Everyone is still sat around the kitchen table relaxing. The food was finished long ago but I couldn't eat anything, my throat is still too sore. Dad and Christian are reading the newspapers. Mia is sat with her netbook. Elliot is chatting with Ana, Kate and Ethan about bacon and sausages.
'How are you feeling now darling?' Mom asks
'Just tired mom. How long will this last?'
'A few weeks, maybe longer.'
'I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings last night mom. I didn't mean to.'
'I understand darling. You were hurting too. You know there's no truth in what she said to you.'
'Yes mom I know, I think it's cos I wasn't feeling too great so I wasn't thinking straight.'
Mia squeals suddenly. 'There's a gossipy item on the Seattle Nooz website about you being engaged Christian'
'Already' mom says in surprise and she's obviously not happy about it.
Mia reads the column out loud 'Word has reached us here at the Nooz that Seattle's most eligible bachelor, the Christian Grey, has finally been snapped up and wedding bells are in the air. But who is the lucky, lucky lady? The Nooz is on the hunt. Bet she's reading one helluva prenup.' Mia giggles and then stops as Christian glares at her. Everyone has stopped talking. Christian shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
'No' he mouths at Ana.
'Christian' dad says gently.
'I'm not discussing this again.' Christian snaps at dad, who looks at Ana nervously. 'No prenup' Christian almost shouts and goes back to reading the newspaper ignoring everyone at the table. Everyone looks at first Ana, then Christian and then at anywhere but them.
Ana whispers 'Christian, I'll sign anything you and Mr Grey want'
Christian glares at her and snaps 'No' Oh shit he's getting angry.
'It's to protect you' she stammers.
Mom interrupts them. 'Christian, Ana I think you should discuss this matter in private.' She says gently and then glares at dad and Mia; I think she's angry with them.
'Ana this is not about you and please call me Carrick' dad says. Christian looks at him coldly, he's certainly angry with him. Everyone starts talking at once. Mia and Kate get up to clear the table.
'I definitely prefer sausages' Elliot says and smiles. I grin at him, only Elliot could get away with saying something like that in this situation. Ana looks down; she's really uncomfortable sat around this table with us all. Christian takes her hands and whispers to her, I can just about hear as I am still sat next to him.
'Ignore my dad, he's really pissed about Elena and it was all aimed at me. Mom should have kept her mouth shut.' So dad had a talk with Christian last night about Mrs Lincoln. I wonder if that's why he was still up watching me sleep.
Ana whispers back about him being very wealthy and she has nothing. Christian gazes back at her; he looks distraught 'Anastasia, if you leave me you might as well take everything. You left me once before and I know how that feels.'
'You might want to leave me, what if I do something exceptionally stupid…..'
'Stop now. This subject is closed. We're not discussing it anymore. No prenup. Not now. Not ever.' He then turns and says 'Mom, can we have the wedding here.'
Maybe I shouldn't have listened in to their private conversation but my thoughts are racing and I'm lost in my own world. Will dad have this conversation with me when I decide that I want to get married and how would I feel. I can't see me being with anyone but Hannah and if she didn't want me then would I feel the same as Christian. His words echo round in my head 'If you leave me you might as well take everything' yes I can relate to that, Hannah means everything to me, I'm totally in love with her. Without her I would be nothing. I get up and walk out into the back yard to get away from the uncomfortable atmosphere and to get some air.
I sit on the table in the sun, my feet balancing on a chair. Ana comes out about five minutes after me. She looks totally lost. I stand up and go to her.
'Hey Ana, come and walk down to the jetty with me.'
'OK' she says uncertainly.
'Don't worry, Christian won't get cross. He'll probably follow us down there in a few minutes.'
We walk down towards the shore and out onto the jetty. I take Ana's hand.
'Hold onto me and take your sandals off' I say as I shake my converse off. 'Now sit down and let your feet dangle in the water' she does as I tell her and I sit next to her. I point out some landmarks to her from the city across the water.
'Do you feel more relaxed now?' I ask her.
'Yes thanks. How did you know?'
'I'm used to them. Do you know what you're letting yourself in for by marrying Christian and becoming part of this family. Mia is so over the top all the time and will have you at the mall or salon everyday if she can get away with it but don't tell her anything otherwise the whole of Seattle will know. Elliot will make you laugh all the time but he doesn't take anything seriously and will tease you to make you embarrassed in front of everyone. Christian, well he's just Christian but you know what he's like as well as I do if not better. Mom is lovely, relaxed, chilled, protective but you wouldn't want to make her angry and then there's dad cautious, careful, and overly protective of us all.'
'And what about you Matt?' Ana asks quietly and I look at her shyly and shrug.
'Yes what about you Matt.' Christian says as he comes up behind Ana and kisses her.
'How long have you been there?' I ask.
'Long enough to hear you give Ana a summary of the family.'
'Shoes off and dangle your feet in the water if you want to take part in this conversation.' I say smiling at him. He grins at me and complies sitting on the other side of Ana.
'Should I do the honours and finish the summary?' Christian asks and again I shrug. He turns to Ana and says 'Matt is the most trusting, loving, affectionate, generous, mischievous, caring, emotional…..'
'OK Christian that's enough. I don't think Ana wants to hear anymore.' I say
'You could be describing yourself Christian, you two are so alike.' Ana says.
'I'm nothing like him.' I mutter. 'I'm not overbearing, overprotective and a control freak and I certainly don't go thermonuclear in ten seconds.' Ana giggles at me and Christian laughs out loud.
'Did I mention he was funny and good at telling jokes?' Christian adds. He kisses Ana again and says 'At least he made you giggle; you know that's my most favourite sound in the world.'
'Perhaps I'd better hang around with you two more often then' I say and Ana giggles again.
'That's fine little bro' Christian says smiling at me 'What time is little Hannah due back?'
'About lunchtime I think. Shall we go and look at the car?'
'Sure that would be good' he says standing up in one graceful move before helping Ana. I get up more slowly; I'm starting to tire again already. 'Are you OK?' he asks.
'Yes let's go now and then I can come back and sleep. Are you coming with us Ana?' I ask smiling at her. Christian looks at her lovingly and she smiles at him as if trying to read his thoughts.
'I'd love to come as long as you don't mind me interrupting you.' She says.
'You're not' both Christian and I say together and she giggles again.
Christian and Ana walk back up towards the house hand in hand. I follow a short way behind. I get the keys for the gate and garage and then we're on our way, down the drive of this house. The short walk down the road and then unlocking the gate to the other house.
'Wait till you see this house Ana, it's almost as good as the one we've just bought' Christian says, smiling at her.
'You bought a house?' I ask 'You didn't say'
'I only did it on Friday, from your office actually' Christian says grinning at me.
'Oh, when you were angry with me.'
'Was I? I'm often angry with you'
'And me' Ana chips in rolling her eyes at me and it's my turn to laugh out loud.
We go straight to the garage first. Unlocking the door I let Christian enter and then Ana before I follow. He's just standing there looking in awe.
'Go and sit in.' I say to them both 'You can't drive her yet because she needs checking over before you switch the engine on according to dad'
'Another female in your life for me to get jealous of?' Ana asks and he nods smiling at her before replying 'Yes along with Charlie Tango when she's fixed'
I wander the length of the garage while they sit in the car together whispering to each other. I stand looking at the toy pedal car. I've seen photos of me in it but I don't remember playing in it. Christian is now stood by me.
'You used to drive that all the time'
'Really, I don't remember'
'Yes really, I think you almost went off the jetty in it one day' he smirks at me.
'That wouldn't surprise me'
'Can we walk round the garden?'
'Sure, will Ana be OK with that?'
'Yes, she'd love to'
We lock the garage again and walk down the drive and the house comes into view.
'Wow, that's one beautiful house' Ana says.
'And it belongs to my little bro' Christian adds proudly before continuing 'Seriously Matt, it is an awesome house. It's a lot bigger than I remember.'
'Come on let's go round the side to the garden.'
We walk together, relaxed and happy in one another's company. Christian reverts back to being a kid, pulling himself up easily onto the climbing frame by the monkey bars. Ana follows using the ladders by the bridge. I sit on one of the swings, too tired to join in while they explore. Eventually I walk down the garden and sit on the swing seat by the water's edge alone. This is a first; I've always sat on here with someone, never alone. I make it move gently and I'm lost in my own world.
Christian and Ana find me here. It's not hard to imagine what they've been up to as Ana is flushed, Christian totally relaxed.
'Hey little bro, I thought we'd find you here. Are you ready to head back? You look shattered.' Christian asks gently. I nod and smile at him. 'Which keys have you got there?' I hand them to him and he grins at me. 'Come on I'll show you the short cut'
We follow him through the trees before we come to the brick wall, there's a narrow path that is quite well hidden that runs alongside it for a few metres and then we're at a gate that's almost like a door in the wall which Christian unlocks. We walk through and he locks it behind us and then leads us through the trees on the other side before we emerge near the patio back home.
'Blimey Christian, I never knew that was there'
'I know, it's well hidden. I often use to sneak this way if I wanted space from mom and dad' he grins at me as we enter the kitchen. Mom is with Mia preparing lunch. I go and hug her and she smiles at me as if I've made her day.
'Mom, I'm going for a sleep will you wake me when Hannah gets back'
'Sure darling boy. Don't you want anything to eat?'
'No mom, I'm not hungry.'
'When did you last eat?' Christian asks and Ana rolls her eyes, oh yes he does ask her this question often.
'Yesterday lunchtime. I'm too tired now and will try and have something later. Don't get cross'
'Go and sleep' he says 'You're back to being grouchy.' But at least he's smiling at me.
'Will you still be here when I wake up?' I ask.
'Yes we're planning on staying all day, so I'll make sure you eat later.' I look at Ana and roll my eyes at her, she giggles at me again. I grin at her. I like making her happy.
'Laters all' I say before wearily climbing the stairs. Once in my room and in bed I fall asleep straight away.
