His Aunt Nicole

[Simonssister]

Chapter 373.

Robyn arrived at the Shillings’ just after nine that Sunday morning.  Esther had opened the front door before she had even got to the gate.
“Hi, Robyn.  I’m all ready!”
She was wearing a simple black dress and white tights. 
“Wait a moment, darling…”  Her mother had appeared behind her.  “Robyn?  Have you time for a quick coffee?  It’s made.”
“Of course…  It’s been ages, Mabel…”
“I know.  You look more gorgeous than ever.”
“Oh, yeah.  In my dirty jeans and old T-shirt I must look really glamorous…”
“Don’t be ages, mum…”

They sat down at the kitchen table.  Mabel poured the coffee.  Esther sat at the counter, playing with her hair, impatient to leave.
“We’ll only be a minute darling.  Robyn…  How are you?  And how’s Connie?”
“We’re both fine.  I’m studying part-time.  But you know that.  Aunt’s still a woman of leisure, but she’s involved with this ESDS business too.  That’s why she has this boy working for her at the moment.”
“Oh, yes.  We saw him at the wedding.  I’ve heard all about him from Esther.  Quite…interesting.  So your aunt’s taken him on, has she?  I remember she had a string of boy maids.  It was really nice being waited on by them.  They were always so eager to please, and so polite!”
“Yes…  Boys seem much more malleable than girls.  Maybe it’s the uniform…  This one’s a bit special, though.  He’s so naĂŻve for his age.  I think aunt would like to hang onto him if she could.”  She turned to Esther.  “I hear you have a bit of a crush on Tim, Esther,” she said, with an enquiring raise of the eyebrows.
“Crush?  Are you serious?  No, I don’t!”
“Oh?  Why are you so keen to meet up with him again then?”
“Oh my god, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Esther!  That’s not how you speak to someone!”
“Sorry, mum…  But…”
“She already has two boyfriends that I know of, Robyn, so I would say she’s fully occupied at the moment.  Frankly I’m not that keen on either of them, but nothing I say…”
“Mum!  That’s personal!”
“I wish you’d remember that when you get up to goodness knows what upstairs right above my head…”
Esther blushed.  “Mum…  Robyn doesn’t want to know that…  Look, Robyn, I’m not interested in him that way…  It’s just that, well, he’s this big guy, right?  I mean, he’s quite cute in his own way, but he goes around in these tight little rubber pants with pink frills and rubber gloves and a little bow-tie and thinks he’s the bee’s knees, right?  I was like, totally gobsmacked when I clocked him strolling around the tables at the reception, showing off to all the women.  I mean I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing, yeah?   It was only at the last minute before we were leaving that I got myself together like and ran over and got a couple of selfies with him, to like, prove he was real.  And I thought, this is just too cool!  Does he always wear this like seriously kinky stuff?  I’ve got to find out more!  But then, when I show them to my friends, they’re like, “yeah, sure...  that’s AI, innit?”  Even they wouldn’t believe it!”
Robyn laughed.  “He’s quite famous over our way, but out here in Fleetford village it’s like a different country.”
“Yeah, Robyn, you’re not joking.  Mum, we should move nearer Kennett, like I said…”
“Well one day maybe, dear.  But I’m working here at the moment.  So you’ll have to wait.”
“Anyway, my friend Lou – she has a birthday party next Saturday – she says to me, “if he’s real you can prove it by bringing him to my party.  If you do you can take any outfit of mine from my wardrobe.”  She’s got some great stuff.  Her parents…”
Her mother, tired of her daughter’s monologue, intervened.
“Darling, if you’re so keen to see him again, I suggest you get going.  We’ve finished our coffee.”
“Oh, yeah.  Robyn, let’s go.  I do hope he’ll be wearing the same outfit today…  I really do…  Oh my god, I’ve gotta make sure I don’t, like, burst out laughing…”
“Well, I’m not certain,” said Robyn, rising from her chair.  “He was wearing a very similar one yesterday, though.  If he is, yes, even if you can't stop smiling, just flatter him.  He's quite vain.  And so proud of those pretty hotpants!”
“No way!  Hotpants?  Is that what he calls them?”
“Well, auntie and her friends do at least…”
“Great!  Look, mum even got me this amazing dress.  Do you like it?"
“It looks cute on you...”
“If he’s like I think he is, like seriously kinky, into latex and vinyl and stuff, then his eyes are gonna like fall out, yeah?”
“Is that…?”
“Yes.  From that place…  His aunt told me about where he gets all his stuff…”
“Fantastex, dear…”
“Yes.  Fantastex.  We went there.  There’s some really weird things…  But like really cool…”
Robyn looked surprised.
“Yes, Robyn…  Not the sort of shop I would normally visit.  But she kept on about it, and finally I gave in.  Quite an eye-opener.  Not all of it suitable for a teenage girl, of course…  But the proprietor…  Cynthia, is it?  She was very nice, understood perfectly.  Came up with that dress…  I would never have considered anything like that normally, but she explained it’s quite fashionable these days.  And it does look pretty on her, don’t you think?”
“Very nice.  Bit of a change from the pink one you wore to the wedding…”
“Yeah.  Like, so cool.  I’m gonna wear it for Lou’s party, too.  My friends will all be super jealous.”

Mabel Shilling came to the front door to see them off.
“I’ll get her back by seven, Mabel,” said Robyn.
“If you would, Robyn.  She’s still got an hour’s homework to do.  Have a nice day, both of you…” 
They climbed into Robyn’s car.  Esther was holding her phone on her lap.
“Show me one of the pics you showed your friends.”
“Okay…”
She scrolled through and held her phone for Robyn to see.  She craned over.
“That’s Tim.  Doesn’t look a bit like AI.  That’s the trouble.  People start believing everything’s AI, and don’t recognise a normal photo when they see one.”
“Robyn…  Do you think there’s any chance your aunt might let me take him to Lou’s party?”
“I don’t know.  Depends what her plans are.  She may…  She’d definitely see the funny side of it…”
“Oh my god, wouldn’t that be great…?”

[Simonssister]

Chapter 374.

At the farmhouse that morning, Connie was making an early start in anticipation of Esther’s arrival, not to mention Tim’s resistance.  She dressed, unplugged her phone, and made her way downstairs.  A text came in.  Robyn.
“Overslept. Eta about ten.”
The feed from Tim’s room was still running, and recording.  He was still fast asleep.  He hadn’t even got under the covers.  She ran it back to where she had closed it the previous evening.  She was interested to see how he had reacted to Jenny’s tirade.  Well, he had lain there for several minutes, and then…  She smiled.  “Naughty boy…” she murmured.
“What is it?”  It was Bridget.
Connie held up the phone.  “I forgot to turn it off.”
“Ooh…  He is having fun…”
“I’m not sure it’s ethical for us to watch this,” said Connie, smirking.  “So I’ll keep the sound down for the time being…”
“Don’t let Kit see this whatever you do…”
They laughed delightedly.
“This is quite a performance…”
“Very impressive.  I can’t wait for the climax…”
“Here we go…I think….”
“Yes!  Oh my god…”
They watched in silence, fascinated.
“He’s something else,” said Bridget.  “He really is.  He should do a live show.”
“Yes.  For us.  Good idea.  But I’m going to have to keep that thing under control, or he’ll be at it every night.  Fortunately I’ve got a very good collection of chastity devices.  Maybe later.  I have another little surprise for him, too.  But today the main thing is to get him into his new pageboy outfit, ready for his little friend Esther.  I hope he won’t make too much fuss.  Though I have to give it to ESDS, their obedience training seems to have been reasonably effective – so far at least.”
“Can I see his outfit?”
“I’ll show you.  It’s in the big living room.”

They walked through from the kitchen.  The others were awake now.  Frieda was first down.
“Good morning, girls,” she said sleepily, heading towards the kitchen..  “I must have coffee before anything else…”

“Cynthia suggested cream latex with red trims,” said Connie, as they closed the door behind them.  “I confess it’s not a colour scheme that would have occurred to me, but I went along with it, and I’m glad I did.  See what you think.
She opened a pink Fantastex box and brought out some tissue-wrapped packages.  She unwrapped the first.
“This is the top…”
Bridget laughed.  “Oh my god!  “I heart my rubber hotpants!”  Really?  He won’t like that much.  And little epaulettes!  So sweet…”
“And here his shorts.  Sorry, hotpants.  Little faux pockets.  Nice touch, that.  And there’s a second pair with a little training plug, to help with his posture.  Maybe we’ll try those later.”
“I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
“Nor I.  While the others are having their coffee I’ll go get him up and showered.  I’ll show him his outfit in front of everyone.  I may need some support to persuade him to put it on…”

It was a quarter to nine by the time everyone had breakfasted.  Tim, still a bit sleepy, stood in the living room naked except for a towel around his waist, frowning slightly.  The ladies were seated around sipping coffee.  Connie fetched his outfit and laid it out on a table.
“There.  What do you think, Tim?”
As he read the words on the top, his mouth opened.
“What?  I heart…my rubber hotpants?  I’m not wearing that.  No way!”
Connie put her hands on her hips.  “I’m sorry…  Did you just actually refuse to put on your new outfit, which Cynthia made especially for you?  Because if so...”
Tim’s eyes widened.  He remembered the aftermath of the chocolate sauce incident only too well. “I-I…  N-no, of course not, miss…  I mean, I like the colour and style and all that…  It’s really cool…” 
“I’m not asking you to parade round the village in it.  It’s just for in the house.  Well, for the time being, at least…”
“F-for the time being…?”
“Look, Tim, just do what you’re told.  I’m not asking you…  I’m telling you.  If your obedience training was insufficient….”
“No, miss.  Not at all.  Please may I try it on now?  Actually I really like it.  The hotpants especially…  Are those real pockets?”
“That’s better.  No, they’re not.  Knowing you, if they were, you’d have your hands in them straight away.  And we don’t want that, do we?”
“No, miss.  Absolutely…”
“Right.  Get them on and let’s see how you look.  You can change there, behind the armchair.”
“Yes, miss.”
They watched him put on the little vest top with the embarrassing legend.  The rest was out of sight.
“R-ready, miss…”
Connie took his hand and led him out, and stood him in front of his audience. 
“Tim…  It looks fabulous on you!”
“I love it.  How could you possibly be embarrassed?”
“You look super sexy, darling…”
He looked at Kit.  She was smiling affectionately.  “Tim.  You look very good.  Hotpants are your favourite, yes?”
“I guess…  I mean, yes…they’re great…super…”
“Words show you like hotpants best.  You look proper boy in them.  Make me very happy.  Should be very proud.  Who else has such outfit?” 
“No-one,” said Frieda.  “And cream suits you so well.”
“It really does,” nodded Maxine.
“And the fit!” added Bridget.
Tim felt somewhat mollified.  And the way Kit was looking at him gave him actually did give him a twinge of pleasure in his chest.  If she liked it, he didn’t much care what anyone else thought.  He’d do anything for her, go anywhere in his hotpants outfit…
“Shall we get a few snaps, girls?  Tim, stand over there, will you?  Back a bit.  Yes, there in the light.”

They were all so enthusiastic, any misgivings he had soon evaporated, and he posed proudly, smiling, lapping up all the attention.  Actually it was a pretty cool outfit.  And he did look good in cream – Frieda was right.  He wished he could have had this outfit for the wedding.  A matching latex top would have been far more impressive.  Maybe the next event…  He hoped it would be soon…   Something big…
“Turn around and look over your shoulder, Tim, if you would…”
“Yes, miss Bridget…”
“Cute little butt…” murmured Frieda.  Which only made him more conceited than ever…

As the shoot continued, the ladies grew more playful - even rowdy, and Tim grew more confident, adopting more and more silly and outrageous poses.  He was down on all fours, doing a passable imitation of a puppy, when the front bell rang.  Everyone stopped.
“I’ll see who it is,” said Connie, leaving the room. 
Tim quickly got to his feet.  Who could it be, this early?  Maybe just the postman…

[RibbonBound]

Oh my.  This story just keeps getting better and better.  It's like my favorite soap opera.  I look forward to every chapter. 

Even without the little illustrations I'd be hooked, but the pictures are the dessert!  Thank you so much for sharing this with us.  Ten stars!

[Simonssister]

Chapter 375.

Connie knew exactly who it was.  She opened the door, and put a finger to her lips.  She spoke in a whisper.
“Good morning, Esther.  How lovely to see you after all this time.”  She embraced her, the stood back.  “Goodness, you’re a young woman now.  You’re even prettier.  Yes, he’s here.  I hope you like his new pageboy costume.  Robyn?  You’ve explained everything?”
“Yes.  She’s been fully prepped.”
“Esther dear, you understand, right?  Not the slightest hint of ridicule.  We have to maintain the charade for as long as possible.”
“Of course, Mrs Brookshaw.  I can’t wait to see him…”

She led them into the living room.
“Tim?  Look who’s here.”
She ushered Esther forward.  Tim stared in horror.
“Hello Tim.  Remember me?  The wedding…  I’m Esther.”
She was playing her part well.  Her face showed not the slightest sign of surprise.
“E-Esther…?”
“The girl with the balloon.  Remember?”
“The girl with the b-balloon…”
“At the wedding, yeah?  Remember?  I just managed to get a selfie with you, then I had to leave.  I’d been wondering who you were.  Everyone was talking about the pageboy.  You looked so cool.  I mean, most of the people there were like, fairly boring, but you would have stood out anywhere.  I was, like, too shy to approach you.  Finally I found your friend, Ms Egerton, and she filled me in a bit.  Mum was telling me, like, “Esther!  We have to go!”  But I was determined to see you so I headed over.  There was this like, massive bunch of balloons.  The perfect prop.  I nicked a big pink one, got my selfie, and then I had to like leave without really being able to talk to you or anything.  Since then I’ve been wondering whether I’d ever get to see you again.”
“Y-you have…?”
“Yeah.  Then it turns out you’re here, with Robyn and aunt Connie.  I call her aunt, though she’s not really.  But we used to live, like, next door in Fleetford.  And Robyn says, yeah, that’s Tim.  He’s working for my mum at the moment on some sort of, like, contract or something.  So I like begged to be allowed to visit and eventually mum gave in.  I hope you don’t mind…”
Tim’s terror was abating, now.  This girl seemed okay, actually.  Quite nice in fact…
“No, course not.  I was wondering who you were, actually…  The girl in the pink dress…”
“Oh, yeah…  That pink dress.  It was just for the wedding.  I wouldn’t normally…  Do you like this one?  Guess what?  It came from the same place you get your outfits!  True!  I pestered my mum till she finally took me there, and then that nice lady persuaded her to get it for me.”
“It’s really cool.  It looks great on you!”
“Thanks…  Yeah, latex is so cool, right?  Like what your friend there’s wearing…”
“Kit?”
“That young lady.  Kit, is it?  Now that’s just amazing.  It must have cost a fortune!”
Kit smiled and made a face that said, “maybe, but it was worth it…”
“But your new outfit…  It’s really fab, yeah?  Even cooler than the one you wore to the wedding.  The vest top…that’s latex too, yeah?  And the jokey message…  I love it.  You’re so lucky to have all this great stuff to model.  Do you get to choose it yourself, or…”
Wow.  This girl really appreciated stuff.  He decided he had to take some of the credit.
“Yeah, well see I work for this agency, and we all, like, share our opinions.  So yeah, I have a say.  I’m glad you like our taste.”
“Oh, Tim, I do.  I hate all this conservative stuff everyone wears.  Guys too.  So boring.  You’re the first bloke I’ve seen who’s prepared to break the mould…”
Tim could absorb any amount of this sort of flattery.  His remaining doubts, and his crumbling defences, collapsed completely.
“Yeah, well, see, I don’t really care what some people think.  Personally all that concerns me is what I want to wear, how I feel, and if others want to criticise it doesn’t concern me.  I feel I’m making a statement…”   
“Do you have any other events lined up?  Please let me know if you do..  I’d love to be there as well.  I was feeling a bit anti-social at that wedding.  There were none of my friends there.  I wish I’d found you earlier.  We could have had some fun…”
“We could!  Look, er, Esther…Sorry I didn’t recognise you straight away just now…”
“No probs…”
“Esther, excuse me interrupting…  I can see you and Tim have a lot to talk about…  But before we go any further I should introduce you to everyone.”

Whilst Connie was doing the introductions, Tim nervously checked himself in the mirror, and adjusted his cap.  Yeah, he looked good.  Cool.  It was amazing how many girls seemed to be attracted to him since he had started being a pageboy.  Being a boot boy was okay, quite sexy, but some of those girls…  Well, he felt they were just using him, having fun at his expense.  But now every female he met seemed genuinely interested in him.  It felt good.  He put his hands on his hips, glanced at the mirror, and struck a pose which he supposed would be irresistible to any woman.  And indeed, as he did so, it seemed everyone in the room turned to admire him.
Well, they had.  It was in response to Frieda’s remark.  She’d caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye.
“Look at him now,” she’d murmured, “preening himself…”
Bridget suppressed a snigger.  “He likes you, Esther.  The dress was a stroke of genius, by the way.  He’s already started showing off.  Make the most of it, won’t you?”
“Yes, Bridget.  I’ll do my best.”
“Esther, show them the selfies you took at the wedding.”
“Okay.”  She scrolled through the photos on her phone for them to see.  “Look, I found this pink balloon which just matched the frills on his pants.  It seemed so appropriate, so I gave it to him to hold.”
“That’s hilarious,” smiled Frieda.  “He looks so sweet.”
“He would like balloons,” laughed Maxine.  “Pity you didn’t bring one today.”
“Oh, wait a minute,” said Connie.  “That’s an idea.  I have some giant ones tucked away somewhere.  Shall I see if I can find one?”
“It would be great prop for shoot,” remarked Kit.
“Wouldn’t it, though.  I’ll be back in a minute.”

She returned with a box of balloons and a pump.  The ladies riffled through them.  But Esther dived in and pulled one out.
“It has to be this one!”
“Of course!  Tim, darling…?  Can we have a couple more snaps?  For Esther…?
“Sure.  No probs.  And I’d like one of her, too.”
“Oh, would you…?” said Connie, with a smile. 
Tim blushed.  “Yeah…  Why not?  She’s pretty cool herself…”
“Okay.  That's a fair exchange.  We'll do yours first, right here.  Then we'll take hers in the big living room.  But first let us get this balloon inflated.”
“Balloon?”
“Esther chose it.  I think balloons are going to be your trademark from now on…”

[Simonssister]

Chapter 376.

The ladies kept Esther well entertained that morning, suggesting a number of rather silly poses for Tim, involving him holding balloons of various shapes and sizes, (including one rather rude one made by Frieda with two modelling balloons that they made him wear like a hat), riding a rocking-horse, pretending to be various animals, and seated astride a space-hopper Connie had found in a spare room.  Connie also got a lovely snap of he and Esther together, which Jenny would not have been happy to see, and which she thought might come in handy as an instrument of coercion at some future date.  They also demanded he speak the words written on his chest, pointing to them with one hand and tugging at the leg frills of his hotpants with the other, while they videoed him.  And they made him repeat this act several times until they were satisfied with the level of enthusiasm in his voice.  That led to a mock interview, with each lady in turn – and Esther – posing embarrassing questions.
“Tim – what’s it like to wear lovely sensuous latex outfits every day?  Doesn’t it make you feel sexy?” began Bridget.
“N-no…  N-not at all…  I…”
“Are you looking forward to becoming a sissy latex maid for hire?” smiled Robyn.
“I…  I don’t know if I will have to….”
“But ESDS has already advertised you as Mitzy the latex maid for next year.  Didn’t you know?” smirked Connie.
“N-no…  H-have they…?”
“Oh, yes.  There’s a lovely picture of you on their website in a pretty pink maid’s dress.  You must be very excited.  I know I am.  I’ve already booked you for February.”
“You have, miss?   But…”
“What sort of panties will you be wearing under your uniform?”  asked Maxine.  “I suppose you’re hoping they’ll be lovely soft latex…”
“Elasticated latex panties are obligatory, Tim,” nodded Connie.  “And to judge by the photo they’ve put up, you’re going to have to keep very erect - I mean straight - whilst you’re working.  The skirt is rather on the short side, you see…”
Tim looked deeply hurt.  “They haven’t told me anything about this…”
“Never mind,” grinned Frieda.  “Just imagine how delighted your mistresses are going to be when they open the front door and see such a pretty, willing maid in such a gorgeous uniform smiling at them!  I can just imagine how their eyes will light up when they see you in the flesh, in your latex mini-dress with white stockings right up to your thighs, and little pink latex gloves, too, all ready for work!”
“Yes, Tim,” said Connie.  “And you know Cassandra always insists her maids arrive on their first day in heels, to create a good impression.  You’ll take your flat work shoes in your luggage with your spare uniforms.  Oh, it makes me quite jealous to think of you working for someone else!”
“It’ll be so exciting, Tim!  You’ll never know who you’re going to be working for next!”
“You’d better hope you never get Spanker Simpson,” remarked Connie, cryptically.
“Sp-Spanker Simp…?”
“Do you have your own feather duster?” interrupted Esther, suppressing a giggle. 
“Oh, yes, of course,” cried Connie.  “Every sissy maid is given one to take with them.  On the website you’re holding one, right?  You must have posed for that photo, Tim.”
“Yes…  I had forgotten.  I didn’t realise it was for the website…”
“Well there it is.  And very cute you look, too…”
“Does he look good in girls’ clothes?” asked Esther, innocently.
“Oh, absolutely gorgeous,” exclaimed Connie.  Right, Kit?”
“Tim so pretty as girl, Esther,” said Kit.  “He pretend no like, but he always happy when he get into dress or one of other outfits.  I took him for walk in park yesterday in girl stuff, and he so big show-off!”
“Would you like a preview, Esther?  I have something tucked away I haven’t tried on him yet.”
“Ooh, yes please!  What is it?”
“Hmm.  Wait and see, young lady.  Tim, follow me.  I have a nice surprise for you…”

Whilst they were away, the ladies chatted and compared pictures and videos.  Esther turned to Robyn.
“Do you think I should ask her now, Robyn?  About Lou’s party.”
“Why don’t you wait till after lunch.  She may be more amenable after a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc.”
“Okay.  I’m not really expecting her to say yes.  But I’ll ask anyway.”
“Oh…here they come.  Oh my god, Esther…  Look at him!”
Esther gasped and clapped her hand to her mouth.
“Oh my god…that’s so sweet!  He's even got hair ribbons, and little heart earrings!  He looks like a ten-year-old girl all dressed up in her best party-dress!”

Connie had instructed Tim to smile, and he did as he was told, despite the butterflies in his tummy.  But it was true…  Who would have thought an eighteen-year-old boy could look so natural as a little girl? 
“You can wear that for the rest of the day, Tim, while Esther’s still here.  I know you want to.  Don’t you?”
“Yes, miss.  Thank you, miss.”
“Good girl…”

[Simonssister]

Chapter 377.

It was time for coffee – again – and Connie thoughtfully appointed Tim waitress.
“He makes a good cup of coffee,” she remarked.  “Well trained.  I think Cassandra regards that as one of the essential requirements of a maid.  She does love her coffee, that woman.”

As he served everyone coffee – everyone but Esther, who wanted a Coke – the conversation turned to Kit.  Frieda was particularly interested in her wardrobe.
“What do you wear normally, Kit?  I mean, surely you don’t wear catsuits all the time…”
“In winter, most of time.  But often underneath ordinary clothes.  When I work I wear fine flesh-coloured one underneath.  When I go out, then usually latex suit or dress.  I like feel very much.”
She ran one gloved hand down her thigh in a way which made Tim tremble, and the cups on his tray rattle.  Connie looked up.
“You okay Tim?  You look a bit flushed.”
“Y-yes, miss.  I’m fine…”
“So when you just wear a catsuit, is it always black?”  Frieda persisted.  “Or do you have other colours?”
“I have a one red like blood.  And I have pink, sometimes to make people think I sweet and nice.”
“Ooh, that’s clever.  Why would you…?”
“If I want to kidnap, seduce…  Maybe tie up...”
Tim was seized with a fit of coughing, and hurried away to the kitchen.
“I’d like to see that red one.”
“So would Tim, I think,” grinned Connie.
“I have here.  Shall I put on?”
There was a chorus of approval.  Kit smiled and left the room.

Tim recovered himself in the kitchen, and returned to the living room.
“Oh…  Where’s miss Kit?  I’ve got her coffee…”
“She’ll be down shortly, Tim,” smiled Connie.  “Oh, here she comes…”
It was as well he’d put down her cup, because at the sight of her his eyes widened, his mouth fell open, and he went weak at the knees!  But to be honest, he wasn’t the only one…  The women stared too, fascinated by the aura of controlled sexual power that emanated from this quiet girl. 

By lunchtime, though, they had adjusted.  They sat around on armchairs or on sofas chatting and eating, while Tim waited on them and kept their drinks topped up - though he couldn’t keep his eyes off Kit, and kept stealing glances at her when he thought no-one was looking.  The mere sight of her filled him with an inexplicable hopeless yearning.  He had difficulty breathing normally.  His hands shook as he poured the wine, the neck of the bottle tinkling against the rim of the glass.  One more day, he thought, and she’d be gone.  What would he do then?

When Robyn judged Connie was relaxed and mellow, she leaned forward.
“Auntie?  Esther wants to ask you something.  Go on, Esther.”
“Oh, yeah…  Like…  Aunt Connie?  My friend Lou…  She having her birthday party next Saturday…”
“Oh, that’s nice.  How old is she?”
“Seventeen.  Her family is like,  really rich…  It’s gonna be quite posh…”
“You’re going?”
“Yes.  I’m going to wear this dress…”
“Nice…  I bet they’ll all be jealous!”
“Oh, they will…  But I was wondering, if, like…Tim is doing anything that day…?”
“Oh.  Tim?  You mean…”
“Yes.  I know it’s probably impossible.  Only Lou was one of the ones who wouldn’t believe he was real.”
Connie laughed.  “What an idea.  But I’m afraid I have plans for him that day.”  She lowered her voice and whispered behind her hand.  “I’m planning a little outing for him.  Somewhere busy.  I’m not sure what he’ll be wearing…  But something super embarrassing, I hope…”
Esther looked disappointed.  “Oh, I see…”
“So what is she doing for her party?”
“Oh, the usual stuff.  Presents and games in the morning.  Ice-skating in the afternoon.”
“Right.”
“It’ll be the usual old stuff.  And the guys she’s invited are so dull…”
But Connie was staring into space.
“Auntie…?”
“Ice-skating you say?  I’ve just remembered something.  Excuse me a moment.”
She picked up her phone from the table and disappeared into the kitchen, phone in one hand and glass in the other.
“Cynthia.  It’s Connie.  Fine, thanks.  Look, I’m sorry to ring you on a Sunday.  It’s a silly thing.  The other day when I was picking up Tim’s stuff.  Did you show me a skating outfit?  Yes, I thought so.  Was that for him?  Great!  I need to borrow it for next weekend.  I’ll clear it with Cassandra.  Would you put it aside for me?  Thanks so much.  I’ll see you soon.  Yes, same to you.  Bye!”
She returned triumphant, and sat down next to Esther.
“Okay.  You can take him, if your friend agrees.”
“Oh, really?  That’s fantastic!  Thank you aunt Connie.  Oh, she’ll agree.  She bet me I wouldn’t be able to bring him.”
“And I’ll supply his skating outfit, and whatever we decide he’s going to wear in the morning.  Are the mothers invited too?”
“Unfortunately yes…  And some of them are so doting, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed all day.”
“That may be to our advantage…  Shh…  He’s watching us.  Let’s keep it a surprise.  We’ll talk later…”
“Thank you so much, auntie…”