chapter 57

Mandy and Brian walked back to the busy club just as another slow dance was coming up. Advertising space, by Robbie Williams. Mandy stopped and Brian looked at her.
“I love this song. Dance with me?” she asked.
Brian smiled and grabbed her hand, “Come on then!”
They got to the dance floor and Brian instantly wrapped his strong arms around her waist. Mandy looked up at his smiling face and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then she rested her head against his chest and he rested his head on top of her head as they swayed to the music. He sang along softly to the song as Mandy closed her eyes and felt his heart beating. She let out a soft sigh and listened to his voice. She loved listening to him sing. She often wondered why he did not go professional with that voice. HE sounded amazing. She smiled contentedly and then lifted her head. She met his gaze and smiled at him.
“Do you have any idea how good your voice is?” she smiled.
Brian looked at her and stopped singing, “Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?”
“Brian!” she sighed, looking away.
“Don’t worry. We’re just friends. I know! I won’t kiss you. But damn, it’s so hard!” he grinned.
Mandy looked up at him with her most serious face and stood on her tiptoes. She pushed his head down slightly and placed her lips on his, kissing him softly. Her tongue glided against his lips and he just pulled away.
“Mandz, you cannot do this to me darling. It’s torture!” he sighed.
Mandy frowned and leaned her forehead against his chest.
“I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in the morning, that’s all!” he frowned.
Mandy shook her head, “I won’t. We both know where we stand, Brian. You know how I feel and I know how you feel!”
“And kissing me is going to make me believe you actually want more!” he moaned.
Mandy shook her head, “I am sorry Bri. I just really wanted to kiss you then. I didn’t mean any harm by it!” she frowned.
Brian smiled, “I know you didn’t!”
They stayed quiet for a while and continued dancing, when Brian pulled back slightly. This made Mandy look up at his serious face on display. Mandy looked at him blankly.
“Kiss me!” he growled.
“What?” she gasped.
“Kiss me Mandy!” he repeated.
“But what about…” she started.
“Forget about what I have just said. I don’t care. I just need to feel your lips against mine again!” he insisted. His eyes were dark with desire.
“Brian, I don’t want to lead you on. I don’t want to give you false hope. I don’t want…” she sighed.
Brian shook his head, “I know exactly where I stand, darling. Please, please just kiss me before I burst with desire!”
Hesitantly, Mandy put her hands on his cheeks and raised her head up slightly. She brushed her lips against his and let her tongue glide over his hungry lips. Brian immediately opened his mouth and took possession of hers. He let his tongue play with hers as he rubbed his hands down her back, finally resting on her bum. His breathing was heavy and got heavier when Mandy deepened the kiss. She placed her hand behind his neck and pulled her towards him even more. Her other hand glided up and down his chest as Brian slightly squeezed her bum. They then gradually slowed things down until they managed to pull away.
“Wow!” he whispered.
“I know!” she whispered back.
“Well. Looks like a really cold shower for me tonight!” he grinned, still with his hands on her bum.
Mandy smiled, “Speaking of which, can we go back home now?”
Brian smiled, “We can go back whenever we want babe!”
Mandy looked at Nicky on the other side of the room as they walked to the stair case to leave the club. He gave her a small smile and a slight wave. Mandy nodded her head, acknowledgingly and walked out with Brian.
“Going home already?” smiled Mark.
“Thought you were off duty!” answered Brian.
“I had to stay. The other guy got ill!” he moaned, rolling his eyes.
“Well, we are going home now. It has been a really long night!” smiled Brian.
Mark smiled and looked at Mandy. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek, “Thanks for talking some sense into me, Mark. I really appreciate it!” she whispered into his ear as she kissed him.
“NO problem!” he grinned, “Any time!”
“See you Monday!” smiled Brian as they walked away.
Mark smiled and watched them leave when his phone rang. Seeing Fina’s name flashing on the phone, he started panicking. Especially when he saw it was 2am.
“What’s wrong?” he answered panic stricken.
“Your daughter wants to say something!” answered Fina, sounding fed up.
“Which one?” he asked. He closed his eyes and chuckled to himself when he realised his youngest daughter was only 3 weeks old and incapable of speaking, “Sorry. Stupid question, I know. It’s been a long night. What is she still doing up?”
“HI daddy!” she screamed down the phone.
“What are you doing up at this time of night, young lady?” he scolded.
“I love you daddy!” she babbled.
Mark smiled. This girl could get away with murder, “I love you too baby. But why aren’t you in bed? Are you being naughty for mummy?”
“My bed got wet!” she answered.
“What do you mean, your bed got wet?” laughed Mark, “Why?”
“Because…Because I did a pee and it got wet!” she shrugged matter of factly.
Mark laughed loudly, “What about your nappy?”
“Took it off!” she sang.
“And why did you take it off?” he asked.
“Coz Tammy’s big girl now!” she answered innocently.
Mark sniggered to himself, “Sometimes big girls have to wear nappies too honey!”
“Mummy doesn’t!” she replied.
“You’re right. Mummy doesn’t! But you are such a special little girl that you get to wear them!” he grinned.
“I am not a little girl. I am a big girl!” she screamed.
Mark held the phone away from his ear slightly and stifled a laugh.
“OH, sorry. I mean, you are such a special sweet girl that you get to wear them. Coz only special girls wear nappies!” he coaxed her.
“Nappies are for babies!” she insisted.
“No they are for special girls too!” he laughed.
“So is Emma special? She wears nappies!” she huffed.
“Nah Emma wears them coz she is a baby. Tammy wears them at night only because she is special!” smiled Mark, trying his best.
“NO!” she shouted.
“NO?” questioned Mark.
“No. no, no. No nappies for Tammy!” she shouted, unconvinced.
“Oh dear. You know what? I have Tinkerbell here beside me and she has not got a happy look on her face!” he announced.
Tammy remained quiet. Mark smiled when he could hear her breathing down the phone.
“You want to talk to Tinkerbell?” he asked.
“Yes!” she answered softly.
Mark put on his squeakiest voice, “Hello Tamara! This is Tinkerbell!”
Tammy remained quiet and Mark received a few strange looks from some passers by. He blushed deeply and cursed himself for his sudden brilliant idea. He mouthed “daughter” to them and pointed to the phone.
“I hear you don’t want to wear nappies anymore and I am a bit sad!” he squeaked.
Tammy remained quiet. But Mark continued with his act.
“I saw mummy buying the nappies in the shop and do you know what I did?”
“What?” asked Tammy, sounding intrigued.
“I sprinkled some of my magic powder in them, so they could make you as beautiful as me, and to give you golden wings like me when you are older!” he added, not quite believing he was saying all this in public, much to their amusement.
“Will I be able to fly?” she squeaked.
“OH yes, When you are older then me, yes. But you can’t try to fly until your golden wings grow. Promise me you will not fly unless I tell you, or else I will take the magic powder away!” squeaked Mark, realising the dangers.
“I promise!” smiled Tammy sweetly.
“Good girl. Now are you going to wear your nappies at night from now on?” he squeaked, hoping all this embarrassment he was going through would not be in vain.
“Yes!” she answered, much to his relief.
“Good. Now I have to go, coz Peter Pan is calling me. I’ll put your daddy back on ok?” he squeaked.
Mark waited a second, cleared his throat and then spoke, “OK, did you hear that?”
“Daddy, daddy, Tinkerbell puts magic on my nappies and I am getting wings when I am older and I will be beautiful like her and I will be able to fly when my wings grow!” she raved excitedly.
Mark couldn’t help but laugh at her innocence, “That’s great honey. But you have to wear the nappies AND you have to go to bed!”
“I know!” she sighed.
“OK, so are you going to be a good girl for mummy and go to sleep now?” he asked.
“Yes daddy!” she sang.
“Good girl. Goodnight baby, Put your mummy on please!” he smiled.
He waited and then heard Fina’s voice, “Hi!” she sighed sounding just as fed up as earlier.
“hi love. You ok now?” he asked.
“Yeah. She just refused to go to sleep or put her nappy on until she spoke to you on the phone!” she sighed, “Just had to change all the sheets and everything!”
“Awww honey!” he pouted.
Fina nodded tiredly, “And now the other one has woken up. She is hungry, I expect. It’s 2 in the morning, Mark! I haven’t even stepped inside our bed yet. I am so tired!” she ranted.
Mark knew how hard it must be for her, being on her own with 2 kids for most of the day. She could cope. She had no problem with coping, but she did get tired and he felt bad about that.
“I’ll be home soon ok? They are playing the last songs now and last order at the bar was called out half an hour ago!” he smiled.
“I will probably be in bed by then!” she croaked.
Mark sighed, “I’ll try not to wake you ok? Then tomorrow I will take the kids out and you can have a lie in. How about that?”
“It’s not fair on you, Mark. You work too. You’re tired aswell, having 2 jobs and all!” she sighed.
“It’s my final word, Finnie. NO arguments. Anyway I’ll leave you to it ok, before Emma wakes the neighbours up. Goodnight sweetie!” he smiled.
“Night babe. I love you!” she yawned.
“I love you back. Goodnight!” he blew a kiss down the phone and placed it back in his pocket, wishing the night would come to an end already!