Although they had made up, Aaron still couldn't stop thinking about Jackson while he was at Community Payback. If he was a woman, I'd only have to buy her a bunch of flowers, make a grand gesture, and then I know all would be forgiven, Aaron thought to himself. But what grand gesture was going to make things up to Jackson?
He looked up from the fence he was painting, his back aching from the manual labour. If Aaron didn't kill their relationship, the single bed would, he laughed to himself.
That's it… the grand gesture… he decided.
Aaron finished his payback shift and headed back to the village. His first stop was the café to use the computer and it didn't take him long to find exactly what he was looking for and at the right price.
Next he texted Paddy and told him what he was planning to do. It was Paddy's house after all. Within minutes, an envelope flashed on his mobile. Fine by me was all it said but was just the answer Aaron was looking for.
He headed to Declan's, taking with him a sandwich from the café as he knew Jackson wouldn't have time to stop for lunch.
He found Jackson in what would be the master bedroom. "Hiya, he said. "How's it going?"
"OK, ta, Jackson replied still working. "How was playschool?"
"Not too bad now that numpty Wayne has gone. I brought you a sandwich. Didn't think you'd get chance to have a lunch hour."
Jackson stopped what he was doing. "Are you trying to fatten me up? The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach and all that, he joked, taking the sandwich.
"I'll have it if you don't want it, Aaron teased. "Anyway I'm trying to butter you up."
"Why? What have you done?"
"I need to borrow your van this after. Any chance?" asked Aaron
"What do you need it for?"
"Well I can't tell you but you're going to love it, Aaron replied with a smirk using Jackson's own words to get his way.
"OK but don't wreck it, I need it for my livelihood. What time will you be back?"
"I should only be a couple of hours or so. Meet me at mine when you are finished," Aaron said smiling to himself.
"What are you up to? Jackson asked as he tossed the keys to Aaron.
"You'll see."
Three hours later Aaron pulled up outside Smithy Cottage, so excited with his surprise that he was almost embarrassed. When had he gone from a hotheaded bad boy to a mushy loved-up wuss? Loved up – that told Aaron all he needed to know. He wouldn't, couldn't tell Jackson yet but he knew for definite and he hoped that his 'grand gesture' would get them back on track.
Jackson turned up a little later, shattered from his busy day. He was about to knock on the cottage door when Aaron bounded out.
"Brought her back in one piece then", Jackson asked.
"Yep, just need help unloading"
"You're kidding me. I haven't stopped all day and now you want me to lug whatever it is you've got in the back of here. Nice one!"
"Stop moaning like a girl and just open the back of the van", Aaron said.
Jackson pulled open the double doors and looked into the van.
There, folded almost in half to fit it in the cab was a double mattress. Underneath was the slats that would eventually create a double bed for Aaron's room that he would share with the man he loved.
"Its not a king size, Aaron explained. "But it was the best that I could do. Thought your old limbs could use all the help they could get."
Jackson turned to him and smiled: "Well, let's get this thing upstairs and try it out then."
"We've got to build it first, Aaron explained.
The two men reached into the back of the van, pulling at the mattress. As their arms touched side by side, so did their faces and hidden from prying eyes by the van doors, they kissed.
"I don't care as long as I get to share it with you", Jackson replied.