Chapter 35

Rita woke up that morning as the sunlight shone through the window. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Iain smiling towards her. "Morning Darcy Bussel, you know how much you hate winter because of snow? Well you're not about to like looking out the window." Rita sat up and checked outside to see it had begun to snow lightly.

Spinning round she looked towards Iain who was lying with a smile stretched across his face. She went back towards the bed sitting beside him. "We better get dressed soon, we've got an hour before we're supposed to meet Connie-" Rita was cut off by Iain leaning closer and kissing her before pulling her back down to the bed with him.

Connie was moving around the bedroom already getting changed. She stood at the base of the bed already dressed looking down at Sam who was still lying half asleep in the bed. Before he could move she crawled along the bed, grabbed her pillow and swung it hitting him across the chest. "Con!" He wrapped and arm around her waist before trying to grab the pillow from her.

Grace came skipping into the room as Sam flipped Connie over causing her to laugh. "Morning, fancy beating your Mum up with me this morning?" He reached towards the pillow that had fallen to the floor but was falling slightly short. Grace laughed making Connie look towards her "Grace if you help your Father-" she couldn't finish her sentence before Grace moved and passed Sam the pillow.

It didn't take long for a full blown fight to start. "SAM! I swear to god, some of us have actually gotten ready this morning-" "Really? You look like you just got out of bed Mum." Connie looked towards Grace who was laughing while sitting next to Sam in the bed. "I have made the biggest mistake reuniting you two…" Connie wandered to the bathroom to brush her hair once again and heard Grace's laughter from the bedroom. She smiled looking down into the sink before heading out again.

Several hours later and everyone was ready. The snow that had been falling lightly was setting across the floor, not leaving a single surface bare. They made the short walk to the park and met Rita, Iain and Phoebe. "Morning guys, you alright Sam… Connie didn't mention you were coming-" "Well I figured any time with this one was needed while she's home." Iain raised an eyebrow smiling not realising that Rita already knew more than he thought he had found out.

A few minutes later they were joined by Zoe and Max before Charlie arrived too. Connie had wanted to make sure Grace saw him before she left for school once again. "Charlie!" Grace went running towards him while Connie stood with the others.

Everyone slowly wandered across the field until Iain spoke up. "How about me and you go and build a snowman, I bet we can do a better one then Max and your Dad." Grace nodded and ran off towards Charlie with them leaving the women standing together.

"So-" "So?" Rita smiled as she carried Phoebe across the snowy grass. "Come on, you and Sam are clearly a thing again." Connie smiled as they stopped a short distance from where everyone was standing. She couldn't stop the smile that seemed to be on her face most of the time now. "So-" "So we're just letting things happen, he's staying for Christmas it's all Grace has wanted for years-" "Grace or you?" Connie rolled her eyes before they joined the others again.

They were walking back across the grass together after deciding to head into town and get something to eat. Zoe and Max were walking together as Iain ran past with Grace on his back laughing. Connie turned and noticed them before walking alongside Charlie again. "You took my advice then?" She glanced sideways to him before he spoke again. "Well I'm glad you've made your little dream of Christmas a reality finally." She hugged Charlie before Sam came walking up behind her and wrapped his arms around her lifting her up. "Sam!?"

Everyone continued walking while Sam put her back down. "I love you you know that right?" Connie smiled nodding "Yeah I had kind of picked that up." For the first time she remained where she was as he leant down and placed his lips on hers. Instead of pushing him back or stepping away she let her arms move to his neck before feeling the cold wet sensation of snow dripping down her back. Turning to see Iain and Grace across the field laughing Sam started towards them before turning back to Connie stretching out his hand "Come on." She took his hand and ran across the field with him towards Grace who had been put down and was laughing while she ran away from them.

As they neared town Connie and Sam said their goodbyes remembering they had to make dinner with Audrey. They got home with another hour left before they met her. "You have told her I'm there for dinner too haven't you?" Sam stood in the doorway of the bathroom and bedroom glancing towards her. She had started getting undressed but stopped looking at him "Sam-" "I text her earlier, so yes." Connie looked at him rubbing her hand across her forehead as Sam closed the distance between them and held her hand.

"Listen, it's just dinner with her okay? It'll be fine-" "Because your Mum liked me so much before didn't she? There's only one reason she talks to me and that's because of Grace." Sam linked his fingers through hers before smiling "And it never stopped you before did it? Everything will be fine, okay? You might want a few more clothes on than this though…" She smiled before he moved his gaze back to hers and kissed her.

He left her alone to get ready while heading down to see Grace. She was already changed and waiting in front of the TV when Sam went and sat down next to her.

Connie stood in front of the mirror upstairs not sure why she was worrying so much about dinner. Audrey had never particularly liked her and they'd never seen eye to eye but it hadn't bothered her before.

She knew the place they were going was definitely going to be up-market as Audrey had arranged it all. Connie pulled on the long and flowing dress before standing back and looking into the mirror. It was a dark navy dress with straps across her shoulders. There was a cut-out section from the top part of the back. Her hair fell across her back in long dark curls as she leant forward towards the mirror. Applying some make-up she finally stood back up and held her dress up so she could slip her feet into the heels beside her.

Sam appeared in the door way again and just stood quietly admiring her. She picked up a small bag before turning and noticing him. "Too much?" Sam shook his head "You looked good before all this, but this is perfect-" "Are you sure?" Sam turned her back around to face the mirror and looked over her shoulder at her. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen Con, I'm pretty sure." She smiled briefly before they turned back around and left the room.

Sam drove to the restaurant as he wanted Connie to be able to have a drink tonight assuming she'd probably need it more than him. When they arrived Connie remained where she was for a moment as Sam got out and helped Grace out. She finally moved from the car and felt Sam's hand hold onto hers. "Just think, at least we're doing this now and not over Christmas dinner…" Connie laughed before walking towards the restaurant with them both.

Stepping inside Connie looked around at the place. It was definitely bigger than any restaurant she had seen and she had some pretty high standards when it came to going out somewhere. Sam noticed Audrey at a table and wandered towards her. "Just be nice, alright-" "It's not me you need to say it to…" "Mum."

Audrey greeted her son before hugging a reluctant Grace. Connie followed them to the table before Audrey turned her attention to her. "Connie, it's always nice to see you…" She smiled before taking a seat beside Sam. She felt a hand squeeze her leg reassuringly before moving again.

Things seemed to be going okay while they ordered dinner and were given their drinks. Grace had disappeared to the toilets leaving the three of them at the table. "So, how long has this been happening then? I thought you were happily with Emily?" Connie picked up her wine glass having expected this to all be said sooner or later. "Look Mum not tonight, please?" "Why not, let's face it I've got a right to ask… You're always putting faith in this before she dumps you in a heap and leaves."

Connie rested her head in her hand and took a breath before Audrey spoke. "She can't even deny it-" "If I didn't love your son do you think I'd be sitting here with you? Yes I ruined his life so many times before that I understand you thinking I'd do it again, but don't bring this up around my daughter… You want to talk about this then we'll do it another time but not when Grace is here." Audrey was about to respond when Grace returned to the table.

The rest of the night was fairly quiet. Grace told her grandmother about school and spoke about everything she'd been doing. Connie found herself praying time would go quicker so they could all just get home. "I'm going to get another drink do you want anything Mum?" She waved her hand "I'm alright…" before she resumed her conversation with Grace. "Con are you coming?" She carefully stood up and walked away from the table with Sam towards the bar.

As they got there he looked at her and just smiled. "What?" He shook his head moving some hair behind her ear "You're beautiful, I'm sorry about Mum-" "You don't need to apologise Sam it's fine." They stood their quietly a few minutes before Sam spoke again. "Just remember no matter what she says I love you and that's all that counts." Connie smiled as he leant in to kiss her before they returned to the table.