I watched them from an upstairs window. I saw the car draw up and him leap out and charge around the front to open her door. I giggled.
It was sappy, but it was also sweet.
Derek came up behind me, and slid his arms around my waist.
"What's got you so amused?"
I nodded to the window, and he nuzzled in closer and watched with me.
The car door was open and she leaned out. Her face was amused…no…happy. And as she laughed, and because I knew her, I could tell she was slightly pink in the cheeks at signs of affection she wasn't used to. He held out a hand and she took it, nodding her thanks, and I almost heard the gasp as he yanked her into his arms suddenly.
So suddenly, he fell backwards onto the grass verge, which was currently covered in the snow pile created yesterday by George. She landed on top of him in a tangle of arms and limbs. They wrestled for a moment on the ground and we watched as they stopped giggling and their lips met. The passion between them was obvious. He brushed her damp hair from her face and kissed his way around her face, avoiding her lips while she tried to catch him. It became a game. I recognised it. Derek and I did this a lot.
His hands were exploring her body, mindless of the fact he was lying on his back in the snow. They had both forgotten where they were.
Derek opened the window.
"Hey! Romeo! Leave the poor girl alone. You can maul her later when you don't have an audience!"
Edwin flipped him the finger and let Lizzie catch his mouth.
"Derek's right, Ed. Lizzie's getting cold, come inside." George must have opened the front door. Edwin and Lizzie leapt up with a start and, looking hugely embarrassed and wary of their dad/step-dad, started to brush their clothes off. I noticed Liz had dyed her hair.
I felt Derek grab my hand and yank me towards the door and we made our way downstairs. My husband was smirking as we arrived in the living room.
"Nice entrance, Bro." He teased Ed. "I know Dad and Nora want more grandchildren, but you could have waited till you got indoors."
"I thought you were all for spontaneity, Derek? Like whisking your best friend off and marrying her."
"That was different. It didn't involve large scale public displays of affection on the sidewalk." Derek was separating Ed and Liz now, hugging my sister and pressing a kiss against her cheek.
"Hi Sis. Nice hair."
"Hi Bro. Congratulations."
Derek grinned, released her from his embrace, and grabbed me.
"Surprised?"
Lizzie gave him a "give me a break!" look.
"Derek. I've known you for far too long to ever be surprised at something you do…especially when it involves my sister."
"We aim to please."
I elbowed him.
On the side lines, the elders were gathering. Lizzie took a deep breath and crossed the room to mom.
"Hi Mom! Sorry about the neighbours."
Mom grinned. "It's been far too long since we were the talk of the neighbourhood, don't worry about it."
"You don't seem surprised." Edwin said, retrieving his lost girlfriend.
"We were given hints."
Ed looked at Derek. "You could have told me. I didn't sleep last night."
Derek shrugged. "You didn't think I was going down on my own, did you?"
"Tell me something." Aunt Madge said from her position in the new upright armchair. "Is it always like this around here or do you save it up for my visits?"
"Aunt Madge!" Ed said with delight. She had stopped the cheek pinching these days. Only Robbie wasn't immune.
"Edwin. You are soaking wet. I'll take my hug when you've changed."
Edwin took the hint and grabbing his bag and Lizzie turned towards the stairs. He stopped. Mom leaned towards him.
"I've put you both in Lizzie's room. Keep the noise down. Aunt Madge is on your floor."
It took a while for me to get Lizzie on her own. Edwin and Lizzie were as bad as us when it came to being together. But eventually I managed it, under the guise of some last minute shopping.
"What happened?" I asked, adopting Derek's direct approach.
Lizzie grinned.
"You completely threw me with the shaving thing, you know. I mean, I appreciated the warning, but then I panicked…"
And this is what she told me…
Lizzie's Story:
I hung up the phone after Casey called and sat for several seconds just staring at my computer terminal. From the looks on my co-workers faces, it might even have been minutes.
My boss came over. She's nice, and very maternal, so when she saw me looking …disturbed, she told me to take the rest of the day off. I love that woman.
The journey home passed in a blur, but eventually I pulled into my normal parking spot outside my little house.
I had bought the tiny property many years ago with a boyfriend when I had told myself that it was wrong to wait for something to happen with Ed, because even if Casey and Derek sorted themselves out, there was no guarantee that Ed and I would. So Mark and I bought the house with a view to testing out living together…it lasted six months.
I couldn't do it. I had seen Ed that Christmas and we had stayed up till very late talking, and laughing. We had both had a little wine, and were slightly the worse for it.
Edwin had whispered softly.
"I miss you, Liz."
And that was it. I lost one relationship…but I didn't gain another. I dumped Mark, buying him out of the house, but only because there was a still a possibility that one day Ed and I might work out. Not because we could start anything now.
As I got out of my car and picked my way up the icy path to the front door I was mentally searching my wardrobe for something to wear. It was then I realised that despite the fact I had been waiting for Edwin for almost as long as Casey had been waiting for Derek, I was completely unprepared. I turned tail and slipped my way back down the path to my car.
At the mall, I found a cute pair of pale blue-coloured skinny jeans, a long shirt and a wide belt. I wanted a look that said 'casual, but you're a fool if you don't want me'. Next I made the mistake of walking under the bright lights. I looked in a mirror pillar and my eyes caught my hair. Two days previously, as I had been brushing my hair I had spotted two grey hairs. I had shrugged at the time.
Now, I needed hair dye and I needed it fast.
Back at home, I put on some music, ran a bath and started the de-aging process. I might not be thirty yet, but I wanted to feel nineteen again. I slid under the bubbles and tried to calm my thoughts.
The first thing that went wrong was the razor slipped. I thought I had just nicked my leg until I pushed said leg under the water, and nearly anchored myself to the ceiling with my fingernails. When I investigated, I found a large gouge of skin missing near my knee. Ouch! The bubble bath was making it smart badly…and bleed.
I finished shaving with great care and then decided to tackle my hair. It was at this point I realised I probably should have dyed my hair first.
Oh well…
I placed the cream dye on my hair, wrapped my head in a warm towel and went to watch Oprah.
An hour later, I realised what I was doing…I had left the dye on for ten times as long as I should have done. With growing trepidation, I unwound the towel and nearly cried when I saw the colour of my hair.
Oh fuck!
I threw myself into the shower and shampooed my hair vigorously four times. But, I still looked like a member of the Weasley family.
Eventually, I decided to make the best of a bad job, gave up and dried myself off.
Fortunately, the new shirt didn't clash with my new hair colour.
When I was dressed, hair done, and make up on I sat down to wait. It occurred to me to be worried that Ed wouldn't turn up. But before I could explore that avenue too much, my doorbell rang. I fussed by the hall mirror for an eon before my legs would carry me to the door. Then I peeked through the peep hole.
Ed.
I ripped the door open to find him smiling at me…initially. The smile disappeared and he frowned.
"Liz. Do you know your leg is bleeding and what on earth have you done to your hair?"
I burst into tears.
I fucking hate my sister.
I love my sister.
Ed was through the door in seconds, his bags dropped on my hallway floor, the door shut behind him, and me in his arms.
"What's the matter?"
"My life is so crap!" I sniffled. "I'm turning into Klutzilla."
Ed laughed.
"Let me guess. You cut your leg shaving and left your hair dye on too long because you were watching 'Oprah'."
He knows me too well.
"You know me too well."
He frowned. "Who were you making the effort for?" he looked worried. I smiled.
"Casey rang. She told me to expect a visitor."
"Me???" He laughed. "Oh Lizard, that's priceless!"
And then he was kissing me, and I was stunned, because there was no pre-amble, no explanation, just the sensation of his lips against mine.
And it was so RIGHT!
I melted into him and kissed back with as much enthusiasm.
"Wow!" I said when we pulled apart. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but…why are you here?"
"Well, you see…I heard a funny story on the way to the bank…"
"Oh?"
"Derek married Casey."
I looked at my new paramour.
"For some reason, that doesn't surprise me as much as it should."
He laughed and kissed me again.
"You know the funny thing is, I was going to make a move on you at Christmas anyway. But when I walked in on them having sex I decided they shouldn't have all the fun."
"You what?"
"Okay…it's conjecture, but he answered the door half dressed and you should have seen Casey's "I've just been royally fucked" hair."
"So the sibs have got their act together."
"Yup".
"Which means…"
"Which means, my love, it's our turn." And then he pulled me closer and his lips found mine. "I love you, Lizzie. I don't want any future that doesn't include you."
I let him kiss me…it was so hard! (he he!)
"I don't think I'm ready for spontaneous marriage ceremonies."
He chuckled. " Me either. But I'm up for spontaneous sex."
I laughed. "Hmmm…You'll need to be convincing."
"Babe. I could talk the hind leg off a donkey."
And he did!
