His name is Henry; that's what I call him now - since I was appointed to redecorate his house. My name is Samantha. Before, when I started working for Henry, it was Mr Bedford but he insisted I call him by his Christian name. I had only recently started my female decorating business which was doing much better than I envisaged.
But I could never have envisaged how I got involved with this guy in his mid βfifties, my being just twenty five and all.
It never ever crossed my mind, in fact quite the opposite, that I could ever see Henry as an attraction, least of a sexual nature.
But although he was 55 and I was 30 years his junior it dawned on me, during the time I spent in his home , that there was a chemical attraction, something which I can't explain but there. Whether it was because of his openness, his kindness I cannot say -maybe simply a bit of both but it did not take long for me to realise Henry was a very lonely guy - and when he told me he had only five years previously lost his wife in a car crash I immediately felt empathy for him
Not as though he harps on the fact, or ever admits he is lonely β I have found that he is not that type of guy and I admire him for that and perhaps the fact that something very unpredictable has happened, I have fell in love with this man who is old enough to be my dad. I have even put off James who was my sort of casual now and again boyfriend just to be with Henry, because he is the type of guy who wants my all, all I can give and all he is able to take. He is my everything - and more too and don't let anyone tell you a partnership where ages are so different can't work.
And now I live and sleep with him, he may not be your young hunk image gloating with sexual desire but to me Henry has an attraction all his own, and that means more to me than any other guy I have known.
I am so glad it happened, He was showing me his photograph album, he had no kin and expressed how he would have loved to have had kids, but Cynthia, his late wife, was unable to. Then in a couple of days the coffee offers lead to having dinner with him in his little kitchen.
One thing led to another quite unwittingly on both counts with me thinking of him as a father figure and me assuming he was thinking of me as a substitute daughter he could never have.
But unbeknown to Henry and me, something more was stirring and it was about sexual attraction, when after dinner, sharing the sofa with him and watching his favourite soap on TV he simply laid his hand on my left thigh in a very natural way. I looked into his eyes and there was nothing to suggest there was any motive there - but quite instinctively I moved my hand to cover his - gently squeezing and do you know what? his whole face lit up - it really did and did me a power of good to think I could do this, make this older guy smile more than I had ever noticed before.
We chatted on about the characters in the soap called Neighbours, how they were always so perfect and glamorous, and we talked about relationships as well. He asked if I was with anyone and the like.
I told him about James but that's he was only a casual friend.
He smiled saying he had heard that one before, it was like he was fishing maybe to see if I had any sexual attraction for him, he was not the type I realised that, to openly show anything so personal but I then realised that maybe unwittingly he was fishing
"Right, I did sleep with him, occasionally - but it was never serious." I admitted.
"But you never loved him?" he queried - his eyes focussed on mine - "I mean as a woman loves a man big time?"
"That sounds like a line from an old movie" I smiled - "and yes, you are right, he was fun I won't deny that and I am a natural girl, it was good while it lasted but I am thinking with James- no more"
"No more, Samantha? " he asked, his face lighting up again.
"I have decided to dump him, Henry."
"That sounds awful, I hate that expression, like he was some garbage used and to be disposed of."
"Sorry" I offered.
"It's not you, I didn't mean that, it is just some of the modern expressions seem hard that's all. Samantha."
It was the first time she called me Samantha..
"Okay to call you Samantha or would you rather Sam?"
"Sam is fine" I replied feeling his warmth coming through, realising at that stage he was more than a father figure, much more. But how could it be, was I abnormal or something? Shouldn't I be attracted to someone nearer my age? But it was happening, I knew it and I believe he did too, and my assumptions proved to be correct.
I squeezed his hand again and this time he responded, squeezing back.
"You are a lovely girl, you really are, Sam" he whispered and I felt a wonderfully warm surge within, something quite frankly I would have felt with James but with Henry came the added gush of emotion.
Henry was an intelligent guy and he immediately realised my embarrassment saying not to be concerned, because he felt the same way too, that certain flame he told me he had not encountered for so very long.
"You don't mind?" I asked cautiously.
He brushed his lips against mine, it was lovely, for an older man his skin was fresh and I took in his natural body ardour, not excessive but just a hint which for me was perfect. A sort of musk which created a very erotic atmosphere and for the first time in my life I felt complete, that dear Henry was my everything.