AN: If you are a fan of M stories you can read my bonus chapter that precedes this one. It's called In Gardens All Misty Wet With Rain. Thanks again for reading and although I know pretty much how this story ends, I am struck by Hobsonfan's observance that Laura's attitude to marriage is "evolving" so this may have a bearing on a few things that I may or may not follow through – possibly. What do you all think?
Lying on his back on the bed, Robbie looked up to the sloping ceiling of the bedroom and the large Velux window. Swallows swooped high and appeared small in the rectangle of blue framed by the skylight and the occasional gull soared gracefully across the soft turquoise sky outside. Through the shutters and the windows he could hear the birds in the garden, chirping loudly in groups to each other.
It was now early evening. Robbie wondered what time it was exactly and if he might have another painkiller for his ribs although the pain was now much better than it had been and he could feel that things were starting to heal. He was also hungry and he was sure Laura must be too. He looked down at her, she was tucked up to his side, his arm around her while his hand gently stroked her hair.
Robbie smiled as he watched her doze. He was unashamed to feel a certain kind of masculine pride. With Laura lying next to him after their love making, she'd told him how much she loved him and all but collapsed in his arms and across his chest. She'd still managed to avoid his bruises even in her exhaustion. That is love he thought to himself with a proud smile. As she lay dozing, he was very much awake. His thoughts wandered to what she'd said on the beach earlier.
Maybe you should try it sometime.
There had been no ambiguity from her but still he was confused. He knew Laura didn't approve of marriage. It wasn't because of any commitment issues; it was purely in principle. Her words, however, seemed to contradict her beliefs. It was odd, because it wasn't like Laura to skirt around issues. If she meant something, she usually made it very clear. He remained puzzled but he felt an odd excitement and her words echoed again in his head as he looked down at her sleeping form next to him.
Laura wasn't asleep. She had her eyes closed but she was fully and blissfully aware of being snuggled up next to Robbie. She loved the time spent after making love. He always held her close, tender kisses to her face and always asked her if she was alright. This both melted her heart and amused her at the same time, for it was obvious that she was always "alright" but he still felt compelled to ask.
When she'd been younger, she might have convinced herself this attitude was old fashioned but now, it was something she craved and cherished. After numerous failed relationships and a string of one-night stands that had drifted into nothing she knew that such behaviour was to do with the person, not through any gentlemanly cliché. Simply, he was lovely. She had always known Robbie was an inherently kind man but nothing had prepared her for how unbelievably sweet he was, just to her, when they were alone. Or how passionate. The one intensified the other in a feedback loop of passion and tenderness. She could lay like this for hours, knowing these things and just feeling him close, with nothing else required.
After a while Robbie felt Laura stir and felt her hand on his chest. He asked her if she was ok and if she wanted anything and that maybe they should have something to eat. She agreed and he got up off the bed and pulled his pants and jeans on and then buttoned up his shirt.
"Don't get cold, pet" he said and covered her with the woolen blanket she had retrieved from the car the night before. Laura smiled to herself, basking in this very rare term of endearment from him. He used it all the time to his daughter or to those in his charge that were upset or vulnerable, but seldom did it slip out to her. She loved that it demonstrated a basic and unforced need to care for and protect others and when he used it without thinking in regard to her, secretly her heart would swell a little.
"I won't" she said, smiling up at him and pulling the blanket over her nakedness.
"How about after we've had a bite to eat we have a dip in the hot tub and a glass of bubbly eh?" Robbie said, his face bright with a relaxed excitement at his suggestion.
"Sounds wonderful" She replied and watched as he nodded and then disappeared through the bedroom door and into the kitchen.
Laura yawned lazily as she pulled the blanket over herself. Her body felt relaxed, wondrously so, to a point she couldn't ever recall feeling like this. She still felt the warm afterglow of their love making mixed with the emotions they'd shared earlier on the beach along with the previous day's events. She thought back to when she was younger, all the feelings of young fresh love seemed dull and without volume compared to what she felt now. She could hear Robbie clinking plates and cutlery in the kitchen and after a few more minutes she threw the blanket off herself and got up from the bed before putting on a bathrobe and making her way into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Laura was impressed to find that Robbie had laid out a veritable feast made up from the contents of the fridge. They'd bought various supplies earlier in the week and along with the cheese and bread she'd bought that morning there was quite a spread on offer. She realised she was famished. Robbie had opened the champagne and as she sat down, he poured her a glass.
"Don't know about you, but I worked up quite a thirst" He said with a wink. He had a glass too but mixed his champagne with orange juice.
She chuckled softly at his words as she took the glass from him. She sipped at the champagne. It was deliciously cold. It was a good one, dry and biscuity and it was well chilled. Laura took another long sip before tucking in, along with Robbie, into the food.
They chatted as they ate, deciding what time they should leave the next day and that Laura would do some of the driving if need be. They discussed Jack's coming visit over the weekend and Laura's return to work the following Monday. After their food had settled Robbie wandered into the garden and had a look at the hot tub. It was already switched on from the engineer's visit and as Robbie moved aside the cover he dipped his hand into the water and felt it was lovely and warm. He smiled, this would be just the ticket for his aches and pains. He'd just taken another painkiller after eating but he could tell that it would probably be the last one he needed. Making love with Laura had relaxed his body and now a dip in a hot tub with her was the perfect thing to cap off his recovery as well as the evening.
They took the champagne out with them into the garden and headed to the hot tub. Robbie got in first then held out a hand for Laura as she climbed in, discarding her bathrobe as she did so. The evening was still warm and pleasant, with only a very slight chill at the edge of the light breeze that drifted through the night air. Bats flitted about the darkening sky and the odd seagull flew over the garden on a night sortie. As the night wore on the temperature began to drop but in the hot tub, Laura and Robbie were relaxing in the warm water, submerged up to their shoulders.
"Here" Said Robbie taking Laura's glass and replenishing it with champagne "let me top you up, there's a bit left, I think I'll stick to Buck's Fizz though. This is the life, eh?" He said to Laura touching his glass to hers with a grin that told her he was genuinely thrilled at the proceedings.
"It's a shame we'll only get to do this once though" he sighed.
"Another reason to come back for a proper holiday. Spend some more time, see the seals and puffins and have the fish and chips were should have had yesterday in Whitby" Said Laura
"Aye, and maybe we can find another ring" Robbie said, frowning and a little tight lipped at the reminder that the purchase he'd made the day before had been lost to the sea.
"Well that would be an idea too" Laura replied, smiling ahead and avoiding his gaze. And as she took another sip of her champagne, he looked at her closely, her words from earlier on the beach still calling in his head.
She put her glass down on the decking behind them and turned to look at him "Despite everything, I've had a wonderful time, Robbie"
"Me too; despite everything" and he kissed her, taking her hand in his under the water. Laura kissed him back, savouring the feel of him next to her in the water, her hand went to his leg under the water and she began to run her hand up his thigh when suddenly there was a rumbling from under the hot tub.
"Oh!" Cried Laura laughing as jets of bubbles issued rapidly forth from the base and sides of the tub, churning the water and gently pummeling their bodies.
Robbie laughed back with her, unbeknownst to Laura he had found the switch on the side of the tub to activate the bubble jet. They let the timer on the bubbles run out, both still laughing and enjoying the feeling and the sheer ridiculous luxury of the hot tub.
The night sky darkened and the stars began to prick brightly through the blackness as it got later into the night. Laura filled her glass up again twice. The alcohol relaxed her body and now she knew everything was alright, and that Robbie was safe and that hopefully there would be some justice for Chrissy and rose, she had allowed the relief and the fatigue to wash over her. Robbie stuck to his Bucks Fizz and after an hour enjoying the warmth and relaxation of the hot tub, they decided to call it a night. The journey back to Oxford the next day would take some time and they both needed a good rest.
Robbie climbed out of the tub, wrapped himself in a towel and then offered his hand to help Laura out.
"Are you alright, Love?" He asked her as she stepped out of the tub. She was a little drunk and had got a bit tearful. She could usually hold her drink well but the events of the day had wreaked havoc with her adrenaline levels and she was dead tired as well as emotional. The alcohol had hit her for six and Robbie could see tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I'm, well I'm just a little. . ." her voice trailed off
"Come here, it's all ok." Robbie said as he drew her close, wrapping her in her bathrobe and holding her tight. "You're my one and only Canny Lass, you know that, don't you?" he said softly
"I do." She said half laughing, half crying through her tears. "Oh God, I thought I'd lost you Robbie" and she tried to hold back a sob but didn't succeed.
"Sssh, hey, it's ok" He soothed her and he could feel warm tears running down her face. "I'm still here, eh? you're stuck with me I'm afraid"
"I always want to be stuck with you, Robbie" She said, looking up to him through her tears. He gazed down at her, rubbing her back through the robe to help dry her as well as reassure her. Her eyes were glassy with emotion, fatigue and champagne.
"And you" She continued, her voice wavering with emotion and the effects of the champagne, "you're my canny lad, or whatever it is you say"
"That's good to know" he said with a chuckle, amused to hear her say a familiar saying in her own way. But he saw the affection in her eyes despite the tired drunkenness. And he kissed her forehead and hugged her close. They were both dead tired and not long after headed to bed.
Robbie put Laura into bed first then he cleaned his teeth and joined her. She had dropped off to sleep straight away and he was relieved, she was exhausted, much more than he was. He pulled her softly into his arms and in her slumber, she murmured something and he placed a soft kiss onto her cheek before following her into a deep and restful sleep.
