CHAPTER 2
Walking side by side, Dani took hold of Jamie's arm and slid her hand down until their fingers slowly interlocked. Both women smiled shyly as their skin touched.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me tonight," Dani uttered, resting her head on Jamie's shoulder as they walked. "I…I know how…hard…it is…to open yourself up…" She hesitated for a moment knowing how difficult she finds it to talk to people herself. "I only wish I had your strength," she continued, "I hate that you went through all of that…you're amazing, you know that?!"
The brunette smiled weakly, "Well you just gotta get on with it don't you," said Jamie pragmatically, looking away from the au pair as her eyes began to well up.
She gulped down the lump that was forming at the back of her throat, and quickly brushed away the tear that had escaped her. Dani could tell she was feeling uncomfortable as her body tensed up and her back arched, as she tried to pull back some composure.
"Hey…" she squeezed her hand and stopped them in their tracks. "I didn't mean to upset you…" She brought her hands up to cup Jamie's face, and against some resistance, gently turned her head towards her. She softly brushed her thumbs across her cheeks, catching any silent tears as they fell. Their eyes were focussed on one another, as she leant in and slowly kissed her lips, pulling Jamie into an all encompassing embrace.
The gardener tried to buck herself up and affectionately squeezed her, "I'm ok… honestly… It's just a lo' I guess… I've not spoken about any of tha' in so long… I keep it all buried deep." She hesitated for a moment, "But… then…then there was you… our very own Mary Poppins… here to fix us all one by one…"
Dani chuckled, "Have you met me?… I'm a mess!"
Jamie smirked knowingly, "Hey!… You're stronger than you think, y'know," she commanded. Dani looked at her blankly. "Well for starters you've come over to another country…by yourself…to live in a house with a bunch of strangers…You're teachin' and bringin' up 2 grievin' kids, after everythin' you've bin through… not to mention bein' haunted by your ex… You need to give yourself some credit Poppins… YOU are so much stronger than you think…SO much stronger than you think…"
Dani's face softened hearing her words which were fuelled with such admiration for the young teacher, "I…I had never really thought about it all like that…" she said, lost in thought.
"You're doin' great Dani… I know you've bin strugglin', it's natural… I'd have bin more worried if you hadn't of bin… But you're here… you're standin'… and you're doin' brilliantly… So give yourself a break… Those kids absolutely adore you, anyone can see that… And the rest of us do too…" she said with such sincerity, "You've made such a difference here, more than you'll ever know, whether you can see it or not…"
All Dani could do was smile, completely in awe of this woman and her ability to keep bringing her back to reality, and building her up. Where the hell did you come from Jamie?!
Leaning in, the gardener gently kissed Dani's forehead, "Come on you, let's get back…" she said, "I'm freezin' my fuckin' tits off 'ere!"
They both chuckled, as their hands interlocked once more and they made their way back to the manor. Dani just loved how unashamedly herself Jamie was, effortless in the way she spoke and held herself.
