Page 5 of The Facilitator, Part 3

Chapter Four

“I’m so sorry to hear the news, Mackenzie,” I heard. The line was crackling and I had to walk to the back of Elaine’s garden for a signal.

“Thanks, Alex. It’s been awful for the family. We’ve just arrived back in Cornwall, the funeral is tomorrow, then I think Lauren wants to bring Elaine back with us for a few days.”

“How is she holding up?”

“At first, she fell apart. Now, she’s being remarkably strong for her mom. How are Dominic and Gabriella?” I asked.

“They’re doing great. That’s when we can actually get hold of our child. His grandmother appears to have kidnapped him,” he said, and I could hear a tinkle of laughter in the background .

“Pass on my love, won’t you?”

“Will do. I’ll call in a couple of days. We have some business we need to discuss. Nothing that won’t wait, so don’t fret.”

Alex had been running my operations in the US for a little while. He had been an absolute godsend and a close friend, my best friend even. Whatever business we needed to discuss, I trusted it could wait. He’d be on top of whatever it was, for sure.

“Tell, Gabriella that I’m sure we’ll see her soon,” I said, before disconnecting the call.

Lauren placed her hand on my back and handed me a cup of coffee.

“That was Alex,” I said. She smiled and nodded. “He asked how you were coping.”

“He’s a wonderful man, I spoke to Gabriella this morning and I think they’re struggling a little staying with her mum.”

“I got that impression as well. I’m sure they appreciate the help but they must want some alone time now.”

“I need to get back in. Mum is cooking as if there are thousands coming back here tomorrow.”

“Do you know how many?”

“It’s no more than a handful, really. Seb lost all his friends over the years,” she said with sadness. “There are some neighbors, us, Mum, and Reenie, that’s it, I think. ”

It seemed a pitiful amount of mourners and I felt for Elaine. I was sure she would have loved to see some of his old friends. However, it was likely to be hypocritical of them to turn up having discarded him for years.

I held Lauren in my arms that night, she was unsettled and nervous she’d said. Neither of us got much sleep in the small double bed.

“Life is so precious,” she whispered. She hadn’t spoken for hours and I thought she might be sleep talking. I looked down at her open eyes.

“It is,” I replied.

“Mackenzie, this is the most inappropriate time but I want to make a new list. I want you to as well.”

“A new list?” I asked not quite following.

“Yeah, a new list. I want to do all the things, go all the places, and experience as much as I can,” she said.

I nodded. “Okay, a new list.”

She settled back against me and closed her eyes.

In the morning, I wasn’t sure if she’d remember what she said and I didn’t bring it up. It was a somber day, more so when the hearse and limousine pulled up outside the bungalow.

The two displays of flowers that were at either side of his coffin, Son and Brother, gave a clue as to its occupant.

Elaine, her best friend, Reenie, Lauren, and I climbed in to the limousine. We followed the hearse to the local cemetery. I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of people waiting, although one caused Lauren to take a sharp breath in.

“What the…?” she whispered. I followed her gaze. Scott stood alone by the doors.

“I guess he knew your brother,” I said, and she sighed.

“Yeah, they got on, but still. After all he did to me, I think he has a cheek,” she said quietly.

“Just ignore him. If he upsets you, I’ll deal with him,” I said and she nodded.

Thankfully, Scott kept his distance. He sat at the back of the room and he filed past quickly, not stopping to offer his condolences to us.

“Is that Scott?” Elaine asked, watching his retreating back.

“Yes, I didn’t invite him,” Lauren said. “In fact, how did he know?”

“There was a notice in the local newspaper, maybe he saw that?” I offered. I had no idea how he’d come to know.

“I put a message on his Facebook thingy, well, Reenie did, I don’t know how to use it,” Elaine said.

“That’s probably how,” Lauren said, taking her mom’s hand and squeezing.

“I didn’t think he’d come, though,” she said, and she started to look distressed .

“It’s okay, Elaine. If you’d like him to leave, just let me know,” I said.

“I don’t want to upset you two,” she said.

“We’re not, he’s old news,” I replied.

Her attention was then taken on meeting friends outside and looking at flowers. By that time, Scott was nowhere to be seen.

The old folks of Elaine’s village loved a good wake, so some told me.

What was wonderful, however, was they all spoke of Sebastian and how they’d wave or chat if he was in the front garden.

Sometimes, Elaine would wheel him out if the weather was good, so passing folk could wave to him.

He was well liked within the village and that support would keep Elaine going, I believed.

The following morning Elaine told us she would prefer to stay put and urged us to head off home. I thought it a little too soon and the brave face she was putting on was for our benefit only.

“We are happy to stay,” I said.

“Mackenzie, you have been wonderful, honestly. Reenie is staying for a week and if I feel like I need company, I’ll call,” she said.

Reenie had been sleeping on the sofa, despite my insistence that I could and Lauren could share with Elaine, giving Reenie a bed, but she wouldn’t hear any of that.

We packed up the car and made the journey home .

“What did the salesman say about this car?” Lauren asked. I’d kept it on an extended trial.

“He’s happy with the commission he’s likely to get when I pay for the two on order.”

She sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. I didn’t speak again, hoping the drive might lull her to sleep. I had to shake her awake when we arrived home.

“Did I sleep the whole way?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, and snored,” I said, giving her a smile.

“I feel utterly exhausted,” she replied.

I opened her door for her. “And that’s why you are going straight for a bath and then bed for a few hours.”

“That sounds nice,” she said, stretching.

I carried the bags upstairs while she gathered the mail. I ran the bath and called for her. When she stepped into the bedroom and kicked off her shoes, I walked toward her.

“Stand still,” I said quietly.

I lifted her shirt over her head and unclipped her bra. I undid her jeans and slid them down her legs, she stepped out of them. I then did the same with her panties. Before I rose completely, I kissed her stomach. She murmured.

“Later,” I said, breathing against her skin.

I stepped back and pulled my shirt over my head.

“I’m not sure it’s a bath I need,” she whispered .

“It’s a bath you’re getting,” I replied, smiling.

I picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. I lowered her gently into the warm water. She rested back and smiled at me.

“Close your eyes,” I whispered and she did.

I soaked a sponge and gently squeezed the water over her chest, across her shoulders and then her head, soaking her hair. Her nipples were erect and above the water line. I reached for one and gently twisted it between my fingers and thumb.

An orgasm, a hot bath, and then the coolness of cotton sheets were what she needed to relax.

Although she kept her eyes closed, she smiled.

I slipped off my jeans and climbed in with her.

I faced her, my knees inside her legs. I sponged water over her again and then I lowered my head.

I took one of her nipples in my mouth. She held my head while I sucked and licked, and then bit down, holding it between my teeth until I heard that intake of breath.

When I released, I knew the tingle, the pins and needles would go straight to her clitoris. I reached down and stroked her pussy.

“I need this,” she whispered, raising her hips.

I placed one of my hands on the bath behind her, I leaned forward, and my lips just covered hers.

“I know,” I said, and then plunged two fingers inside her .

She pushed her head back and raised her hips. I stroked, finding that spongy place that caused her to cry out. I kissed her, absorbing the cry and the moans that followed.

She gripped my bicep and dug her nails in my skin. Her other hand found mine and she inserted her finger in. I loved to see and feel her pleasure herself, something she hadn’t done regularly until I encouraged her to.

“Fuck yourself,” I said, my voice low and gravelly with desire.

I removed my fingers and slid back to the other end of the bath, I wanted to watch her.

She arched her back and raised her hips, giving me a full view of her pussy.

Even though she was in the bath, I could see her wetness and heat.

Her clitoris was enlarged and desperate for attention.

I lowered my head. While she fucked herself, I licked and sucked.

Lauren was the most responsive lover I’d ever known.

Her response to my touch was ego inflating, for sure.

She let go of my arm and grabbed my hair.

She twisted painfully and I growled out my displeasure, those vibrations against her tender pussy caused her orgasm to build.

She panted out my name, water sloshed as she fucked herself harder and when I thought she was near the brink, I inserted my two fingers back inside and stroked her G-spot .

“Mackenzie!” she cried out, arching her body higher, forcing her pussy farther into my mouth.

I removed my fingers and replaced them with my tongue. I licked her orgasm from her. It was mine, and I wanted it.

“Oh God, did I need that,” she said, coming down from her high. I sat back and stretched my legs out alongside her as she lay back against the edge of the bath.

Her feet rested against my hardened cock and she giggled. She wiggled her toes but feet did nothing for me. I wrapped my hand around my cock and started to masturbate.