Lizard
Chapter 7
"I missed this." He said as he pulled her in tighter. "So much."
How right it all now felt.
She smiled as he did his thing, the thing that made him... him. He slowly brought her hands to his lips and peppered kisses across them, never once taking his intense eyes from hers. That was his thing, the way they spoke to each other without words, just looks.
They lay naked and tangled in bed sheets, both coming down from the ecstasy of the past couple of hours. There had been little talking to get them to this point, just pure emotion and desire.
"I've waited too long a time to have you again." He continued. "It's felt like a life time I reckon.'
Molly giggled. Happy. She'd missed him too.
"Well I hope it was worth the wait?" She asked half serious, still doubting herself. She still had doubts. The whole Georgie situation did that to her.
"What do you bloody think woman?" He replied as he flipped her over again. His weight delightfully pinning her down, his lips crushing into hers as he shifted to take her once again.
Molly willingly let him. It felt so right, and he was right, it had been too long since they had been together. She delighted in being all consumed by him again.
It was totally unexpected. At first when she had seen him standing there she had been utterly surprised, and a little scared. She'd never dreamt, and had never expected, to see him standing there amongst such a setting. People rushing past them as they both stood foolishly staring at one another for a while. Then she did something brave and made the first move, she moved in for a hug. Checking he was real, that he was there. The return of her hug showed her he was very much there, and he was very much there for her.
As they held each other they slowly, once again, melted into each other. Something familiar and comfortable. The passion between them rose up quickly, and they acted it out in full view of the passers-by. Both unashamed, unembarrassed, knowing that the time for talking came later.
Accepting him readily, so publicly, was a change to the dynamics of them. This was different. This was new. Something, Molly acknowledge, was happening to her, to them. For so long after Charles and her had failed she had turned away from letting anyone back in. Yet after today, this moment, she knew things were slowly turning. She'd never expected that she'd be here again, getting comfort, hope, feelings from someone else, but she knew she was. It was now time to take a chance.
She lay there held in his arms, waking slowly up after the second round sex induced coma they had both happily fallen into. Their naked, sticky bodies pressed up close to one another, preserved from the early morning chill by the sheets from his bed. She felt protected and it surprised her at just how right it all felt. To be back here again in his arms.
"We gonna have to talk about this aren't we?" She said softly as she nibble away at his forearm.
She knew he was awake too. His body was still, like hers, and like her they both were frightened to let go of the perfect moment between them with an interruption of words.
"Yes. I guess so. Tell me one thing though?" He asked. "Before we talk. Did you miss me?"
She lifted her head off the pillow and turned to face him lying on her side. Staring into his eyes. Eyes that now hid nothing from her.
"Yeah I did." She smiled out. "I really did."
"I missed you too Molly." He shifted so he now lay on his side and gazed at her.
She stayed quiet and expected him to begin.
He knew that was only right.
He knew this talk was coming from the moment he saw her walk through the arrivals gate at the airport. Looking tired, deep in thought and beautiful. George thought she'd never looked more beautiful at that moment, where she was totally unaware of his eyes on her. Never expecting him to turn up at the airport to meet her, she was unaware of his gaze, and he drank her in.
George had watched her for moments before he stepped in front of her and saw the confusion, and then the eventually happiness on Molly's face, as she realised what he was doing there, what was happening.
He hoped she knew, as he beamed back at her that he hadn't done it on a whim. He'd taken a chance, very much aware that before she had gone home on her break they were casual, taking it slow. There were no promises, no strings and no expectations. Just sex. Yet when she was away George missed her more than he expected. Missed her more than he had missed anyone for such a long time, and so George took this risk and turned up unexpectedly at the airport to meet her. A risk because he was unsure how Molly would feel about it, about him, about them. It was a risk because George knew showing up there to meet her told them both that the thing they had between them was fast becoming something more than sex.
"I got to thinking about us when you were away. Well I just..." George started off. Shifting uncomfortable as he saw the start of a smirk on Molly's face. "Thought I'd come and pick you up."
"From the airport? All that way?" She asked. "Just to get me? Without me even telling you me flight details?"
"Yeah!" He challenge back. Fast aware that it may not have been his best idea.
"You took a risk mate." She smiled softly. "Might have been the wrong flight."
"It wasn't thought was it?" He answered back. "I wanted to see you Mols. Couldn't wait."
She remained silent and just half smiled at him as though she was thinking. They'd never been seen out in public before, not like that, as a couple, only as friends. It was a big step in a very definite direction.
He swallowed his pride, as he really thought Molly was fast becoming worth it.
"I'd hoped you'd be pleased." George said softly. "Thought the risk was worth taking."
She moved closer to him as he started to shift to sit up. His defences were rising.
"Don't." She said as he moved slightly away. "And yeah I was
pleased... really pleased."
A burn of scarlet flushed across his tanned face, accompanied by his killer smile. As she watched she felt a small but definitely noticeable flutter in her gut. An attraction that was more than physical for the man she shared this bed with.
He pulled her into his chest as he sat up. Her back pinned to his front as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Good." He kissed into her hair. "So it was ok?" Me coming like that?"
"Yeah." She replied. "It was ok."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now I've a question I'd like to ask." His voice was low and wavered.
She tried to turn to look at him once again, but he held her gently but definitely still. He feared his loss of nerve if she faced him.
"Yeah. Alright." She said slowly. "Go on then."
"Well...I was wondering Molly...you know maybe, on your next day off you'd like to go somewhere? Do something?"
Her brow creased.
"What ya mean?" She asked. "Go somewhere? Where?"
"I don't know?" George's mind spun as he tried to back pedal. "Any where? You know, with me."
He felt the very moment she understood what he was asking. Her body tensed and spun around to finally look at him. He released his hold on her.
"What you mean like as in a date?" She asked. Her eyes wide and her look surprised, but her voice was kind and soft.
"Yes Mols. Like on a date." George replied. "Like in a proper date... with me."
He watched her gaze over his face, his lips. He watched her pull her lower lip adoringly in between her teeth. Wonder how this was so hard. Here she was for God's sake in his arms, naked. They'd had sex countless times, yet asking her out on a date was so hard.
"Well?" He asked. Hoping he didn't sound as though he was begging. "I know we've kind done it a bit the wrong way round and that, but what do you think? A date? With me?"
She leaned into him, feeling the tug in her gut and the fire starting again in between her legs. She knew her answer though long before her body did.
"I think it's a really good idea." She replied happily. "Yes. A date. Sounds perfect."
"Good." He replied happily. "You're a special lady Molly Dawes." And then he kissed her.
"So you saw her?" Margaret asked slowly for the second time just to confirm she'd understood what Charles had said. "Molly? Our Molly?"
"Yes Mother." He sighed and jumped up pacing around her kitchen, clutching on to his coffee cup for some grounding.
He'd debated whether or not to tell his mother about their meeting on Regent Street. Doubted whether as a grown man he should still be sharing his personal life with his mother in such detail. Yet he did. This was Molly after all. His Molly, their Molly, she belonged to them all, always would. Besides he needed to off load to someone who knew. Talk it all through with someone who'd understand.
"And?" His mother just stared at him with her hands held wide, eyebrows raised. Inviting him in to say more.
He paused.
He had to think just exactly how it had gone. He hadn't forgotten. Not a single moment. Every second was burned onto his mind. He'd gone through each and every detail, every word, every look, and touch a thousand times since, and still it made no sense. He remembered as she'd held him as he had broken down. Right there in the middle of the street, for all to see, and the feeling of being held by her again made him break a little bit more.
There had been no running, Molly hadn't run, and after while she had pulled away and gently suggested that they go somewhere to talk. That had surprised him. He thought he'd have to beg, plead with her for some of her time. He'd never expected her to offer it to him so readily. And so they ended up in a noisy pub, tucked away in a corner, both playing with, but not drinking, the two glasses of wine he'd ordered.
"Well what did you say?" His mother pecked on. "What did you say to her, to Molly, Charles?"
He stared at his mother blankly. He struggled to remember all his words; he knew he just said the important ones.
"I said sorry." Was all he could say to her.
And it was true. That's exactly what he had done. Repeatedly, again and again. He said sorry for each and every crime, but asked for no forgiveness. What he had done to her, to them, to her friendship with Georgie, her life, her job was unforgivable. He knew that, and he knew she knew that.
"And? Charles what did Molly say?" His mother persisted.
"She said very little." Charles replied. "She just listened."
"Listened?" His mother shot back amazed. "She just sat there and listened?"
In the hours, days, weeks that followed Charles had realised he had done all the talking. The confession, the explanation, the recovery all discussed. She had only sat and listened.
His confession had been lengthy. He knew he'd never get the opportunity again, and their need for a first drink soon slipped in to a need for a second, then a third. The time passed them by. He had so much to say. So much to explain, and he did.
"Did you tell her about your therapy, and that you're better now?" Margaret asked.
"I told her everything Mother. Everything." He had, and it had cost him a lot.
"And did she forgive you?" Margaret hopeful that the answer would have been yes.
"No." Charles crushed her dreams. "No she didn't. And I didn't ask her to."
"So what happens now? Are you seeing her again?" She slowly walked close to her son and rested gentle hands on his, fairly sure of the answer he'd give her.
Charles turned in to his mum and pulled her in for a very rare hug.
"No. She listened. I explained. There's no going back to what had. We both know that."
"And that's it?" His mother asked. "That's it. After all this time."
Charles slumped down on the kitchen chair next to her and held her hand. He knew it was hard for his mother to accept, that he'd had his only chance with Molly, and he'd said what needed to be said. She kindly gave him her time, though offered him no hope, no ongoing friendship, just merely wished him well, and then she left.
"Yes. That's it." He closed his eyes as the next words hurt however realistic they were. "It's time to let go of the past Mum. Time for us all to move on. I lost Molly, and I'm never getting her back."
She checked her appearance over for the final time. She was nervous. Really nervous. This was her third Christmas spent out in New Zealand, and by now she was well used to the routine, to the hardness of the day.
Christmas out in the resort was all about the guests. The heavily paying guests, and making their Christmas in this sunny place happy and memorable. For all of the day the staff madly busselled about, working hard to please the guests, hoping to satisfy them with food, drinks and entertainment. And every year it work, the guests had fun, and by evening time they were so satiated that the staff numbers were able to be reduced to a minimum. The guests became less demanding, and less needy, and this was when the free time was given to those who had worked the day.
Molly, this year was one of the lucky members who had the rest of the night off. Her pay back for working the last two Christmases straight. The past couple of years she had nothing to do with her festive free time, so working was the best option, both emotionally and financially. However this year was different. This year she had George to fill in her free time with.
They had been properly 'dating' now for the past few months. Together for all to see, and she liked it. He was kind attentive and fun, in and out of the bedroom. He held her hand as they walked down the street, he helped with the cooking of her meals, he listened to her moans. He was fast becoming someone she liked having around. It had also come as no surprise to any of their friends, everyone just accepted Molly and George, making it feel even more right.
Molly had long since stopped being George's booty call, and he had stopped being hers. He was simply now her boyfriend, she called him that, and she quite liked the fact that he was. He was fun, a good laugh, and most importantly of all someone who went some small way to wiping away all her past hurt. For someone who was so tough and rugged on the outside, he was a surprisingly gentle sensitive soul, and that made him all the more perfect for her.
Both Molly and George had taken big steps over the past months. Both letting each other in, both explaining who and what they were to each other. They understood what they had, and accepted it, though Molly held back that she had bumped into Charles the last time she was home, and how deeply it had affected her. There were still some secrets she wished to keep. Still a part of her heart unsure about all she had heard from him, and all he had said. Too frightened to revisit their meeting and what it meant to her, and so instead she locked it away and tried not to think about it.
Tonight though, Christmas night, was another big deal in their relationship. Tonight George was picking her up and he was taking her to his family's home to meet his parents. Molly was nervous. She'd only done meeting the parents thing once before, and she found she fell in love with them as much as she had fallen in love with their son Charles. Benny and Margaret had been welcoming and open with their hearts and home when she first had met them. Molly only hoped that George's parents were equally as nice.
He swept in the room and picked her up, kissing her as he did. He was a larger than life man and lover in all sense of the word.
"Happy Christmas Molly." He beamed out. "You ready?"
She giggled and he spun her round. She loved how happy he was all the time. A startling contrast to the stern moodiness of Charles towards the end of their relationship. George always appeared as though whenever they were together he was just delighted to be with her, and to Molly's bruised ego, the one that Charles and Georgie stamped over, it felt good.
"What if they don't like me?" She asked him once they had shared a long and festive kiss.
"Mols?" He stepped back and looked at her. "You're joking right? I mean... Don't worry" Then he turned to start walking out the door as he continued to leave. "They'll love you...". He kept on talking as he disappeared outside. "Because I love you!"
He was gone before she fully understood what had just happened. What he had just said. He'd said it so casually, so fleetingly she was unsure if he knew what he said, or even if he meant what he'd just said.
Love. He said he loved her!
That was a whole new ball bag. Something she hadn't been ready to hear, and certainly something she wasn't ready to say back.
And so this time Molly didn't run, instead she blindly followed him out to the car, allowed him to drive her to his parents, and ignored the whole conversation. It was best that way for now she felt.
"So what you getting your Mum for her birthday?" Charles asked Sam.
It was Rebecca's big 4 0 coming up, and everyone knew she was dreading it. She wanted no fuss, no party and no one to mention it. Ever.
Rebecca had always been touchy about her age. Five years older than Charles she's had to put up with the inevitable older woman comments throughout their marriage. And then when Charles had met and married Molly, who not only was a whole ten years younger than Rebecca, but also shared the same birth day, her age remained a touchy subject.
"I don't know." Sam said. Stomping his cold feet. "You know what
she's like."
Charles looked sadly at his son and knew that was probably about as much conversation they'd get from Sam. His attention now switched back to the football matches they had come to watch. A poor game on a cold and dark miserable January night. Still Charles didn't mind. Anything with Sam was a good time for him. His son's social life meaning the visits to see his old boring Dad were not high on the agenda. So Charles was at least pleased he still had the dangle of the football carrot to tempt Sam to visit him every now and then.
Christmas time had been quiet and restful Charles thought. He'd spent it with his mother, and switched off from his work. His old family home still magical, just as he remembered it. It was hard for his mum. The second year without Benny, but it was getting easier, and Charles enviously noted that even his Mother's Christmas social life was more involved than his.
Though on that front he knew he only had himself to blame. There had been the usual Christmas dos that this year he had to attend. The usual functions he'd dropped into for the sake of the Charity's good name. There was even, he notice, a little bit of friendship with his co-workers developing, but he didn't push it.
However he had this year for the first time in many reconnected with some old university friends, and had enjoyed it. They hadn't judged, but had listened to his story, one they had already known from the old boy's grapevine. None of them offered comment, just companionship. A few had known Molly. A few had known Rebecca. A few had attended both his weddings, but those that had each time had chosen Charles' side.
It was strange he noted to reconnect with old friends. Friends who knew so much about you, had so many stories about your life up to a point, and then nothing. It was almost refreshing that after many years of absence they could reconnect and start again.
He'd even had the odd meet up with an old girlfriend. Someone nearly 15 years ago he'd been briefly involved with. Someone he'd left behind once Rebecca caught his eye. To him there was nothing romantic about it. She was company, and he never sort her out. It was just nice. It was just the first dip of his toe back in the water of getting his life back after Molly.
She couldn't believe what he'd done. Never expected it.
It was her birthday week. Her big 3 0 and George had wanted to celebrate, and surprise her. He had done just that. As she stepped onto the aeroplane she couldn't quite believe his generously, or his ability to hide all the plans from her. He'd arranged a whole two weeks at home for both him and her. Two weeks to see her family again, and to introduce them to this man who she had talked more and more about, and was becoming more important in her life.
She accepted the gift with the kindness in which it was intended. She knew though he was falling head over heels in love with her, and the grandeur of the gift sat slightly uncomfortable with her. As she stepped aboard, on the sunny February day, she felt confused. Worried that once again she was letting a man make decisions, run her life. She'd once felt that way with Charles. That he was always the one in the lead where it came to their relationship, and she didn't want that to happen again.
George was taking bigger steps than her, pushing their relationship faster and harder than she wanted to allow, but she had just let him. She needed to see where it would go, could go. Where she could allow it to go. Once broken she hoped her heart wasn't always broken, and so appreciated the experimental feelings of it all.
"So?" He kissed her as he did up her seat belt. "Your Mum said we could stop with them, but I reckoned it was too cramped."
She nodded in confused agreement. Something she'd been doing a lot of since he'd turned up hours ago and surprised her with the tickets, and a departure time.
"I've booked us into an Air B 'n' B for the two weeks." He smiled. "Hope that's ok for you?"
"Yeah." She answered back. "That's good." The shell shock still with her about the trip meant that's all she could say.
"Oh." He continued as he settled himself in. "I've arranged to meet up with some of your friends too... hope that's ok?" Then he tapped his nose as she looked quizzically are him. "That's all I'm saying for now."
She puzzled just who he meant, but was too dazed to ask any more for now.
He knew they'd be in. She'd wanted the day to pass without anything special. So he expected she'd be home, with her family having a quiet evening. That's what she had wanted. Yet she'd been there for him, she was the mother to their child. He therefore felt he needed to mark her special day in some way. A thank you for being there.
He was surprised though as he jumped to the steps of hers and Rob's home to see the lights all on, and sounds of laughter floating out. It was obvious she was entertaining, but he did not worried. Most of their friends, hers and Rob's were once Charles and Rebecca's friends. They all still got on, and he knew there would be no awkwardness.
He rang the bell. Shifting her present and the champagne from one arm to another. Happy with his gifts. Sam had given him some tips as to what to buy her, and his mother further assisted. The cold February air started to nip at his fingers as he waited for his knock to be answered.
He drove over after work to see Rebecca for several reasons. Her birthday, was Molly's birthday too and it was never far from his mind all day. He wanted a distraction.
He'd never used to make a big deal about Rebecca's birthday when they were together. Although he knew she had always wanted him to. Whatever he did though it just wasn't good enough.
Yet with Molly for her birthdays he couldn't do enough, and she was always very grateful. He often planned weekends away, surprised gifts, flowers and always his undivided attention.
Well that was until the last birthday before he betrayed her. When he knew the final nails in the coffin of his marriage were set in place.
He was on tour, with Georgie. Perusing emotionally, another woman. Too caught up in his irrational belief that being with Georgie would right all the wrongs he'd made. And so all he'd managed to do that day was drop her a short impersonal text, no call, no gifts for her to open and not even a card waiting for her at home. He'd instead spent the day trying to ignore that date as best as he could, knowing that 1000s of miles away her heart would be breaking by his lack of thought, and lack of love.
"Dad! What are you doing here?" Sam asked really really surprised.
"Nice to see you too Son." Charles crinkled his brow and he walked in to the house. It was warm and inviting.
He'd always been made welcome here, but Sam was acting strangely.
"Yeah. Good to see you too... it's just..." Sam continued looking around.
Charles noticed that the dining room, closed off from him, had gone deathly silent. At that very moment Rob walked out of the dining room giving Charles an unsatisfactory peak at the dinner guests before the door was once again closed.
"Charles!" He said slightly louder than necessary. "We've... err... a few friends over."
"Ok!" Charles was unsure as to why everything felt uncomfortable suddenly. "I just popped in to give Rebecca's her present." He explained.
"I'll see she gets it." Rob said as he reached forward.
Charles creased his brow, and held on to them.
"Could I?" He stepped toward the dining room door to open it. At that very moment Rebecca appeared through it.
He went to wish her happy birthday, offer his congratulations but the words were robbed from his mouth. From behind her, as she opened the door further, he saw her.
"Hello Charles." Molly smiled at him. She looked nervous and shifted uncomfortably on the spot.
She looked beautiful, and happy and as though he had interrupted her fun.
He smiled stupidly back at her.
His mind unable to comprehend what she was doing there, whilst also knowing it was wonderful that she was.
"Molly? Happy..." Then he stopped.
Behind her a tall, muscular blond haired man stepped forward. His eyes darting around assessing the situation. His arm possessively making its way around Molly's shoulders.
"Hello." His New Zealand twang instantly recognisable as he stretched out his hand towards Charles. "I'm George." He said sweetly and obvious. "Molly's fella."