Wags To Riches (19 page)

After a lovely meal of fish, roasted vegetables and a small slice of exquisite chocolate cheesecake, which I know I shouldn’t have, but that’s it now for a while - I sit and sip my glass of wine.  I feel a bit better about that newspaper article because of what Adam said, but I’m a bit angry at myself for having to ask him about it in the first place.  Why did I even read that stupid paper?  “I’m sorry about earlier Adam” I say.

“What about it?”

“Well – asking you about your previous girlfriends and about that article.  It must have sounded like I don’t trust you or something” I say, tracing a circle on the table cloth with my finger and not looking at him as I speak, “It was just that stupid article...”

“Gail – don’t read them.  It’s all rubbish!” Adam says gently.  “Forget about it – I have”.

“Well, thank you for going to all this effort with dinner and everything Adam” I say, “I feel really bad – I’ve been out shopping all day, spending your money and then you come back and cook for me as well!”

Adam smiles at me.  “I’m just glad you are here with me Gail,” he says, sitting back in his chair.  I smile back at him.  He’s wearing dark jeans and a black, slim fitting shirt with the first three buttons undone and looks so completely gorgeous I can’t take my eyes off him.  I can’t believe that he is going out with me.  He is almost
too
good looking.
 
The candles flicker as Adam leans forward to pick up the wine bottle.  “More wine Gail?” he asks. 

“Yes please” I say and Adam tops up my glass.  “It’s great having all that space for clothes upstairs” I continue, “I was having trouble trying to decide where to put everything I’d bought!”

“Well I think a few more shopping trips will have that wardrobe filled up nicely with all your things” Adam says, taking a sip of wine. 

“Oh definitely” I reply grinning, “I like the sound of that!”  I look round at the beautiful dining room.  It’s so nice in here.  “This whole house is so lovely” I remark, “It’s just so nice!”

“Why don’t you just move in and live with me?” Adam says suddenly, looking at me intently.

“What?” I say, my heart thumping.

“I was thinking about it while I was driving home today.  Why don’t you just live here with me?”

“Are you serious?” I ask.

Adam reaches across the table for my hand and holds it tightly.  “Definitely.  I want you here with me Gail” he says firmly.

I can feel my insides melting.  “Really?” I ask softly, unable to keep the grin off my face.

“Yes!” Adam says grinning.  “You belong here with me.  Now what do you say?”

I look at him.  I don’t know quite what to say to be honest.

“Look – I know we’ve not been going out for very long” Adam admits, “but I know how I feel” and presses my hand to his lips.  “What do you think?”

I just look at him for a moment, thinking.  Living with Adam!  But I love my little house – it’s true - and I worked really hard to save up the deposit for it...but the thought of living here, in this beautiful house, with this gorgeous man - my God – a lot of girls would kill to be in the position I’m in right now! 

  “Sorry – I’m rushing you aren’t I?” Adam says and shakes his head.  “That’s my trouble – I get something in my head and I get totally carried away!”

“No Adam – I’m just surprised that’s all” I say, smiling at him.  “It is quite a big step” I say, “But” – I look at him and smile, “Why not?”  It feels like it’s the right thing to do.  “I’d love to move in and live with you” I say.

Adam’s face breaks into a huge smile.  “Really?  You’re sure?” he asks.

“Yes” I say firmly, beaming at him. 

“That’s fantastic Gail!” Adam says smiling.  “We are going to have such a great time! In fact - I’m going to open some champagne to celebrate!  Come and choose a bottle!”  And he leads me by the hand into the kitchen, a huge smile on his face.  I can’t help patting one of the walls as I go past.  Oh my God!  I’m going to be living here – this is going to be my wall!  This house is going to be my home!

  I don’t know what on earth my Mum is going to say.  She’s not even met him yet!  Oh well.

****

“So – where did you send the three piece suite then Gail?”  Alex asks, straightening up from packing a box. 

“I donated it to the charity shop” I reply, “They came and fetched it on Thursday.”  It’s been three weeks since I decided to move in with Adam and there’s been so much to sort out.  I didn’t realise how much there would be to pack.  You don’t think you’ve got that much stuff until you try getting it all into boxes.

“Oh that’s good” Alex says, “It’s good that someone else will benefit.  It’s better than taking it to the tip isn’t it?”

“Oh definitely” I say, “I don’t think we’d be able to fit it on the top of Adam’s Bentley anyway” I say and laugh. 

“Well – quite” Alex replies smiling.  “I meant to ask you actually – have your Mum and Dad met him yet?” 

“No, not yet.  I’ve told them all about him though,” I reply as I carry a box into the hall.  “My mum’s so excited at the thought of meeting him -she’s insisting we go round the minute they get back from their holiday!”

Alex laughs.  “I take it Adam is playing today as well” she says, “seeing as its Saturday”.

“You got it” I say, putting the box down with relief.  “It’s moving day and he’s got a crucial away game!  I haven’t seen him much actually as he has been either training or in the gym every hour God sends.  Still, at least I’ll see him tonight”.  I look at Alex and smile.  “At least you’re here” I say, “Thanks a lot for helping me Alex – I really appreciate it”.

“Oh don’t mention it” Alex replies, “I’m only helping because I want to see what his house is like!”

“You’re as bad as Brenda!”  I say as I look round at all the stuff yet to pack and sigh.  “At least Sharon and Gina should be here soon” I say.  “They said they would come and help”.  Just then there’s a knock on the door.  “Oh speak of the devil - I bet that’s them now”.

“Gail you mad slapper!  It’s us!” a voice calls and I can see Sharon peering through the letterbox at me.  Grinning, I hurry to open the door.

“Hiya!” Sharon and Gina chorus.  They are both impeccably dressed – Sharon in black silk top, skinny jeans and five-inch heels and Gina in slightly (but not by much) flatter heels, jeans and cream short sleeved mohair jumper. 

“I’ve bought you a moving present darling!” Sharon says and hands me a magnum of champagne.

“Wow thanks Sharon! That’s really kind of you!” I say delighted, “We’ll open that later!  But first…”

“I know” she sighs, “We’ve got to do some work!”

“Come in.  I’ll introduce you to Alex” I say, “I think she’s in the living room.  Alex – this is Gina and Sharon”.

Alex turns round from the bookcase she has now emptied.  “Hello” she says to them both, “Nice to meet you”.

“And you darling!” Gina says, kissing her on both cheeks.

“You look like you’ve been busy Alex!” Sharon says, looking round at all the boxes.

“Yeah – I’m done packing and labelling in here” Alex replies, pushing a lock of hair behind her ears.

“Oh that’s great Alex!  Thanks a lot” I say gratefully.  “You’re a star!  Are you okay to help me in the kitchen and Gina – would you help pack the rest of my stuff in the main bedroom upstairs?”

“Yes of course” Gina says, walking out into the hall and looking up the stairs.  “Which room is it?”

“It’s the last door you come to on the landing”.

“Right” Gina says and heads upstairs as the sound of Alex and Sharon’s laughter filtered through from the kitchen.

“..And then to top it all off, he dropped the box with the bloody crystal champagne glasses in!” Sharon says over her shoulder to Alex as she comes out of the kitchen and Alex laughs heartily.

“What’s that?” I ask, interested.

“Oh I was just telling Alex about when Tony and I moved house and one of the removal men came back in the afternoon drunk!”

“No!” I say shocked.

“Oh yeah - Tony ended up loading the van with the other guy who was mortified!  Still - did Tony good to do some work for a change!” she says, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

There’s another knock at the door.  “I’ll get it!” Sharon trills and goes to open the front door to reveal two burly removal men.

“Oh great - you’re here!” I say relieved.  I’d been starting to panic slightly as they’re a bit late.

“Yeah – sorry about that love – the sat nav sent us the wrong way” one of the men says.

  “Oh right” I say, “Well – at least you’re here now.  Do you want to take the bookcase and the mirror first and then make a start on the boxes in the living room?” I say.

“Right love” they say and they carry the bookcase out of the living room and out to the van as easily as if it was made from A4 paper and I know for a fact how heavy that bookcase is as I had tried to move it myself that morning and nearly gave myself a hernia.

“I’ll just go and see if they’re okay” Sharon says and follows them outside.

“Right - I’ll go and see if Gina is all right” I say and go upstairs.  I open the door of the bedroom where Gina is just lifting the few remaining clothes out of the wardrobe.  “Do these need wrapping in tissue or anything?” she asks.

“Oh no, just sling them in a bin liner - they’ll be fine,” I say casually.  Gina looks horrified.

“You can’t do that!  This is Prada isn’t it?” she says, looking at a black jacket Adam bought me the other day.  “Tell you what,” Gina says as she spies a couple of empty designer clothes boxes on top of the wardrobe, “I’ll pack these things in those boxes.”

“Okay, yeah – whatever - I just want to get everything sorted,” I say, glancing at my watch.  I’m feeling very stressed.  It’s nearly eleven o’clock already and there’s still
loads
to do.  Why did I leave everything to the last minute?

“Gail it will be fine, don’t worry” Gina says firmly, lifting the two boxes down and beginning to pack the clothes as the sound of Sharon laughing outside catches our attention.  I look through the window and can see Sharon outside giggling and flirting with one of the removal men.

“What is she doing?” Gina asks, coming over to the window.  “Oh typical!” she says as both of us stand and watch for a moment.  “Mind you - he is quite fit” Gina says.

“I thought that actually” I admit and we both laugh.  “I’ll leave you to it then Gina if that’s alright” Gail says, “I’ll go and help Alex downstairs”. 

As I go out I can hear Gina muttering to herself.  “Bin liner indeed! 
And
new season Prada as well!  I don’t know!”

I smile and go downstairs into the kitchen.  “How are you Alex?” I ask.

“I’m fine – I’m nearly done in here,” she replies, emptying a cupboard.

“There’s still tons to do though!  God – this is going to take ages” I say, now starting to feel really panicky.  “Look at the time!  I need to have it all done by the time Adam gets back tonight.  At this rate I’ll still be here at midnight!  I’m so stupid – I should have done all this weeks ago!”

“Oh - don’t be silly Gail darling” Sharon says, walking into the kitchen.  “We will be done in no time!”

“What?” I say.

“Well I knew that you’d want to be finished for when Adam gets back and have time to have a shower and everything, so I explained the situation to Marty - the sexy dark haired one - and he’s promised me faithfully, everything will be done and delivered by three o’clock today”.

“Well that would be great” I say fervently, “Are you sure we aren’t going to be here all night?”

“No!  Don’t worry so much!” she replies airily. “Now I’m going to make everyone a nice cup of tea”.

“There should be some Jaffa Cakes left.  Ask Alex where they are,” I say as I move out of the way for the removal men to get past.  Tea and a Jaffa Cake sounds marvellous.  I’m gasping for a cup of tea.  “I’ll just go and give Gina a hand to carry stuff downstairs”.

****

“Is that everything?” Marty asks me after putting a couple of boxes in the van.

“Yes I think so” I reply.

“Right then – we’ll go and get in the van and follow you there”.

“Okay – thanks.  I’ll just be a couple of minutes” I say and Marty nods and goes round to the front of the van.  I go back up to my house and open the living room door.  The curtains have been taken down, the furniture is gone, I’ve hoovered round and everything has been taken out.  “That’s it then” I say aloud and there’s a lump in my throat.  It is so bare in here.  I’d just got it looking nice as well.  Oh God - I hope I’m doing the right thing.  Is it wise to move in with a guy a mere three months or so after you met?  He is gorgeous though and he does make me laugh.

Just then there’s a soft knock at the door and Alex opens it a fraction.  “Gail – are you about ready to go?” she asked.  “We’re all waiting for you!”

“Alex - I am doing the right thing aren’t I?” I ask.  Tell me I’m not being incredibly stupid, giving my house up and everything and moving in with a guy I’ve not been going out with that long?”

Alex steps into the room, closes the door and looks at me.  “Gail – do
you
think it’s the right thing to do?” she asks.