"Steve? You ready yet?!" Kate shouted from the front door of the flat. It was the weekend of the anniversary party and Steve and Kate were about to depart. That was if Steve ever was ready. Kate was getting a bit stressed as they were running significantly behind time.
"Coming!" Steve responded as he finally entered the room with his suitcase. "Can you take this down to the car for me?" he asked Kate. He also had his suit in a bag to take down and would struggle as he was still using one crutch.
"Sure," Kate said as she held her arm out for the case. "Got the present?".
"Crap!" Steve said as he looked around for the gift as Kate rolled her eyes in frustration. They had actually decided on the present fairly quickly so it wasn't the drawn out experience that Steve feared it would be. They had bought Steve's parents some engraved glasses with their names and the date of their anniversary on them plus some pink champagne. They had also treated them to a hot air balloon ride for them to take on a date of their choice.
"Err, think I might need some help taking the present to the car as well," Steve admitted. There were once again now lots of things for him to carry in one hand.
"Give me something," Kate ordered and took whatever it was that Steve offered her. "I'll take these and the suitcases down. See you at the car," Kate said before she left Steve to lock up.
They were soon on their way south, with the sat nav directing Kate towards a quaint Bed and Breakfast that Steve's mum had booked for them. She had asked if he and Kate would mind staying at the place because they would be putting up a few elderly relatives, including Steve's grandad at their home.
They would head to the B&B to get changed before going to the party. After spending the night, the two would then go to Steve's parent's home for a little family gathering on the Sunday before heading back to Steve's, later that afternoon.
Thankfully traffic was fairly light and they made good time to the guest house. The owner took them to their two reserved rooms.
The first was a beautiful room with a mix of the old and new. Low ceilings with oak beams and luxury fixtures. Pride of place in the room was a four poster king sized bed with a plush white duvet and pillow cases . The bathroom was in a similar style with high end appliances and an enormous claw foot bath present as well. The other room had similar decor but was a lot smaller with only a single bed present.
"You take the large room," urged Kate to Steve as they argued over who would take which room. It made sense as Steve would be able to mobilise a lot more easily in the bigger space.
Steve realised Kate had a good point and couldn't argue. He reluctantly accepted her suggestion whilst wondering why his mother had booked two vastly different rooms. He quickly got changed in to his suit with red waistcoat, tie and other accessories to meet the dress code criteria and then sat and waited for Kate to be ready.
She had brought a simple strapless red midi dress with a fishtail bottom. It was a very simple design which would allow Steve's birthday present to catch people's eyes. Grabbing her red winter coat as it was cold outside, she made her way to Steve's room.
"You look great," Steve complimented her as he opened his door to her.
"I need your help with the necklace," Kate admitted as she handed him the piece of jewellery and turned around. She had had several attempts at trying to clasp it together herself but had failed.
Steve gently draped the necklace around Kate's neck and managed to clasp it successfully although it took a little while as he was distracted by her closeness.
"Thanks," Kate said once Steve stepped away. "You booked the taxi?" She asked as she got in to her coat.
"Be here in five minutes. We should wait for it down stairs," Steve suggested.
"Ok," Kate replied as she stepped in to the hallway in front of Steve. Hand in hand they made their way down the staircase, each finding it a little tricky to navigate their way. The stairs were a little narrow and rickety and Steve still had his crutch whist Kate was in a pair of heels.
Steve's parents were the first to greet them on their arrival at the venue they had hired. "Darling, you are doing amazing," Linda told her son as she greeted him with a hug. It was lovely to be able to see him on his feet with so little assistance. He had continued to make good progress since they had last seen him at his birthday.
"Thanks, mum," Steve replied before hugging his father, leaving his mother to greet Kate with just an enthusiastic hug as she had given her son.
"Lovely to see you up and about as well," Linda Arnott told Kate. "You over that nasty bug? Such a shame it ruined your birthday,".
"I'm doing much better, thanks Linda," Kate reassured Steve's mum.
"Wonderful," Linda replied. "Can I take your coat?".
"Thanks," Kate said as she removed her jacket.
"What a lovely necklace," Linda complimented Kate, her eye being drawn to it immediately.
"Steve's birthday present," Kate replied, her hand automatically going to the chain around her neck, allowing Linda to catch sight of the matching bracelet.
"And he just gets me chocolates and half dead flowers!" Linda teased her son, although quietly very happy her son had made such an effort. This woman was obviously very important to him and she was pleased he had met someone so lovely as Kate and was finally waking up to what was in front of him.
"You should head on inside," Pete Arnott told them, once he had greeted Kate as well.
"Do you want your present?" Steve enquired, indicating the boxes he and Kate held.
"Put it on the table with the others," Pete told his son. "I think we're going to take them home and open them tomorrow,".
"Ok," Steve said as they made their way inside.
"You two are on the top table with us," Linda informed the pair as they walked off. They were going to have a sit down meal before the party started. "Your grandfather is already sat there. You can introduce him to Kate,".
"Yes, mum," Steve replied as they walked off to the table where the gifts were being placed.
Their progress to their table was fairly slow. They were constantly accosted by other members of Steve's family and his parents friends, all asking how Steve was doing after his accident. His mother had obviously been keeping them informed as they knew all about Kate as well and wanted to be introduced.
"Hi Grandad," Steve greeted the old man sat at the table with a hug as they finally reached their destination.
"Hello Steven," replied his grandfather. He was the only one who still called Steve by his full name. "How are you doing?".
"Good grandad," Steve replied as he sat down at his seat after helping Kate to her chair. "Been a long journey but I'm nearly there,".
"Your mother has been keeping me up to date,".
"You and everybody else in this room," Steve pointed out. He was amazed how much his mother could gossip.
"And this must be Kate?" Steve's grandfather said, indicating Kate who was sat the other side of Steve.
Yes," Steve answered. "Grandad, this is Kate. Kate, this is my grandad. He is mum's father,".
"Nice to meet you," Kate said as she reached over to shake the old man's hand.
"She's a smasher, Steve," Steve grandfather admitted as he cheekily took Kate's hand and gave it a kiss.
"Grandad!" Steve said embarrassed.
"I'm going to have to keep an eye on you, aren't I?" Kate said to the old man. "I guess I can see where Steve gets his charm from,".
"I taught him well have I?".
"Very well," Kate agreed.
"Call me Wilf," Steve's grandfather told Kate as he released Kate's hand.
"Hi Wilf," Kate acknowledged. Steve's family were very welcoming to her and she was developing a soft spot for all of them.
The meal was delicious and afterwards Pete Arnott got to his feet and gave a little heartfelt speech about his wife before handing the floor over to Steve.
He had put off the job of writing what he was going to say as long as possible. That was until Kate had found out he hadn't got anything prepared and had cracked the whip. It had actually been a lot easier to write than he had anticipated. Maybe he was growing up and not scared of expressing himself?
He talked about how he thought his parents were often embarrassing with their shows of affection growing up, particularly when it was in front of his friends. But now he could see how lucky he was that they had stayed together. Steve admitted to the room that they had provided him with an excellent example of how to have a successful marriage if he ever were to get married. He couldn't help but cast a brief glance at Kate at those words, which she didn't miss. Not only that but they had provided a good template for raising a child. They had been good role models as parents growing up and just recently helping him with his rehab.
He ended on a light note saying that he should probably get a move on with settling down as at his age, his parents had been married a few years and Steve was a toddler. He didn't want to deprive his future child or children the opportunity to give a speech about how wonderful he was at his fortieth wedding anniversary before leading the toast
"That was really lovely," Kate told him as he retook his seat. She had to admit that Steve had surprised her with his words. "Didn't know you were so good at writing speeches,".
His parents felt the same way as they each came over to Steve to thank him for his words.
With the speeches done, a DJ took over and got the party started playing songs that Steve's parents had requested. Steve felt bad that Kate had to sit beside him as he was unable to dance at the present time. She didn't mind and was happy to spend the evening beside him, chatting to people that came to talk to Steve and her.
For a few dances, Steve's dad and grandfather asked her out on to the floor. Steve encouraged her to accept their offers and he was glad to see her having a good time on the dance floor with them.
As with all parties, as the evening began to wind down, the DJ changed the tempo of the music, slowing it right down. It was the last dance of the night that Steve sprung his surprise. Getting out his chair without the aid of a crutch, he held out his hand to Kate. "Fancy a dance?".
"Steve?!" Kate said. "I'm not sure Dan will be very happy about you walking unaided,".
"He knows," Steve admitted. "I wanted to surprise you so I've been practising with him. His only condition was that it was a slow song,". Kate was speechless and remained sat in her seat. "You want to dance or not?" Steve repeated.
"Yes," Kate finally decided as she got to her feet and walked on to the dance floor with Steve, albeit a little slower than normal. "Can't let all your practise with Dan go to waste," Kate said.
They finally found a spot on the floor and Kate placed her hand in Steve's before tucking herself as close to possible against Steve's body. She wrapped her other arm around Steve's neck as they started to sway to Elvis crooning away about how he couldn't help falling in love with someone.
"I would have liked to have seen your practice sessions with Dan," Kate muttered quietly. She didn't have to speak loudly as her mouth was close to Steve's ear. "Who took my place?" She teased.
"That would be Dan," Steve admitted.
Linda who was on the dance floor with her husband had caught sight of her son and Kate dancing together and gave Pete a very enthusiastic prod before nodding in Steve and Kate's direction looking very happy. Pete noted the couple but refused to get as involved as his wife in playing matchmaker. If it was meant to be then it would happen, was his philosophy.
As the music neared the end, Steve and Kate got caught in each other's eyes. Lost in their own little world, the rest of the room fell away. It was just the two of them. Their swaying stopped and as the last strains of music filled the room their lips prepared to meet in their first public kiss.