CHAPTER 71
He opened the front door and Bea went to go in.
"Ahhh just you wait there, let me put these inside, right, arm round my neck Mrs. Grant, I have dreamt of doing this."
He picked her up effortlessly and carried her over the threshold, closing the door behind him with his foot.
As he put her down she slid her other arm around his neck.
"Bea can I hold you now like I have wanted to from the moment I saw you in that doorway?"
She just smiled and kissed him.
His arms went around her back, his hand on her bare skin, and he pulled her in so tenderly. They stood looking into each other's eyes, she ran her fingers through his hair and then her hand went around the back of his neck.
"This is how I have wanted to kiss you from the moment I saw you standing there."
He slid one of his hands up behind her neck and that kiss, that kiss was what he had waited for for days.
They just stood holding each other, this was what they both dreamt of, this is how it would be from now.
"Coffee then," he laughed.
"Yes, for now, let me get these shoes off too."
"Right that is on the go, now can I take this jacket and vest off. I will take them upstairs and hang them up. Shall I take these up while I am on?"
"Thank you and Nathan that stole and the bag can go up too. I will sort my cases and stuff out tomorrow and put everything away. There isn't much left to bring now."
"We will collect that tomorrow and then everything is here, I will give you a hand sorting things then I can store your cases in the loft space."
Bea went to get cups for the coffee and was stood looking out the kitchen window when he came back down. He actually stopped on the stairs and stored that memory, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back, " Where were you?"
"Standing in the office door seeing your face again" she turned in his arms, "I was so worried this would be a bit too much for Hope Valley but knew by your reaction I chose right."
"Well," he laughed, "I thought I was going to pass out, ask Colin, you looked like an angel stood there with the light bouncing off your dress, and then when I saw the back or no back, I nearly went again, I am sure Colin swore, so yes you chose well princess."
She poured the coffee and they sat at the table, talking about the day, did they see, had they spoken too, it had all flown over so quickly.
"I hope Lee and Rosemary managed to get some good photographs, we will have to make an album. That will be a treasure to keep, I want to dry your buttonhole if I can to keep too. Maybe I will start a memory box, our memory box, oh I will do that."
"Would you change anything about the day Bea?"
"No, not one thing, why would you?"
"Not change, well maybe making it earlier in the day, but there is one thing we didn't get to do that I would have added, I would have liked the first dance with you as my wife."
"We can still do that can't we, we don't need a room full of people."
She stood up and wiggled her finger in that "come here way," She held her arms out in a classic waltz position, "Like this?"
He laughed "No like this" and slipped his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Music would have been good, you could sing."
"You want me to dance and sing, at the same time" she laughed. "Ermmm OK this one is perfect …..
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Let me hear you whisper
That you love me too
Keep the love-light glowing
In your eyes so blue
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Keep the love-light glowing
In your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
She got no more words out, there was so much longing in the kiss. Taking her hand he led her up the stairs.
"Constable Grant, what are you doing?"
"Unwrapping my birthday present. I am intrigued as to how this wrapping has not fallen off ."
She turned her back so he could undo the zip, his hands were shaking, then he turned her round and slipped the straps from her shoulders, with the weight of all the beading it just fell to the floor.
He stood looking at her for what to Bea seemed like ages but was only seconds, then took the combs from her hair and ran his hands through it, picking her up he carried her to the bed.
They lay in each other's arms as they had at the cabin, no words needed. He spoke first, well laughed, "I love the secret things." Bea just burst out laughing. She lay for a few minutes then made to get out of the bed, he pulled her back "where do you think you are going? I have waited a long time for you to be here."
"To my case and back, I shall return"
He watched her as she bent over to pick up her dress and stockings then open the case, once again he saw the full extent of that scar, it would always be a reminder of how lucky he was. She took one of her new nightdresses from the case, a stunning midnight blue, and slipped it on.
"Do I get to unwrap again?"
She picked the cushion up from the chair and threw it at him laughing, taking the little package from the case she went back and sat on the bed. He raised himself up and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I have a real gift for darling, for today and your birthday but first open this?" She handed him the card. He opened it and smiled at the Happy Birthday Husband, then he read what was written inside " Happy Birthday to the man my soul loveth." Your loving wife Bea x x
"Happy Tears?" she asked, he just nodded and kissed her.
She handed him the package, I hope you like it.
He untied the ribbon and carefully removed the paper to reveal the beautiful black leather case, he looked at that then Bea, then he opened the case and shut it again quickly, he looked at her again, "open it Nathan?" He slowly opened the box again. He had never seen a watch like it, what a thing of beauty it was. Studying it he realised that they were footprints on the dial, just above the Vl. He kept looking at it then Bea, taking it from the case he went to try it on.
"Turn it over sweetie." He did, "One step at a time", again he could only look at it then Bea, he finally managed to speak, " Princess, this is so beautiful, I have never owned anything like it before, I will always treasure it, thank you. Come here."
"If you would prefer something else I will get it for you?"
"I don't want anything else Bea, I really don't, let me try it on." Maybe a strange thing to say but it looked even better on his wrist, oh yes it was perfect.
"I actually have a wedding gift for you Bea but it has been delayed, will arrive in 2 weeks or thereabouts. Do you want me to tell you what it is or wait for a surprise?"
"Oh I love a surprise, I will wait, well try to and thank you."
"When you see it you may want to take that back, only joking."
"Maybe I need to know then"
"Too late, you had your chance."
She went to get up again, "Now where are you going?"
"To get a drink, I am thirsty, do you want one?"
"I will get them, what would you like, I actually have a bottle of champagne for us but shall we save that and have it tomorrow?" He wrapped the towel around his waist and turned towards the bed, Bea was just smiling, "What? " he laughed, "Nothing I was just admiring the view, it is rather spectacular, water please."
Shaking his head, laughing and feeling loved like he never knew anyone could be he went to get his wife a drink.