There was another girl he was keeping his eye on too, Lucy. She wasn’t in the same league as Holly, she was almost a different sport if the truth be told but she looked like she might be good enough to make it into his collection. An average looking girl but she had some issues at home which were exactly what Jaz liked to hear. Foster kids, angry stepdads, mums with the occasional black eye or maybe an uncle who liked her sitting on his lap. Lucy had the forlornness that signalled a trouble teen in the making, not a basket case, just a girl needing an older hand to help her along. If she lost a bit of puppy fat Jaz may well just offer her that hand and welcome her into womanhood. Gently, gently catchy monkey and the same goes for catching pussy.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The harbour was calm, the gentle rocking not even enough to threaten a coffee spill on the teak table. Emma was wrapped in Dan’s dressing gown, it was fluffy and soft and buried her but she felt cosy and safe. Dan had slipped on a pair of shorts.
‘What do you want to do today?’ Dan said.
‘I don’t know, nothing really. What about you?’ Emma said.
‘I’m not fussed, we can chill here or go out on the boat or go for a walk around the town. It’s up to you.’
‘I don’t mind, maybe later go out for a walk around if you want?’ Emma said.
‘Sounds good to me, gives us chance to have another nap.’ Dan smiled as he sipped his coffee.
‘Is that what they are calling it nowadays?’
‘I think so yeah, we can have a nap, a shower and then maybe go and get some lunch. They do nice fish and chips in a place just around the corner.’ Dan said smiling.
‘I don’t eat fish though.’
‘What even fish and chips fish?’ Dan asked.
‘Yeah it’s still fish, just with chips.’
‘I guess so. They do sausages and stuff but the fish really is lovely.’ Dan said remembering the last time he ate there.
‘Not if you don’t like fish though.’ Emma said.
‘True but it’s really good fish.’
‘I don’t mind having just the chips with some peas and ketchup, that’s lush.’ Emma said licking her lips.
Dan winced. ‘You have the ketchup with the peas?’
‘Yeah. Mixed in its gorgeous.’ Emma said.
‘That’s honestly the worse thing I’ve ever heard. You won’t eat fish but you mix ketchup in with your peas?’
‘Yeah you should try it.’ Emma said nodding her head.
‘That’s the food equivalent of a war crime that is. It’s a taste genocide. I’m lost for words.’ Dan had a look of disgust on his face as he spoke.
‘Oh, come on, you won’t try that but you eat fish that’s been swimming in sewerage and eating puke? That’s vile.’
‘Well when you describe it like that fish doesn’t sound so good but it’s healthy and tasty.’ Dan said.
‘So’s peas and ketchup. It’s two of your five a day.’
Dan laughed. ‘It’s a good job you’re cute you know.’
‘Cute enough to try peas and ketchup?’ Emma asked raising her eyebrows.
‘God no. That’s the thing they will bring out in room one oh one.’
‘Room what?’ Emma asked.
‘Room one oh one. From Nineteen Eighty-Four.’
‘You know you are just talking numbers?’ Emma asked shaking her head.
‘Nineteen Eighty-Four. It’s a book. Famous book about governments and stuff.’
‘Never heard of it.’ Emma said.
‘You’re kidding me?’ Dan asked disbelievingly.
‘Nope.’ Emma said.
‘I’m going to buy you the book. You can read it then.’
‘It doesn’t sound like something I’d like. Politics isn’t my thing at all.’ Emma said.
‘Well it’s a classic, I’m buying you it.’
‘Ok, well thanks.’ Emma said taking another sip of her coffee, she held the mug in two hands as she drank.
‘So anyway, are we decided on the plan for today?’ Dan asked.
‘I think so. I’m not really bothered as long as I’m with you.’ Emma said. ‘I love spending time with you.’
‘I love you too.’ Dan said.
Emma paused and lowered the coffee. ‘What?
‘I mean. I love spending time with you.’ Dan said.
‘Ahh ok, makes more sense.’ Emma said. Wishing he hadn’t changed what he said but it was too early and he would probably never say it. The little romantic girl inside her had given up on the prince promised by Disney. Now she was happy if he had good breath, knew where her button was and wasn’t too much of a prick.
A thin fog of silence settled between them. It lasted seconds but felt like minutes. Emma sipped her coffee wishing he hadn’t made the slip and raised her hopes for the briefest of seconds. Her hopes had sparkled like a child’s bubble on the wind but had popped in her face splashing soap in her eyes.
‘Actually Emma.’ Dan paused. ‘It’s more than spending time with you. I do love you. I’ve never said that before to anyone, but I really do love you. I’m sure of it. I just hadn’t thought about it until now.’
‘Oh, ok. I don’t know what to say.’ Emma’s eyes widened as she lowered the coffee again. ‘Do you mean it?’ She asked as the bubble came closer again.
‘Yes. Yes, I do.’ Dan said.
‘Good. I love you too. I just didn’t think you felt like this.’ Emma stood and walked towards Dan.
‘I didn’t know until now, I knew I liked you but I just realised. By accident really.’
Emma stood in front of Dan, she reached out her hands and he lifted his to hold hers. They looked at each other and smiled.
‘How about that nap?’ Emma said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
It was dark. The M69 was almost empty. There were no street lights and the only feeling of speed came from the cat’s eyes flashing past and the Audi’s head up display. His mind was clear, it came from running or driving and both were when he did most of his thinking. Driving was easier to think because his body made no demands on him. His brain could slip into autopilot and was free to wander.
Tonight, he was thinking about Emma. About how he loved her but probably wouldn’t have told her without his Freudian slip. Once it was said he only needed a few moments to admit it was true but without it he may never have said it.
He felt silly now. It was almost laughable how he hadn’t admitted it to himself when deep down he knew. Admitting it felt like when a singer came out as gay and everyone looked back at their work and could see it all along. He loved her and he had for some time. He felt like he had loved before but his feelings for Emma made them all look like schoolboy crushes.
One day he would tell her how he loved to watch her sleep and had from their third night together. As she drifted away her breathing changed, it softened until it became a gentle snore. It would embarrass her but he smiled when he pictured her there, totally relaxed and at ease with him. To him her light snore sounded like a kitten purring. Comfortable and pleased to be in bed with him. It stroked her ego to have her feel like that with him after what she had been through. Dan knew it must be hard for a girl to feel safe with a man when she’s felt what a man can do. The thought of classing whoever did it as a man disgusted Dan but he had no other way to think of him. He’d done what he did and would always creep back into Dan’s mind.
Dan pushed him away and pictured how she would push her tongue behind her teeth just a little when she smiled in a certain way. It wasn’t every smile. She would never do it for a photograph but when she felt cheeky and relaxed he would see it. Just a little glimpse of tongue between her teeth and he knew she was having fun.
He smiled. The fact that he needed to admit he loved her when the signs were there all along. What man finds a girl’s snoring endearing and finds a little bit of visible tongue cute. She was beautiful and he loved her. Simple now he had said it.
She was sexy in a way he’d never experience
d before. He’d had some attractive partners, he’d had a good innings as an old friend would say and he’d been with girls ranging from students with him at university to bored housewives looking to live out the fantasy they’d just read about while their husband watched the football. He’d experienced everything from shy to demanding. She was different though. When he was with her a large amount of her sexiness came from the point when she changed from shy to demanding. He always instigated their love making and she always responded. To begin with she would be slow but then her passion would build and she would move with him. It felt like she opened up to him mentally as well as physically.
Once they were both satisfied they would talk and laugh and sometimes lie in silence. He spent a lot of time alone and had grown used to silence. When he was with people they often felt the need to break the silence. Talk about something just to fill the nothingness. It frustrated him when he wanted to be quiet and people forced him to respond. He didn’t want to be rude but when he felt like he had to respond it became tiring. Emma seemed to understand. They could enjoy silence together and when one of them spoke it never felt like they were ruining it for the other person.
One little slip and three little words. Such simple things had caused him to accept what he already knew. He had spent most of his life avoiding emotions and self-reflection because he often didn’t like what he saw. Since Emma came into his life he felt little shame when looking into the mirror. His only regret was being unable to fix her past. If he could give her one thing that’s what it would be. To fix her so she could feel as beautiful as he knew she was.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Lesser Fossbourne was busy, not busy in the way London or Birmingham would be but busy for a warm June day in a small village in the New Forest. People walked along the main street, some stopping to look in the shop windows while some just walked from shop to shop as if ticking them off a list.
The main street, though busy, still had a relaxed atmosphere. There was no rushing or pushing, people just managed to flow around each other like a stream around a stone.
‘Hey look at that.’ Emma said pointing down the road.
An old car, a small version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang puttered along the road. Its tall skinny tyres and old suspension making the driver bounce up and down like a horse rider. He wore a tweed flat cap which struggled to stay on over the bumps.
‘That’s cool, I love it.’ Emma said.
‘That’d be no good for you, your boobs would fly all over the place’
She laughed ‘Sports bras have come a long way you know, I’d be fine.’
‘I don’t know, it’s pretty bouncy.’ He said smiling as the car puttered up the road.
‘It’s nice here isn't it?’ She said, more of a statement than a question.
‘It is, I think it’s one of my favourite places.’ He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.
‘It’s just like something from a picture rather than real life, it’s gorgeous.’
‘I know. Are you ready for some lunch?’ Dan asked.
‘I think so yes, what is there?’
‘I don’t know, there’s a few restaurants. Shall we go and have a look around?’ Dan asked.
‘Yeah, if you like but it’s my treat for your birthday since you wouldn’t let me pay for the room.’
They stood and Dan reached down to hold Emma’s hand, she looked at him and smiled. They walked left from the bench, following the path under the tree. Later in the year the ground would be covered in leaves and whatever conkers hadn’t been collected by children. They walked on, along the sun dappled path, the village green to their right, cottages to their left. The whole village was constructed entirely of the same red brick giving it a uniform feeling despite each building looking like it had been built wherever the builder felt like that day.
‘How about that place?’ Dan said pointing across the street to The Swan Hotel. The building stood back from the street surrounded outside by tables full of people eating and drinking.
‘Looks good’ Emma said. ‘Busy though.’
There was little traffic so they didn’t have to wait to cross the road. As they got closer the sounds of happy people grew louder. There were conversations and the sounds of cutlery on crockery as people ate. They couldn’t see any free tables but most people would be sitting outside, enjoying the sun and a glass of wine. Dan led the way between the cast iron flower pots marking the path between the tables and leading to the dark green entrance. The Swan had the look of a traditional country pub, welcoming and warm in the winter while in the summer the draw of cold drinks would overpower all but the strictest teetotal.
The menu hung next to the door. A sheet of ivory paper within a green wood and glass frame. They stood reading the offerings, having to step aside often to let the waiting staff past.
‘Anything you fancy?’ Dan asked
Emma turned to look at him ‘Not really, it all looks good but I was just fancying pasta or something.’
‘We can walk along and see what we find if you like?’ Dan asked. ‘I hear there’s a good seafood restaurant somewhere.’
‘I don’t like. Oh, piss off you. You nearly had me then.’
‘Dan laughed. ‘There’s no rush. I’m not starving.’
‘I’m a pain though, aren’t I? Sorry babe.’
‘Definitely but not about food.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The satnav announced their arrival so Dan steered the Audi off the road, the cattle grid buzzed through the car as he steered between two brick gate posts each stood taller than him and were topped with a pointed concrete capstone. The left-hand post had a slate sign with ‘The Old Coach House’ written in italic gold lettering while the right-hand post had the same style of sign but with the number ‘38’. The tyres crunched on gravel as they entered the drive way.
‘The Old Coach House, where are we?’ Emma asked.
‘The Old Coach House. That’s what the sign says anyway.’ Dan said.
‘You know what I mean, where is The Old Coach House smart arse.’ Emma said.
‘Well I am guessing that if I follow this drive a little further, it’ll be at the end.’
‘You’re going to be a tit and not tell me, aren’t you?’ Emma asked.
‘That would spoil the surprise. You’ll just have to wait a few minutes.’
Emma folded her arms across her body and looked out of the passenger side window, a smile formed in the corner of her mouth before she noticed and forced her lips into a pout. She continued to look out of the window as the car slowly drove forwards.
The drive was lined on either side by mature trees, mostly oaks older than some countries with strong thick trunks but there were also Chestnut and others Dan couldn’t name. The trees were evenly spaced out along the length of the drive but the branches formed a veranda over the road making it almost like driving through a tunnel. Patches of gold danced across the car as sunlight found its way through the foliage and morphed like pools of liquid as the wind gently moved the branches.
Dan followed as the drive arced in a long lazy curve, it seemed to go on for ever as he crawled along at walking pace but he knew the slow drive would frustrate Emma so he delayed letting her see where they were heading. The drive straightened out and the length of the tunnel focused their eyes on a white door beneath a gable roofed brick-built porch, ivy grew up both sides until it met above the door.
‘Oh wow. Is that where we’re staying?’ Emma asked.
‘I don’t know, we need to collect the keys first.’ Dan said
‘Ahh, this looks too big for just us’ Emma said as they left the shelter of the oak tunnel and arrived at an open courtyard.
The Old Coach House hadn’t seen a coach for over two hundred years and stood proudly overlooking the gravel courtyard. The building was a simple rectangular shape, the kind a child would draw when asked to draw a house. There were two white framed windows on each floor to the l
eft of the polished green door. To the right of the house were two matching brick outbuildings which looked like they had originally been stables.
‘This is lovely.’ Emma said.
‘It is, hopefully its nice inside too.’ Dan said pressing the engine stop button. ‘Let me just go and grab the keys.’
Dan stepped out of the car, his shoes crunching on gravel as he walked across to the large flagstone path to the front door. Three short steps made of the same stone as the path, he reached the door and looked for the bell. He found it, a large brass dome with a small button in the centre, he pressed it and stepped back from the door.
The door opened to a man in his early seventies, he wore a three-piece tweed suit and brown brogue wingtips. He looked every bit the country gentleman as he extended his hand in greeting.
‘Hello, very nice to meet you. I'm James.’ He spoke formally.
‘Hi, I'm Dan. We booked online.’
‘Well why don’t you come inside so I can show you around and then I will get out of your way.’ James stepped back into the hallway, opening the door further as he did.
Dan followed inside, wiping his feet on the mat before stepping onto the dark parquet flooring. The hall stretched away in front of him, leading to an oak door opening into the kitchen which had a large farmhouse style table. The walls were painted green with deep white skirting to the left was another two oak doors leading to rooms, to the right a large white wooden staircase lead upstairs. It looked perfect for sliding down although a fall onto the steps looked to be unforgiving even with carpet in the centre of the steps held in position with antique brass runner rods.
‘The bedrooms are upstairs. The heating is turned down at the moment but I will show you the controls and we have a wood burner in the front room and master bedroom.’ James pointed to the first door in the hall. ‘There is wood and coal with the burner and if you need more just call and I will send some over.’
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