Chapter 80
"Hi Nic." Geoff called as he walked through the door.
"Hello." She replied from the kitchen. "I'm watching dinner."
Geoff laughed.
He went through and saw her sitting on the floor watching the oven.
"I think it's going to be ok if you step away from the kitchen. Put the timer on." He said to her.
She glared at him.
"That worked last time." she told him.
"Well it would have done but we did get distracted." He confessed with a grin.
She lifted her head for his kiss.
"I'm not taking any chances. Ella showed me how to make a roast chicken dinner and I don't want it to burn."
He sat next to her.
"So how much longer do we have to wait?" he asked.
"Ten minutes for the roast potatoes and about 20 minutes to finish the chicken off. " she told him proudly. "I sold some designer gear today and got some commission." She added.
"Well done you." He told her and kissed her again.
She grinned.
"I need to talk to you about something." Geoff told her.
She looked at him.
"I'm not having sex with you I need to watch the oven."
He laughed.
"No it's about those stories I did for Amy-Belle and Brett." He began.
"Yes." She said slightly distracted.
She lifted the roast potatoes out of the oven and placed them on top of the cooker.
Turning her attention back to him.
"Carry on." She said smiling.
"Well Belle showed them to her boss at the newspaper and he recommended a publisher."
She grinned.
"No way." She said shocked. "See, I told you that you were brilliant!"
She leaned over and kissed him.
"Thank you wife." He told her smiling. "But the thing is. I'm being published."
"OH MY GOD!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around him and pressing kisses all over his face.
He smiled at her once she'd calmed down.
"So how much money does that mean?" she asked practically.
"Enough to do what we talked about, if you carry on working for the next year."
She grinned.
"I am going to be so excited when I can tell them." she muttered biting her lip.
"Nic?" he asked.
"Well I know we agreed to put the baby idea on hold, what with Ella going through a hard time but I do still really want one." She told him. "Anyway," she added, shaking her head. "I spoke to my manager today about work and well, she's suggested that I go for my apprenticeship in their fashion house in the city now. That way if we do decide to try for a baby within the next few months I will be able to work from home."
He grinned at her.
"Nic I am so proud of you." He said softly.
She looked at him and saw the light in his eyes.
"No." she said. "Ten more minutes and dinner is done."
He smirked.
"I can do a lot in ten minutes" he told her.
She chuckled.
"I am fully aware of that!" she exclaimed.
He kissed her.
"If I can't persuade you to get up to anything with me I'll take a shower." He said. "You know me dripping wet and all naked."
She looked at him a slow tide of colour washing over her face.
"Go." She said sternly and focused back on the oven.
She heard his chuckle as he went upstairs and smiled to herself.
She turned and set the table, at the last minute adding some wild flowers from the garden in a vase, well small jar but it had some gold ribbon tied round the top so it looked pretty and adding candles.
He came down a little while later and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.
"Yum you smell nice." She told him, sniffing at the aftershave he'd put on. "Is that the Calvin Klein one?" she asked.
He grinned.
"Yes it's the one you said drives you nuts." He grinned.
She nodded.
"It does do things for me." She admitted.
"Can I help?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Unless you want to get something for us to drink." She suggested.
He reached into the fridge and took out a bottle of champagne.
"We'll have to drink the whole thing." She warned.
He smiled.
"Do you plan on going anywhere soon?" he asked.
She shook her head.
He opened the bottle and poured out two glasses, before placing them and the bottle on the table.
She came through with their dinner served up on plates and placed them on the table.
Geoff pressed a kiss to her lips and helped her sit down before he joined her.
"I am so happy." She told him.
He chuckled and caught hold of her hand.
"You must be to become this domestic goddess without complaining."
She grinned at him.
"I'll take that as a compliment because you called me a goddess. I'll just ignore the domestic part because that makes me seem like I've been tamed."
He laughed.
"Now eat your dinner." She said.
He picked up his knife and fork and began to eat.
"Well done." He said.
She grinned.
"It really is ok?" she asked nervously.
He nodded.
"The potatoes are crisp and the chicken is moist. The green beans are just right. And the gravy is great."
She looked at him.
"The gravy is out of a packet I just had to add water."
He looked at her.
"But no lumps Nic." He said. "So it is perfect."
She smiled lovingly at him.
"Thank you." She told him and picked up her own knife and fork to start eating.
"So tell me about the apprenticeship." He said softly.
She grinned.
"Well I will still work in the shop on days I'm not in the city but it will give me the chance to learn more about putting together a collection, appreciating styles, buying fabrics, outsourcing, pattern making, cutting techniques." She began. "Than I will have the opportunity to produce a design for the brand. If selected it will be marketed under my name."
He smiled at her.
"So one day I could see your clothes in Vogue." He said.
She chuckled.
"Hardly, unless Ella was taking the photos and pulled a few strings."
"Are you putting yourself down Nicole Campbell?" he asked her.
She smiled.
"No I know what I want and it's not to be a prima donna of the fashion world. Not anymore. Like Ella I've found something that will make me far happier. I have a wonderful husband."
Geoff looked at her seriously.
"Nic, if you want to be a designer and think we should move out of summer Bay so you can follow that then I will move."
She smiled at him.
"Geoff, I love you even more for the suggestion but I've not lost a dream I've found a new one and this one will make me happier than I could ever have imagined. I don't need designer clothes or parties and glitter. I need to come home to my husband and know that one day I will be coming home to my husband and children." She paused. "And anyway I can always borrow Ella's designer clothes."
He laughed out loud.
"Does she know that?" he said.
She shrugged.
"I think I had it included in their renewal vows didn't I?" she asked. "It may have been in the small print though."
Geoff looked at his beautiful wife and grinned.
"Have I told you I love you today." He said.
She nodded.
"Yes, but I don't mind if you feel you need to tell me again though."
She picked up her plate and took it through to the kitchen.
"Would you like desert?" she asked without turning around.
He stood behind her and placed his plate on the worktop.
"I was thinking we could take the champagne upstairs. I'm feeling energetic tonight. Want to try page 52?" He said sliding his hands around her waist.
She laughed.
"Ok." she said blushing. "Page 52? I'm not quite sure that is possible."
He chuckled.
"We'll find out." He told her.
He collected the bottle and glasses off the table, blew out the candles and took hold of her hand to lead her upstairs.