Gary woke with a start the next day, he sat up and ran his fingers through his hair.
Miranda yawned and rolled over to face him. "Morning"
"Morning" he yawned.
"How you feeling?"
Gary nodded. "I'm ready for a new start..." he smiled nessling back down into the pillows.
"You going to see Thomas today?!"
"I don't know..."
"You could ring him..." Miranda suggested.
Gary smiled, "You've got a brain somewhere"
"Rude" Miranda laughed hitting him with a pillow.
"Oi" Gary laughed hitting her back.
Miranda carried onlaughing.
"Here, do you want breakfast?! I'll rustled something up on the resteraunt...?!"
"I thought you weren't opening up today?!" Miranda asked.
"I'm not... just gonna sort the accounts out. Finish the menu's and that..." Gary smiled.
Miranda sat up; "So, when you going to explain"
Gary rolled to face her, he propped his head up with his elbow. "Well, Thomas is my older brother. I never knew about him. He grew up in a kids home. He was born not long after mum and dad married, they werent ready for kids, by the time he was three dad was hitting him. Mum couldnt cope... so he spent the rest of his childhood in a kids home. Ive seen him about at times... at family things... but i never knew who he was. he was just there, 'mums mates kid' was the exscuse i was given when i was little. i never spoke to him until yesterday."
"I'm happy for you; i really am.." Miranda smiled.
"I just feel bad. and i hate mum for not telling me..." Gary complained muffling his face in the pillows. "If i'd have known, i'd have gone to find him. Growing up i was so lonely. dad would hit me, mum would cry. i had no one. all i wanted was someone to look out for me..." Gary's eyes started to swell.
"Its' ok... he understands dosent he?"
Gary nodded.
"and your dad, he made some terrible mistakes. You cant beat yourself up for that. Not for him..." Miranda smiled sympathetically.
Gary sighed nodding.
"Call him. I'll put the kettle on..." Miranda smiled climbing out of bed and wrapping her dressing gown around her shoulders.
Gary stood up and grabbed his phone. He took a deep breath and dialled his number.
"Hi, is Thomas there please?" Gary asked politely.
"Who shall i say is calling?" a ladies voice replied.
"Gary"
There was a pause. "As in Gary-Gary?!"
Gary laughed nervously; "Yeah"
"Gary?! you called" Thomas said happily taking the phone.
Gary sat on the edge of his bed; "i keep my promises."
"How are you?"
"I'm good" Gary replied.
"come round later? Please? meet the wife and kids?"
"Yeah. Ok!"
Thomas told him his adress and the phone call drew to a close.
Gary left the bedroom and joined miranda.
"Did you ring him?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna go see him this afternoon..." Gary replied taking a slice of toast.
"Its a step in the right direction..." MIranda smiled.
"What if i muck up?! I'm an uncle. Its weird!" Gary panicked.
"you'll be fine! meeting new people is always awkward. especially kids. But there only young. they'll get used to it.." Miranda reassured him.
"will you go out with me tonight?!"
Miranda looked at him confused.
"Please?"
"Err, ok"
Gary started to smile. He finished his toast and his coffee before pulling his clothes back on. "I'll pick you up at seven?"
MIranda nodded. "Great"
"I'll see you later. Better get home, shower and change my clothes"
"goodbye"
"Thanks. Thanks for everything"
"No problem"
Gary gave Miranda a massive hug and kissed her cheek before leaving.
*later on*
Gary pulled up outside Thomas's home. It was a lovely estate. He pulled the mirror down from the roof of the car and inspected himself. Clean shaven and looking presentable. "here goes" he sighed and put the flap back up. He turned the music off and climbed out of the car, locking it behind him.
He wore his best blue jeans, a plain grey tshirt and a blue zip up hoodie. He knocked on the door.
"Gary" Thomas opened the door excited.
"Hi" Gary smiled.
"Come in" Thomas opened the door for him. "This is Sarah" he added closing the door.
"Hello" Sarah smiled.
"Hi" Gary shook her hand.
"Come on, come sit down" Sarah led him through to the living room.
Gary smiled and sat down.
"I'll just put the kettle on" Sarah smiled.
"The kids will be awake soon" Thomas added.
Gary smiled.
"There gonna love you."
Gary laughed. "Hope so"
suddenly the baby monitor started screeching.
"There up. C'mon" Thomas led Gary up the stairs and into the twins bedroom.
"This is Jamie and David" Thomas smiled proudly.
"Aww" Gary was lost for words as he lent over the cot. "They're beautiful!"
"C'mon shh" Thomas picked up one of the twins. "This one's David" he kissed his cheek and gave him a cuddle.
David instantly stopped crying.
Gary sat on the sofa watching as his brother loving held his children.
"Go to uncle Gary"
Gary looked up.
"He wont bite" Thomas laughed.
Gary chuckled nervously as he took David. "Aren't you cute?!" he whispered holding him close. He tickled him and hugged him. 'i've been missing all of this' he couldnt stop the thoughts rushing through his mind.
"Room for one more?" Thomas smiled.
Gary looked up, torn from his thoughts. "I suppose so" He smiled as Jamie was sat on his knee next to his brother. "Hello cutie" he laughed nuzzling Jamie's head and kissing it.
"Isn't that a picture!" Sarah entered the room.
Gary laughed.
"Smile for the camera"
Gary looked up at Sarah, an extatic smile on his face.
"Say cheese" Thomas teased.
"Cheese" Gary laughed.
*at Miranda's flat*
Gary knocked on the door. he wore his best blue shirt and smart jeans. The first couple of buttons open on his shirt. a smart, yet casual look.
Miranda answered, she wore a lovely blouse and nice leggins. "Good day?"
"The best"
They went back into her flat whilst Miranda grabbed her bag and jacket. "So, where you taking me?"
"Well, there's a lovely little resteraunt in town. Opened not long back..." Gary smiled.
"Lead they way.." Miranda laughed.
*at the resteraunt*
Gary showed Miranda the photo of him and the twins.
"Thats perfect" Miranda smiled.
"I want you to meet them. There great." Gary smiled.
"Me and kids? Not a good mix"
"You'd be perfect with them..."
Miranda blushed.
"I mean it"
"So, whats the special occasion then? bringing me out to a posh resteraunt" Miranda asked.
"Just a thankyou, that's all. i dont know how i'd have coped these last few weeks without you..." Gary smiled.
Miranda blushed again.
"I mean it..."
*the walk home*
Gary took off his jacket and wrapped it over her shoulders. "Don't want you getting a cold" he smiled putting his arm around her.
"I've had a lovely night" Miranda smiled snuggling into his hold.
"Yeah? me too" Gary smiled.
They carried on walking in the quiet of the night.
Gary suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Miranda asked concerned.
He laughed nervously. "There's been something i've noticed. Ages ago..."
Miranda looked at him confused.
"For years now... its been the same. and i was talking to Thomas about it today..." he spoke fast and dazzled.
"Gary, what are you getting at?!" MIranda asked confused.
Gary shook his head and ruffled his hair. He was fazzled again. making a mock of himself. without thinking, his hands cupped her face and he kissed her.
She was taken aback. Her eyes slowly fluttered closed.
it was the most passionate kiss either one of them had shared.
Gary pulled away, "I'm in love with you!"
"Not as much as i love you!" Miranda pushed against his chest so he was back up against a brick wall as she started to kiss him again.
they carried on walking; giggling away. Gary kept playfully nuzzling her. His nose kept poking in her ear, making her giggle.
As they walked they kept stopping and kissing.
They reached the shop.
"Are you going to come up?" Miranda wiggled her eye brows at him.
Gary laughed, "Of course"
They kissed as they went up the stairs. stumbling up every other step, laughing away.
They burst through the flat door and straight through to the bedroom after locking up.
the previous week Gary felt like nothing in the world could make him feel better.
But right there, at that time. all of his troubles left him.
It felt right.
Perfect.