It was 10 am before either one of them moved. As Matthew went to move, Alice reached out her hand for his and said, "where are you going?" Matthew kissed her hand and said, "toilet" and laughed, as he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. He seemed to be taking longer than normal so Alice made her way out to the bathroom. He wasn't there so she thought he might have made his way to the kitchen. Alice used the bathroom and made her way downstairs. She found Matthew standing in his pyjamas at the kettle, preparing a cuppa for each of them and had two slices of bread under the grill. Alice walked over to him and when Matthew heard her he turned round to look at her, "Alright, sweetheart? Was just making us some breakfast. I was going to bring it back upstairs." Alice moved closer and put her arms around Matthew's waist and leaned into his back. "Matthew, I don't want you leave." Matthew turned around in her arms and held her to his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Alice. I told you that."
"I don't think you understand, Matthew. I like you being here. Maybe you would like to think about moving in here with me? I know you like it at the Blake's, but we could live here, together. I don't want to be here on my own anymore. Please think about it." Matthew kissed the top of her head and said, "I don't need time, Alice. It's a yes from me. You're not worried about people talking?". Alice shook her head and said, "I just don't care what people think anymore." She leaned up for a kiss. Matthew let Alice go to take the toast from the grill. He buttered the toast as Alice took the milk from the fridge, for their tea and coffee.
They took their breakfast to bed and as they ate and drank, Alice turned and said, "aren't Lucien and Jean back soon?" Matthew thought about it and said, "next Sunday. I'm sure it's next Sunday." He looked over to her and said, "what if I nip over to the Blake's this afternoon and collect some of my things? We could start the move today?" Alice leaned over and kissed him and nodded her head. "That would be lovely." Matthew moved their plate and cups to the bedside table. "I'll bring my unit with me, if that's ok? That way we can have a bedside table each?"
""yes" she said. "Maybe we can adjust things around here. You can bring your books and perhaps we could put some bookshelves in the living room? That way, we could have our own little library?"
"Indeed" was all he said before reaching over to caress the side of her face. Matthew leaned over to capture Alice's lips in a soft kiss. "Matthew…" Alice moved over to Matthew and moved her leg over both his so she was sitting on his lap. "Is your leg ok in this position Matthew?" I'll move, if not". Matthew said nothing but kissed her passionately. Alice started to unbutton the top of Matthew's pyjama top and kissed down his neck. She kissed lower and lower, as she undid each of his buttons. Matthew helped her to remove his pyjama top and when they returned to position, Matthew kisses Alice on this lips then moves to her collarbone. As he was trying to move the nightdress from her shoulder, he looked up to her and said, "Alice?" before he could say anything else, Alice said, "shall we take it off?" Matthew chuckled and said, "you brazen woman, you." Alice looked at him carefully but Matthew just said, "I'm only kidding Alice. I love you. All of you." Alice moved to take the nightdress off over her head but Matthew stopped her and said, "let me." Kisses were shared, touches were traded, all items of clothing were removed and eventually Matthew moved so that Alice was lying down and Matthew was lying over her. "Alice? Are you ok with what's happening?"
"Yes, Matthew. I'm more than ok with this." She reached up to capture his lips in a passionate kiss and no more words were said. Matthew moved off Alice to his side and pulled her with him, continuing to kiss her as they turned. "Are you alright Alice? How was it for you?" he smiled and leaned in for another kiss. Alice reached up to cup his face and said "Matthew…that was…I…" she kissed him again and said, "let's do it again. You know what they say? Practice makes perfect and all that!" She laughed as she pulled him over her and they practiced three more times.
"It was 3 in the afternoon before either of them left the bed again. They got up and washed and dressed and while Alice tidied up and went out to do some food shopping, Matthew went over to the Blake's to pack up some of his things and transfer them to Alice's place. Maybe he should start thinking of it as "their place" now. On his way back, Matthew stopped off in town to pick up something special then drove over to their place. Alice helped Matthew unpack the car; he'd even managed to get his bedside unit in there! They managed to get their bedroom organised and put the boxes of books in the spare room until they could sort some shelves out for the living room.
"I made us some dinner", Alice said. Matthew looked at her and said, "will we survive?!" Alice picked up the dish towel from the worksurface and through it at him. "I can cook! Maybe not as well as you can but I didn't get to this age by living on fish and chips." She laughed at his face and said "sit down Matthew, it's just chicken casserole and potatoes but it tastes fine. I promise." As they sat to eat their dinner, Alice reached over and kissed Matthew and said, "first dinner together in "our house". I like it." Mathew leaned back for another kiss and said, "I love it. Our little house." Matthew took a bite and, as he did, Alice watched him for his reaction. "It's lovely, Alice. Honestly it is." With this, Alice was satisfied and began to eat her own meal. She realised that Matthew had become quiet and as she looked over to him, the fork fell from her hand in shock and surprise. There, on the table between them, was an opened black velvet box with a cream coloured velvet inlay. In the middle was a ring: 4 very small diamonds in a row. Not too ostentatious, just simple and elegant and so Alice. "Alice?" Matthew reached over and took her hand in his. "Alice. This feels right. I know you said you didn't care what people said but I care about you. I love you and I was wondering if you would consider becoming my wife?" Matthew looked at Alice carefully. He could see the little crease between her eyebrows as she raised her other hand to her mouth. Matthew reached up and now had her two hinds in his. "Talk to me sweetheart." Alice looked at the ring and then back at Matthew. "You want us to get married? You want to marry me?"
"No one else but you sweetheart. Only you." Alice lurched out of her seat and sat on his right leg and kissed him as hard as she could. Matthew cried out in pain and Alice realised what she had done. "Matthew, I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me. Let me rub it better for you. I'll go and get the oil." Before she moved away, Matthew grabbed her hand and pulled her down onto his other leg. "I'll be fine in a minute but for now, kiss me and tell me you'll be my wife?" Alice touched the side of kiss face, stared into his eyes and whispered, "yes. Yes, I'll be your wife." They moved back to their bedroom, dinner long since forgotten and now lying cold on the kitchen table. Alice and Matthew made love long into the evening, not even moving when the telephone rang.