Getting a Life (19 page)

'Okay. That will give me some time to get ready for him. He'll be on his own for the day times but I'll be back in time to do supper.'

'Thanks so much. It means a lot to us to be able to go away for a day or two on our own.'

'That's fine.' She thought about it. Her decision time must be getting nearer.

'Hallo you two. I was wondering what you were gossiping about out there. Come and give me a kiss.' She did so and his mother watched them fondly.

'We were talking about you going to stay with Joanne for a day or two.' He looked at her questioningly.

'Your parents want to go away for a day or two and have asked if you can come to me. I did say yes, you'll be pleased to hear.'

'Oh wow. That's terrific. When exactly?'

'On Wednesday. We're going down to the coast for a day or two.'

'I see. Why so suddenly?'

'Just a few days break,' she said, looking at Joanne, willing her not to say more. not to say anything more.

'This must be a first. Are we closing the factory or am I expected to run that?'

'Your father is willing to shut down for a couple of days. He doesn't have much on the go at present and this seemed like a good chance.'

'Tell me about it. There hasn't been much on the go for weeks,' he said miserably. 'Where is he anyway?'

'He's popped out for a bit. Won't be long. Now I'll go and see to lunch.'

'You're sure you're okay with this plan?' Mike asked her.

'I'm fine with it. You'll have to manage on your own for the day but I'll get back as soon as I can to fix dinner and so on.'

'Mum's such a fuss pot. I'd be okay on my own here but being with you at your place will be so much better.'

'Yes, well it's a no nonsense time. I shall put you in the spare room.'

'You really know how to spoil things don't you?' he teased. 'Here's me, near perfect in life and limb and you're putting me in the spare room?'

'It's how
near
you really are that bothers me. We'll see anyway.'

'I do love a bossy woman.' He paused. 'Is it because I'm too young for you?'

'What?'

'Is this why you won't give me an answer?'

'Of course not. It's just that, well, I'm not certain I even want to be married now. If I did, you'd be my first choice, I am sure of that.' His face fell and he looked terribly miserable. 'Hey, cheer up. You're coming to stay for a few days. I'll have to fetch you on Tuesday evening. Only the day after tomorrow.'

'Yes, maybe you're right. I'll cheer up instantly.' He tried so hard but each time she looked him, she caught a glimpse of his sad face.

Joanne drove to his parents house after work on Tuesday evening. His mother had prepared dinner for them.

'I thought it would save you the bother, Dear,' she told her.

'That was nice of you. We still have plenty of time to get him settled. Are you all packed and ready to go in the morning?' Joanne asked her.

'I think so. Mind you, getting my husband to settle what he wants to take is quite a chore.'

'Getting Dad to do anything different is difficult. I don't even know how you managed to persuade him to go anywhere in the first place. You are all okay with this?' he asked Joanne.

'Course I am. Looking forward to having you to stay.' She really meant it, she realised. It was going to be lovely to have him in her house, staying for a few days ... even if they didn't sleep together.

When they reached her home, he walked into the house using his crutches, and smiled.

'It's so good to be here again,' he told her. 'Come here.' He enveloped her in his arms and kissed her and then fell onto the sofa, dragging her down with him.

'Watch it, my hero. You nearly broke my legs as well. You need to be careful.'

'I've worked out exactly how we can do it.'

'Do what?'

'What do you think? It means you taking charge and lying on top of me. I've got it all planned. Haven't had much else to think about lately.' She felt a thrill as he was speaking but felt very unsure that it would actually work out.

'We'll see. I'll take your bag upstairs now and put it in the spare room.'

'It won't be needed in there. I intend to sleep with you. For the rest of this week and for as long as you'll allow me to.'

'Why do you think your parents wanted to go and look at a new house?' she asked him some while later.

'What?'

'They wanted to go and look at another house. Then to stay in the area for a while. I wondered if they said anything to you?'

'Nothing at all. I don't understand that at all. I wonder if this means ... do you think Dad could be about to retire?'

'I've no idea. Is it likely? I mean to say, he isn't that old is he?'

'Not quite. Interesting though. I say, if he isn't going to sell the business, maybe he's going to let us run it. Me and Sally, I mean.' His excitement was rekindled and he was busily talking it though for the rest of the evening.

'Look, you shouldn't get too excited about it. You still have quite some recovering to do. I may be quite wrong anyway. Suppose the house they want to look at, isn't for them at all?'

'I can't think who else it might be for. Anyway, let's forget about them for a bit. Concentrate on us. Isn't it bedtime yet?'

'It's not yet nine o'clock.'

'Wow, then it's time we need to go to bed. It'll probably take me an age to get upstairs. It's okay. I can manage by myself, given the time.' She watched as he made his way up the stairs. He had evolved a way of doing it and was soon there. 'Now you weren't serious about me going into your spare room, were you?'

'I'd thought you might prefer to have a bed to yourself.'

'No way. If I've got to sleep by myself, I'll go back to the hospital and demand a bed there.'

'Okay. If that's what you want.' She was already feeling in need of him and wanting him very much. 'Shall I help you to undress?'

'Yes please.' He stood there and let her undress him.

'Have you got pyjamas? In your bag?'

'No. I never put any in.'

'I see. Well, you'd better go to the bathroom first. Clean teeth and wash your face?' He hobbled along while she undressed. She pulled on her nightie and followed him to the bathroom. 'Managing all right?'

'Fine thanks. Just about done. I hope you're not planning to wear that thing into bed?' he asked, tugging at her nightie. She laughed.

'Not at all. I'll be with you in a mo.' She looked at herself as she brushed her teeth. Let them see how the next few days went and she would give him her decision then.

She went along to the bedroom and peeled off her nightie.

'You must tell me what to do and when to stop,' she said.

'If I lie back here, you can make love to me all night if you have the energy.' He lay back and was waiting for her. She lay beside him and began to tease him. She kissed him and felt herself warming to him. It seemed an age since he'd been this close and yet no time at all.

'I've really got you where I want you, haven't I?'

'You have indeed. I'm helpless. In your power completely.'

'Good. Just how I like you. I could leave you right now and you'd be powerless to help yourself.' All the time she was talking she was pressing herself alongside him until he was almost begging her to make love to him. She continued to tease him, seeing he was more than ready to enter her. Gently, she lifted herself over him and felt him, plunging deeply into her. She knew they weren't using protection but it seemed unimportant to her. She felt her entire being suffice with him and knew this was so right. She felt in control, totally in command. She slowed things down until he was almost crying out for her to move again. She did so and felt he was almost coming. She whispered to ask if he was ready. They climaxed together and she lay on top of him, panting. She started to move away from him but he stopped her.

'Don't move. Please don't move. It feel so wonderful to have you so close.'

'I don't want to hurt you.'

'My darling girl. I love you with all of my heart and soul.'

'I love you too. In fact, I'd even say I adored you.'

'So you will marry me?'

'I will. For as long as you'll make love with me the way we just did.'

'I can't guarantee to take the bottom layer each time,' he said with a laugh.

'You know I didn't mean that. Just promise me you'll always want me.'

'I can certainly promise that. I knew you would. This is great. Terrific on fact. When will you marry me? Tomorrow?'

'I'll need a bit longer than that. We have to tell the parents. Everyone else too. It will be ages before you're completely better anyway. No point rushing into it.'

'I don't want you to have time to change your mind.'

'I won't. I promise I won't. You are sure?'

'Of course I'm sure. Come here. Let me prove it to you.' He rolled over on top of her and with difficulty, tried to make love again. 'I'm sorry, I can't do it,' he said with a laugh.

'You really are a hopeless case aren't you?' she told him. 'Now this is how it's done.' It was all fun and lighthearted. 'And now, I must go to sleep. So must you. Are you okay?'

'Never better. Thank you so much.'

'What for?'

'Saying you love me and will marry me.'

'There's just one thing. No more escort duties.'

'Oh I thought we could both do it, as a team. You look after the erstwhile gents and I'll see to the ladies.' She gave him a punch.

'Sleep now. And no waking me up in the night. I have to work all day tomorrow.'

The next few days were a real taste of how it would be living together. Joanne did her best to leave college early and get home to cook dinner. A couple of times, Mike had managed to cook for both of them. On the Saturday, he suggested they could go out for the evening.

'What, to the disco?' she asked sarcastically.

'I was thinking a meal out might be nice. Assuming you'll drive of course.'

'Okay. Sounds a good plan. A final fling before your parents come round to claim you back.'

'I'm not planning to go back. Am I?'

'I assumed your Mum would want you back there. She has a load more mothering to do,' she teased him.

'No way. I'll go and collect my stuff but I really don't want to move back. Unless you want me to, of course.'

'I'll think about keeping you on here. Anyway, I'd be too cold in bed without you.'

'I'm glad I have a purpose in life.'

'At least one anyway.'

'And next week, I get the plaster removed. I can't wait.'

'So where do you want to go tomorrow evening?'

'You choose.'

They finally decided on the pub near the river and booked a table there. It was pretty busy but they had a good table and enjoyed their meal. Partway through, he fiddled in his pocket and produced a small box.

'I know you said you'd marry me, but I wanted you to have this.' He handed it over to her. She opened it and saw a ring inside. It was a lovely, simple diamond set in a band of platinum.

'Oh Mike, it's gorgeous.'

You really do like it don't you? It belonged to my grandmother. If you prefer something new, I can buy you one when I'm better.' He looked somewhat worried.

'It's perfect. Thank you.'

There was a ripple of applause from the neighbouring tables. They both looked up and grinned.

'Thank you,' she said happily.

By the time they had finished their meal and accepted congratulations from everyone, it was getting quite late. They'd been given champagne by the restaurant owners and had only drunk a glass each.

'Take the rest of the bottle and enjoy it at home,' the Head Waiter had told them.

'That was quite an evening,' she said when they were back. 'Unexpected and lovely.'

They finished the champagne.

'Your parents are due back tomorrow. Are we going to tell them our news?'

'I don't see why not. And your parents? They need to be told too.'

'Of course. I'll call them tomorrow. I do love you,' she told him.

When his parents returned home, they phoned to ask how he was.

'So what have you two been doing?' he asked them.

'We wondered if we might come over to collect you?' his mother asked.

'Come over by all means. But I'm very happily ensconced here for a while longer.'

They arrived a while later and came inside.

'You do look quite well, actually,' his mother told him.

'Good nursing. Mind you, it's largely self nursing. She isn't the best of people to do that.' Jo slapped him on the shoulder. 'See what I mean?'

'Would you like some coffee? Or something to eat?' she invited.

'We need to talk to you both about the future,' Mr Thomas told them.

'Fire away then,' Mike told him.

'We've put an offer in for a house. It's a smaller one than our place and very much less money.' 'Goodness. That's quite a shock to anyone's system.'

'We're thinking of moving as soon as our place is sold. It does leave you without a home though.'

'I don't think that's going to be a problem, is it Darling?'

'Not really.'

'Jo's finally agreed to marry me. I'll be moving here fairly soon. Permanently I mean.'

'That's terrific. I'm so pleased for you both. Congratulations.'

Everyone spent the next few minutes hugging and kissing each other.

'So when do you plan to get married?'

'As soon as possible.'

'There's no real hurry,' they both said at exactly the same moment. They laughed again.

'Something we need to work on,' Jo told them.

'And the factory?' Mike was interested to hear his plans. 'What happens to that?'

'We thought you and Sally could take that on. You keep saying what you want to be done with it. Well, this is your chance. I took out a policy many years ago and it's now matured. Enough for us to live on at least. I can always find something to do with my time.'

'Does Sally know about all of this?'

'Not yet. But I know how you two have been going on about it.'

'That's terrific, Dad. Thanks so much. Oh wow. There are so many things I wanted to do. So many new ideas. I'll be able to do it all now.'