When she lifted up and looked into his eyes, he said, ‘Prove it.’
So she did.
Twice.
Eventually, they rolled out of bed. Mitch took over the workings of the barbeque and cooked them bacon and eggs while Matilda organised the coffee and toast.
They ate breakfast together on the back verandah amidst the morning glow of warm sunshine.
To finally have her feelings reciprocated was blissful and from Mitch’s bright eyes to the lazy smile on his face, as they chatted and ate their breakfast, he obviously felt the same.
Matilda’s phone buzzed, interrupting her second coffee of the morning. The screen flashed with Ellie’s name.
‘It’s Ellie. She’ll be checking up on me,’ she said to Mitch. She answered. ‘Hi, Ellie.’
‘Good morning. How are you?’
‘I’m doing great.’
Evident relief was in Ellie’s sigh. ‘Thank goodness. When you left last night, I was worried about you. You seemed so down.’
‘I’m fine this morning.’
‘I’m glad.’
Mitch’s mobile rang then. ‘Sam,’ he mouthed once checking the screen, but he didn’t answer it.
‘Is Mitch there?’ Ellie asked.
‘Why is that?’
Ellie giggled. ‘Because Sam just went over to visit him and he wasn’t home. And now he’s right beside me ringing Mitch’s number, and I can hear Mitch’s ringtone in the back of this call.’
Matilda grinned. ‘Fine. Yes. Mitch is here.’
Mitch’s phone stopped ringing.
‘Ooooh, I see what’s happening now,’ Ellie cooed. ‘He spent the night?’
‘It’s about bloody time,’ came Sam’s booming voice in the background.
‘Okay, Ellie, thank you so much for checking up on me, but I’m going to go now.’
Ellie giggled. ‘Of course. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your company. Have a good morning if you haven’t already.’
Matilda hung up and rested the phone back on the table. ‘I guess the secret is out.’
Mitch shook his head, a bemused grin on his face. ‘You know they purposefully did that to see if I was here.’
She nodded. ‘I figured as much.’
‘It doesn’t bother you?’ he asked, a brow arched.
‘Nope. They’d find out eventually, I guess.’ Her stomach tightened then as she looked at him. Did this public accountability worry him—afraid of how it would make him look again if he ran? ‘Does it bother you?’
‘Not at all.’
Relief filled her, though the torment of possible rejection didn’t quite leave her body.
After breakfast, Matilda walked Mitch to his car, which was parked out the front of her house, and they lingered together near his driver’s side door.
‘What’s up?’ he asked.
She shook her head, annoyed that a subtle anxiety was present within her. Perhaps it was a result of the news she saw earlier about her ex, perhaps it was because Mitch had let her down too many times already. ‘I don’t doubt your feelings for me, Mitch, but I think I’m still scared you will.’
He closed his eyes for a moment and frowned. ‘I wish I could take back the way I acted in the past, so you didn’t have to feel this way. But I can’t. I was still working through it all. And I think it’s not going to end here. There will still be reactions that pop up at certain times that I can’t control, and I’ll manage that as best I can when it arises. But I have help now—a professional.’
She could understand that. She never once expected that getting into a relationship with a widower would be easy. ‘I know that. But please, don’t push me away when it happens. I get it if you need space or time alone, but don’t make it permanent.’
His sigh was full of remorse. ‘I won’t.’
She managed a smile.
His hands floated to her face, where he gently cupped her with his palms. ‘You make me happy, Matilda.’
Her smile grew more genuine.
‘I had a really great night. And morning,’ he said with a cheeky grin.
‘So did I.’
‘I can’t make promises about the future. I wish I could, but I do know that I want you in my life. I know that without a doubt.’
She nodded. ‘I’m glad to hear that.’
He leant in and kissed her, his lips lingering against hers for a long moment. ‘I’ll call you later tonight. But otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow at work.’ He inched closer again and kissed her. ‘I really do love you, Mati.’
When he drew back and locked his eyes with her, she whispered, ‘I love you too.’
She watched him drive away, buzzing that she was finally able to speak the words of her heart. Without hesitation or doubt, she did love him, but a niggling hesitation still lingered despite his reassurances.
Later that afternoon on her way home from grocery shopping, a text message came through from Mitch. When she arrived back at her house and parked, she read it.
MITCH: How do you feel about riding with me to work tomorrow? And by riding with me to work, I mean spending the night at my house tonight.
Matilda grinned as she read that.
MATILDA: So pack my pyjamas is what you’re saying?
MITCH: Unless you prefer sleeping naked. I know what I’d rather.
MATILDA: What time does this pyjama party start?
MITCH: The sooner the better.
When she arrived at his house around six that evening, she was nervous that for Mitch to be affectionate with her in the home he shared with Rachel would prove too much for him again.
But the moment he opened the front door, he took her hand, dragged her inside and kissed her until her knees buckled beneath her.
The second Sophie was asleep that night, Mitch led her to his bed, undressed her and made love with her until they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Over the next fortnight, they alternated between their respective houses. When he spent the evening at her home, he brought Sophie with him but didn’t sleep over. On those nights, she craved his touch so much she ached.
When she stayed with him at his house, the moment Sophie was tucked away snug in her bed, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. One evening, they didn’t even make it through dishing out dessert before he bent her over the kitchen bench.
But what she loved most on the days she stayed with him was waking beside his big warm body the next morning.
Mitch was smiling more at work. To be fair, so was she. With the stress from the last couple of months now gone, it was a relief that Mitch had moved beyond his hesitations.
The niggling reservations she held slowly faded as Mitch proved time and time again that he was emotionally ready for a relationship—for love. The connection between them over the last couple of weeks had deepened.
Friday afternoon, she sat in her office when Mitch and his brothers arrived back from a full day spent in the vineyards. Tomorrow, and for the next week and a half, the vineyard office would be closed for the holidays.
His footsteps echoed along the hall, past his office to hers and he came inside. No hello or how are you. Only a look on his face that expressed urgency.
He came directly to her where she sat at her desk, leaned down as he slanted her chin upwards with his finger until their lips met in a fervent kiss.
‘I missed you all day long.’ His words were whispered against her mouth before he kissed her again.
‘What have I said about office shenanigans?’ came Sam’s taunting voice, then his fading footsteps as he kept on by.
But Mitch didn’t miss a beat and kept on kissing her. Anyone would think that she hadn’t made love to him last night, then again this morning before the summer sun had risen. Not that she minded.
After a long time, Mitch drew away from her and smiled. ‘Good afternoon.’
‘Hello to you.’
He grinned wider as he took a seat in the spare chair opposite her desk. ‘I�
��ve got that Friday-before-holidays buzz happening.’
She too shared the same thrill of emotion.
‘So, Christmas,’ he said. ‘I was thinking.’
She sat up straighter. Christmas had been on her mind and, as of yet, Mitch had not mentioned it. It would be a difficult day for him; she knew that. So she didn’t once bring it up and allowed him to approach it in his own time.
If he wished to spend some of the day with her, then fine. But if he didn’t, she’d be okay with that too—she had her family to keep her company.
‘Yes,’ she prompted.
‘I know this is your first year back and you probably want to spend the day with your family, but I want to put it out there that I would love if you spent the day with me and Soph. We can … time share. One part of the day with your family and one part of the day with mine.’
She smiled. ‘I’d like that.’
‘I’d love you to be with me when we wake Christmas morning. But if you’ve planned something else …’
She smiled again. Here she was thinking he had reservations spending the day with her, when, all along, he presumed she had.
The last of her doubts that this relationship had any potential to work long-term fluttered away. ‘I’d love to.’
His grin matched her own as he stood from his seat and came to her again. ‘Have I told you I love you today?’
A blush spread across her face and a buoyancy filled her mind. He made her so happy. ‘I don’t recall …’
He chuckled as his face inched closer, his eyes locked on her gaze. ‘I love you, Mati, so very much.’ All their history, every time he uttered those words to her, stuttered like a beautiful movie reel through her mind.
‘I love you,’ she managed just before his lips met hers.
Chapter 24
Christmas Day was one of those days where Mitch missed the people that were no longer here the most.
Waking that morning, the ache in his heart was present in force despite beautiful Matilda’s warm body sleeping soundly beside him.
The sun had barely risen, chasing away his bedroom’s shadows. The air conditioner was running thanks to the summer heat that had moved in in force over the last few days.
Sophie’s gibberish as she welcomed the new day was heard through the baby monitor that sat on his bedside table. He had turned the volume down yet couldn’t do away with its presence yet.
He leant over and kissed Matilda’s cheek, all the while grief moved through his body like fire. Today would be one of those days where he wouldn’t be able to control the emotions that arose.
His life would be filled with these, and it would be a matter of juggling.
Since Sophie was born, he had been doing that anyway—trying to make special days happy for her despite the deep sadness that accompanied them. He didn’t have to let his grieving take away from what the day still represented.
Matilda stirred from her sleep and smiled. ‘Merry Christmas,’ she whispered, eyes still not quite open.
‘Merry Christmas, gorgeous. Sophie’s up, so I’ll go in and get her changed. I’ll meet you out in the living room?’
She nodded, reaching for his face and pulling him in again for a kiss. ‘I know today will be hard for you. And that’s okay; you don’t have to hide it. I’m here for you.’
Emotion rushed in his chest—relief, but mostly love. ‘Thank you. That means so much to me right now.’
He rolled out of bed. He didn’t bother with a t-shirt in this heat, and already had a pair of shorts on from when Sophie had woken the first of three times during the night. Maybe somewhere in her subconscious, she knew the enormity of this day too and was restless.
Sophie was standing at the end of the cot when he went into her room. She was all bleary eyed, but a huge smile filled her face.
‘Good morning, beautiful girl. Merry Christmas,’ he said hoisting her up into his arms. ‘Oh, and lovely, you have your usual morning present for me.’
He changed her nappy and her stomach rumbled with its hollowness the whole time. It would be best to give Sophie her breakfast first before attempting opening presents.
Mitch made some Weet-Bix with warm milk and let her feed herself at her highchair in the kitchen while he organised coffees for the adults.
When Matilda joined him, she kissed Sophie’s cheek, avoiding the mar of Weet-Bix coating it. ‘Merry Christmas, Sophie.’
She went to Mitch, reached up onto tiptoes and kissed his mouth. ‘Good morning again.’
He smiled, handed her a freshly made coffee.
She pointed to it. ‘This right here is the best Christmas present.’
He chuckled, knowing Sophie’s sleeping schedule, or lack thereof, was rough on them both especially after the late night they already had. Lesson after lesson should have taught him that he would be punished severely for thinking he could have a late night and get away with it.
After a bath, he dressed Sophie into a new Christmas outfit Rachel’s parents had bought for her—little red shorts and matching red singlet with a cartoon Rudolf printed on the front. He brushed her hair and slid a red and green braided headband on.
‘Oh, look at you,’ Matilda said when she strolled out to the living room with him. ‘You are so Christmassy with your little outfit.’
Sophie grinned, a little extra spring in her step.
‘Present time,’ Mitch said.
He had bought and wrapped way too many presents. That shock of understanding hit him after he and Matilda had laid them out under the tree late last night.
He sat on the carpet beside the tree. The modest plastic tree, one he and Rachel had set up many times over the years, was dusted off and decorated by himself and Sophie when he came back from Melbourne after the launch.
As it stood, there were more Christmas baubles broken, lost under the furniture or dragged to other parts of the house including the bath, his car and the kitchen than there was left on the tree.
Last year Christmas was a write-off. This year, though, Sophie was almost old enough to understand that it was special.
Sophie sat beside him, her legs out in front of her. ‘What dat?’ she asked, pointing to the presents.
‘Santa has brought them here for you. Aren’t you a lucky girl?’
He handed her the first of her presents—a new book about a unicorn. Livvy’s fascination had rubbed off on Sophie. ‘U-corn,’ she screeched when she ripped off the paper. Her grin was wide.
‘Can I have a look, Sophie?’ Matilda asked.
Sophie held up the book, then brought it quickly close to her chest. ‘My U-corn.’
Mitch threw a taunting glance at Matilda. ‘See, the flower incident is still strong.’
Matilda laughed. ‘Oh please. I’m allowed one rookie mistake. Two if we include the Peppa toy incident.’
‘Peppa?’ Sophie asked, eyes wide.
‘Maybe you can give her your present next. Seeing as we’re on that subject,’ he suggested.
Matilda placed her coffee on the table and crawled across the carpet to the tree. She fished through the presents for hers, wrapped in red and green paper and decorated with a big bow, and handed it to Sophie. ‘Merry Christmas, Soph.’
Sophie looked up at Matilda with big wide eyes as though astounded that she would be getting a chance to open another present. Mitch helped her tear at the paper until a series of Peppa characters were revealed.
‘Peppa Pig,’ Sophie squealed, excitement shaping her features.
‘Best Christmas ever,’ Mitch said.
Matilda laughed. ‘I love this. It’s so much more fun when children are around.’
Mitch nodded. ‘Definitely.’
He reached for another present—a small box wrapped in silver paper with white bells and a sheer white ribbon. He passed it to Matilda and kissed her cheek. ‘Merry Christmas.’
The grin she gave him had his stomach flipping like a schoolboy’s.
After a few eager rips, she revealed t
he felt box beneath. She looked quickly at him, anticipation rich in her features, before opening the lid. Her lips formed the perfect O shape as her hand fluttered to her heart. ‘Oh my goodness, Mitch, it’s stunning.’
She lifted the white and yellow gold bangle out and inspected it closer to her eye before she slipped it onto her wrist. ‘I love it so much.’ She got onto her hands and knees, crawled the small space between them and kissed his lips. ‘Thank you.’
His heart was warming to see her genuine reaction. ‘My pleasure.’
‘My turn,’ she said eagerly, pulling out a decent sized present from under the tree.
She pushed it along the carpet towards him. ‘For you. Merry Christmas.’
He smiled like a boy, that unceasing excitement brewing in his stomach, an excitement he had felt every Christmas his memory would allow.
Except for last year. Last year he felt nothing but pain.
With eager motions, he ripped the paper off. Inside was a box containing a high-quality speaker system.
His eyes widened, lips curled upwards. ‘Wow! Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ she said with a broad grin.
Sophie was gibbering beside him as she looked through her unicorn book, Peppa perched under one arm as though she couldn’t dare let go.
Mitch gave Sophie a few more of her presents, then finally called on his emotional fortitude to give her the one he bought for her on Rachel’s behalf.
He handed her the small present and looked Sophie in the eye. ‘This present is from Mummy.’
Sophie lifted the present in the air and shook it. ‘Mummy present. For me.’
He nodded and helped her unwrap it, unable to meet Matilda’s gaze, though he could sense her focus on him.
Inside the paper was a little red felt box and inside the box was a tiny gold chain. He lifted it out and clipped it onto Sophie’s wrist.
‘Looks beautiful, Sophie,’ Matilda said.
Mitch finally looked at her. Matilda’s smile was warm, compassionate. He couldn’t muster a smile back at the moment, his heart was too heavy.
He had organised the bracelet a few months ago and had the gold plate engraved: For Sophie. Love from Mum. ‘17.
Sweet From the Vine Page 24