,and gently freed myself from Julie's arms, shaved showered and went downstairs alone. I had a look in the fridge and decided I should return the favour and cook breakfast for Julie. I spent a few minutes clearing the table from last night's dinner and set the dishwasher going before starting to cook. I cooked enough for three and part way through the cooking Julie appeared in her dressing gown and came across the Kitchen and hugged me tightly. "Mother'll be down soon. I heard her in the shower." "Does she prefer tea or coffee in the morning?" I asked. "Coffee. But you don't have to bother" "Oh I do, I don't want to give her any more excuses to complain about me" I said and Julie went to get dressed. I needn't have worried.
Last nights events had had a similar effect on Mary as Scrooge being visited by the spirits. She entered the kitchen "Morning Mary" I said handing her a cup of coffee. "Morning. Thank you dear" she said and took the cup. "Something smells good" "Can't beat a good breakfast before a days work" I replied as Julie walked back in to the kitchen, walked over to Mary and kissed her cheek. "Morning mother" I served up three plates and as we sat= even Mary managed to sit - in the same places as last night Mary opened up.
"I didn't sleep much last night, and I thought about all the things you said and I'm so sorry I ruined last night for you and I know I got exactly what I deserved." We both stayed silent and Mary continued "I was just selfish and mean and horrible and it's because i didn't know how to handle the situation. It's just, well , Julie since we lost your father, you're all I have and I was scared of losing you. Trying to influence you was ...just.... well... I didn't know any other way. And it was despicable of me to even think about etiquette.What you do in your own home is entirely up to you "
"Whatever the reasons," I added, "you know you were very wrong and unfair to us and if I may say, to yourself" "Yes Mother, you were. Whatever happens, I love you dearly but I just can't put up with you being like that."
Mary started to cry. "I didn't mean to ruin your life, I truly believed Bob was good for you. Why didn't you talk to me? Well I suppose I've always had that bad streak in me and make my mind up without a thought for others. I'm so sorry." "That's all in the past now Mum" I looked at them both, the formality of mother gone and it was as if Mary couldn't quite handle people being nice to her.
" Listen, I'm not going to say I hope you two will be very happy together!" God I thought, surely she's not going to start again and I could see Julie's face drop momentarily before Mary continued, "because I know you will be. I don't know how long you've been together but there are so many things just right about you, the way you work together and stuck up for each other it reminded me of when I met your Father. And if I ever behave like that again, I know you'll soon put me right"
"Yes, and Julie is rather good with the cane isn't she?" What made me say that I don't know but Mary looked at me quizzically and Julie smiled.
We finished breakfast and Julie asked Mary what she was doing that day. "Oh nothing, it's not the village women's meeting group or parish council today" Gosh I thought, is that all she had to look forward to and nothing else. I didn't doubt she was afraid of losing her daughter as well so I vowed then to try and make sure she had a full a life as possible - after all the discipline had appeared to have the desired effect. "Well," suggested Julie, "I'm doing some of my voluntary work today. We're taking a group of handicapped children to Whitby. Why don't you come along, the extra help would be so appreciated." Mary I could see was unsure so I added "Yes Mary, go. They'll appreciate it and I'm sure you will find it a very rewarding experience.The sea air will be lovely and I'm sure Julie will buy you an ice cream, if you're good!" Mary did something then I could never have imagined last night - she laughed. "Well, I'll have to get going to work, you two have a lovely day out" I went over and kissed Mary on the cheek and Julie followed me out of the kitchen.
"It still feels so strange. She hasn't been properly nice since I was little." "It was totally wrong of her to behave like she did, but I'm giving her the benefit of doubt, as it seems it was the only defence mechanism she knew and it must be hard for her admitting she was wrong if she's always been the matriarchal figure."
Julie hugged me tight and kissed my lips. "Go on you" she said, "if you don't go to work now, I'm just going to drag you back to bed" I kissed her deeply then said, "Get your mum to the seaside and open her eyes a bit more. That last bit, you can do tonight if you like!" "Oh fuck, yes I like!" "You didn't need to remind me you've got it coming girl" and I slapped her bum hard, kissed her again and went off to work.

[Often123]

I wonder if something was buried in the back of Mary's mind for quite a while, but she did get her comeuppance. This couple is one I'd like to see more of.