Chapter 1
This story is dedicated to BJO. It all started in a conversation with her. Of course, she imagined a fluffy, fun story and instead she got this. I hope she won't kill me when we have dinner together.
The last box was unpacked, its contents put away. She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked contentedly around the room. It was their new home. The first time in her life she'd lived with a man, or at least a man she was involved with, in love with.
It was equal parts terrifying and thrilling. It wasn't as if they didn't spend almost every night together. However, now there was nowhere to go. She couldn't feign illness to get a quiet night at home alone. He couldn't pretend fatigue to stay in and watch the football match. Now they would have to figure out those things together.
Her friends were shocked when she told them they were moving in together. They all felt it was sudden, too soon. What they didn't understand was it had been a long time in coming. All told, she probably knew more about Robbie and him about her than most couples did after years of marriage.
Their relationship was almost perfect. Not that she believed in perfection. In fact, she thought it was a myth. One which caused people entirely too much misery in life. She would happily take their lovely imperfection over any relationship she'd ever had in her life.
Even her friends, much pickier than his, seemed to like Robbie. They each felt he was perfectly suited to her and vice versa. On paper people might question their union but anyone who'd ever spent time with them understood. They just worked.
It had taken him a long time to come to that realization. But once he did, he wasted no time in closing the deal. It had been less than six months between that kiss in the White Horse to today. A whirlwind by some people's standard.
But when taken in the history of their courtship, which was how she liked to think of the past five years, it was long overdue. She was happy, was even willing to look past a few minor imperfections which marred an otherwise happy existence.
She didn't need everything. She didn't need a ring or marriage. Had never wanted children and was perfectly happy being a grandmother by proxy.
Picking up the last box, she smiled and nodded firmly to herself. Yes, she had all she needed, all she'd ever wanted. As she left the bedroom, flicking off the light behind her, she ignored the small voice in the back of her head whispering, you're missing something.