Car Share: I Saw Kayleigh Kissing Santa
Chapter 6
John and Kayleigh had spent Christmas Day with their families but John being John found a unique way for the two families to spend it together - by face-timing their Christmas dinners.
Kayleigh was blowing kisses to John via the Facetime broadcast and Alfie was trying to steal the limelight by pulling yuck faces in the background. Mandy gave him a telling off after the dinner. The 28th: the day of Rick and Donna's wedding day the two of them had gotten themselves into a spot of bother when the car got stuck in traffic and John had to make the inevitable decision to park the vehicle six streets away from where the church was. They had to get wriggle on seeing as they were late turning up. Once they got inside the church and found their seats in the nick of time.
Kayleigh and Rachel nearly came to blows when it became clear they were the only two guests who wanted to catch the bouquet. John encouraged Kayleigh to sacrifice her wish and let Elsie do the honours of catching it instead.
"But John I've always wanted to catch the bouquet at a wedding." Kayleigh had dreamt of catching a bouquet at a wedding since she missed the opportunity of catching the one, Mandy had thrown at her wedding.
"I know I can tell how much you want to catch this one but right now you're turning this into a competition with Rachel. Look this doesn't mean I'm siding with Rachel or anything but I think you know, you should let somebody else catch it...I mean Elsie could do with a smile being put on her face right now." John had seen that Elsie wasn't feeling her normal self that day and so he thought she could do with being cheered up - catching the bouquet would certainly do the trick.
Kayleigh stepped aside as soon as she saw Elsie emerging through the gathering crowd of guests, to stand at the front and wait for the bouquet to be thrown. When it was thrown, Rachel stood no chance of catching it, thanks to the height and strength difference between herself and her Irish colleague. Elsie jokingly indicated to John, he had better watch out now she had caught the bouquet. She was intent on getting married within the next year. Kayleigh had laughed about this and then reminded her friend that "John was off the market".
Kayleigh had successfully persuaded Donna to let John attend the Wedding Reception. She couldn't bear the thought of attending it alone without John, where she could have been potentially chatted up by the likes of Rick's annoying and sex-obsessed workmates. She and John didn't care who was watching them while they were sharing a romantic dance and becoming lost in each other's eyes.
Watching on Rachel had finally come to accept Mr Redmond and Kayleigh were unbreakable. Mr Redmond only had eyes for Kayleigh and nobody else. He and Kayleigh went on to share a gentle lingering kiss which was witnessed by everyone in the room. The pair received many cheers and clapping of applause from their fellow guests once they eventually pulled away from each other.
"You do know everyone's watching us. Even that DJ over there, who looks like he's bloody time travelled in the TARDIS to be here for Donna and Rick's wedding." John nods towards the DJ standing behind the decks, who is wearing an 80's white Miami Vice style suit with rolled-up sleeves and from the looks of things, thinks he's Don Johnson.
"So what. Can't a woman enjoy a dance and a kiss with the man she loves for crying out loud without someone poking their noses." Kayleigh sighs. She thinks people who she has just met, should butt out of paying too much close attention to her relationship with John.
"Good point. Bunch of busybodies the lot of them." John softly whispers in her ear. Kayleigh laughs at his remark.
The rest of that evening neither one of them left the other's side. Speculation had begun thanks to Elsie and Pamela, who were taking bets on when exactly Mr Redmond may choose to propose to Kayleigh, the odds were - 6 months to a year, on their anniversary or on their second or third year anniversary. Later that night John dropped Kayleigh off at Mandy's house, unfortunately, he hadn't arranged to stay over that night as he had to start getting his house prepared before Kayleigh moves in with him.
"Well thank you for a wonderful evening." Kayleigh was, of course, steaming drunk. Being the gentleman he is, John escorted her to the front door and gave her a goodnight kiss. She begged him not to return back to his car until tomorrow morning.
"Jesus woman, I'll be coming back here tomorrow," John said as he tried to let go of her hand and leave. Kayleigh then yanked on the sleeve of his jacket.
"John."
"What?"
"John."
"What, Kayleigh."
"You will..." Kayleigh was on the verge of falling asleep even while she was speaking.
"I will what?" John didn't have a clue what she was going on about. The only thing he did know, whatever drinks Kayleigh had drunk were affecting her thought process.
"Call me in the morning won't you, Jonathan." Kaylegh managed to finish her sentence before she almost lost her balance and nearly fell back on the floor behind her. John acted fast by grabbing hold of both her hands and pulling him towards him. He decided he had no choice but to carry her through the doorway and then upstairs to the box bedroom that would be hers until the 2nd January.
A strand of Kayleigh's hair was laid across her forehead and her left eye. John affectionately tucked the strand of hair behind her ear once he had laid her down on the bed. He had never anything quite as beautiful as Kayleigh Kitson blissfully sleeping in the comfort of her bed. He watched her for a minute or two before hen then placed a kiss atop her forehead and then left her box bedroom.
Mandy gave him a wave from the living room window as he was starting the car's engine up. He left the driveway shortly after that, heading home after what felt like a very long day for him.
xxx
New Year's Eve for John and Kayleigh had got off to the worst of starts. It was Kayleigh's day off but the same couldn't be said for John, who had been tasked with the responsibility chairing a meeting with an SFM representative called Graham Scott and showing him around the store. John was texting Kayleigh whenever he could during the day. The two had only been apart for a couple of hours but John had for some reason found himself missing the sound of her voice and seeing a glimpse of her smile.
"Wish you were here Kayleigh
This bloke from SFM is a right chatterbox. He could easily
get himself into the Guinness World Records because of
the amount of talking he's doing.
Love you J xxx "
Kayleigh was keeping herself busy by helping Mandy out in the kitchen with some of the party food, which she had ordered from Asda online. The sisters were happily reminiscing about some good and bad New Year's Eve parties they had previously been invited to.
Kayleigh suddenly owns up to a secret she has kept to herself for "No one's ever given me a New Year's kiss for five years now, you know since I split up with Jamie(her shithouse of an ex who had secretly sewed 500 E's into her gusset, he made end up making her a drugs mule without her realising it)
"What? You told me you've shared three New Year's kisses since then." Mandy raised her eyebrow at her sister. She was curious to learn why Kayleigh hadn't been entirely honest.
"Not exactly. Some of the parties I've been invited to, you always get some drunk blokes there who always look as though they're asking for much more than a New Year's kiss. Proper creepy the lot of them. Last year's party, funnily enough, I think John was there but we never really said much to each other other than 'Happy New Year'. You know just thinking about this now, I never would have thought what a difference a year makes; This time last year, the two of us were both single and now 12 months later we're so in love and about to move in together. Oh, I could cry Mandy..." As a last-ditch attempt to find love differently, Kayleigh decided to try online dating, something which she later regretted trying especially after the awkward date she had with Japs Si. She thought she was destined to be alone that was until she found the love of her life in John.
Kayleigh barely had the chance to pack the sausage rolls away in the cupboard in front of her, as Mandy pulls her in for a squeezable hug.
"What was that for?" Kayleigh knows she is absolutely doing the right thing with John. The couple understandably doesn't want to rush too far ahead of themselves of course but they've both agreed this is the one important thing they really need to do right now as a couple. Kayleigh appreciated Mandy's immense support for them every step of the way since Day 1.
"Honest to god, can't a sister hug her older sister for crying out loud without being questioned why she's hugging her for." Kayleigh loves how Mandy's sharp and sassy attitude has never quite left her. Becoming a mother of two certainly hadn't stopped her from giving a few people an earful and an epic telling off. Steve always felt the brunt of her reactions whenever he happened to leave the front door open behind him every morning, while he was getting ready to do work in the garage at the side of the house.
"Go on then hug it out of me for as long as possible, if you must sis." Kayleigh jokingly insists Mandy keeps hugging her for a while if she preferred to do so.
"Oh, I wish I could hug you until midnight tonight but I've got to get all this food put away, haven't I, you know before Alfie and Chloe try and get their hands on it. The last two New Year Eves I've caught Alfie in the kitchen trying to grab a few handfuls of crisps." Mandy said while the two were still hugging. The sound of the kettle clicking ended their hug for them after 3 minutes. Mandy went over to it and made herself and Kayleigh a cup of tea each.
"Steve nearly did his back in or so he claimed yesterday after I told him to get off his backside and carry your two boxes of belongings downstairs. Two boxes and he moans 'they're too heavy Mand, can't you carry one of them yourself'. This coming from a man who spends day and night mending his bikes." Mandy is well in her element, revealing she's well aware of when her husband is being far from honest with her.
"My novelty lamp is okay isn't it?" Kayleigh asked. She was excitedly looking forward to switching the lamp on in her and John's bedroom.
"Oh yeah, I've wrapped it up in plenty of bubble wrap and put it in a new box so it shouldn't get damaged," Mandy reassured her.
"Thanks, Mandy." Kayleigh heaved a sigh of relief. She was utterly thankful for her sister's help with everything.
xxx
The New Year's party, later that evening at the Price household consisted of a small gathering of Mandy's work colleagues and some of Mandy's neighbours. In a bid to avoid waking up with the world's biggest ever hangover on New Year's Day morning, Kayleigh had sworn off drinking any alcoholic drinks that night and that she would try what's left of Mandy'snon-alcoholic mulled wine instead.
"Not letting your hair down at New Year's Eve. Well, that's a first for you and hopefully not the last." John partially whispers in her ear. He's very proud to see the woman he loves vowing to drink alternatively and responsibly at a party. He himself hadn't actually drunk anything with alcohol in so far that evening. It seemed as the two were smartly thinking a lot alike regarding their choices of drinks.
"Fingers crossed. I just couldn't do it tonight, John. Still, I'm quite happy to show everyone here my new party piece and my best dance moves." Kayleigh teases her latest party piece, a trick which involved Maltesers and paper cups.
"Go for it. Might liven up this party better." John encouraged her to try out her party piece showcase in front of the party guests. She did. The first of her party piece in which she showcased was rolling a Malteser from her forehead to her mouth without using her hands. She was extremely good with this particular trick. The second one was more complicated, trying to catch Maltesers in her mouth whilst she was blindfolded. This second trick gained much more attention than the first one, which pleased Kayleigh.
John and Kayleigh were left alone for around 45 minutes between 10:45pm and 11:30pm. During that time which they spent at the front of Mandy's semi-detached house, hand-in-hand, the two discussed Kayleigh's popular and latest party piece and what they planned to do tomorrow. "If you showed Our Paul your party piece, trust me you won't hear the end of him begging you to teach him that blindfolded one. He's always loved anything that involves magic and tricks since he was younger and even now. He told me a few months ago he wouldn't mind learning some sort of party pieces that he knows he can impress Ben and Sophie with."
"Aww, that's sweet of him." Kayleigh was happy to help teach John's brother her range of party pieces when she next visits John's mum house with him.
"So what do you fancy us doing tomorrow? You and me making the most of your bed, wink-wink say no more" John cheekily winks his right eye at her as he mentions this "or do you want to listen to the new playlist I put together especially for you on my phone?"
"John... don't know what to say..." Kayleigh gives this plenty of thought. She loves when John leaves the final say to her. He's casually putting her first above all else. "If I'm honest I'd rather we did both."
"I knew you'd say that." John grins as if he's had a quiet bet with himself on this.
"Why?" Kayleigh asks as she snuggles herself against his shoulder. Well, the weather was getting a lot colder that night and it wasn't really wasn't worth staying outside in it for too long.
"Why because I know you love your playlists and I know you love messing the bed sheets up when we make love. It's not that bloody difficult to figure it out, Kayleigh." John laughs boisterously while he explains this in great detail.
"Yeah, you're funny." Kayleigh uses a phrase John has heard many times from her. Its definition tells him she thinks he is trying to big himself as a comedian.
"Yeah, I know," John smirks.
25 minutes later as the couple gathers along with the rest of the party guests, the countdown to the incoming year was started weirdly by Kayleigh who is taken it upon herself to count down from 100-1.
"Why are you counting from 100 for? You're meant to count down from 10-1." John is baffled by her different and far from traditional technique.
"What? I've always counted down from 100. I just like making the countdown last longer than it's meant to be. Plus it annoys Mandy because I get a head start before everybody else." Kayleigh reveals the not very surprising reason behind her untraditional technique.
"Fair enough." John can't argue with her on that even though he reckons this 100-1 countdown just completely daft. He grabs hold of her hand again and simultaneously the two silently mouth the numbers 50 -10 before (on a three count) joining in as normal with everyone else.
"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...Happy New Year!" Mandy and Steve shared a brief kiss meanwhile John and Kayleigh were currently in the midst of a steamy kiss by the garden fence. Ever the eager woman she is, Kayleigh was taking more of the lead than John, mainly because of her hands ruffling their way through his cropped black hair and the lack of space she was giving him. Mandy and Steve laughed and exchanged a look of 'Don't mind us' between one another as soon as they saw the pair appearing to look like randy teenagers before they re-enter the house.
John and Kayleigh come up for air moments later, with their arms still securely wrapped around each other. "Talk about keeping a New Year's kiss between ourselves," Their passionate kiss along with Kayleigh's party piece had proved to save the night. for what was mostly a dull and quiet party.
"Talk about me not maintaining me forgetting where was I. I don't know what your neighbours thought. " Although embarrassed John did soon see the funnier side to their very public 'Can't get enough of you' act.
"Probably thought we were going to go at like rabbits right here in the garden." Kayleigh looks round to see that the neighbours have all but returned to their house without bidding them neither a goodnight or a Happy New Year. 'Phew!' She thought to herself.
"You hear things don't ya?"
"Like what?"
"You know. Couples being filmed having sex in public places..."
"Um, Johnathan I hope you don't mean what I think you mean." Kayleigh gasped. She feels something needed to be said, so she intervened and reminded him she hopes he isn't on the verge of telling her what she thinks he might be about to say.
"Dogging...What? No...No...Not that horrible word. No, I meant people who've been caught having sex in parks. Apparently, the local papers have said three couples have been filmed and caught since Christmas Day." John quickly corrects her and puts her straight on what he really means.
"Oh sorry, I thought you meant dogging. What am I like, eh? Getting the wrong end of the stick as usual. Our Mandy said one of her colleagues got a caution from the police for it the other week. Said she's surprised they've still got their job. " Kayleigh tried to sweep her mistake under the carpet the only way she knew how by constantly talking non-stop until her mind permanently goes blank and she can't think of what else she can say.
"Your Mandy's work colleague isn't shagging the boss by any chance is she?" John suggests. He's heard one or two stories about former married colleagues of his who have gotten themselves in the shithouse for fraternizing with members of staff. Dave Thompson's mate Larry Lewis was one of them. Dave wouldn't hear a bad word said about his friend from anyone, 'innocent until proven guilty' as he said in his words' until Larry himself confessed to cheating on his wife.
"Oh, I never thought of that. Clever thinking John." Kaylegh likes his thinking. She knows she doesn't quite have the criteria when it comes to having the sharpest brain between the two of them but she knows she is very much looking forward to what the future held for them as a couple.
Will John be the patient the man she's come to love when waking her up in the morning. Mandy had accused her of being a loud snorer and suggested she could possibly wake half the street up with the types of noises she makes. Which of them will do honours of stepping up to the plate and cook breakfast each morning? Who will be out the door first, waiting for the other half to lock the front door behind them? So many highlights and exciting thoughts awaited John and Kayleigh, starting from tomorrow.
"Come on we might as well go to the bed? I don't fancy hanging out here in the cold. Watching these bloody fireworks going on forever," John said, offering his hand to her, which she took hold of in a matter of moments. John lead her back into the house.
"Oh, they do my head in John. Even Misty's terrified of them. Won't go near the window when they're going off."
"Poor Misty." John hated fireworks didn't enjoy the delights of a fireworks display but he was sad to learn that Kayleigh's beloved dog was absolutely petrified of them.
"I know. You said Ben and Sophie wanted to meet her didn't you?" Kayleigh couldn't wait to see Misty interacting with new faces around her.
"Yeah, they do. Hope it's okay with you if Our Paul, Ben and Sophie take Misty for a walk around the park."
"That's fine with me." Kayleigh smiled, giving them her blessing. She starts to wonder why they aren't upstairs yet. She had after all been expecting John to treat her to a memorable penultimate night together in the box bedroom. "Anyway shouldn't you be sweeping me in your arms and carrying me upstairs by now. I mean you have kept me waiting all night."
"You're right a cheeky bitch you are Kayleigh Kitson." John says what he's thinking. Kayleigh responds with a quiet laugh. "Believe me, I would love to carry you upstairs but I don't want to wake up Your Mandy, Steve and the kids." John was not looking to disturb the peace and quiet within the Price family household during the early hours of New Year's Day. The pair soon made their way up the stairs, keeping a closeness between each other as they ascended the stairs. Once they got to the box bedroom and John surprised her, by lifting her up in his arms, carrying through the doorway.
He closed the door behind him with his left foot. John's animal-like noises and Kayleigh's giggles could be heard throughout the Price household. John's promise for them to keep things quiet to a minimal had only lasted just 15 minutes. It was a World Record for him and boy did Kayleigh love him even more for that.
End of Chapter
All Reviews are Welcome