So, we're nearly at the end of this story. This is the penultimate chapter. Enjoy!
Wednesday 15 July 2017
Malcesine, Lake Garda
They're leaving their favourite restaurant after enjoying a leisurely and utterly delicious dinner. It's a gorgeously warm evening.
She checks her watch, "Do you think I should call and check they're ok?"
He rolls his eyes at her as he puts his arm around her and leads the way outside, "Absolutely fucking not, Dawesy. My parents are more than capable of looking after their two grandchildren for the evening."
They've paused outside the restaurant in a comfortable embrace. She smiles up at him, "You're right. Definitely one of my better ideas invitin' your parents on holiday with us."
He leans down, kisses her and whispers in her ear, "You're not just a pretty face."
His last comment earns him a gentle elbow in the ribs, "Are you callin' me pretty?"
"Ouch. Yes, pretty awesome. Mother, author... wife. I'm a pretty lucky man."
She gently pulls him towards her, giving him a loving kiss, "You're a pretty soppy sod tonight."
He responds to her kiss and they're temporarily lost to each other before he eventually pulls away, "Do you fancy a walk along the lakeside path for old times' sake or would you like to go straight back to the hotel?"
"As tempting as the hotel offer sounds, I think I could do with walkin' off some of that food."
He takes her hand, giving it a light kiss before leading them off towards the promenade, "Anyway, I'm not a soppy sod as you so delightfully put it. I'm just happy. And a little bit delirious to have to have you all to myself for the whole night and morning."
"Yes, as much as I love our children, it will be nice to not wake up tomorrow to demands for breakfast and iPad time."
He's grinning at her now, "I'll make you right there... although you may have to deal with other demands."
She gives him a cheeky smirk, "Now those I can deal with. Those I miss. There's not quite the same opportunity for those these days."
"I know. Life's been a bit crazy recently hasn't it?"
"Well, it's certainly been a period of adjustment."
"I'm not sure how you've managed it to be honest."
"It has been knackerin', and I have to admit that this holiday couldn't come around fast enough."
He suddenly sounds a bit anxious, "But you're ok with Sam coming to live with us though?"
She squeezes his hand reassuringly, "Yes. Of course, I am. I didn't mean it like that. I love havin' him with us. The timin' was just a bit off. Him arrivin' just as we found out I was pregnant. I didn't bank on this pregnancy being so different to the last. Thank goodness, the bleedin' mornin' sickness has stopped and I've got my appetite back. I've got so much more energy. Anyway, everythin' will be much better from September when he's at the local school and I don't have to do that hour long round trip twice a day."
Bones taking a five-year overseas posting has turned out to be a blessing. Initially he was devastated at the news because it meant an end to the current access arrangements and he would only get to see Sam during school holidays. However, when Sam made it very clear that he didn't want to go either, Rebecca had reluctantly agreed that it might be in his best interests to stay in the UK. Although he would need to change schools to one nearer to their house, he would soon be going to secondary school anyway, so it wasn't a huge deal. The other massive benefit of the arrangement being that he no longer has to endure Bones' regular unpleasantness to him, which hasn't lessened over time.
He's looking at her intently and seriously, "That's true, but I'm thinking you won't need to do any more school runs. I've decided I'm resigning my commission when we get back. We've been talking about it for a year. It's the right time to do it... with another baby on the way and Sam with us permanently. I want to do it. Are you okay with me being around more, getting under your feet?"
She's playing it cool, "Hmm. Let me think about that?"
"How long do you need?"
She's laughing again, "Oh, I'm done. Was just daydreamin' about all those long lie-ins I'll have when I no longer have to get up for the school run."
"Right."
"Mind you, might gonna have to come along occasionally because the school gate mums are gonna bleedin' love you. Dishy stay at home dad. Top tabloid totty. Major Posh. They're going to be linin' up to invite you to their coffee mornings."
He looks and sounds horrified, "Christ. Do you think that's how they'll see me? It's not too late for me to change my mind."
"Nah, you'll be alright. Just don't volunteer for anythin'... or else with your formidable organisational skills and leadership qualities, you'll find yourself runnin' the PTA before you know it."
"Will you let me know when you've finished teasing me?"
She's giggling, "Sorry, I'm done. Mind you, we might need some ground rules for at home though, as I will need to do some work. Can't be gettin' distracted by my handsome husband all the time."
They've reached a secluded pebble beach and he comes to a stop, pulling her in close, placing light, seductive kisses on her neck, "Ground rules... do you mean like the 'Rules of Engagement'? I enjoyed breaking those."
She's struggling to concentrate on her chain of thought, "Hmm, maybe more like orders. I seem to remember you once telling me that as a soldier you always follow orders."
"Ah, but I won't be a soldier any more. I've got years of order-following to rebel against."
"Sounds like I could be in for some trouble with you."
Once again, they're lost to each other for a few minutes, eventually pulling away for air and to cool down their passion.
She starts giggling.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just thinkin' about the 'Rules of Engagement'….. You know there was a 4th rule too."
"Really? I can only remember three... no physical contact, no perving and no flirting. What more could you possibly have had to avoid?"
"Well, the 4th rule was instigated after we went skinny dippin'….. off one of these little beaches, if I remember rightly. I almost kissed you in the water before your clothes were nicked."
"Really? I was about to kiss you then too… Do you fancy recreating that moment?"
"What goin' skinny dippin'?"
He pulls off his shirt, "Yes."
"What if someone sees us?"
He's kicked off his shoes and is undoing his jeans, "Dawesy, there is no-one around and who cares if we are seen? I don't remember you being quite so inhibited last time."
"I seem to remember I'd drunk my body weight in booze that night. I'm stone cold sober now."
He's standing in his briefs, looking wickedly at her, "So, are you coming in?"
"You're serious?"
"Yep."
"What if your clothes get nicked again?"
"Lightening never strikes the same spot twice."
"We're not in our 20s anymore. I'm gonna be 40 soddin' years old this year."
"Exactly, too old to care. Now are you coming in voluntarily or do I need to carry you in?"
"You wouldn't dare."
She shrieks as he effortlessly lifts her up and carries her into the water, "Put me down!"
"No chance."
She's giggling, "You're in so much trouble Charles James."
He silences her giggles with more kisses, "Good."
He lowers her gently into the invitingly warm water and she wraps her arms and legs around him, hungrily responding to his kisses.
-x-
Later, they're lying in their hotel bed happy, but exhausted. The Rules of Engagement have been successfully broken once in the lake and again in the en-suite shower.
She's nestled under his arm, stroking his chest idly, "I wonder how many other times over the years we were thinkin' the same thing… you know, like at the lake?"
"Quite a few I reckon. Although maybe not that time when you stood me up in the pub on our anniversary."
She draws herself up to look at him, "I didn't stand you up."
"Yes, you did. I remember it clearly. I waited for you for hours and then couldn't get hold of you. In the end, I called your parents and persuaded them to go to your flat. I was so worried about you."
"I didn't stand you up. I arrived at the pub and saw you talkin' to some blonde, decided she must be your girlfriend and bolted. Got home, drank a bottle of vodka and passed out."
He rolls to face her, their faces inches apart, "Really, you've never told me that before!?"
"I know. I haven't thought about that in years. I wasn't in a great place then... You know, that was the day I met Dylan for the first time. Although nothin' happened with him until I met him randomly a few years later."
"I remember. You got together when I was on my second Afghan tour. You know….. I came back from that tour ready to declare my feelings for you."
"You were?"
"Yep. You met me off the train at Paddington, we went to a little cafe. I had it all planned and then we had some silly argument about who was going to share their news first and like some chivalrous idiot I insisted you went first... you told me you were happy and in a serious relationship with Dylan. I lost it for a while after that."
"I couldn't understand at the time just why you had such a problem with me bein' in a relationship."
"I was insane with jealousy. Elvis had to have serious words with me at his wedding after I nearly fucked everything up."
"And then you went back on tour and when you came back, made it your mission to shag your way through the young, blonde female population of Southern England."
He looks suitably chastised, "Not my finest time... and then I met Rebecca and it all really went to shit."
She gives him a wistful smile, "Yes, for a while until we found each other again."
He strokes her cheek, "You know I wrote to you when we were out of contact."
"Really?"
"Yes, I still have the letters."
"I wrote to you too... I also still have the letters."
"Maybe I could read them sometime."
"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours."
He leans in to kiss her, "Are we still talking about the letters?"
-x-