Great short story by local writer Pat McLeod.

Pat

Neighbours

by Pat McLeod

                  "What do you think of the new neighbours?" asked Leann stabbing her ribeye and sawing off a bite.

                  Dave shrugged shoving a roasted Yukon Gold into his mouth. "Haven't really met them," he chewed. "Waved at her a couple times. Gave him the guy nod."

                  "I talked to her today." Leann sipped her Nineteen Crimes. "She seems nice."

                  "What's her name?"

                  "Rian. With an i."

                  "Really?" Dave shrugged. "Odd name for a woman. What's she do?"

                  "Occupational Therapist."

                  "Him?"

                  "Don't know." Leann chewed. "Never came up. I think he works in an office though."

                  "Yeah, I've never seen him not in a suit. And that Prius he drives is kind of a wimpy car."

                  "Just because he drives a Prius doesn't make him a wuss. Maybe he prefers not shoving money in his gas tank."

                  "Or maybe he's a wuss who drives a girly car."

                  Leann pointed her fork. "You're an ass."

                  Dave grinned. "Yes. Yes I am."

                  Dave was dicing garlic when a knock came from the door. He looked out the garden doors off the kitchen to the deck and saw the new neighbour standing there.

                  "Hi there," he said opening the door. "Rian. Right?"

                  "Yep," she smiled. "And you're Dave." She held out a manicured hand. Thirtyish, blonde, decent looking. She let go of Dave's hand, walked in and hitched her butt onto one of the high stools around the kitchen island. "Is Leann home?"

                  "Working. Um..can I get you anything?"

                  She nodded at the Stella Dave had on the counter. "Got another of those?"

                  "Uhh..sure." Being alone with a woman twenty years younger than him was not a situation Dave was used to. He got another beer out of the fridge and twisted off the lid. "Glass?"

                  "I'm good." Rian accepted the bottle and took a swig. "So how come you're home in the middle of the day.

                  "I'm an electrician at the mill down the road." Dave went back to his garlic, conscious of her watching him. "I work shift. Four on four off." He heard her cross the room. She leaned against the dishwasher, the width of the sink away. She wore Levi cutoffs and a purple V-neck tee.

                  "That's convenient," she purred. "And you cook."

                  "When I'm off and Leann's working. I like it."

                  Dave scraped the garlic off the cutting board into a pot bubbling on the stove. Rian brushed against him as she came over to look inside.

                  "Smells good."

                  "Eggplant parmesan. Well, it will be."

                  Rian returned to leaning on the dishwasher.

                  "Are you guys veegs?"

                  "One day a week. The other six we're carnivores."

                  Rian slid along the counter halving their separation, downing half her beer in the process.

                  "What other hobbies do you have?"

                  Dave's heart pounded. He could smell her.

                  "Y..yardwork." His hand shook as he tried to chop an onion. "These big yards require a lot of work. You guys will see. Lawn, trees, hedge, gardens. Keeps me busy."

                  Rian slid a bit closer.

                  "Am I making you nervous Dave?" she cooed.

                  "Yep." He looked her in the eyes. She smiled and downed her beer.

                  "Well, I'm not sorry." She patted his arm and ran her fingers across his back as she went to the door. "Nice meeting you. We'll have to do this again." One eyebrow went up and she was out the door.

                  Dave leaned against the counter.

                  "What the fuck was that?"

                  Two days later Dave and Leann were sitting by their fire pit having a beer when two figures emerged out of the dark.

                  "Hey neighbours," called out Rian.

                  "Hi Rian," said Leann. "Join us."

                  "Dave and Leann, this is my husband Thomas."  Thomas stretched out a hand. Dave shook. It was like shaking cooked spaghetti. He wore slacks and a long sleeve dress shirt. Rian was in shorts and a T shirt.

                  "Nice to meet you."

                  "Quite the fire pit," said Thomas. The pit was five feet by five feet with two foot high concrete walls.

                  "Takes a whole pallet." To demonstrate, Dave went to a stack of pallets under the row of red pines that lined the side of the yard, grabbed one and threw it on the fire. Everyone settled into chairs. Dave cast a wary eye at Rian who acted oblivious.

                  "So how long have you two lived out here?" asked Thomas.

                  "Twenty-three years," answered Leann. "The year before Megan was born."

                  "Your daughter?" Rian.

                  "Yeah," Dave. "She just finished her third year of engineering at Ryerson. Got a job in Toronto for the summer." Rian met his eyes when he spoke then shifted to Leann.

                  "So I guess you like it here," she asked.

                  "Love it." Leann.

                  "We're dying out here." Dave. "Country living five minutes from the city. Best of both worlds."

                  "You'll love it too." Leann.

                  "I'm not sold yet," said Thomas. "Bugs, bears and skunks."

                  Rian play-scowled at him. "Fresh air, privacy and trees. Don't get that in an apartment in town."

                  With that the conversation slipped into the mostly pros of semi country living. A half hour later, Dave feeling better that Rian wasn't paying hardly any attention to him, rose.

                  "I'm dry. What are you two drinking?"

                  "Beer is good." Rian.

                  "Do you have gin and tonic?" Thomas.

                  "I do." Dave looked at Leann who held up a nearly empty beer. Dave headed for the house.

                  "I'll give you a hand," said Thomas trotting to keep up with Dave's longer strides. They entered off the deck.

                  "Wow, Rian said you had a nice kitchen."

                  "Thanks." Dave turned and Thomas buried a fist into his solar plexus.

                  "OOOFFF..." Air exploded out of Dave. He dropped to his knees. He managed to lift his head. Thomas was rolling up his shirt cuffs exposing full sleeve tats.

                  "So this is where you tried to fuck my wife," he snarled.

                  "W..wh..what?" gasped Dave. "Sh..she was here...for ten minutes...had a beer...and left..."

                  Thomas grasped a fistful of hair and raised Dave a tad higher.

                  "You calling my wife a liar?" He snarled.

                  "YES!"

                  Thomas stared. Scowled. Thought. Grimaced.

                  "Maybe." Thomas leaned in, his shadowed face distorted. "But if you ever touch her I'll beat you to shit, then fuck your wife." He straightened, went to the fridge for beer then searched out the gin. As Dave slowly pulled himself upright. Thomas opened beers and made his drink.

                  “I know what your thinking Dave,” he said, “but I’m a lawyer. A good one. You’ve got nothing but word against word and you’re much bigger than me. Here.” He shoved a beer in Dave’s hand and steered him towards the door. “Let’s go enjoy the fire.” They walked across the back lawn to the fire, Dave still slightly hunched and settled into their chairs. Dave glanced at Leann, who was talking to Rian about who knows.

                  “You guy’s were gone awhile,” said Rian when Leann finished. She smiled and cocked an eyebrow at Dave who looked away.

                  “Sorry, ladies,” said Thomas, “But Dave was convincing me that this was a great place to live.”

                  Rian clapped. “Thanks Dave,” she cheered. “I don’t know how you convinced Thomas because I haven’t been able to.” She leapt up a gave Dave a peck on the cheek. Dave stiffened as if shot.

                  Thomas glared. “Oh yeah, we’re going to be neighbours for a long time.”