Chapter 15
Later last year, on the morning of the Christmas party...
They'd spent the majority of their time together, either she stayed at his, or he stayed at hers. Either way, they were together every night. They simply couldn't get enough of each other, and neither of them were willing to change that either, it just strengthen their feelings for each other more.
Charlie was the first to wake, and he turned to his side and just watched her sleeping. He sighed as she looked so peaceful. He then glanced over at the time on the clock 5:30am, he didn't want to leave her, but knew he had to, they were due at work at 7:00am. So he thought by cooking her breakfast in bed, gave her more time to sleep, and it would cheer her up a little. Maybe a day under the duvet was a good idea for Christmas, it would certainly help her relax a little. He slowly crept out of bed, and put on his t-shirt and jeans. He turned back to see her sleeping peacefully, he tilted his head as he watched her. He then left his bedroom as quietly as possible.
When he'd finished making her breakfast, he walked back into the bedroom with a tray full of pancakes, toast, and coffee. He placed the tray on the bedside table. Then he gently sat back on the bed, he carefully brushed her hair from her face and called her name.
"Duffy, Duffy?"
"Mmm?" Duffy began to stir slightly.
"I've made us breakfast." He said, as he gently ran his fingers over her shoulder.
"Mmm, Charlie." Duffy said, as she stirred slightly.
"Wake up, Duffy, Duffy." He said, as he stroked her hair.
"Mmm." Duffy said, as she eventually opened her eyes.
"Ah, there you are." Charlie said, as he smiled down at her.
"Morning." Duffy said, as she smiled back at him.
"Morning gorgeous, I've made us breakfast." Charlie said, as he smirked at her.
"Oh, Charlie, you darling man." She said, as she smiled lovingly at him, as she sat up, pulling the covers up over her.
"Here, have some coffee first, warm you up a little." He said, as he turned to the bedside table and passed her the mug of coffee.
"Thanks, for all this. What time is it?" Duffy asked, as she blew on her mug.
"5:30, plenty of time before work." Charlie answered her, as he picked up his coffee and sat down next to her.
"It's a shame we have to go to work, I'd love to just lay here with you all day." She said, as she smiled at him.
"Me too, sweetheart, me too." He smiled down at her.
-o-
When they'd finished their breakfasts, and were ready to go to work, Charlie stood at the door waiting for her.
"Ready?" He said, as he watched her put on her coat.
"As I'll ever be." She said, as she put her handbag over her shoulder.
Charlie smiled at her, as he opened the door for her.
They'd been cautious for a while to avoid anyone seeing them arrive together at work, so when they'd driven up along the road towards the hospital, Charlie pulled down a side road and parked up so she could get out.
"See you in there." Duffy said, as she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
"Yeah, see you shortly." Charlie said, as he watched her leave the car, and walk down the street.
He smiled to himself, and decided to wait a little while longer. He looked over the other side of the road, and saw the corner shop he'd been going to for years. He noticed in the window they had mistletoe hanging down, he smiled to himself.
Perfect.
He took off his seat belt, and walked over to the shop. Inside he was greeted by a familiar face, he'd never learned her name, but, she was an elderly lady who had run this shop for as long as he could remember. She smiled warmly at him.
"The usual?" She asked, as she took a small paper bag from the side of the counter.
"Erm, yeah." He asked, then glanced at the sweets on the counter, and smiled at himself.
He then noticed something and it hit him, she'd love it. He smirked to himself.
"No, no, wait a minute. Actually, no. Um, I'll have one of those." Charlie asked, as he pointed at the plastic box of jelly rings.
"Um, just the one?" She asked, and frowned at him, as she put on her plastic glove.
"Yeah, that one on the top." Charlie said, as he pointed at the jelly sweet.
"That one?" She asked, as she pointed at it.
"No, no, the one next to it." Charlie said, as he grinned at himself.
"This one." She said, picking it up.
"Yeah, that's the one, perfect. Oh, and some mistletoe." Charlie said, as he watched her put the jelly ring into her paper bag.
"Some mistletoe?" She asked, as she frowned at him.
"Yeah, just a small bit". He asked.
"I only sell them in bunches. £5, a bunch." She said, as she stood behind the counter wrapping the ring in the paper bag.
"Oh, erm, I don't mind paying for a bunch, but, if you could just cut a little bit off for me, that'd be great. You can keep the rest." Charlie said, as he got his wallet out of his jacket pocket.
"Um, right, are you sure?" She said, as she walked to the window and tore a small piece of mistletoe from the bunch.
"Oh more sure than I have ever been." Charlie said, as he smiled at her.
"Um, are you, going to do what I think you're going to do?" She asked, as she looked at the mistletoe and jelly ring on the counter.
"If that is proposing to the woman I love, then yes, yes it is." Charlie replied, as he took out a £10 note from his wallet.
"Oh, oh, really? Oh? That is lovely. But, um, can I just say, um. There are jewellers in town you know." She said, looking at him, slightly worried.
"Oh, I know that. But, she is married at the moment. This way, I can ask her, and at least give her a ring, even if a jelly one. A temporary one. Until she is divorced." Charlie explained, as he handed her the money.
"Oh, right, I see. And where do you plan on doing this then? If you don't mind me asking. Call it an old woman's curiosity." She said, as she typed the amount in the till in front of her.
"Oh, the park, after the Christmas party. Seems like the perfect place, we used to often walk around there together." He explained as he smiled at her.
"Oh, now that is romantic. She's a lucky lady." She replied, as she handed him the paper bag, containing the ring, and the sprig of mistletoe.
"I hope so, and yes, but I'm also the luckiest man in the world to have her." Charlie said, as he took the items from her.
"No, no, keep the change." He said, as she tried to give him his change.
"Oh, don't be silly, here." She said, trying to give him his change once again.
"Call it an early Christmas present." He said, as he winked at her.
"Oh, aren't you lovely. Good luck then. And, when she says yes, bring her back here, I'd love to meet her." She said, as she smiled back at him.
"That's a deal. Merry Christmas." Charlie said, as he put the items into his pocket.
"Yeah, Merry Christmas to you too, and your girl." She said, as she smiled at him.
Charlie smiled back, and turned to leave the shop, the door bell rang, as he opened, then closed the door behind him.
-x-
