Just about reaching the end of this story, 1 or 2 more chapters to go, thanks for sticking with it.
A Changed Man – chapter 21
Opening the cool bag Robbie took out a can of beer and closed his eyes as he drank. He was exhausted, hot and suffering from a killer of a headache.
For weeks he'd dreaded the thought of moving. All the stress that went with it; what was in which box, having to trip over each other's stuff for days and living without a working fridge-freezer as it waited to be fitted. Everywhere smelt of paint and some doors still sticky with varnish. He had no idea where his clothes were or how to work the stupid timer on the boiler.
And top it off they'd decided to move on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year. His t-shirt was stuck to him and no matter how many times he washed his face his skin still felt coated in dust.
He swiped at a tiny fly as it fussed around his face and took another welcome gulp of beer. From the kitchen window he could just see Jackie's feet swinging back and forth, the flip-flops she'd been wearing all day were on the grass and her legs were stuck out straight in front of her. He wondered where she'd disappeared to when it came time to pay the delivery guys.
He went to stand at the open patio doors, it had been sweltering all day but now, getting on for seven at night, it was just becoming bearable. The new position allowed him to see her entirely; sat back on one of those garden swing-seat things, it looked like it had seen better days but was serving its purpose for the moment.
She looked utterly relaxed for the first time in about twelve hours. She'd woken him at 5:30 that morning banging about downstairs with boxes and forcing a cup of tea down him so she could 'pack the kettle.' It seemed to him an ungodly hour to be drinking tea, especially as the delivery van wasn't due until 10. But he said nothing and went along with it, he knew all too well the wrath of Reid, and she loved it when he referred to her moods that way!
Her face was upturned to the sun now, still fairly high despite the coming evening. Her eyes closed, arms spread wide along the back of the swing and her legs gently kicking her forward every now and then.
Smiling he made his way out to her, over the patio and up the grass. She opened her eyes slightly at his approach.
"You look the picture of bliss."
She breathed heavily, "I'm not sure I feel it."
He handed his beer to her and she took a grateful drink patting the seat next to her. "It's quite nice here."
"Unbearable this lunchtime."
"Some of us didn't have time to stop for lunch," she teased, leaning against him.
He draped his arm around her, "You should have made time. Doesn't have to be so stressful."
"Oh really, so you having an argument with the wardrobe door was perfectly normal."
He smiled down at her upturned face, "Perfectly." Before kissing her forehead. "We're in now anyway, can only get easier."
At that she laughed, "You're kidding right, now we have to get used to being in each other's space 24-7. Before you could at least piss off to your flat for a few hours to give us space."
"Love the positivity. Think of the good things, like, you'll be able to make my dinner each and every day after work."
"Ay and pigs might blummin well fly."
He pulled her tighter against him, "Loving the fact we have a garden though, and I wasn't really sure about it."
"Somewhere to enjoy the few days of sunshine we actually get in Glasgow."
"Exactly, and anytime you wanna go topless is absolutely fine with me."
"Noted." She closed her eyes again, leaning her head against his arm. "Although this is a posh area you know, I don't think nudity in the garden will be tolerated."
"Ahh fair point."
"Who would have thought you and I would actually ever get to this... living together, buying a house together."
"And, more to the point, the boss would let us have the day off together to move."
"Mmm, surprisingly supportive about it all."
"As long as we adhere to the list of rules..."
"I think we can manage," she sat up again, leaning forward for her flip-flops. "No arguments taken into work, I'm sure that'll be easy."
He laughed at her tone, "As if we ever argue."
"We don't, we just have slight disagreements then you realise I'm right and the world is okay again."
"Good job I fancy the pants off you."
She turned to face him, "Come on, I need you to move the bed into position for me so I can get some sheets on it for tonight and then we'll think about dinner."
"I'll sort dinner, gotta plan."
She leant forward, her knees resting against his, her hands leaning on the back of the swing. "You have a plan, sounds mysterious."
"Well, you said something about romance so thought I'd give it a go, and don't look so surprised over it."
"Never," she whispered as she kissed him.
Gently tapping on the lounge door Jackie whispered, "So, can I come in yet?"
"Erm, what you wearing?"
She rolled her eyes, twisting the door handle, "Robbie, don't be ridiculous."
"Ahh, wait..." he was at the door just as she cracked it open slightly. He peered out looking her up and down. "Is this a sexy outfit?"
"You never said there was a dress code, this is Jackie in her PJs fresh from the shower, hair still wet, exhausted and starving and ready for a glass of wine. So stop messing about. You've been in there ages."
"Alright, alright, but remember I'm working around piles of boxes here."
"Robbie," she complained, pushing the door forward. He stepped back this time, allowing her access.
The light in the room was dim, flickering, candles were lined up along the mantelpiece and most of the floor was covered in cushions, in the centre a kind-of picnic was laid out.
"Thought it might be sweet, like our meal that night in the cottage, you know the first time we..."
"I hadn't forgotten." She turned back to him. "It's very sweet Robbie, thank you."
He shrugged, "Something in it for me too." He said sliding his arms around her waist.
She looped her arms around his shoulders, "Ahh, some kind of foreplay is it this?"
"To be honest, I'm so tired I'm not sure I'll be up to my usual top-performance."
"Well, less than 100% isn't worth bothering with."
"I didn't say not worth bothering..." He nudged her chin with his before drawing her lips into a deep kiss.
She breathed deeply as they parted, "You know, there are times you annoy the hell out of me and then you do that and I remember why I like you so much."
"Wait til you taste dinner."
"No pizza? No chips? You couldn't possibly have cooked."
"No, but I will, take-out for now. A posh meal though, my favourite Italian, good bottle of plonk."
"You've thought of everything." She teased as she sat down, it was easier to share the banter with him than admit he'd caught her off-guard, so unlike Robbie to plan something like this, he could do spontaneous romance quite easily, but this he'd thought through and planned and it touched her how caring it was.
"Cheers," he said tipping his glass towards hers.
"Cheers."
"Housemate."
She smiled in response, quite possibly the happiest she'd ever been.
It wasn't usual for him to wake before her, her body clock was prompter than his and he marvelled how even on days off she'd be up with the sunrise and already busy.
Yet, for possibly the first time in their relationship, he woke and found she was still in a very deep, and well deserved, sleep. Leaving her he pulled on a t-shirt and jogging bottoms and decided to go for a run. It had been a while but he managed a couple of miles before he headed back.
He called in the newsagents for the morning paper and then walked home, sipping on a bottle of orange juice as he did. Rounding the corner to their house he spotted a sleek red car pulling up alongside.
"Well, this is a surprise." He said as the women got out of the car. "Wasn't aware you did after-care, not come to take it off us have you?"
"Hardly," Susan smiled, removing her sunglasses. "Just wanted to drop off some documents, they were neglected from the pack we sent out last week."
"Oh right, well come in, hopefully Jackie will be up by now. Totally knackered after yesterday."
The estate agent followed him inside, tripping over a couple of boxes in the hall as they made their way into the kitchen.
"Jacks, you up?" He called.
"Yes," she replied, and he found her on her knees in the kitchen, scrubbing the back of one of the cabinets. "Where you been?"
"For a run, found Susan on the doorstep."
"Oh?" She sat back, pulling her head out of the cupboard. "Oh! You mean here." She yanked a rubber glove off, "Hi, morning."
"Morning, you look busy."
"Mmm, so attractive." She said, suddenly very aware of her lack-lustre attire and messy hair.
"Shall I make coffee?" Robbie offered, oblivious.
"Not for me, I only wanted to drop these off," she dropped a stuffed envelope to the table, "see how you were..." her gaze lingered on Robbie, "...getting on."
"Fine." He shrugged, "Great actually. Back to full health."
"Good, that's good. I guess I better go and leave you two to it. So erm," she held a hand out to Robbie, "I hope you'll be very happy here. The pair of you."
"Thanks," Jackie said, remaining on the floor.
"I'll show you out."
She listened to their brief conversation, seething by the time he came back in.
"That was nice," he said, filling the coffee machine.
"Nice. What a tramp!"
"How so?"
"Are you blind? Coming round to flirt with you when we've just moved in together."
He laughed, "She wasn't flirting."
"For a guy who claims to know so bloody much about women you can be clueless at times."
She returned to scrubbing the cupboard, more vigorously this time, and all the time mumbling on about their recent guest.
"What's she think, you're gonna abandon me and move her in, just because she's younger, blonde and legs up to her armpits."
He laughed again, partly at her turn of phrase, partly at the sight of her backside wobbling about as she cleaned.
"It's not funny. I cannae believe the nerve of her."
"You're overreacting."
She whipped round to face him, "Don't say that, makes me suspicious..."
His face dropped this time, "No don't start that." He knelt down beside her, "I don't care if she's got legs up to her armpits or boobs as big as boulders, I'm with you, I love you. No more doubting. It isn't fair, I haven't done..."
"No, I know that." She sat back on her heels, shoulders sagging. "I know, I'm just being silly. It's her I'm angry with, not jealous."
"Well she's got no need to come round again and if she does I'll make it clear. I am not interested." He kissed her forehead. "Loving this look on you."
"Liar. You wanna help me out though?"
"I can't think of anything sexier than the pair of us wearing rubber gloves and cleaning cupboards."
"This is normality, the boring side of relationships."
"Yep," he flicked bubbly water at her. "And don't doubt the fact I'm still loving it, all of this."
She tilted her head to one side regarding him, "You're finally growing up."
"I've got a big mortgage now, and need to keep my woman happy."
This time she flicked the water at him, "Your woman?"
"You don't like neither? No better than babe?"
"No, and no 'darling' neither."
His slipped his hands down to her waist, toying with the tie on her loose-fitting jogging bottoms. "How about, sexy cleaning lady."
"Now we're entering fantasy section aren't we?"
"Oh I have a whole truckload of those..."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Used to have unreal fantasies about a DS in a sexy little pink blouse, leaning over my desk and revealing a glimpse of black lace beneath."
"You dirty..."
"You love it."
She whacked him with the rubber gloves, "Get cleaning."