3 Days Later
Dani and Jamie were already settling into daily life together. They moved so naturally around each other that it was almost like they had always been together.
Dani was staring out the window of Jamie's flat, or rather "their" flat now. She was holding a cup of tea that Jamie had made, a far off look in her eyes. Jamie came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, placing a kiss on Dani's neck.
"What are you thinking about?"
"My family leaves today. I'm just thinking about everything these past two weeks. How I can't believe this is real life. I'm so scared I'm going to wake up one day and this will have all been a dream. Did I really escape Edmund?"
Jamie pulled her closer, nuzzling into her neck. "Aye, Poppins, this is real life. Although it's still hard for me to process it as well."
Dani turned around to face her. "Tomorrow Eddie will be back across the ocean and I just feel so… relieved. Does that make me a bad person?"
"Not at all, Poppins. It's only natural to want to move on, to put all that behind you." Jamie ran her hands down Dani's arms, stopping at her hands and holding them.
"Thank you, Jamie. You really are the best, you know that, right?"
Jamie blushed, always uncomfortable with compliments. "Only you think that, Poppins. But, it just so happens that your's is the only opinion I care about."
Dani smiled and looked down at their intertwined hands. She was thankful that Jamie's hand was healing so well. She hated the constant reminder of what happened that day at the hotel. Jamie's voice snapped her back to the present.
"So, how do you want to celebrate today? It's the least Eddie can do for us, giving us cause to celebrate, right?"
Dani got a mischievous look in her eyes. "I can think of one way," she said, biting her lower lip and looking directly into Jamie's eyes.
"Oh," Jamie said, understanding dawning. "Are you sure? I don't want to—"
"I'm sure. I want to. It's just that.. I'm also scared," Dani confessed.
"I wouldn't do anything that makes you uncomfortable, Dani. You say 'stop' and I'll stop, no questions asked."
"Oh Jamie, it's not that," Dani said quickly. "I know I am safe with you. It's just that I've never, you know… with a woman. I don't know what to do, and I'm afraid I won't be good enough for you."
Jamie internally chastised herself for not realizing sooner that this could be something Dani was worried about. "Dani, I don't want you to ever say you aren't good enough for me in any area, you hear me? That's some shite talk that I won't tolerate."
Dani giggled and nodded. Jamie always knew just what to say to make her laugh.
Jamie continued, "We'll take things slow. We have all the time in the world. And, it will be great because it's me and it's you and it's us. Ok?"
Dani nodded again. "I love you, Jamie. So, so much."
"I love you, too, Dani," Jamie said, crashing her lips into Dani's. She then surprised Dani by sweeping her up and carrying her to their bedroom. Dani wrapped her arms tightly around Jamie's neck and kept kissing her the whole way. Jamie gently laid Dani on their bed and then joined her…
"Wow." Dani said, gasping for breath.
"Wow is right," Jamie agreed, also panting.
They were laying on their backs, naked, staring up at the ceiling.
"That was, ummm…." Dani was at a loss for words.
"Yeah, it was," Jamie replied, feeling the same.
"I mean, I didn't know I could feel that way. Like, I've never… you know… before. I didn't know it could feel so…mind blowing," Dani said in awe.
"Never, Dani? Damn. So, Edmund really was shite at everything?" Jamie said, aghast.
"Yep. Total shite apparently," Dani said, using Jamie's word and earning a smile from the brunette.
"Well, this was a highlight for me, as well. I'm over here thinking that I don't know if I believe you that this was your first time with a woman. Seems to me you were misrepresenting your skill," Jamie said, smirking.
"Jamie!" Dani reached over and gently swatted Jamie's arm. "Well, I guess I had a good teacher."
"Nope. You're a natural, you are," Jamie said. "I continue to be the luckiest person in the world."
"I think we should do that lots more," Dani said enthusiastically. It was adorable to Jamie.
"That can be arranged," Jamie responded, unable to keep the smile off her face. She turned on her side to face Dani. Dani turned over to mirror her.
"Thank you, Jamie, for making me feel so safe. So loved. I hope you feel the same with me."
Jamie could only give a nod in response. She felt so overcome with love for Dani. She reached over and took Dani's hands, examining the faded bruises, the last of the ones left by Edmund. She brought Dani's wrists up to her mouth and kissed each bruise, willing the marks to fade with her love. She wanted to mend every hurt, both seen and unseen. She took Dani's other wrist and repeated the process, placing gentle kisses everywhere Dani had been hurt. When she looked up at Dani, tears were silently streaming down Dani's face. She understood. No words had been necessary. Dani scooted closer to Jamie and held her, neither speaking but both drawing comfort from the contact with the other. And they stayed that way for hours, both feeling like they were the luckiest person in the world.
3 Weeks Later
"Jamie! I got the job!" Dani burst through the front door yelling for Jamie, who was standing over the stove making dinner.
"What? Are you serious, Dani? That's great news!" Jamie pulled Dani into a big hug.
"Yes! Their names are Miles and Flora. Their uncle wants them to receive personalized education, so I'll be getting to work with them on-on-one!"
"Oh Dani, this is fantastic. I'm so proud of you," Jamie said, beaming. "We need to celebrate. I'm taking you out to dinner."
"But what about what you are making?"
Jamie took the pot off the stove and dumped the contents into the trash can. "You know my cooking is shite, Dani. This was no exception. It's not a fitting meal for my girlfriend on her big day."
"You always make me feel so special, Jamie."
"It's cause you are."
3 Months Later
Life had never been better for Dani and Jamie. It was spring time, and business was booming at The Leafling with all the weddings. Dani's job with the Wingraves was a dream. She loved Miles and Flora dearly and they loved her back. Everything was "perfectly splendid," as Flora liked to say.
Dani rarely thought about her old life back in the States, or the people she had left behind there. She was too happy with Jamie and loving every minute spent with her. Until one day a phone call reminded her…
"Dani? It's your mum on the phone," Jamie said, offering the phone to Dani, who got up off the couch to take it from Jamie's hand.
"Mom?" Dani spoke into the receiver.
Jamie moved into the living room, trying not to hover. She felt apprehension building in her. She wasn't trying to listen, but in the small flat, it was also impossible not to hear Dani's side of the conversation.
"Yeah, I'm doing great, Mom... Yeah, I love my job... Jamie is fine... Yes, we are still together... No, I told you it's not a phase… No, I don't have any plans to come home… What?... Is this seriously why you called me?... Look, Mom, we're not together anymore… It's not my problem!"
Edmund, Jamie thought. The call was about Edmund. Of course it was. Jamie just shook her head and scoffed. She didn't want to see painful memories dredged up for Dani. Why couldn't her family just respect her wishes?
"He can do whatever he wants for all I care… No, I'm not calling him… Well, I'm sorry you wasted the money on the phone call… Ok, goodbye."
Dani hung up the phone and huffed.
"You won't believe what that was about!" She said incredulously to Jamie.
"Come over here and tell me about it, love."
Dani stomped over to the couch and plopped down next to Jamie.
"Well, I'm sure you gathered a lot a already, but Mom was calling on behalf of Judy. Apparently Edmund is 'spiraling.' They blame me. She says I need to fix things with Eddie because they are worried about him. He's been drinking a lot and acting strangely, whatever that means."
"I'm sorry, Dani," Jamie said sympathetically. "I'm sure that was hard to hear."
"I'm mostly just pissed, honestly."
Jamie snickered. "Ok yeah, that's a valid reaction, too."
"Like, how dare she call me up just to talk about Eddie," Dani huffed, leaning back against the couch and crossing her arms across her chest.
"Let them worry about Eddie," Jamie said. "We'll just keep living our lives. He can't hurt us anymore."
But, Jamie was wrong. Jamie was so wrong. Because not long after, the phone calls started…