“You need to stop being such a man.” She tells me and I can’t help but laugh at that comment.
“Sorry babe I’m all man and there’s nothing I can do about it.” I growl and nuzzle into her neck which makes her giggle. “Am I forgiven?” I ask her.
“I guess.” She says starting to relax in my arms.
“Good, now can we make up?” I ask raising my eyebrows.
“Here? No Matt.”
“I’ll be quick.” I tell her.
“We’re not having a quickie here while everyone’s out there.” She eyes the closed door. I kiss the sensitive spot below her ear.
“I’ll keep you quiet.” I offer, she moves allowing me to kiss along her neck down to her shoulder.
“Matt.” She moans but I know I have won this argument. Merry Christmas to me.
Chapter 26
Anne
Christmas with Matt, his Mum and the kids at the centre was amazing. After our misunderstanding about money, Matt has been attentive and reassuring, watching him with his Mum was lovely to see, and the joy on the face of the kids at the centre, but it also made me think back on Christmas past with my Mum, Dad, and Nana.
“Penny for them.” Matt’s voice cuts into my thoughts and I look up at him as he sits beside me on the sofa. “You have such a sad smile on your gorgeous lips, aren’t you happy?” He asks questioningly as he reaches for my hand.
“Yes, it has been an amazing Christmas, I was just thinking about my family.” I say smiling reassuringly. He instantly pulls me closer to him.
“Why don’t we go to Manchester for a few days, we have Monday off work. You can show me all the places you used to hang out and we can take our Christmas wreath to their grave if you want to.” He says planting a kiss on the side of my forehead.
“I want to be here for New Year though, this is my first home and you promised to stay. I want to start the year off with you here in my home.” I reply liking the idea, but hesitant it’s been almost a year since I was there. “You are still going to stay over aren’t you.?” I add questioningly.
“We can be back by then. We can go later today and spend all day tomorrow there and come home on Monday. How does that sound? I would love to see where you grew up.” He says happily pulling out his phone this thumb tapping away at the screen before he turns it to me.
“Look, the Premier Inn near the train station has some rooms available. Shall I book it?” I nod smiling.
“It is nice to go away we don’t do it much.”
“All booked and there is a train in two hours we can be on that and in Manchester for dinner.” He says standing up from the sofa.
“Two hours!” I say shocked. “I need to make lists and pack, I won’t be ready.” He takes my hands helping me to my feet.
“You don’t need a list, grab a bag throw in a few clothes and your makeup and we are on our way. Come on Angel it will be fun.” He leads me to the bedroom and pulls his holdall from the top of the wardrobe and sets it down on the bed. I watch as he turns to the drawers that he keeps a few clothes in for when he stays. He throws some items in the bag. “That’s me done I just need my coat and boots.” I stare at him in disbelief I can’t pack like this I will forget something, but he sits on the bed looking at me expectantly, so I pull a couple of jumpers from the wardrobe along with some jeans and underwear from the drawer and add them to his bag. I run around the bathroom collecting makeup and toiletries trying to mentally work out if I have everything. I grab both our toothbrushes before turning back to the bedroom I push them in the bag.
“You forgot your toothbrush.” I say smiling. “See it’s not good to rush. Chargers!” I Exclaim as Matt hands me my coat.
“I could have shared yours and calm down I packed the chargers, breathe it’s only two nights and I’m sure Manchester has shops.” He chuckles as he fastens his coat.
“Okay, I guess you’re right, it’s just really quick.”
“I know it’s fun though.” Matt says as he takes my hand and leads me out of the door.
The journey to Manchester is quicker than I remember. I was sat looking out of the window, but Matt got me talking. He is always great about not letting me dwell on things or overthink. He asked questions about my childhood which I willingly answered and before I knew it I had told him about most of my life, In no time at all we were pulled into the station.
He was also right about the hotel it was just around the corner from the train station.
After we had checked into our room I took him on a tour around the city centre, I pointed out the shop that used to be Woolworths which was my first Saturday job. Walking around the town made me feel nostalgic so many memories filled this city, some good ones and some sad ones. After dinner we went back to the hotel and curled up in bed, Matt must have sensed my apprehension for the following day as he just lay holding me, talking softly against my ear and rubbing my back lightly until I eventually fell asleep.
I wake the next morning Matt’s arms still wrapped tightly around me, I look up to meet his gaze.
“Are you okay? You were restless last night.” He asks as his hand moves up to cup my face. I nod in response.
“Yes, It’s just been a while since I went to the graveyard and I haven’t been since my Nana died.”
“We don’t have to go you know, we can do something else or just head back home.” He says as he tilts my head to lay a soft kiss on my lips.
“No, I really should go it will be okay.” I say smiling. “But I’m starving did you book breakfast?” I ask lifting my head up to look down at him.
“Of course, I did it is the best part of being away from home and I know you love a full English.”
“Then what are we waiting for.” I say laughing as I sit back on my heels grabbing a pillow, I hit Matt with it softly before jumping off the bed.
“It’s gonna be like that today is it.” He replies his voice full of laughter as a pillow hits my shoulder as I enter the bathroom to get ready.
Breakfast is finished quickly I don’t seem to have much of an appetite this morning and my thoughts seem to keep drifting off to memories of the past. I think Matt has stopped trying to start a conversation with me as I keep drifting off and I only realise I have been drifting off when I hear him calling my name. I see the worried look etched on his face and I give him my best smile as I reach across the table taking his hand in mine and give it a gentle squeeze.
“Shall we get going or do you want another cup of tea?” I ask reassuringly.
“Let’s get another drink and take them to our room it’s quieter there and we can plan our day.” Matt says as he stands holding out his hand to me. I take it and we walk to the drink machines Matt releases my hand and makes me a coffee then his tea before we make our way back to our room.
After our drinks and with a rough idea of a plan we head to reception and get them to call us a taxi. The taxi drops us off at the road where I grew up, Matt climbs out with his backpack and pays the driver while I climb out.
“I got his business card we can call him to pick us up when we are ready to go back.”
“That’s great.” I say as I link my arm through his and wrapping my other hand around his arm, I hug it to me. “This is where I grew up, my parents lived here when I was born, so I spent the first fifteen years of my life here.” We walk up along the tree lined street and I glance at Matt’s face, his eyes are wide and I know what he’s thinking. I let my hand fall from his arm. All the houses are large and detached with plenty of land and generally they have four or five bedrooms. “Two Million.” I state as a matter of fact.
“Ugh?” Matt says questioningly as he turns his head to look at me.
“Two million is what they are worth it may be more now.” I say as I come to a stop outside a large double fronted house with a crescent gravel drive, it can be seen clearly as the leaves have fallen from all the trees in the garden, in the summer you can’t see the house from the street. “This was my house, the room
upstairs on the right was mine.” I watch as he stands and looks over the house. “I know we had different childhoods Matt, but it is just a house.”
“It’s a beautiful house Angel, you must have loved growing up here.” I tug his arm as I start walking again and he steps into pace with me.
“I have lots of good memories from being there of course I have, but sad ones too. It’s just a house, now it’s home to another family. My home is in London my apartment it’s the first home that is completely mine. That’s why I wanted it to be nice and welcoming, I want you to like being there.”
“Of course, I like being there it’s where you are and anywhere where you are, I like to be.” He says as he kisses the top of my head. We walk slowly through the estate the breeze is cool, but the sun is shining as we turn on to my Nana’s street. These houses are smaller some detached some semidetached. Nana’s was a semi at the other end of the street. We cross over the road and I feel a pang sadness as I see the house it looks completely different it has been extended and the render is no longer gleaming white but a soft blue.
“Nana hated blue.” I mumble to myself.
“Is this your Nana’s house?” Matt asks as he stops, and I nod my eyes brim with tears.
“She hated blue she always kept the house white and there used to be roses by the front door.” I say as I wipe my eyes.
“Angel.” Matt states as he wraps his arm around me. “We can go back if this is getting too much for you.”
“No, I’m fine honestly. The graveyard isn’t far away we can go there, and you can call the taxi.” I smile up at him and plant a soft kiss on his worried lips before tugging his arm. “Come on it’s cold and it will be lunchtime soon.
“We can go anytime you need to, but it’s nice to see where you grew up.” The walk to the graveyard is short and we walk through the arch at the entrance and down the path, along the centre of the graveyard stepping off the path onto the grass. We walk between two rows of gravestones I stop at the black marble headstone and read the inscription.
Matt stands behind me, his chin on my shoulder as his hands rub my upper arms.
“Are you okay Angel?” His voice is soft his breath warm against my cold cheek. I nod in acknowledgment. I thought I would feel different being here, but it doesn’t.
“This may sound cold, but I think the thought of being here was worse than actually being here, like I made it into a bigger thing than it is if that makes sense. I know they aren’t actually here, and I always have my memories with me.”
“You do, and I like hearing about them it’s nice, I get to share them with you and make them live on.” His lips kiss my cheek.
“My Nana’s is the gravestone to the left.” I feel Matt’s head turn to look and I know he’s reading the words on the matching black marble headstone. I check my watch it’s nearly lunchtime. “Why don’t you call the taxi to come and get us.” Matt steps away from me shrugging the backpack off his arm.
“That sounds good to me I will give you a few minutes alone I will just be on the bench over there when you are ready okay?” I nod as he unzips the bag carefully taking out our Christmas wreath pressing a soft kiss on my lips as I take the wreath from him before he turns to walk away pulling out his phone to call the taxi driver.
I stand between my parents and Nana’s graves and crouch down laying the wreath on the frosted grass in-between them.
“Sorry I haven’t been much. I moved to London and started a new job that I love. I also got my own place.” Turning to Matt sat on the bench on his phone. “He’s Matt, he is the best and I love him. I know you get why I don’t come here I just wanted to fetch Matt, show him where I was from.” Standing up I look at the graves that are the final resting place for my entire family. “I miss you all so much.” Turning to walk to Matt tears brim my eyes making my vision blurry.
“Angel.” Matt says standing when he sees my face, he closes the distance wrapping his arms around me. I wrap my arms around his body holding him tight taking comfort from him.
“I’m okay, can we go home, I know we have another night booked, but I really want to be at home now. Do you mind?” His hands rub my back soothingly.
“Anything you want is okay with me. The taxi is here let’s get back to the hotel you can pack, and I will look for a train this afternoon okay?” His voice is soft and warm, and I nod against his chest. He leads me to the taxi helping me into the back then joining me. It doesn’t take us long to get back to the hotel and pack, I set the bag on the bed and Matt smiles.
“Train is in an hour let’s check out go head to the station we can grab some food there.” I nod and take his hand and we head back to London.
I don’t know how long I have slept for, I went to bed almost as soon as we got home yesterday, I felt like I laid there staring at the wall for hours. I felt Matt come to bed pulling me to him, but without moving I know he’s not here now I reach for my phone and check the time 10:20 am. I sit up unable to believe the time I stretch and throw the quilt back as Matt walks in with a steaming cup of coffee.
“Morning Angel, how are you feeling?” He asks the concern on his face as he leans down kissing me as he sets the cup on the bedside table.
“I’m good thank you, you should have woken me it’s late.” I say trying to get up. Matt’s hands hold my shoulders pushing me back to the bed.
“Take it easy I have bacon on for a sandwich for you, crispy, no butter and a little HP just how you like it. After breakfast I will run you a bath and we are having a day of relaxing with movies on the sofa the Prosecco is chilling, and I have dinner planned.”
“You are too good to me Matthew Richardson.” Leaning up I kiss his lips. “I would be lost without you.”
“Good job you have me then.” He replies a grin on his lips. “Now let me go and get your breakfast.”
We have the most amazing day it is quiet but a perfect way to end the year. After I had breakfast and a bubble bath, we watch our favourite movies Serendipity and Matt’s childhood favourite Stand By Me, I bought it for him on DVD for Christmas and he was horrified I hadn’t watched it. We laid on the sofa and he practically recited the whole film in my ear. It’s lovely to have had so much time together over Christmas, we haven’t spent a night apart since we finished work before the holidays and it’s been nice having him around more. He makes the most delicious roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings and we talk about the highlights of the year and the nine months we have spent together. At almost midnight Matt fetches two glasses of Prosecco to the window and we listen to the TV in the background counting down. On the stroke of midnight, he kisses me softly and slowly it feels like it is never going to end.
“Happy New Year Angel.” Here is to the year ahead and us.”
“Happy New Year Baby.” I click glasses and take a sip of my drink as we watch the fireworks light up the sky. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a good year.” I tell him.
Chapter 27
Anne
The sound of my alarm seems to be blasting around my bedroom and I reach across to quickly silence it before it wakes Matt. I check the time and it reads 4.45 am I groan softly and lay my head back on the soft pillow desperate for another five minutes sleep, it is way too early to be getting up. Matt stayed over last night as Brad and I are heading to Dubai on a business trip this morning and we won’t see each other for a week. I gently try and lift up his arm that’s wrapped around my waist, so I can slip out of bed, but his grip tightens, and he pulls me flush against his body, His nose nuzzles into my neck and he starts kissing the soft spot below my ear that makes shivers run through me and goosebumps prick all over my skin.
“Mmm.” Escapes from my lips. “I was trying not to wake you it’s way too early to get up you go back to sleep.” I add smiling not wanting to move.
“I’m not letting you leave without waking me, you’re going to be away for a week.” He says punctuating each word with a kiss along my neck. “Do you really have to go?”
He says as I turn in his arms to face him.
“You know I do or I wouldn’t be going. It will fly by and we can call, text and Facetime.” I say reassuringly as my hand cups his cheek and my thumb brushes over the stubble on his jaw, smiling warmly at him I kiss him softly. Slowly he deepens the kiss as he rolls me on to my back laying over me he props himself up on his forearm and I look up into the deep blue eyes of the man I love so much, and I know I’m going to miss him each minute I’m gone. His lips move down my neck and along my collar bone, he lifts one arm pulling the quilt up over both our heads and I giggle at his playfulness. My giggle turns into a gasp of pleasure as his lips trail soft kisses down my neck along my breast until they find my nipple.
The knocking on the door causes me to check my watch and I curse silently.
“I will get that.” Matt calls from the lounge and I hear his bare feet pad along the wooden floor. After his lovely wake up this morning, I had the fastest shower ever and hurriedly got dressed, I hate rushing it always makes me panic and think I have forgotten something, so I close my eyes and take a few calming breaths before checking my case and hand luggage. Finally, happy I have everything, I pick up my bags and case and walk to the hall to see Matt talking to Brad’s driver Steve Parker.
“Morning Anne, are those all your bags?” He asks as he points to the case and bags and starts taking them from me.
“Morning, yes that’s it, thanks Steve.” I reply as Steve turns, making his way to the lift. He closes the door behind him leaving me and Matt alone. Looking up at Matt I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down kissing him softly my lips linger on his. “I love you, I will call or text as soon as we land.” I reassure him.
“I love you too. Don’t let him take advantage of you.” He says as I pull back and see his eyebrow is arched and know that has a double meaning.
Anne Page 16
