The Aisle and Skye (The Skye Series Book 2)

by Fox Brison

  ***

  “Are you going to tell your brothers about your hospital appointment?” Natalie stopped stroking my back for a half second, before starting again. We were in bed, my head resting on her shoulder; I was struggling to drift off, but was comfy and content.

  “What’s the point of worrying them?” I shrugged.

  “Because that’s what family do, they worry about each other. Look, I’m not telling you what to do, but don’t you think if you were in their shoes you’d want to know?”

  I pursed my lips whilst I considered her argument. “I’ll tell them after the holidays, deal?”

  “Deal.” She kissed the top of my head and wriggled to get more comfortable.

  We lay like that for hours, holding each other whilst talking about nothing in particular. When I examine my life I might single out that evening as one of the most sublime ever. It wasn’t a whizz bang night of pleasure or romance. It wasn’t a night of excitement and adventure. No. It was a night of worshipping each other. It was a night spent with my future wife holding me in her arms, her words and gestures showing me how much I was cared for, how much our life together meant to her, to both of us. It was a night of laughter and of making love on the floor in front of the stove and then in our bed. It was a night of tender touches and desire.

  It was a night to savour forever.

  ***

  The next morning was spent in a tizzy preparing for my family’s arrival and waking late didn’t exactly help. Dealing with Angie, Robbie and the boys? Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Cameron and Melissa? Fine, no problemo. Ali? My stomach rebelled when I thought about spending the entire day with my childhood nemesis.

  Plus I didn’t want to admit it, but talking to Nat last night made me view my stance differently, making the complicated so much simpler. I’m still haunted by the shock of finding my mother dead on the kitchen floor, an unknown aneurism taking her from us when I was barely out of childhood. And finding out from a stranger in the middle of Morrisons supermarket that my father was at death’s door? Not good. If Robbie or Cam found a suspicious lump on their testicle… how would I feel if they kept it from me? It would have devastated me, pure and simple.

  “Nat?”

  “Mmm?” she said, bending over the back of the television in order to connect up the PlayStation. “Bloody hell, you need a computer science degree to set this up!”

  God her bottom is majestic. I blinked rapidly and got my mind back in the game. “Nat, I think you were right.”

  “First time for everything I suppose. Wait.” She looked at me through her legs from an upside down position. I wished I was as flexible. “What am I right about?”

  “I’m going to tell Robbie and Cameron about the tests. They’ve a right to know and not have it come as a greater shock should it be, you know,” I paused, still finding it difficult to say the words aloud, “should it be bad news further down the line.”

  “Which it won’t be.” Nat was a great believer in positive mental attitude. I guess it was a case of whatever got you through, right? “I’ll take the kids down to the beach for half an hour. I’ll even drag Ali along if you like.”

  “God, no,” I said, horror stricken. “She’ll have even more reason to resent me if I leave her out.”

  “I still don’t get that.” Natalie returned to her wires. “Why she turned on you like she did. One minute we’re all great pals on the hockey team, the next she can barely tolerate you. Ha!” she exclaimed, “There’s the HDMI cable!”

  “Neither do I, but that’s water under the bridge and I’m done raking up the past. She’s been much better lately, I mean she even agreed to Melissa staying tonight…” I trailed off.

  “Least said soonest mended or something, right?” She stood up having finished rigging the kids’ entertainment. Or rather the big kids’ entertainment if I knew her and my brothers.

  “Right,” I agreed easily. Avoid confrontation with the bane of my life in order to have a peaceful day? Oh yes, I agreed very easily.

  ***

  My brothers and their families arrived together almost dead on noon, and after hugs all round I nodded to Natalie and she opened another bottle of champagne. I was a tad gutted that they no longer awarded it for player of the match awards because the way Nat’s career was going, we wouldn’t have had to buy any for the reception!

  When everyone’s glass was full, I took Natalie’s hand. “We have some pretty big news. On Christmas Eve,” I looked at Natalie and she smiled broadly, “Nat proposed and I said yes. We’re going to be married.”

  There was silence. For all of three seconds.

  Robbie grabbed us both in a bear hug. “Congratulations!” He kissed my cheek.

  “Thanks, Rob,” I said with a chuckle, slightly taken aback by his overt display of affection. Cameron followed suit; well kind of. He gave me one of those single armed loose attempts at an embrace and patted Natalie on the back. Cameron liked touching about as much as I liked change.

  I was convinced there was a touch of autism in our family.

  “Let me see?” Angie came over and we held out our hands. “Oh they’re gorgeous, they suit you both right down to the ground. Come ‘ere, Sis.” She gave Natalie a kiss. “Welcome to the mad house, I mean family.”

  “Thanks, Ange.” Nat was fit to burst. Her dimples were the size of sinkholes and her eyes owned a noticeable sheen.

  Ali remained on the peripheral, rocking on her toes back and forth. I glanced at her. She stared at me. Christ waiting for her reaction was worse than waiting for twelve hospital appointments. “I’m chuffed for the two of you,” she said proudly.

  I fought not to exhale loudly, and slowly released the breath I’d been holding. Besides, I was seeing spots before my eyes, and breathing was a better option than fainting.

  “Thank you, Ali, that means a lot.” And it did. Bridges took seconds to destroy but ages to build. At least the foundations were being poured and hopefully it wasn’t so Ali would have somewhere to bury my body!

  “Oh yuck,” Malcom said in his usual manner. Anything that wasn’t football, his tablet, zombies and, well, zombie footballers who had a tablet grafted to their hands, was yuck at the moment; Angie was tearing her hair out with him.

  “What’s yuck, Malky?” I asked.

  “Getting married. To a girl. Yuck.” He said it with such disdain none of us could help but laugh.

  “I think it’s great,” Melissa, Cameron’s daughter, said thoughtfully, ignoring the faces her younger cousins were pulling. “I wouldn’t mind marrying my best friend. Nicola’s so funny.”

  “You can’t marry Nicola,” Malky scoffed.

  “Yes I can. Can’t I, Mummy?” The room fell silent again, only this time the quiet lasted a few seconds longer. It felt decidedly like a tipping point, as if we were all in a barrel hurtling towards Niagara Falls, even though none of us would ever admit to such a thing.

  “Pet, if Nicola makes you as happy as Aunty Nat,” Ali began.

  Oh my god I nearly hyperventilated. Aunty Nat? I mouthed to Natalie who was as surprised as I was if her wide eyed expression was anything to go by.

  “Makes Aunty Skye,” Ali continued, oblivious to our silent communications, “you can marry her if that’s what you want.” She raised her champagne flute. “To Skye and Natalie. May life bring them the happiness they deserve.”

  “Skye and Nat,” everyone chanted together whilst I metaphorically picked myself up off the floor.

  ***

  “Want some help?” Ali said from behind the small kitchen island. A roar came from the sofa in the living room. Manchester United had obviously taken the lead and I groaned. There was one secret I still hadn’t shared with Nat, something that could fracture our relationship into a million pieces…

  I supported Liverpool, not the Red Devils.

  “Sure,” I said confidently, which I most definitely wasn’t.

  “I owe you an apology.” She began folding paper napkins into little tria
ngles.

  “Nonsense,” I said brusquely. Even though it was on the tip of my tongue to scream, hell yeah you do biatch!

  “No, I really do. I should have done it a long time ago.”

  “Well thank you, Ali, apology accepted but-” I started to ask the question why? Why did you torment me so much? But I thought better of it. “You know what, it doesn’t matter.”

  However, Ali broached the elephant that was sitting on the kitchen floor with a bowl of peanut M and Ms. “Why did I suddenly start hating you?” She lowered her gaze and folded a couple of serviettes. “I was jealous,”

  “Jealous?”

  “Yes of you and Nat. She was my best friend, ever, she got me you know? Accepted my sarcastic attitude. She was also one of the only friends my parents approved of. We were inseparable until we started playing for the first team. After that all she wanted to do was talk about you instead of hanging out.” She snorted so loudly and I nearly dropped the plate I was holding. “She even preferred being in the library doing algebra with you, and we both know how much she hated maths! So yes, I was jealous, I thought I was losing my best friend. I thought she wanted to be best friends with you,” she barked a short laugh. “I didn’t realise I couldn’t compete!”

  I chuckled too. “Ali, I wished we’d been able to talk before things got so twisted. So much time’s been wasted and cruel words said, but this is a new start for all of us. Yes?”

  “Yes. Thanks, Skye. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you wanted nothing to do with me.”

  “You were my friend once too, remember? Plus you make Cameron extremely happy and are a great mum to my niece.”

  “I’m not sure about that.” She inspected her hands which were worrying the cuff of her jumper. “Melissa is having bother at school. I don’t know… she’s only nine… when did you know?”

  “Know?” I may have mooted it as a question, but I understood what she was getting at. Holy shit, did she want my coming out story? It was more innocent than most, it didn’t involve much in the way of sexual shenanigans or kissing an older woman for one.

  But still.

  “You know, know that you liked girls?” Ali flushed a brighter red, a shade which wasn’t on any colour charts.

  “Oh. Right. Know or admit?” I asked, briefly thinking that we might be entering dangerous waters here. I’m gonna need a bigger boat.

  “Both?” she said uncertainly.

  “I probably realised pretty early on, but didn’t admit it till I was in my teens,” I said softly, “but it’s different in this day and age, Ali. Kids are able to be themselves earlier, which is a good thing, right?”

  “Right.” She looked me in the eye and grinned. “Melissa has a wee crush.” There was an expectant pause, “On Natalie,” she said raising her eyebrows.

  I giggled. “My niece can stick to Nicole or whatever her name is.” However, I grew serious. “Are you… if Melissa is? Would you be okay?” And yes this answer was every bit as important as the one Ali gave Melissa an hour ago. Was our bridge about to follow the London one from the children’s nursery rhyme?

  “She’s my daughter and is the most important thing in the world to me. Of course I would be okay. You may have forgiven me for how I treated you, Skye, but I’ll never forgive myself, especially because I’m seeing first hand how much pain words can cause. At least Melissa will have the support of her aunties, two more amazing role models she would struggle to find.”

  ***

  “So what can’t you say in front of the bairns?” Angie asked forthrightly the moment the door closed behind Nat and the kids.

  Yeah, cut straight through the bullshit why don’t you, Ange? I needed time to set myself. But I suppose ripping off the plaster will work just as well.

  “I don’t want any of you to panic. I wasn’t going to say anything, but Natalie and I thought you’d want to know. Well more Nat than me if I’m honest. I mean I only told her on Christmas Eve. It’s probably nothing, which is why I didn’t want to say anything. What’s the point of worrying, right?”

  “What are you prattling on about Skye?” Robbie said. “You’re as bad as Jamie going all around the houses when he wants the latest gadget. What was it last week Angie? Midget spinner?”

  “Fidget spinner,” Angie corrected.

  “I found a lump.” I kind of blurted out. Actually there was no kind of at all.

  And silence number three ensued. Or, to paraphrase the Dixie Chicks, was it truth number two? I’d lost count to be fair.

  “When?” Angie put her arm around me and guided me onto the sofa between her and Ali.

  “The end of November. I’m waiting for tests.”

  “I know I haven’t been the best sister in the world,” Ali said softy, “but we’re family, so from now on, stuff like this? You tell us. Okay? Good news, bad news, whatever. You. Tell. Us.”

  Tears began to well in my eyes. Not because I was upset, quite the opposite in fact. Robbie and Cam didn’t say much, I was once again in their arms, only this time Cam squeezed me as tightly as Rob. I was sure I heard a couple of ribs crack.

  Or it could have been the cracks in my heart finally healing.

  ***

  “I was thinking when I was down at the beach, we’ll have to go and register,” Nat said whilst we lay in bed that night. My ear was half cocked listening out for the kids in the living room where they were finally settling down.

  “Hmm?” I asked.

  “Register. For our wedding.” Natalie grinned.

  “Right. I guess we should get the ball rolling.” I was decidedly unenthusiastic but that didn’t seem to discourage her.

  “How about tomorrow morning after we drop the kids we’ll go and see Brian Wiggins, said registrar, then have a bite in town?”

  Like two sides of a double headed coin. I may have felt pressured, but equally what harm could it do? We were only registering, we weren’t actually getting married! “Sounds like a plan,” I said and snuggled in beside her.

  ***

  The following afternoon Nat and I showed our required proof of I.Ds, signed the necessary forms and in twenty eight days’ time, if we so wished, I could become Mrs Skye Jeffries. And yes, it was incredibly old fashioned but I intended to take her name.

  Whilst the registrar was charming, his assistant was less than helpful. Nat and I both recognised her from school and although many things in life changed for the better, some, such as narrow mindedness changed for the worst.

  Yet for once I didn’t let this bother me.

  I should update my status to ‘Skye Donaghie learned not to give a shit when faced with pure ignorance…’

  Chapter 39

  Skye

  It’s amazing what you can achieve when a weight is lifted from your shoulders. The old adage of a trouble shared is a trouble halved?

  Turns out to be utterly true.

  Everything was lighter and brighter, despite it being the middle of winter, and this winter was one of the worst since forever. Nat and I spent as much time as we could on the island; it would be the ideal place to raise kids.

  Okay get your head out of that cloud. I couldn’t entertain such a thought, not with everything else that was happening, but the notion was crawling out of my subconscious demanding more and more attention. Bit like a baby really.

  And there I go again.

  However, right now I had to prioritise, and priority number one… I glanced at the email Tess had replied to earlier that morning and couldn’t procrastinate any longer. I was due back at work in a week and still hadn’t received my appointment. It was time for plan B. I studied my to do list. It was short for the moment.

  Call my head of department at college.

  “Can I speak to Professor Adams please, yes it’s Skye Donaghie.” I kept my voice strong, which, surprisingly, I was finding easier to do. I hadn’t considered needing to make this call, but whereas before I might have balked or prevaricated, now I took the bull by the horns as it were.
r />   “Of course, Dr. Donaghie, please hold.”

  “Skye, how are you?”

  “I’m fine. Actually,” I paused, “I’m not, Paul. I need some time off.”

  “I’m sorry, Skye but-”

  “I’m waiting for a hospital appointment,” I said quietly. “For the breast clinic.” Brief. To the point. I hoped he understood because I didn’t want to explain. Yes I was stronger but it had it’s limits.

  There was silence and I heard him shuffle some papers. “I understand completely, Skye. Can Tess run your classes for the time being or should I cancel them?”

  I sighed with relief. Although I assumed Paul would be good about the situation, there was always the possibility he might be an arse about it. “There’s no need to cancel, Tess confirmed this morning. I’ve emailed her a schedule to follow for the first month of term but I should be back well before then unless-”

  Again he interrupted. “As I said, not a problem, Skye. Let me know if there’s anything I can do here and we look forward to having you back fit and well. You are a valuable member of the faculty, take care and keep in touch.” We finished the call almost as abruptly as it started.

  I didn’t hold back the tears, I allowed them to fall, before once again pulling myself together. And that’s where sharing troubles helped, because it was damned sight easier to face the world now than it had been a couple of weeks ago.

  ***

  “So have you started your guest list yet?” Sara blew on her coffee.

  “Started? Jesus, Sara, we’re only inviting about twenty people and sixteen of them live in a sixty mile radius! I could call them an hour before the ceremony and they’d still be early.”

  “Have you even set a date yet?”

  “God no,” she was like a dog with a bone. “It’ll have to wait until Natalie’s contract finishes in America.” My eyes took on a glazed appearance whenever I envisaged the wedding. Maybe it was the fact Sara chose three wedding themed movies for our night in, or it could have been because of the several big days I’d actively participated in, either as bridesmaid or as family member, but the idea of the bells and whistles associated with such an occasion filled me with dread.