by Bridy McAvoy
“I can’t stay here.”
“Come and live with me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. That delightful little gasp had a different cause this time, but it was still the same sound. Her eyes went very big.
I slid forward off the couch, dropping to my knees on the floor in front of her. “Give us a chance to get over this. I’m sorry, I was the stupid one. I should have been back here Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday… But my pride kept my phone switched off, myself isolated. Don’t drive away in the morning, Penny. Come home with me.”
“I… I can’t. I’ve promised Auntie Alison I’d help…”
“Forget Alison, I’ll go and stay with her. That was the original plan anyway…” Her mother moved back into the room. I guessed they’d stayed in the hall to listen.
“So, you wouldn’t object?”
“If it keeps you within a mile of here, and it keeps you going to college, why the hell would we object? It keeps you a lot closer than Leeds does.”
“I can’t.”
I hadn’t touched her at all, but now I reached out one hand and gently grabbed one of hers. She gasped as our fingers touched but she didn’t pull away, allowing me to draw her hand from her lap and enfold it in my hands.
“Penny, I screwed up, big time. You’ve paid a hell of a price… But it’s my fault. Let me put it right.”
She shook her head. I could see she’d caught her bottom lip in her teeth.
“You can have the bed. I’ll have the couch.”
“That couch isn’t big enough for you.”
“The floor is.”
“No, it’s your flat. You are not sleeping on the floor.”
I paused and looked at her, aware Caroline was standing in the doorway watching her daughter intently. Penny looked from me to her mother and then back again. She looked puzzled but then I realized what was happening. Penny wasn’t arguing with me about going along with it, she was arguing about the finer points, almost negotiating the terms. My heart soared.
I moved closer, and held my arms out to Penny. She looked at me, then looked around at her mother, then looked back, her eyes full of tears, and her lips started to tremble.
“Don’t cry, Penny. Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
I guess I was lucky the coffee table wasn’t behind me, as without a word, Penny launched herself into my arms, throwing me backward to the floor with the impetus of her leap. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I wrapped mine around her back. Her head dropped to my chest and I could feel her sobbing, but I just held her. Her mum walked past, a beautiful smile on her face, and headed into the kitchen. Jack also appeared in the doorway, he must have been standing behind his wife. I could see him choking back tears too.
I guess I just lay there holding her for a few minutes until the sobbing stopped, then she lifted her head, pushing against my arms. I smiled up at her. “See, the floor isn’t so uncomfortable after all.”
“Cheek! But you’re not sleeping on your floor.”
“I’m not pressuring you, Penny, you mean too much to me.”
She just looked down at me.
“Penny, I love you, and I’m so sor—” I didn’t get any further as her lips sealed mine. We kissed for what seemed like ages and then she broke the kiss and rose to her knees. She pulled me up with her and a minute later we were sitting on the couch, side by side. Her arms around me, mine around her. It was like we were inseparable again.
“Oh, good, I get my chair back.” Caroline’s jibe cut the tension in the room and suddenly we were all laughing and smiling.
“Dad?”
“Yes, Pen?”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“I’m already packed. Do you think you can load the car and take everything to Gareth’s for me tonight?”
“I guess, if you’re sure?”
“Never been surer of anything in my life, Dad. That way, Mum can pack and talk to Auntie Alison and the two of you can make an early start tomorrow.”
The three of us just looked at her. She looked around at each of us in turn.
“Well, why not?”
About the Author
My name is Bridy, and I live in upstate New York. I’ve written for as long as I can remember, which is thanks to my parents for teaching me to read and write before I went to school. I’ve been fascinated by erotic tales all my adult life, my husband thinks they’re silly but indulges me. I won’t tell you how old I am because a lady never gives away her age. My other interest is photography but writing will always be my first love, other than my husband of course.
