And Then There Was You

  I nodded and smiled. 'Of course. It's lovely to see you again. How are you?' I asked, as Mum left us to chat.

  Minutes later, another group arrived, followed by more and more people. Eventually there were about thirty people all milling about, mingling, drinking, helping Dad cook the meat on the barbie. The weather was perfect, just warm enough but not too overpowering for a day in early May.

  It hadn't gone unnoticed that Mum had invited several single men, a couple of whom had clamoured for my attention, competing with each other. But I hadn't been attracted to either one, so I'd merely smiled and gone to help Mum in the kitchen.

  'Thanks for this, Mum,' I said, as we took the cling-film off of a couple more salads.

  'Are you enjoying yourself, love?'

  I stood for a moment, and when I didn't reply she stopped what she was doing and turned around.

  'Love?'

  'I was thinking about it... and the answer is yes, I am. It's... nice to just relax and be me. I don't think I've really been myself for a long time.'

  'I agree. That...Matt,' she practically spat out his name, 'took that away from you.'

  'No, Mum. It was me that took it away from me. It wasn't Matt's fault. I was the other one that let it happen. I allowed myself to become someone else because I wanted to be a good wife, I wanted to please him. For a while, anyway. I guess that all changed in the year before it all went tits up.'

  Mum looked at me disapprovingly. 'Evelyn, that's such a horrible expression.'

  'Oh, Mum,' I chuckled. 'You'll never change, will you? I do love that about you, even when you drive me insane sometimes.'

  Trying not to laugh, I elbowed her gently in the side and then tickled her.

  'Evie,' she suddenly giggled. 'Oh Evie, it's like you're back again. You're really back. I missed you.'

  'I missed me too, Mum.'

  oOo

  Hey honey.

  How are you doing? I mean, really doing? You said you'd email! I guess you forgot. I hope spending some time in Portugal is doing you the world of good. I'd love to hear what you've been up to, if anything. If not, I want to hear about that too. There's been lots happening here, but I won't bore you with any of that at the moment. We can talk about everything when you're ready. I'm not going to name any names, because I don't want you getting all upset again, but we are missing you. Write soon, honey. Even if it's just a one liner to say you're okay. Okay?

  Big hug from the most dismal May in history.

  Lisa xxx

  I read it again. 'We miss you'. 'We miss you'? Who's we? She meant Adam, right? He was really missing me. I hit reply.

  Hey Lisa.

  Just a quick one. I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. I'm finding myself. All is okay. No need to worry.

  I'm coming home.

  Miss you too.

  Eve xxx

  I lay back on the bed and grinned. Something stirred in my stomach, but I pushed it down. I didn't want to think about it yet. I just wanted to continue on my journey to find me. And that would be hurried along by going home and finally being with the man I loved.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  I knew he was there the second I stepped foot off the plane; I just felt his presence. Rushing through passport control and impatiently waiting for my luggage to appear on the carousel, I finally ran to the exit. Searching the sea of faces, my eyes eventually stopped on his.

  Adam.

  He was holding a large bunch of yellow roses, and his face lit up at the sight of me. I left the trolley behind me and ran straight towards him. In my heart, I wanted to kiss him, but my head was stopping me. So I just stood there, swallowing, trying to figure out what to do.

  I could tell Adam was feeling the same way. 'Why didn't you call me?' he said.

  'Sorry?' I asked.

  'You didn't call me. You just got on a plane and buggered off. How was I supposed to feel about that, Eve? Not a word, nothing.'

  'Hang on just a minute. You were the one that ran out of the hospital after calling Matt a son of a bitch, then sent your ex-wife round to see me. Not you? Not the day later. Nothing, Adam. You left me to pick up the pieces.'

  'No, Eve. It wasn't like that. This is so messed up.'

  'Too right it's messed... no, it's fucked up. That's what this is,' I cried, not understanding what was happening any more. Didn't he want me? But he brought roses.

  'Eve, don't,' he whispered, reaching out to me.

  I turned to look at him, and in that instant I saw it. The hurt. The hurt that I had showered on him and I crumbled. He caught me and pulled me close.

  'Oh Eve, we both messed this up, didn't we? I thought you wanted to get away from me. I was giving you space, but when you didn't try to reach out to me, I figured you wanted nothing to do with me. Oh Eve. You thought the same thing, didn't you?'

  I nodded and looked up into his eyes.

  'Don't you get it?'

  I searched his eyes. 'Get what?' I whispered.

  'I love you, Eve. I always have.'

  'You do?'

  He nodded.

  'But what about Charlie?'

  'You're asking me about Charlie? She's in love with Matt. Matt's in love with Charlie. They're both in love, with baby Eviemay and I'm in love with you.'

  'Eviemay?' I cringed.

  'Yes, it's a little creepy, right?' He laughed.

  I nodded as he pulled me up into his arms.

  'Eve, why did you run away?'

  'I was so hurt, Adam.'

  'Because of the baby?'

  I nodded silently.

  Adam stroked my cheek. 'Oh babe. You should have run to me, not away from me. I can help soothe that hurt,' he said, placing his hand lovingly over my heart.

  'But you were so angry. The way you stormed out of the hospital, like that… I thought you must have still loved Charlie a little bit.'

  'Eve, don't you understand? I was so angry because if they'd come clean right at the beginning, we could have been together from the start. We wouldn't have had to fight it all that time. It could have been me and you months earlier. I was angry because they let me believe it was my baby. I thought I had to do the right thing because of my baby, but it wasn't my baby, was it? I thought I could never be with you again, but I could... They lied, and that's what pissed me off. You're all I care about now.'

  'And your kids.' I smiled.

  'Well yes, the kids too.'

  'I'm sorry, Adam.'

  'I'm sorry too, Eve.'

  oOo

  'What's bothering you, Eve?' Adam asked, in the car, a little while later.

  'What makes you think something's bothering me?'

  He shrugged. 'Isn't there?'

  He was right, of course. There was something worrying me. 'I'm homeless, Adam. I don't have a base to go back to. I don't know what to do. Should I go to a hotel for a while? I just don't know.'

  'Eve, you certainly won't go to a hotel. I'd just assumed you would move in with me.'

  I looked up at him in shock. 'You had?'

  'Of course. I assumed that's what you wanted. I know it's what I want. I'm sorry... was I wrong? I can set up different accommodations, if that makes you feel more comfortable?'

  Those butterflies in my tummy started fluttering around like crazy again and I grinned. 'Oh my God, Adam, really? Of course that's what I'd like. I'd love to. Yes, yes,' I said, almost jumping out of my seat. 'I'm the happiest woman in the world, right now. But it will be a bit weird.'

  'What will be?' he asked.

  'Living in a house that also belonged to Charlie, and seeing someone else living in my old house.'

  'Oh no,' Adam said. 'Didn't I tell you?'

  'Tell me what?'

  'I signed the deeds of that place over to Charlie. When I asked you to move in with me, I meant for you to live with me at the manor.'

  'Holy shit,' I muttered. 'Nothing would make me happier. Will we go straight there from the airport?'

  'Unless you want to go somewhere else?' r />
  I shook my head. There was only one thing on my mind, and my cheeks flushed red. 'I want to finish what we started... in the pool,' I whispered into his ear.

  He grinned and then took my hand, placing it ever so carefully in his crotch. 'I think this proves I want that too, Eve,' he said wickedly.

  Holy crap. Electricity shot out from my stomach and crept slowly downwards until the heat started to throb right where it mattered.

  I couldn't wait to get there.

  oOo

  I woke up the next morning to the delicious aroma of bacon floating up from the kitchen. For a split second I was confused, and then, when the wonderful memories came flooding back, I grinned and jumped out of bed. Grabbing my dressing gown from the floor, I ran downstairs.

  'Hey sexy,' breathed the most erotic voice I've ever heard. Adam stood in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

  'You're cooking breakfast for me?' I asked, rushing towards him.

  He nodded and picked me up by my bottom, placing me carefully on the worktop. 'I am. I hope you're hungry.'

  'Ooh yes, I'm always hungry,' I replied as seductively as possible.

  He grinned and pulled me close, kissing every part of my face and neck.

  'God, you smell so good,' he murmured, before turning off the bacon and carrying me back up to the bedroom for a repeat performance of the night before.

  An hour later, we were back in the kitchen, famished. Adam prepared bacon, eggs, sausages and toast while I simply made the coffee and poured some orange juice. He whistled as he worked, and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. I was in heaven. It had been such a long time coming, but here it was. I'd never felt so good and boy was it amazing.

  The sound of a buzzing noise broke me out of my reverie and I realised it was Adam's phone. He walked over to it and clicked on the text message.

  'Is everything all right?' I asked.

  'Let's just eat breakfast and I'll tell you...'

  'Tell me what?'

  'What's been going on.'

  'That sounds ominous.'

  He placed all the food on our plates and carried them to the table, where we sat down.

  'So what's up, Adam? What's going on?'

  'One of the reasons I was unable to come and find you in Portugal…' He stopped and took a gulp of orange juice.

  'Yes?'

  'It was because of Amy.'

  'Amy? What happened to Amy? Is she okay, Adam?'

  He looked away and shook his head. 'She's...she's... pregnant.'

  'Oh,' I said, smiling. 'Well that's wonderful, isn't it? Or are you frightened of becoming a grandfather?' I teased. 'Or don't you like the father?'

  The look on his face made my smile drop. 'What?'

  'The baby's father. He's... he's...not really in the picture.'

  'Oh, that's a shame.'

  Adam shook his head, 'It's not that. It's, erm, it's Amy. She came out.'

  'She came out of where?' I asked innocently.

  'No, Eve.She came out,' he reiterated.

  'You mean's she's...she's gay?' I asked tentatively.

  Adam slowly nodded, taking a swig of orange juice.

  'Oh Adam, you look like you need something stronger than orange juice.' I smiled. 'She's gay. So what? What's the problem? If she's happy, that's all that matters. Is she having a baby with her girlfriend, then? Are they together?'

  Adam nodded. 'Clare. I've known her for years. They've been best friends since they were thirteen.'

  'Have they been, erm, together since then?'

  'Apparently,' Adam said, through gritted teeth.

  'Are you not okay with this?' I asked.

  'She's my daughter, Eve. How can I be okay with it?'

  'Because she's your daughter, Adam. That's exactly the reason youshould be okay with it. Do you love your daughter?'

  'Of course I do. She means the world to me.'

  I smiled. 'Which would suggest that her happiness means the world to you too, right?'

  Adam smiled. 'You're so smart, aren't you?'

  'You're not the first person to tell me that,' I said, tucking in to my breakfast, before adding, 'there I was, worried sick that there was something wrong with her. How has Lisa taken it?' I asked.

  Adam snorted. 'Apparently Amy confided in Lisa a few years ago.'

  'Ouch,' I said.

  'I know, that's what hurt the most. That and the fact that...'

  'What?'

  'Amy didn't want to tell me because she knew I was going through something deeply upsetting myself.'

  'Aww, I'd love to meet her. She sounds like a wonderful girl.'

  Smiling, Adam nodded. 'Oh, she is.'

  'How did she know you were going through something?'

  'Do you really want to know?'

  I raised my eyebrows.

  'Jack told her about his encounter with us here.'

  'Oh.'

  'Exactly.'

  'What did they say when you told them what happened?' I asked as I finished eating, putting my knife and fork down.

  'Actually, they weren't surprised. Amy used some pretty foul language to describe Charlie and said I should go and find you immediately.'

  'Really?' I asked as I felt my eyes well up with tears. 'She wants us to be together?'

  'It certainly seems that way,' he said, pushing his chair back and dragging me out of my seat and onto his lap. 'She wants her father to be happy, and Lisa told her only one person could make me the happiest man on Earth.'

  'Oh really? And who might that be?' I asked inquisitively.

  His mouth on mine answered that question.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  We'd started taking daily walks, some out in the countryside, others in the city or through local villages. It had become something to really look forward to. Not only were we getting to spend some real quality time together, we were also getting to see more of our beautiful country. After spending a little bit of time in Portugal, I vowed to start enjoying more of what the world has to offer, and I wanted to start with what was on our doorstep.

  That afternoon we were ambling along the cliff tops in the north of Somerset.

  'Eve?' Adam suddenly whispered quietly, under his breath.

  I dragged my eyes away from the sea view. 'Yeah?' I asked. 'What's up?'

  Droplets of water began to fall from the sky and I looked up; dark grey clouds were moving quicker than I'd anticipated. 'Ooh. Looks like a storm's coming,' I said absent-mindedly.

  'As I was saying,' Adam said, clearing his throat.

  The rain began to come down heavier.

  'Adam, we're getting soaked. We'd better go back to the car.'

  'Eve, I'm trying to...'

  I turned back to him, and he was crouching down on one knee. 'Adam?' I asked, my heart fluttering in my chest. 'Oh,' I put my hands over my mouth and squealed as he pulled out a little box from his pocket. All the while the rain poured down in buckets.

  'Evelyn. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?'

  'Holy crap,' I yelled. 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' I answered as he stood up and pulled me into a long hug.

  'The ring, the ring?' I said, eager to get a good look.

  Adam laughed and stepped backwards. He opened the box and handed it to me.

  'Oh Adam, it's exquisite. It must have cost a fortune,' I chuckled, putting it on my finger. It fitted perfectly, the solitary diamond twinkling even without the sunlight to dance on it.

  'Adam I'm so happy. I love you so much.'

  'I love you too, Eve,' he said, putting the empty box back in his pocket before he picked me up and twirled me around in the rain, then he put me down and dipped me before he started singing.

  We danced together in the rain, Adam’s voice crooning the lyrics of Singing in the Rain instead of Gene Kelly’s, and I felt as though my heart might burst with love for him.

  I laughed, watching as he did his little dance routine before we ran back to the car. We fell inside laughing. Eventually we sat, quietly l
ooking at each other. Our breathing had caused the windows to fog up.

  He leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. A kiss that deepened until his hands were all over me, inside my blouse, unclasping the bra so that my breasts fell into his palms. He bent forward and took a nipple into his mouth, gently toying with it with his teeth. I groaned and moved my hands over him until they reached his hardness, tight against his jeans. Groans of delight echoed through the car while I carefully removed my jeans and panties and then straddled him. It wasn't easy, but the passion was too much to stop and head home. I needed him. He needed me. Simple as that.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  It was surreal waking up with a grin on my face every day. I had become so accustomed to dreading the day ahead and what kind of mood Matt would be in when I woke. But now, Adam was always there with me, always smiling. Always loving. I had fallen deeply in love and it felt amazing. I should've known stormy seas lay ahead. I should have expected it. Life that sweet couldn't really last, could it?

  We were awoken by the sound of the phone ringing. Turning to look at the bedside clock, we panicked. It was half past two in the morning, and that was never a good sign.

  'What's going on?' I moaned, rubbing my eyes.

  'The phone,' he said, jumping out of bed at breakneck speed and rustling through the jeans he'd been wearing the day before. 'My mobile,' he muttered.

  'Amy?' he said, trying to sound calm. 'What's the matter?'

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and I inched closer, putting my hands on his shoulders. I could feel his muscles tensing.

  'Oh God. I'll be right there,' he turned to look at me and corrected himself immediately. 'We'll be right there.' He threw the phone on to the bed and began quickly dressing.'It's Lisa. We need to get to the hospital right away.'

  'What's wrong? What's happened?' I cried, moving deftly to the wardrobe to grab my jeans and a jumper.

  'They're not sure yet. She was complaining of pain and then she collapsed. An ambulance took her to the hospital,' he said, his eyes welling with tears.

  'Oh God, Adam. Don't worry. She's in good hands over there.'