THE MYSTERIOUS COUPLE NEXT DOOR When a new couple in their early 50s, both short and slender—him w…

ODD NEIGHBOURS

New neighbours moved into flat 222, Number 8 Mayfield Avenue. A couple in their early fifties, both on the small and skinny side. He sports a neat beard and always seems to be in a grey overcoat, while shes usually seen in long skirts and colourful berets. Theyre very politealways offering a smile in the lift, and holding the door if your arms are full with supermarket bags.

And whats more, in these thin-walled modern flats, theyre quiet. Or so we all believedat least, for the first fortnight.

After a couple of weeks, the Smiths in 221 and the Parkers in 223, realised the new neighbours werent quite as silent as wed thought, and their presence quickly became a favourite topic at dinner.

The Smiths have been married half their lives, both around forty:

Have you met the new neighbours? my husband asked one evening.

Yeah, shared a lift with them yesterday. Why?

Theyre rather affectionate, it seems.

What do you mean?

Well, when you lot go off to work, the place goes quiet. You can hear everything through these walls, and, honestly, for three days running now, theyve been playing adult games in there.

Seriously?

With an imagination, too. Its like something out of a film.

Ha, sounds amusing!

Youll hear it yourself. It gets bothersome, especially if youre trying to get some work done.

Oh come on, dont be a prude. Theyre in their fifties and still playing.

Not like us he thought, but didnt say aloud.

That weekend, even my husband became an unwilling witness. This time, it was the gardener and lady of the house classic. We both couldnt help blushing.

*****

And the Parkersthe youngest couple on our flooralmost thirty, married five years, expecting their first child, had their own conversations:

Charlie, did you see the new neighbours?

Yeah, bumped into them in the hallway. Why?

Theyre interesting, arent they? Shes always cooking these amazing meals, the flat smells like a bistro when I walk by! And hes forever turning up with flowers or nicely wrapped gifts, dashing in like its a date.

How do you know all this?

I take a walk most days, and the scents coming from their placemakes me swoon. Ive seen him with flowers, too, and once with a bottle of wine. Theyre always together.

Maybe theyre not actually married? Just lovers?

Does it matter? Theyre lovely together. And when theyre in the kitchen, chatting and laughing, you can hear it if the dishwasher isnt roaringlike newlyweds.

All right. The news is about to start, Im off.

That Friday, Charlie bumped into the neighbour at the lifta bouquet of roses, a bottle of merlot under his arm, clearly expecting quite a night.

*****

A month passed, and the odd couple in 222 still carried on with their eccentric rituals. The Smiths, now used to the new background noises, accepted the nightly sighs and creaks of a well-used mattress as part of life. It was as though they were in a rush, desperate to savour every moment together.

One evening, I found myself averting my eyes as I spoke to Nicholas.

I popped into the shopping centre today and, out of curiosity, wandered into the lingerie section. Look what I bought. I opened my dressing gown.

Nicholass eyes gleamed; he traced his lower lip with his tongue.

I stopped by one of those grown-up shops the other day, he added. Picked up something. Not sure if youll like it.

Well, we wont know if we dont try, I stammered, blushing.

*****

Meanwhile, the man from 222 had his ear pressed to our shared wall. Here we go he murmured.

*****

Charlie from 223 decided at lunchtime to visit a jewellery shoprealised it had been too long since surprising his wife. He used to do it weeklya chocolate here, a trinket therealways something in his briefcase.

Then, he noticed his wifes coat by chance.

Emily! he called. What are you doing here? The shopping centres miles away.

Oh, just fancied a stroll, she said, cheeks flushed. And you?

Got these earrings for you, he grinned, unable to hold back.

Emily lit up. Thank you, darling, and kissed him. I thought Id make that prawn carbonara for dinner, remember? They say this place has the best prawns.

I remember! My mouths watering already.

Dont be late; Ill have dinner ready for seven, so its not cold.

I wont, Charlie promised, secretly making a mental note to pick up some flowers.

*****

Whats their latest, then? the gent in 222 asked.

Shes cooking up something special, his wife replied with a smile. And the rest of them? Sound like things are going well too.

*****

Another month on, and the transformation in the Smiths was remarkable. They both looked a decade younger, couldnt take their eyes off each other, and took every opportunity to spend time together. Sometimes they even escaped for a night away from the kids, booking a hotel for a taste of adventure.

Now, conversations with friends were livelier; housework was easier, even the little day-to-day things seemed brighter.

*****

Meanwhile, the Parkers, on the cusp of parenthood, were dating anewnights at the cinema, dinners out, exhibitions. Emily dusted off her old recipe book, and Charlie never missed a week without a little surprise. Evening news? Who had time for the news anymore?

*****

How are they getting on now? the woman from 222 asked her husband.

Fine. Not much more than a bit of creaking, but the kids must be home. Still, everythings perked upI listen in, just to be sure.

And the other lot?

Oh, always nattering in the kitchen, laughing, cooking like theyre in some posh restaurant.

Lovely! Three months, and the jobs nearly done. Well stick around another fortnight, just to be thorough.

Brilliant. Whos next, then?

Simons, Number 4, flat 65. Next door, flat 66they barely speak; in 64, its time to sort out their bedroom too, as usual!

Got it. All right, Ill leave your tapes for now; make sure you make some more noise tonight. And Ill keep the food deliveries coming. Weve still got some of those scented oils. Though, your roses from last week are wiltinglooks like Ill have to pick up another bunch.

I will. And give my back a quick rub before bed, would youAs the couple in 222 packed away their last batch of notescharts, clipped with names and laugh lines and bedroom scoresthey paused at their living room window overlooking Mayfield Avenue. The city sparkled below: voices, lives, tiny dramas kindling in the dusk.

She reached for his hand, their fingers knotting together amid the folders and empty flower vases. We could stay, you know, she whispered. But our work here is done.

He smileda conspirators smile, rich with secret joy. A good seasons work. Four couples, four foundations: revived romance, renewed laughter, saucepans rattling like applause. Mayfield will keep humming long after were gone.

She laughed, tugging her kaleidoscopic beret straight. We never have to linger, do we? A push, a nudge, a bit of boldnessits always enough. They just forget, sometimes. Loves always in them, waiting.

He raised a glass to the flickering orange of the evening. To new beginnings. And old dreams made new.

Their door clicked softly behind them as they walked out, not saying goodbye to anyonejust as theyd arrived. By morning, flat 222 was empty save a vase of fresh roses left outside, and a single note, folded and wedged under the front doormats of 221 and 223:

In case you ever need reminding
The best neighbours are the ones who leave you listening for each other.

And for years after, Mayfield Avenue buzzed quietly with the sound of laughter behind closed doors, the scent of suppers shared, the hush of secrets whispered not through walls, but across kitchen tableswhere odd neighbours had taught them all, in their own peculiar way, that love is something worth making noise about.