The November project 2019, part 7

Eva and George didn’t have a life you could complain about. 25 years together, a large villa with an exciting garden that had been a heaven for the kids when they were young. Those kids had now moved out, but the couple didn’t suffer; they still had the energy to take care of both house and garden – Eva grew herbs, root vegetables and berries and wasn’t afraid to clean a stench trap, George mowed the lawn, took care of the flowerbeds and painted whatever needed to be painted. They had friends to invite to parties every now and then, and money to travel. There really wasn’t anything to complain about.    Time had however made its marks. Old neighbors moved out and new moved in. The neighborhood was in between eras right now; ten years ago there were only families with children living there, now many of those children had grown up and moved out, and left behind were households just like Eva and George’s: middle-aged couples alone in large villas. In some cases, however, the parents had moved too, and new families with toddlers had moved in. They were not the easiest to hang out with though, the generational differences were too obvious. The new families had other ideas, other routines, not the same kind of respect that had been there before. Eva and George preferred their own company in that case.      The children’s move had meant an emptier house, for better and worse. Eva and George had got more time for each other and no one around to bother them, but through that they had also felt that… maybe, they had got too much of the good stuff? Their chemistry in bed were not as strong as before. The fantasy too poor. They did enjoy living with each other, absolutely, but maybe not on the intimate level anymore. George could accept that. Eva too, she told herself. But then she had never faced Temptation. He was one of the new residents. First time she saw him was on a hot summer’s day, right in the middle of vacation times when the currants were to be picked. Eva sat with her bucket next to the bushes when he came out of the house next door, carrying a laundry basket on his hip. Dressed in only shorts, not even wearing shoes. His skin glistened in the sunlight, his hair was bit too long and getting in his eyes. When he started hanging the clothes up, he was turned away from her, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the muscles in his back. How long had he lived here if this was the first time she saw him, yet he’d lived here long enough to do his first batch of laundry? He and his family must have moved in while she and George were on their vacation trip of the year, this time to the French Riviera.    After a while he ended up on the other side of the line and caught sight of her.    “Hey there!”    Eva looked up, pretending this was the first time she saw him. “He- hey…! Well isn’t this a face I don’t recognize.”    “Would be weird if it was, I’ve only lived here for two weeks and not introduced myself before. But don’t think I haven’t tried! Hi, I’m Christian.”    “Eva.” She shook his hand. “Welcome to Elm Street! No, no wonder we haven’t met before, me and my husband have been on a trip until just recently. Would you like some berries? This is gonna be more than what we use up in a year.”    “Oh I would love that! Yummy.”    “So how do you enjoy this neighborhood so far then?”    “Fantastically! This garden is incredible, I can’t wait to make it pretty and design it like I want it. The neighbors seem nice too. But it appears to be only families everywhere?”    “You mean you don’t have one yourself?”    “Nope, I bought this house on my own. My economy allowed it and I feel too cramped in apartments, so this was perfect.”    “I see… but doesn’t this get lonely? Doesn’t it feel empty in such a big house? I feel that myself since my kids moved out, and I don’t even live completely alone since I have my husband.”    “You probably think it feels empty because you’re used to something else. I’m used to a lot of space and few people; I grew up that way.”    “Very well then. But hey, would you like to come inside for a coffee, or some lemonade? I have home made blueberry muffins as well.”    “Now I just can’t say no to that. And that means I’ll get to meet your husband as well I suppose?”    “Not today actually, he’s hiking with his old military friends this weekend. But there will be more chances.”    “As true as it’s said! But I’ll come over soon then, I just gotta go in to get a shirt.”    “Oh no need to, not for me.”    He looked up at her.    “Plus, it’ll be warm inside too”, she hastily added.    He chuckled. “If you say so, sure. But you make sure to keep your hands to yourself, young lady, I see what you want alright.”    She knew he was joking, but still turned red like a tomato. How lucky she already had a bit of a sunburn. “Pfft, as long as you keep your hands off this cleavage, we’ll all be fine. I’ve seen where your looks are going alright.”    It was a gamble, really, but it seemed to work. Christian’s laughter was suddenly nervous instead. Or did she imagine it? What was she doing? This man was probably at least 20 year younger than her, if not more. He had a body built by gods, hers had traces of three births and pounds she’d never care to get rid of. Not a chance he’d want her when he could have anyone. And even if he did want her, she shouldn’t give in for anything. She was faithful to George. No bachelor torso could get in the way of that. No compliments on muffins or garden either. No bubbly laughs, no silly pick-up lines, no hands on thighs and deep looks into her eyes, no nothing, nothing, nothing at all… clothesline