“Delivery for Carrie Reynolds-Davies”
“Yes, that’s me”
“Hold on a moment and I will get your parcel.”
Carrie watched as the delivery driver returned to the rear of the truck. Using a trolley he pushed along a large crate.
“Where would you like it?”
“I didn’t order anything that big, are you sure it’s for me?”
“Yes, it has your name on it. It’s an express delivery from New York”
New York. It had to be Nico.
“Okay, if you can bring it through here into the living room”
She signed the electronic pad confirming acceptance.
“What on earth Carrie” her mother exclaimed.
“I have no idea Mum, I wasn’t expecting anything. How is this supposed to open?”
“I think you will need to prise open the lid”
“I will see if there is a hammer or something in the garage”
Her mother and sister were staring at the large crate as if it were an alien in the house. She returned with a hammer and a screwdriver of all things. A few taps later which she tried to muffle to prevent waking Harry and the lid opened.
An A4 sized envelope sat on the top. She ripped open the secure seal. Another envelope with Nicos distinctive scrawl of her name. She looked a Claire. “It’s from Nico”
“Who is Nico, Carrie?”
“Nico is my friend. The family I stayed with in the states after my accident. He’s Belle’s boss,”
“Yes, I know that. But who is he to you Carrie? Do you have something to tell me?”
She knew that her face betrayed her guilty feeling.
“I guess you would say that he is more than just a friend. He is my boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend, when did this happen? Did you know Claire? Why am I always the last to find out anything that concerns my family?”
“Whoa Mum, slow down,” Claire interrupted. “It’s all new to Carrie and I have only recently known”
“Oh Carrie, what about Rob? He’s your husband”
The barbed comment cut to her. “Mum, I will always love Rob. That hasn’t changed.”
“I can’t deal with this just now, really Carrie you should have told me before. Does your father know? You tell him and Belle everything before me.”
“Dad doesn’t know. But yes Belle does. Don’t be hard on her Mum”
“How I deal with my sister will be my own business but for once it seems I’m not the last to know. I’m going now, I have my errands”
“Mum let me explain.”
“No Carrie, I’m busy, there will be no more talk of this just now. It’s your birthday not a time for family disagreements.”
Emotionally bruised by her Mothers tirade and brush off Carrie could only watch in shock as her mother sped away.
Claire sat beside Carrie on the sofa. “Oh Carrie, don’t cry, she doesn’t mean it. She’s just not ready for you to move on that’s all. It’s just her way of dealing with things.” Carrie nodded and picked a tissue to wipe her tears. “It always like that Claire, sometimes I feel Mum has never forgiven herself for my accident falling down those stairs. I will always be her little girl needing her guidance. She was happy when I met Rob as he took care of me. I know that now. He was a good, kind, gentle man who everyone liked and loved. I couldn’t have asked for a more loving husband.”
“We know that Carrie, I for one am routing that you are finally ready to move on with your life. It was a scary dark time that I didn’t know if you could get free of or want to.”
“The dark days are still there. They don’t go away completely. I still have nightmares about the accident. Sometimes I turn round to speak to him but he’s not there and it kills me. I’m not some adulterer. But why does being happy make me feel so sad?”
She excused herself to go wash her face. Staring in the mirror at her blotched face. Wonderful.
“Open your letter while I go check Harry and take no notice of Mum. You know it will have all blown over.”
The letter was hand written on the same paper as her invitation to the commerce dance. She recognised the texture of the expensive parchment.
Happy Birthday Carrie
Have a wonderful day doing things you like with your family. I wish I could share it with you but next year will be different, I hope we will share it together then.
Please accept these birthday gifts in my absence.
Nico x
Claire tucked an arm around Carries shoulders. “You okay sis?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she handed over the letter for her sister to read, knowing she would be curious to its contents. “Oh Carrie, I think he is serious about you,”
Cutting open the protective polythene she pulled back the plastic to reveal an inner white box. After a little tug, pull and wrestle with the contents the box was free from the wooden crate.
“Phew, what the hell is in there?”
“I have no idea Claire, let’s find out” She was determined not to let her disagreement with her mother ruin the day. They had head butted opinions throughout Carries life and turning twenty nine wasn’t going to change that.
“Oh My,” Her inner Doris Day was back. Wrapped in tissue paper carefully folded the gold Dolce and Gabanna lace dress that she had tried on for the commerce desk.
“Carrie that is beautiful,” She held it against her body then placed it carefully over the chair. At a quick glance it looked as though all the dresses she had tried on that day were there. Next the short fuchsia Marchesa mini dress with beaded and crystal neckline. Finally the dress that had been a close favourite that day the balmain halter neck dress in pink and grey silk.
“These are the dresses I tried on for the commerce dance, all of them.”
The bottom of the box held another box. She carefully removed this and opened the lid to reveal four small rectangular boxes. The names of the designers embossed on the front of each box. Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana, Oscar De La Renta and Alexander McQueen. Each box contained a clutch bag in its own dust bag. Small evening clutches of various designs and materials. Bejewelled clasps, embroidery and one in black satin. They were perfect accompaniments to the dresses. She felt overwhelmed by his generosity but it was the final box that had the tears falling. He had bought her a replacement birkin bag. The distinctive orange and bold box with the Hermes logo. She knew before she even opened the box. It touched her that he had remembered how upset she had been at her bag being destroyed during her mugging beyond use. This was no rip off copy, this was the real deal. Contained in the dust bag with certificates of authenticity and its care guide her very own birkin bag. Soft red leather and gold detail.
“Oh My God Carrie, Oh My God! You are going to have to increase your insurance cover for all this!” she joked.
“I was so upset at the hospital that my bag was ripped and bloody after the mugging but I didn’t expect this. It’s too much. I will have it sent back.”
“I thought the police had your bag?”
“It’s upstairs in the bottom of the wardrobe, I haven’t been able to look at it. I need to speak with Nico”
“Kate, I am a loyal sister but I am also a loyal Aunt and Godmother to Carrie. She is an adult and I have to respect her wishes when it comes to her life.”
“Belle you should have told me. I felt foolish finding out as if my daughter had some guilty secret that she was too ashamed to tell me of”
Belle could feel her sister’s frustration across the miles. Kate had caught her unaware when she answered her phone. She was with Nico who could hear every word being said by Kate.
“Katie, Katie, calm down. Who are you angrier with here Carrie for not telling you or yourself for not wanting her to move on? We all loved Rob but even he wouldn’t want her to mourn him forever. She is a young vibrant woman with the rest of her life in front of her.”
“Not everyone is ready to let go Belle, I thought you would have understood that.”
“I guess you heard every word?”
Nico could not deny it. “Unfortunately I did” he was quietly seething. Obviously Carries Mother was not pleased with his presence in her life. But he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. Carrie was all that mattered to him. Convincing her parents could come later.
The ringing of his phone interrupted any conversation. Belle left the room.
“Hello Carrie, how has your day been so far?”
“Hi Nico, it’s had its moments. Thank you for the lovely flowers they are beautiful. I feel overwhelmed with your gifts and generosity but it’s too much Nico, I can’t accept them.”
“It’s your birthday Carrie and I insist. Let me spoil you a little even though I don’t know when we will see each other sometime soon. I enjoy giving you presents.”
“Let me think about it.” She said as a concession. “I had a look at your schedule with Robin. You have some time after you return from the Asia trip. I’ve asked Robin to block some days if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is. What do you want to do? Where can I show you?”
“I think that can be your challenge Nico, I know you will keep me on my toes”
“Well your toes are one place we can start with!”
“You are incorrigible”
“But you love me anyway” he joked.
Love, there was that word. Love. Love had made her happy and made her so sad. It had given her so much joy that love with Nico was scary too. She didn’t know what to say. Did she love him? She didn’t have to think long. A millisecond at the most. Yes she did.
Silence.
“So, tonight,” Nico said breaking the silence. “What are your plans?”
“I eh, just a family dinner at home. We have Aunt Peggy’s party tomorrow. It was their anniversary yesterday but they didn’t much fancy having a party on a Thursday night.”
“Save your dances,”
“It’s not that sort of party, not a ball gown event. But an epic Reynolds family gathering.” Carrie didn’t disclose that she had had a disagreement with her Mum. It didn’t feel right to bring the subject up at that time.
The evening had passed without any major upset. No disagreements or fights or catastrophe had befallen the party. Ryan and Claire had left a couple of hours earlier. Carrie had opted to stay on a little longer with her parents. Her Uncle had given a lovely speech thanking Peggy for being by his side for the last 40 years. Oh she had thought she would have had 40 years or more with Rob. But it wasn’t to be. It had brought a tear to Carrie’s eye and she had briefly retreated to the bathroom to fix her make up. She wiped a smudge of mascara away. Typical she hadn’t worn waterproof. The box of tissues was empty so she grabbed some from the toilet cubicle and repaired her make up. The door swung open and Carrie stepped back into the cubicle to avoid colliding with the door.
“I see little Miss Hoity Toity joined us tonight,” the voice of her cousin Marie slurred. “Aye so she did, finally got off her pedestal,” Marie’s friend joined in.
“I feel sorry for her, I mean all on her own, no kids or anything. No wonder Claire is still there. She probably won’t let them leave!”
“Oh don’t be so horrible Marie, it’s not like that, I feel sorry for her too but at least I’ve got my man to go home to tonight. What’s she got?”
Carrie swung the door back.
“Go on Marie, tell me why don’t you? My life is just fine. Claire’s is too. I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me. Now why don’t you go sober up and stop making a show of yourself at your parent’s party”
She didn’t say anything to her parents about her conversation with her cousin on their journey home. Things were still a little strained with Carrie and her mother after the discovery of her relationship with Nico and her plans to leave in a few days for New York.
The taxi approached the quiet cul de sac of Bluebell Gardens. “When do you leave Carrie?”
“I fly out Tuesday morning back Thursday afternoon or evening I think”
“Well this time try and stay out of trouble”
“I will Mum, but I will see you before I go”
The plans were made and for the last week Carrie had conspired with Robin to keep Nico completely in the dark over their arrangements. Carrie had an early morning flight which after the time difference would get her at JFK mid-day. Robin had blocked Nico’s diary with a 1.30 pm meeting and afternoon lunch with a new client. Nico had no evening engagements as Robin had again discreetly blocked that off too, although she had made a dinner reservation for them. He flew out the following day on a three week trip to Asia and Australia. Carrie was travelling light; she had a small case and her oversized red Hermes bag. Enough clothes for the almost two days that she would be in New York, a gift for Nico and the lovely gold Dolce and Gabbana dress. It was such a tight schedule that any flight delay would ruin their plans. She thanked the gods that the flight passed without any hiccup and she found the driver waiting at the airport. She texted Robin that she was in the car and the driver said they would be at Devanti headquarters in ten minutes. Carrie was too excited to take in the sights. Another check at her watch. 12.45. Now she had to ask the gods to keep the roads clear. Robin was waiting for her at the main entrance. Carrie gratefully hugged her.
“Robin, thank you so much for helping me with this, I really couldn’t have done this without you,”
“It’s been my pleasure, I just hope Nico agrees afterwards and I still have my job, come on I’ve got your security pass and we will go up in the private elevator”
Carrie smiled at the un-smiling security guard and signed the electronic pad.
She lost count at the number of floors that the whizzed past and held back as Robin walked in front, checking that Nico wasn’t out of his office. They sneaked passed an open seating area. The passed another impressive reception desk with an encased waterfall and the sparkle of the scrawled D of Devanti. Again Robin walked ahead of Carrie who was pulling her case.
“Now I’m going to take you to the guest bathroom, once you are ready, give me two rings on my mobile and I will come and get you,”
“Okay,” Carrie nervously nodded. 13.03pm. Gulp.
Carrie shut the door and firmly locked it. A shower cubicle, separate toilet and even a small seating area. With lightning speed she stripped off and tied her hair back. The quickest shower on record to refresh her body after seven and a half hours on a plane not to mention the remainder of the travel time. A dry with the softest of towels and she was soon applying her body lotion. 13.19pm.
Panic oh no, starting to panic. Running out of time.
She tried to take a few calming breaths and opened the case again; she pulled on the tiny miniscule wasp black suspender belt. She smoothed the thin stockings over her legs and tried to secure the tab to the suspender belt. After a few shaky attempts she managed it. Tiny black panties followed and they most amazing black bra to complete the look. It created a cleavage that Carrie didn’t know she had. She quickly pinned her hair up into a bun, added the briefest sweep of make-up but finished with a brazen red lipstick that drew attention to the fullness of her lips. Her sexy black louboutains were her shoe of choice with a tiny black skirt with side split that enabled her to move across the room. She finished buttoning the shirt leaving a few buttons open hinting at the cleavage. She added black framed glasses that were purely for show as her eye sight didn’t not require them. She pulled on the black jacket, closed the case and dialled Robin’s number. 13.28pm.
A few seconds later Robin was at the door. “Oh my God”
“What?”
“You look crazy different, now give me your case, I will keep it safe until you need it later”
Another quick look around the corridor.
“Now turn left then keep walking, there’s no one here to see you, it’s the only door at the end of the corridor, good luck” she gave Carrie a squeeze to the arm. Her feet
sank slightly into the deep pile of the thick gold carpet, slowing her pace. 13.30pm. With no one to announce her arrival she hesitated at the double doors before turning the handle. Time to put those nerves away.
Nico was seated behind his desk.
“Hello Nico”
Still keeping eye contact she leaned back to close the door and turn the lock.
“Carrie, what on earth?”
He pushed the chair back. “Stay where you are Nico”
“Carrie, let me contact Robin, I have an appointment I need to reschedule”
“That’s okay Nico, I’m your appointment, and do you want to reschedule me?” She pouted removing her jacket.
“Hell no”
“That’s good, because I’ve come a long way for this meeting,”
The jacket fell to the floor where it joined her bag that she had dropped.
She sat on the edge at the corner of the desk, crossed her legs to display a briefest hint of the stockings at the top of her thigh. He let out a soft whistle.
“Like what you see?” an echo of their first night together when he had walked naked to the bathroom.
“I do but show me more”
Carrie moved from her perch on the desk and leaned over the seated Nico. Her cleavage eye level with his mouth. He moved his head forward and she allowed the briefest of touches before she pulled back.
“Uh uh, hands to yourself Mr Devanti, I will say when,”
He let out a slow sexy laugh that tickled her to her toes with longing.
“Okay the floor is yours,”
She loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt to his waist. His stomach was flat and perfectly toned. She knew he worked out from the time they spent together during her recovery but still her fingers lingered as they touched his belt buckle. One leg she hooked over him only straddling him to tease as she lowered her hips until she hovered above him. She could feel the hard length of him straining against her. His head tipped back she ran the tip of her tongue across his lip but pulled away before he could deepen to a full kiss. She shook her head and started to kiss slowly down his throat and chest until she reached the buckle of his belt. His cock hard and straining against the zipper. With a slow stroke of her hand the zipper freed him into her waiting palm. Taking her time she stroked him harder then released him. Slowly her hands removed the black panties and she bent over revealing her ass to him as it peaked out from under her short skirt. Her body was burning for him but still he stayed in the large chair watching her every movement. Letting her have this control before his shattered. The panties now removed. She straddled him and without hesitation pulled him deep within her. Her wetness covering him in one movement. Nico ripped the shirt open, freeing her from the delicate bra, his head nuzzling at her breasts as his hands held her hips.
BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY Page 34