Part 9
6:47pm, Saturday
Adam glanced up from the vegetables he was chopping to the clock on the wall opposite him. It was almost time for Dani to arrive, and to meet Wes, who had been so excited to hear about her. Adam paused for a moment, contemplating how his son had grown up so much in recent times. It had been hard for him, for them both, when Fiona had died; Adam realized now that, perhaps, Wes had been too young to understand what had happened. Now, though, he seemed to have moved on, much like Adam had himself. It was better, he mused, to continue on with life, and not to linger on the past, though Fiona never really would be forgotten.
Wes bounding into the kitchen, practically vibrating with energy, snapped him out of his reverie.
"Dad, Dad, what time is she coming?" He asked, tugging on the bottom of Adam's un-tucked shirt.
"Seven," he replied, scraping the now-chopped vegetables into the saucepan near to him and replacing the lid.
"Is she pretty?"
Adam grinned at his sons' innocence. "Well, I think so. But you'll have to make your own mind up after you've met her."
"She must be pretty if you like her. You like all the pretty girls." Wes looked up at him with a childlike grin on his face.
"Oi, cheeky, no I do not!" Adam exclaimed, turning to face Wes, then scooping him up in his arms and tickling him until he squealed with laughter.
The doorbell rang then, and Adam replaced Wes on his feet, before wiping his hands on a towel and going to answer it. He smiled when he saw Dani there, dressed simply in grey skinny jeans, a flowing purple top and matching shoes.
"Hi," she said breathily, feeling the familiar sensation of butterflies in her stomach that she got whenever she saw him.
"Hi." He leant forwards to kiss her lips delicately. "You're looking as beautiful as ever." She blushed at his comment, and he touched her coloured cheek gently. "Come in." He stepped back to allow her past him, then closed the door behind them. She placed her handbag on the small table in the dimly lit hall, before following him into the kitchen, where Wes was waiting for them impatiently.
Wes greeted Dani with a grin and a handshake, which he proudly said his Dad had taught him to do. Adam laughed quietly to himself as he handed Dani a glass of red wine, then told her to go through the living room and make herself comfortable.
After she had left, Wes turned to Adam. "Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"She is pretty."
Adam grinned.
After dinner, they sat talking in the living room until Adam said that it was time for Wes to go to bed. Wes reluctantly agreed, said goodnight to both Adam and Dani, and traipsed upstairs.
"So…" Adam said, his hand sliding to Dani's waist as he inched closer to her on the sofa. "What are your plans for the rest of the evening?"
Dani took another sip of her wine. "Well, that depends entirely on what your plans are."
"Hmm," Adam seemed to contemplate for a moment. "How about this?" He leant forwards to kiss her; one hand at the back of her neck, the other still resting on her waist; his lips hot against hers. Drawing away only slightly, he murmured, "Stay the night," before returning his lips to hers.
