‘No, you’ve been amazing,’ he smiled. ‘So where do I begin? Which takes priority? happy birthday, or happy wedding anniversary?’
‘Well, I think you already decided by asking in that order, genius,’ I laughed with a flick to his forehead. ‘But if I have a choice, happy wedding anniversary my wonderful husband. I love you so much.’
‘I love you too, baby,’ he said, hesitantly. I immediately clasped his face and kissed him.
‘So, what’s the plan of action today?’ I asked.
‘I’d like you to open your presents, then I’d like to go to Mum’s grave before we pick up the remaining items for lunch tomorrow, and then just a cosy night in with mulled wine and nibbles.
‘We agreed no presents, we’re doing up the house and buying stuff for that.’
‘No, you told me no presents, there was no actual agreement,’ he laughed.
‘Gabriel Austin, will you ever do as you’re told?’ I smiled.
‘When I want to,’ he shrugged with a cheeky grin and leapt out of bed and headed out to the living room. I looked up at the picture opposite of Gabe on bended knee and smiled. A whole year as Mrs. Mia Austin, I could hardly believe it. So much had happened in that short time. Good and bad. I sighed and decided to focus on the now. It was going to be a weird Christmas. Robert didn’t want to risk Sofia flying so close to her due date, so they were staying in New York with her family. Lexi left yesterday to spend a few days with her dad in London, Doug and Sarah had gone skiing with his parents and Georgie and Justin had got engaged at the beginning of December and wanted Mum and Gerry to have Christmas with his family. Gabe and I had been invited, to New York too, but I kind of wanted it to just be the two of us at home, and he’d agreed.
‘What are you doing out there?’ I called.
‘Coffee.’
‘Ok, I forgive you.’ I smiled, he knew how much I loved my caffeine fix in the morning. I rearranged the pillows and sat up as he came in with a tray.
‘Ok, here you are, coffee and a croissant. I know there’re not as good as the ones in Paris, but I hope they’ll do.’
‘Nothing could beat the ones in Paris,’ I agreed as he set his coffee down and hopped up on the bed next to me and deposited two small wrapped gift boxes on the bed.
‘Wedding anniversary one first,’ he advised and pointed to the smaller of the boxes. I smiled and carefully unwrapped it and gasped and put my hand to my chest as I looked inside the velvet lined box. There was a slim platinum channel set diamond eternity ring. The diamonds ran all the way around it and the width matched my wedding and engagement rings perfectly.
‘Gabe, it’s beautiful,’ I sighed. He smiled and took it out of the box and slipped it onto my finger, a perfect fit of course. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘Do we need to review the house insurance again?’ I asked.
‘You think you’re so funny, Mrs. Austin,’ he laughed.
‘So what’s the second one?’
‘That’s your birthday present, the one I wasn’t supposed to get, so I hope that you’ll appreciate that I’ve shown some restraint.’
‘You? Never going to happen, except if you lift that BDSM headboard behind me.’
‘That’s coming to the house, along with this bed when we move.’
‘How’s it coming along?’ I asked.
‘Good. Plans have been approved and they’ll remove the kitchen and start the structural alterations in January. Once the builders have fitted the new kitchen and flooring throughout the new room, we can start thinking about colour schemes for any of the rooms that you want to change and personalise. Dad’s already moved his lounge furniture to the garage and stripped out his personal stuff.’
‘Not all the pictures of you and your mum?’ I gasped.
‘He’s taken some of them, but I’ve kept my favourites.’
‘Good, I’d still like to keep those up in the family room.’
‘You would?’ he looked at me surprised.
‘Of course I would, they’re import to you, which makes them important to me.’ I kissed him and he smiled.
‘Thanks, so, present,’ he nodded. I sighed with a smile and opened the second box. He’d got me a new yellow gold belly bar with a crown of diamonds. ‘Now you match with your gold outfits.’
‘I do,’ I laughed and kissed him. ‘Thank you, you’re so thoughtful and now I feel kind of cheap with your Anniversary gift.’ It was so hard to buy for Gabe. He had enough money to buy whatever he wanted, with possibly the exception of the Lamborghini Veneno, and he had everything he needed already. I reached under the bed and pulled out a flat wrapped parcel. His face still lit up, he loved getting presents.
‘Mia,’ he sighed. I bit my lip as he studied the white wooden picture frame with four apertures for the black and white photos I’d taken. I’d filled it with one shot Doug had taken of us on our wedding day, kissing on the balcony of the lake house with the moonlight and twinkling fairy lights all around us. One he’d loved of me on honeymoon, where I was sitting dangling my feet in the water and had looked back at him over my shoulder and the other where I was blowing him a kiss across my outstretched hand, then finally one Mus had taken of Gabe in his shorts and me in my bikini having a piggy back as we’d walked along the sand while we laughed. ‘I love it.’
‘I thought it could go in your study when we move to the big house.’
‘Yes,’ he nodded, ‘But it will go on my desk in my office, eventually. I’ll want to see you all day while I’m at work.’
‘You made the decision?’ I held my breath. We’d had some long discussions about whether he was thinking about accepting out of some feeling of loyalty to his mum and dad, the tempting finance package and security it would offer us, or whether it was the right career for him. I wanted him to be sure that he would be happy doing that job for the rest of his life.
‘Yes. I’m going to accept Dad’s offer. I mean financially I’d be crazy not to, yes there’s an element of feeling like I ought to, to carry on with the family firm, but I do love being in control and organising things. Why not get paid for something I love doing? Plus, we’ll get to travel to all these different locations together.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes. Are you having doubts?’ he frowned.
‘No, of course not. I think it’s the right move, but I needed you to work that out for yourself.’
‘I still want to live here, for most of the year anyway. I mean, Westhampton’s my home and all of our friends are here. Is that ok with you?’
‘More than ok with me. I mean sure, I’m not going to moan having to follow you to London, New York or Hong Kong from time to time, but I kind of feel like this city is my home now too.’
‘Wow, we’re making some pretty life altering changes at the tender age of twenty-one,’ he nodded.
‘We are,’ I smiled. ‘But we can handle them, we’ve handled more.’
‘We have,’ he replied with a sad smile. He palmed my cheek and leaned in and kissed me.
We spent an hour at Tabby’s grave, filling her in on what had happened since we’d been to visit on Gabe’s birthday, and we both let out a few tears before heading to the supermarket and weaving our way around the aisles. We were just approaching the checkout when I realised that I’d forgotten my tampons.
‘Shit, I’ll be back in a second.’
‘We’ve got everything on the list, I triple checked.’
‘Tampons,’ I whispered.
‘I’ll wait here for you, hurry up, I’d like to get home. Your backside in those jeans is looking mighty fine,’ he grinned. I winked and gave it a sexy wiggle as I headed back to the feminine hygiene aisle. I picked up a box and turned around to come face to face with Chelsea, her arms folded across her chest and a smug look on her face. I’d not seen her for two years, not since she’d pulled my hair that Boxing Day when we’d gone for a meal to 26.
‘Mrs. Austin,’ she said in a sarcastic tone.
‘Ch
elsea.’ I went to side step her and she moved to block my path. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘Just surprised you’re still together, that’s all. I didn’t think he’d stick with you after everything.’
‘Everything?’ I bristled.
‘I saw your abduction on the news and heard that you worked in a strip club. I thought Gabe had more taste than that, going after some cheap stripper.’
‘Well, his standards were set pretty low when he fucked you Chelsea, so anything else would be an improvement.’
‘Still got a nasty tongue on you.’
‘And you’re still stuck with that jealousy and nasty personality.’ I shot back. ‘Now excuse me, I have better things to do than trade insults with you.’
‘It’s only a matter of time before he leaves you, you know that right?’
‘Are we really going there again?’ I sighed. ‘You told me he wouldn’t admit that he loved me last time we met, yet we’re married, a year today as a matter of fact. He’s not holding some candle for you Chelsea, you seriously need to move on. This whole obsession with him is kind of creepy.’
‘I went through one of the worst times of his life with him, he can count on me to support him and give him what he needs.’
‘And what exactly is it that you think he needs?’
‘A loving family. I heard you were trying for a baby, but by the looks of the box in your hand you can’t even make that happen for him can you?’
‘Tell me that you did not just go there?’ I hissed.
‘You really think he won’t be affected by you not being able to give him a kid? He told me that having a child was a way of redeeming himself, trying to rid himself of the guilt that he feels for causing his mum’s miscarriage. He’ll hate you for not being able to make that happen for him, deep down inside he’ll despise you for not giving him a baby Mia, and when he realises it, he’ll come running back to me, just like he always has. In fact, I hope you do get pregnant and have a miscarriage, you’ll push him into my arms and do us all a favour.’
‘You bitch,’ I spat and dropped the tampons and slapped her as hard as I could across the face. She took a surprised stumble backwards as I shook my trembling, smarting hand. I was boiling with anger inside. ‘Don’t you dare talk about our problems or how Gabe feels, you know nothing.’ I bit my lip, determined not to cry in front of her, but it was no good, I felt dampness on my cheeks and the salty sting in my eyes and quickly tried to wipe them.
‘O yeah, he’s really going to love a girl who gets all emotional and can’t move on from failed bloody pregnancy attempts, reminding him all the time of what he’s already lost, of what you can’t offer him,’ she hissed. ‘I offer him easy, sex with no complications. Why would he choose you?’
‘I hate you,’ I yelled. ‘You’re an evil, conniving, vindictive bitch who preys on young boys. I don’t give a shit about your opinion.’
‘Really? So why are you so upset? Touched a nerve, did I?’ she laughed. I glared at her, she had touched a nerve, several nerves, everything she said was in the back of my mind as it was, but to have her bring them to my attention was all the more painful. I completely lost my cool and launched myself at her, shoving her back into the display unit behind her, which shook and a load of items fell off the shelves onto the ground. She recovered quickly and punched me straight in the face. I put a hand to my cheek and wobbled on my feet as I tried to refocus my eyes, but was knocked off my feet as she barrelled head first into me, taking me to the ground with her.
I heard someone else yelling for help as I quickly hooked my legs around hers, flipped her onto her back and gave her a swift jab with my fist to her ribs and then aimed a punch on her jaw. She moved her face just as I struck and I got her in the mouth and winced as my knuckle cracked on something sharp. She screamed and spat out blood, and possibly a tooth, before grabbing my hair and pulling it hard. I screamed as I fell onto my side, bashing my shoulder on the ground and banging my temple. She took advantage of my stunned state, scrambled up and kicked me straight in the stomach. I yelped and clutched it and took another kick to the back of my hand. As the third one came at me I shot my hands out, grabbed her foot and pulled her off balance so she landed really hard on her backside, while I tried to recover from pain and throbbing in various parts of my body. I blinked a few times and gasped as I saw the bottom of her heel coming straight for my face. I rolled just out of reach as I heard Gabe roar.
‘CHELSEA, STOP!’
I scrambled up and tried to reach her again, but a pair of strong arms secured me from behind. We glared at each other as she was restrained by a security guard, blood all over the lower half of her face.
‘Calm down Miss,’ said the voice behind me. I turned to look at him in amazement, another security guard.
‘Calm down? CALM BLOODY DOWN? Do you know what she just did?’
‘Mia, baby, what the hell’s going on?’ sighed Gabe as he reached up and touched the side of my face. I winced and yanked my head away.
‘Is she with you?’
‘Yes, that’s my wife.’
‘And the other woman?’
‘An ex … friend,’ he sighed.
‘She started it,’ yelled Chelsea. ‘She shoved me, Gabe.’
‘O very mature,’ I snapped. ‘Aren’t you in the wrong store? Help the Aged is down the road.’
‘Bitch,’ she hissed.
‘Chelsea, shut it,’ Gabe growled over his shoulder at her. ‘Mia, did you start this?’
‘Yes,’ I whispered as I hung my head. ‘But she made nasty comments about me not being able to get pregnant.’
‘Chelsea, tell me that you didn’t?’ Gabe snapped as he spun around to face her. I looked up and felt myself go scarlet to see a crowd had formed. That was all I needed. A bloody cat fight, being restrained by a security guard and probably arrested on my birthday and wedding anniversary all because of that … nasty piece of work.
‘She’s lying. She’s a liar Gabe, come on, you’ve known me for years. You’re going to believe her over me?’
‘Let. Me. Go.’ I snapped as I struggled to get out of the guys grasp. She was really asking for it now.
‘Of course I believe her Chelsea, she’s my wife and I can’t believe you’d stoop that low. Not with all the pressure Mia and I are already under, that’s inexcusable.’
‘Sorry to interrupt, but I was standing not too far away and the woman with red hair did say some very nasty things to the other lady. I’d have done more than push her if that had been me.’ I flashed a smile of gratitude at the blonde and she nodded back with a smile.
‘What will happen to them both?’ Gabe sighed as he looked at the security guard.
‘It depends if either wants to press charges and what damage has been caused, we haven’t rung the Police yet.’
‘If I agree to pay for any damage, plus compensation, will you consider letting them go if they both agree to not take this further?’
‘Do you want to press charges, Miss?’ I was asked. I looked up at Gabe and he gave a shake of his head.
‘Not if she won’t,’ I sighed.
‘Fine, whatever,’ Chelsea sighed and looked off in the other direction. I tensed up as Gabe stepped closer to her.
‘If I ever hear that you’ve been anywhere near Mia again, or upset her in any way, it will be me that you’re dealing with. Understood, Chelsea?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered and hung her head. I shrugged off the security guard and winced again, before bending to pick up my handbag and tampons, clutching my stomach as I went down.
‘I think both of you need medical attention, preferably not at the same time,’ advised the guard still holding Chelsea.
‘I’m fine,’ I muttered.
‘Me too,’ came Chelsea’s voice. ‘Please will you let me go, I’d like to leave.’
I left the A&E room three hours later with a sling, a bandaged hand from the gash on my knuckles from Chelsea’s teeth, an ice pack for my face
and painkillers for my headache and bruised body.
‘Jesus Christ,’ Gabe sighed as he took my good hand. ‘Some bloody wedding anniversary this is.’
‘At least you won’t forget it in a hurry.’
‘Definitely not. Is everything ok?’ he asked as he ran his eyes over my injuries.
‘Badly bruised shoulder, mild concussion, a bruised cheek, which will probably turn into a black eye, butterfly stitches on my hand and a serious headache. I promise it was her Gabe, I didn’t start it.’
‘I believe you,’ he sighed and gently kissed my forehead. ‘But this is unacceptable. She’s lost a tooth, fractured another, has bruised ribs and bottom and a mild concussion as well. Do you know how serious this could have been?’
‘You’ve spoken to her?’ I gasped.
‘She rang to apologise.’
‘Please tell me you didn’t accept it?’
‘She sounded genuinely sorry, Mia.’
‘I can’t believe you’ve fallen for it.’ I yanked my hand out of his. ‘She was vile, Gabe. She said she hoped I got pregnant and had a miscarriage as it would be in everyone’s favour as it would make you realise that I wasn’t right for you and she was. I can’t believe she’s won you around.’
‘Mia, not in here.’
‘O I’m sorry, are you embarrassed? Is this embarrassing for you? Well, you should have thought of that before taking your ex-girlfriends side.’ I stormed out of the hospital back toward the car park, as fast as I could storm when I felt sick and dizzy and my shoulder and stomach hurt. He caught me up too quickly and blocked my path. ‘Don’t,’ I moaned.
‘I’m on your side Mia, my wife’s side. I just think that there are two sides to the story, you both wind each other up and I get caught in the middle.’
‘Right, because this is so hard for you. You weren’t there, you didn’t hear what she said.’
Infinite Love (The Austin Series) Page 26
