by T L Osborn
Me: I’ll see you here at say 10.00 am.
Simon: Looking forward to it.
Simon
I park my car up Aria’s driveway, grab the flowers I brought for her and climb out of the car. Making my way towards the front door and knock. I wait a few moments and the door opens to Aria, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, though strands have become loose and sticking to her face. Her gorgeous face is coated in flour and so is the rest of her.
“Hi,” she says wiping a strand of hair away from her face.
“Hey,” I say.
“Come in,” she says. I step through the front door into an open plan living, dining and kitchen area. To my left is the kitchen complete with breakfast bar, though not as big as mine it obviously works for them. In the lounge there are two couches, one beneath the exterior window facing the dining room table the other facing the TV. A hallway runs through the middle of the house and above the entrance to the hall is a bannister obviously running the length of the staircase but along where the wall used to be.
“Your home is lovely,” I say.
“Thanks, it used to be our parents’ but when they died it was left to us in their will. We’re lucky Toby has a good job and could afford to take over the mortgage repayments.”
I step around into the kitchen. “I bought you these. Where would you like me to put them?”
She turns and takes the flowers. “Simon you didn’t need to bring anything.”
“I know but what sort of boyfriend would I be if I turned up empty handed?” I ask. She places the flowers down on the opposite bench and turns to me.
“I’m sorry.” We both say together before cracking into smiling at each other. I step towards her and slide my arms around her, pulling her close to hold her tightly.
God! This feels so good.
“I’m sorry, honey, for everything I said. It all came out completely wrong. I don’t want you to hide your feelings, please don’t bottle them up, just tell me. That’s what couples do right? Talk about their issues. Here’s mine, it’s not that I’m not feeling the same way. I’m falling for you and I’m afraid if I get in too deep I’m going to wind up hurt again.”
She looks at me. “Simon, I’d never hurt you.”
“I used to believe that about Clarissa once. She never once told me she loved me, at least not genuinely. She’d say it in front of others and it always gave me a ray of hope that maybe she did feel something for me until we’d get home. She’d demand something new, telling me that was payment for her humiliating herself in front of others.” Tears form again in Aria’s eyes. “Honey, don’t cry. It’s not your fault.”
“I don’t get how someone can be so cruel. My ex was a master manipulator but yours was a bitch.”
I chuckle. “You’ve got that right. Are we okay now?”
“Nope, I need to apologise too. I should’ve listened instead of jumping ahead and drawing my own conclusions. You’ve got Charlotte to look after and she’s your number one priority. You’re right, we need to keep the love word between us, at least for now.”
I lean down and press my lips to hers, slowly at first to see if she’ll respond. I need this kiss to tell her we are okay. She does fiercer than I expect, her lips mashing with mine.
Suddenly she breaks the kiss. “Oh shit! The muffins.”
She breaks away to quickly grab an oven mitt and grab the muffins out of the oven.
“This explains the flour.” I chuckle as I eye up the muffins before me.
“They’re blueberry. Say you wouldn’t happen to know anyone around here who likes blueberry muffins do you?” she asks throwing me a grin.
“Me. I want one now,” I demand.
“You can have one when they’re cool.”
I grin. “Then I guess there’s only one thing we can do.”
“What’s that?”
“Have make-up sex?” I say as I scoop her into my arms. “Your room where is it?”
“Up the stairs down the hall and last door on the left.”
We make our way to her bedroom and as we enter I wonder for a moment if I’ve stepped into a library rather than a bedroom. There are books piled everywhere, as I spin in the room I see a bookshelf behind the door full of books.
“You really didn’t need the Kindle did you?” I ask as I look to a blushing Aria.
“I should really clean them out get rid of the ones that are old, or that I own on Kindle,” she says as I walk further into the room. On the opposite wall to the bookshelf is a bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. A very messy wardrobe. She rushes across the room to close the doors to the wardrobe.
“Something in there you don’t want me to see?” I chuckle.
“Yeah, the mess.”
“Too late, baby. What I want to know is how the hell do you organise my life so efficiently yet yours is in complete shambles?” I ask as I cross the room to her.
She looks up at me as she slides her hands up my chest. “Are you going to stand here all day talking work and books? Or are you going to rock my world?”
I bend down picking her up so she wraps her legs around my waist. “Rocking your world is always my first choice.” I dump her down onto the bed and begin sensually kissing her mouth until she grinds against me. Yeah, I’m going to rock her world.
Aria
“Wow if that’s what make up sex is like with you, we are going to argue a lot more often,” I say as I roll over in bed to face him watching him catch his breath after the sex.
“Fuck it, forget the argument, we’ll just have sex.” He chuckles.
“I like that idea,” I reply as I roll over and climb out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
I throw a look over my shoulder. “To shower then I thought I’d get my man something to eat while I pack a bag to go back to his place.”
He smiles. “Hop to it woman, I’m starving.” I walk away into the bathroom and get into a shower. I shower quickly knowing there’s no point having a long one since we’re going to end up getting dirty all over again tonight. I exit the bathroom to find Simon dressed sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I’m curious about something, you mentioned earlier that this was the house you inherited from your parents. Is this room their old one or is this new?”
“New. Toby and Jacob built this for me, telling me I needed my own space and privacy but, really I think they didn’t want me downstairs while they were having sex with whichever girls they bought home. I was never ever allowed home alone with a boy.”
He arches an eyebrow at me followed by a grin. “Look at you, breaking all the rules being here with me.”
“You were worth every minute of it,” I reply disappearing into the wardrobe. I drop the towel while I find some clothes to wear, pulling them on as I stuff others into a bag.
“How old were you when your parents died?” he asks.
“It was the night before Jacob and I turned seventeen. They were going to surprise us by coming home from a trip away early but never made it thanks to some guy who decided he was sober enough to drive home,” I say as I leave the room dumping my bag on the bed.
“I’m sorry to hear that, I would’ve liked to have met them.”
“What about you? I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your mother but your father I haven’t heard you or anyone else mention.”
He sighs. “He’s deceased too. Believe me, when I say, he’d have liked you. I was fifteen when my dad died. I took it the hardest, we were very close. He was the best father a kid could want. We spent a lot of time together, he was a great cook, taught me to ride a bike and adored us kids.”
“It’s a shame he sounds like a wonderful man. Have you got a picture of him?” I ask.
“I do in my office, I’ll show you when we’re next there. James looks a lot like him, I take more after my mother though I have his eyes.”
“Yeah, I look like my mum but have my dad’s hair colour. We have a picture above the mantel downstairs. My mum w
ould’ve adored Charlotte, she always wanted grandkids and I mean plural. Honestly, she used to try hurrying Toby into finding a woman to settle down with.” I laugh as I sit down beside him.
“Do you want kids of your own one day?” he asks.
I turn to look at him shocked at this sudden change of topic. “I haven’t really thought about it. There was a time where I want to with Lance, but he was adamant he never wanted kids so I let it go. But now I’ve met you and you already have Charlotte who I adore I’m in no rush to pop out babies. Why?”
“Oh,” he sounds disappointed. “I’d like more kids one day. I love being a dad, it’s the most rewarding thing in my life and yeah, it’s been hard but it’s worth it to see her smile.”
“I’m not saying I never want kids, I’m saying not right now. I want to see how serious this is before I start dreaming about the future. The last time I did, look what happened,” I say.
He nods. “If and when you decided we were going to make babies together, I’m knocking you up every chance I get.”
“Uh-huh and maybe I want only one.”
He grins. “Simon says, we’re having a soccer team.”
“Speaking of kids, shall we go and see Charlotte. Please I want to see her.”
“Only if I can have those muffins.”
“They’re all yours.”
“Let’s go, we have a child to see and dinner to make. Then more sex.” I gather all but four of the muffins when we leave to go to Simon’s place and leave Toby a note saying to share with Jacob.
“You packed work clothing, right?” Simon asks.
“No why?”
“Oh damn, I wanted you to stay until Monday,” he says.
“You just want to perv at what I’m going to be wearing at work.”
He grins. “That’s not all I want. I want to wake up next to you, have you in my arms and give you morning kisses before we go to work.”
“Give me morning sex and you’ve got a deal.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse,” he says. I go back upstairs grabbing a couple of blouses, skirts, shoes and a blazer.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“I want to see Charlotte.” I reply as I stuff the clothes into my bag and we exit my house. He opens the door to the Audi for me and we take the drive to his place singing along to some country music that he put in the car just for me. This man is incredible, and I never ever want to let him go. Clarissa didn’t know what she had and I’m selfishly grateful for that because now he’s all mine.
Chapter Eighteen
Simon
I wake, stretching my arm out across the bed before remembering Aria didn’t stay here last night. I’m not going to lie I wish she was still here, it’s been nice waking up with her cuddled next to me every morning for the last two weeks. She’s only gone home to get more clothing though, I dunno why she’s bothered since Linda washes and dries all her clothing here and she has all my sisters stuff. She didn’t stay last night because I have a breakfast meeting this morning and she knows I’ll be late because I’ll roll her over and make love to her and I admit it’s lonely waking up by myself.
Opening my eyes, in the corner, a black smudge blurs my vision. Must be some sleep. I wipe it away, only to find to my absolute horror that it doesn’t go away. I slowly look to the left, and the blackness moves across, engulfing my sight.
What the fuck?
I look to the right, and the blackness floats over like oil on water. My heart pounds within the walls of my chest. I hadn’t dealt with this since I was a teenager, have had no problems within the last few years, but then suddenly, late last year, I went for a routine eye examination, and the optician told me there was something wrong. After seeing my surgeon, Dr. Sean Kilt, he decided my eye was stable enough but would keep a watch on it. So every six months, I go back to see him.
I sit up slowly, the blur of black moving into the centre of my vision. Inhaling, I reach out for where I always put my glasses and phone. I put my glasses on, but they’re useless to me. I can’t bloody see through the blackness. I hold my phone up eye level, trying to see if I can focus. Maybe, just maybe, I can find James’s number or my sister to call. Luckily for me, I spot James first. I press ring then hold the phone to my ear.
“What the fuck are you ringing me for at 6:00 am?” he grumbles, answering the call.
“I need you to be stand-in CEO today,” I tell him, and I hear a light giggle in the background.
“So, you thought this was an appropriate time to tell me?”
“Yeah. I’m off to Wellington Hospital, so I’ll need you to swing by and take me to work with you. And from there, Aria will drive me to the hospital,” I inform him.
“Why do you need to go to the hospital?” he asks.
“Because I’ve got a big black patch within my eye and I can’t see,” I reply.
“Why am I taking you? Can’t Roger do it?” he demands.
“He’s away in Australia. He left yesterday.”
“What about your girlfriend? Can’t she do it?” he whines.
“She’ll already be on her way to work, you idiot.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be at yours in thirty minutes.”
“Don’t even think about shagging your latest conquest. I am far more important.”
“How did you know?”
“I heard her giggling.” A click tells me he’s gone, and I sit up in bed, not wanting to move, barely able to see, and my heart racing.
What if this is it? I’m finally going blind.
“Daddy!” Charlotte hollers from outside my room. Bang! goes my door, followed by loud footsteps. No wonder this kid was never any good at ballet; she’s as graceful as an elephant.
“Why are you still in bed?” she asks. I feel the bed dip beside me and her snuggle next to me.
“I’m not feeling well, princess,” I tell her, feeling a light kiss to my cheek. “Aww, thank you, sweetie, but that’s not going to work today.”
“Why?” she questions.
“Because Daddy has something wrong with his eye,” I say. I don’t want to lie to Charlotte. I never have, and I’m not about to start now. I hear other footsteps enter my room.
What is this? Party in Simon’s room? Everybody, bring your own coffee!
“Oh, Simon, I’m sorry to intrude. I didn’t realise you weren’t up yet,” Linda says.
“It’s okay, Linda. Charlotte, would you mind popping downstairs to unlock the garage door for Uncle James?”
“Okay, Daddy.” I feel her move off the bed and she walks out.
“Is everything all right, Simon?” Linda asks.
I shake my head. “James is on his way over, and I’ve got to ring my eye surgeon. My vision is all black, and I’m not sure why, as my eyes have been stable for six months or more.”
“I’ll take Charlotte with me if you like, until you know what’s happening.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’m hoping Aria is going to stay to look after me. Do you think you could make some time to empty one half of my wardrobe please, just condense all my stuff to one side, but I’d like Aria to not have to use one or two drawers in there and then have to go to Mel’s closet to get something else. Then she can organise it how she wants later.”
“Sure,” Linda says.
“Thank you.”
I hear James coming up the stairs with Charlotte. “Come on, dude. Couldn’t you have at least gotten dressed?” James groans.
“I would if I could see.” I grit my teeth.
“Charlotte, let’s go get some breakfast,” Linda tells her, obviously hustling Charlotte from the room.
James comes over. “What do you need?”
“A shower would be a great start.”
“Hell no! I’ll let Aria have that task later.”
“Just get me a T-shirt, some jeans, and socks,” I say.
“Hope you don’t need help getting dressed too.”
“Just help me get down the stairs.”
I feel something brush against my arm. I turn my head, the blackness moving across my vision.
“Here’s your shirt.” James helps me by handing it to me. I pull it over my head first, and then shift to the side of my bed. I tug on my jeans, socks, and James hands me my shoes, helping me a little to get them on.
“I have to admit, I hate seeing you like this,” he murmurs as he helps me downstairs.
“That makes two of us. I hope Dr Sean can figure it out,” I grumble. I know he will.
James helps me through the house, though I’m not allowed to leave without saying goodbye to Charlotte. As James begins driving, I dial Dr Sean, hoping I’m not too early with my call.
“Simon, this is unexpected. Everything okay?” Dr Sean asks, picking up the phone.
“Not really. I woke up this morning to what I thought was sleep, but it’s big, black, and moves slow across my vision like oil would in water,” I explain.
“Hmm… This only happened this morning?” he asks.
“Yeah, I was great last night,” I reply.
“I last saw you in March, I believe. Best you come in now, so I can take a look. Tell the reception staff I told you to come in. I’ll let them know you’re coming.
“All right, I’ll see you soon,” I say, and I hear the beep telling me he’s hung up.
“Sounds serious if he wants to see you now,” James inserts. A lump forms in the pit of my stomach. What if it’s my retina starting to come off? What if this is the start of the same thing happening to my right eye as it did my left? “Don’t overthink this. I can almost smell the wheels turning in your head.” He chuckles. “I’m going to ring Aria, have her meet us in the car-parking basement.”
“Good idea.” I lean back against the headrest. If only I could shrug this off as if it were nothing. I could get back to my nice and normal day.
Aria
My heart is pounding, has been ever since James rung telling me something was wrong with Simon. I’m pacing the car-parking basement, waiting for any sign they’ve arrived. I head the roar of an engine then see the car as it pulls in. I hope he’s okay.
