Thank you for the recent reviews. There were a few reviewers who were worried that I might be going to bring in THAT storyline when I mentioned Elvis' death, but don't worry, I'm not going there. In my fluffy version of the story, CJ listened to Molly and got the help he needed without destroying everything. So we move forward... at a glacial pace towards their dinner date! Enjoy x
FIVE YEARS
Chapter 19
She walks into the kitchen and the conversation temporarily halts. She is immediately approached by an older but equally handsome, if marginally shorter and fuller, version of Charles.
"Ah, there she is!…. hello Molly… I'm PJ."
He leans down to give her a quick peck on the cheek and she feels a slight flush of embarrassment at the attentions of this extremely attractive older man.
"Hi."
"Welcome back! I'm sorry I wasn't here to meet you earlier, had to go up to town for a meeting, but I'm sure Lizzie has been looking after you brilliantly."
"Yes… she has."
Charles joins her and slips his arm around her waist, giving her a kiss before whispering in her ear, "You look beautiful."
"Excellent. Excellent. Now, what can I get you Molly? A glass of champagne? It feels like a champagne kind of occasion."
She hesitates.
"Actually Dad, Molly's not supposed to be drinking …. you know, due to the head injury.."
She catches a look pass between his parents.
"Ah yes, of course. How thoughtless of me. Lizzie, have we still got some of that elderflower pressé from when we had those ghastly teetotallers around for dinner a few weeks back?"
"PJ – behave! The Smyth's are not ghastly teetotallers. I'm sure there is some in the other fridge. I'll go and check."
"Thanks love. Charlie, grab some glasses."
"It's fine, really. I'll just have a water or something. Don't let me stop you all from having a drink though."
"Not, at all. I've probably had enough already… had a few at lunch in the club… actually dozed off on the train.. woke up at Temple Meads and had to get a stopping train back!"
"Dad!"
PJ gives her a mischievous wink.
"Well, it's not exactly the first time it's happened is it! At least it wasn't a Truro train! Molly's not the only one who finds it remarkably easy to fall asleep 'in transit'!"
She laughs, enjoying the easy family banter.
"I'm not sure I've ever fallen asleep on a train and missed my stop….. have I?"
Charles smiles and shrugs his shoulders, "Not to my knowledge."
Liz returns with a couple of bottles, which she passes to her husband.
"Right, here we go!"
PJ pours four glasses and passes them around.
"A toast! To our darling Molly! Welcome home!"
PJ takes a big swig of the elderflower.
"Hmmm, delicious!"
She can tell from his face that he's thinks the drink anything but delicious. She takes a sip and just manages to stop herself spitting it out. She laughs.
"I can't do this to you!"
She's aware that everyone is looking at her quizzically. Liz is the first to speak.
"What do you mean Molly dear?"
She snorts with laughter.
"Well, drink this stuff for starters! But really, I can't make you think that I'm not drinking because of my head injury… the real reason is…. well….me and Charles … we're expecting a baby. I'm pregnant."
She briefly registers the look of surprise on his face at her decision to share their news, before they are engulfed simultaneously in a huge hug by his delighted parents.
"It's early days and that, but looks like you're gonna be grandparents again."
Liz has tears in her eyes.
"Oh Molly, Charlie, what absolutely wonderful news. Thank you for telling us."
"Oh mum, don't pretend you didn't know. Your baby radar is legendary."
"I don't know what you mean."
PJ grins at them all.
"Ok, this is definitely a champagne moment."
-OG-
They're walking slowly, arm in arm, towards the city centre.
"So what made you change your mind and tell them?"
"I dunno. It just felt right. You don't mind, do you?"
"No, not at all. I'm happy for you to shout it from the rooftops…. but you do know that 7 months is a long time to have my mum fussing over you."
"Be kind. She's not that bad."
"You say that now…."
"I like her…. a lot…. And PJ… well he's quite a charmer."
"You could say that… it's all an act though, he's only got eyes for mum. Thankfully, I think he got all that out his system before he met her. It's quite funny watching women throw themselves at him, although admittedly excruciatingly embarrassing when I was growing up."
"You know, you're the spitting image of him, right?"
"So, people say, but I don't really see it."
She grins at him.
"Well, at least I know you'll age well."
He laughs at her jibe.
"A bit previous there, Dawesy."
He checks his watch.
"Right, we'd better get a move on, or else we're going to be late. It's a bit far to walk, I'll get us a taxi."
He hails a passing black cab, speaks to the driver through the open passenger window before opening the back door for her. They settle on the back seat and she slips her hand into his.
"So are you going to tell me where we're going?"
He brings her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckle.
"Nah. Patience, Dawsey."
After a couple of miles the cab pulls up outside a grand Georgian building on the outskirts of the city.
"The Bailbrook House Hotel!"
He looks delighted at her exclamation.
"You recognise it?"
"Well yes…. But admittedly the sign at the end of the drive and the wedding photos kind of helped!"
"Oh, yes, of course."
She can hear a slight tone of dejection in his voice and squeezes his hand by way of apology.
She steps out of the cab and instantly has a flashback, remembering a time when she did the same, alone but full of expectation before their first date. She turns to look at him as he climbs out and has another memory of her father doing the same, except this time she's in a wedding dress. She brings the two memories together.
"The Cloisters restaurant….. is in the Bailbrook House Hotel?"
"Yes. This is where we had our first date… and where we got married."
She stands outside the entrance and closes her eyes. She can visualise pushing open the door that first time, before entering the smart reception and nervously asking the way to the restaurant. She remembers walking up to the smiling maître-de and hesitating when he'd asked what name the reservation was in. How it had only then occurred to her that she didn't even know his first name. How she'd briefly considered turning right around and walking away, still not quite believing that there could ever be anything between them away from the madness of the tour. She remembers bravely walking into vaulted restaurant and how he'd been sat at a far table waiting for her. How she'd felt her heart skip a beat when their eyes had met and he'd beamed at her. How he'd got to his feet and limped towards her, kissed her cheek and told her that she looked beautiful. She remembers she'd told him that he didn't look too shabby either and that they'd joked about his cute limp. She remembers how utterly gorgeous he'd looked, how the chemistry between them had bubbled away all through their lunch and just how desperate she'd been to kiss him.
She opens her eyes and turns to him, smiling.
"I remember Charles…. I remember our first date."
"Really?"
"Yes. I was so nervous."
"You and me both… I still wasn't 100% confident that you'd show-up. I'd arrived at the restaurant ridiculously early and had to sit there amongst all those other couples waiting for what felt like an age. Judging by the pitying glances I was getting, I reckon a few of them thought I'd been stood up. I was so relieved and happy when you walked in. If it hadn't been for my stupid limp, I might have embarrassed us both and scooped you up right in the middle of the restaurant."
"That might have raised a few eyebrows… it's not really that sort of place!"
"I know. Christ, it was agonising sitting opposite you, only being able to hold your hand."
"Do you remember how we were about to kiss and we got interrupted by the waitress?"
He leans in and gives her a quick kiss.
"Yes, and how I lured you back to my parent's house."
She smiles, remembering how she'd teased him.
"So this is where it all started.."
"Well technically it all started on the tarmac at Brize Norton when you sniggered at me calling the platoon a load of 'cockwombles'."
"When I earned my first Captain Stern-face stare."
"Don't remind me. Not my finest moment. Right, shall we go in?"
-OG-