Going Home

Part 135

Later as they arrived home Josh locked the door and turning to Grace he asked “you okay? I’m sorry about tonight.”

Smiling Grace said “Josh what are you apologising for? It wasn’t your fault and you did nothing to make a bad situation worse, which you were perfectly entitled to do. So I’m fine about it, well at least as far as you’re concerned I am. The rest I don’t want to think about tonight.”

“Well I’m still sorry it happened on your birthday” Josh said with a frown.

Linking her hands around his neck Grace smiles up at him “thank you” then wanting to make him smile she teases “and as you were so well behaved I think you deserve a reward.”

With his hands on her hips Josh grinned and asked “reward hey? Sounds good to me.”

“But you don’t even know what it is yet” Grace replied pretending to be surprised.

“Maybe I’m a good guesser.”

“Is that right? Ok so why don’t you tell me then?” she laughed.

“Well does it start like this?” Josh asked, pulling her towards him and kissing her slowly.

After a few minute as Josh’s lips moved from her mouth leaving a trail of kisses across her jaw to her neck. Grace smiled and replied in a dreamy voice “mmm, possibly. But I was supposed to be rewarding you.” 

“Well it is your birthday” Josh said between kisses “so I guess you’re entitled to a reward too and besides this works for me.” Then moving forward with Grace still in his embrace Josh headed for their bedroom.

Going Home

Part 134

As he watched Connor, Josh’s hand was clenching and unclenching in a compulsive gesture and a muscle in his jaw was twitching as he worked to contain his anger. He was seething that Connor had intruded on Grace’s night, not to mention insulting her and he would dearly love to sort him out. But feeling Grace’s hand work its way into his he looked down into her troubled face. He knew what she was asking. She did not want a fight. So doing his best to keep his tone even Josh said “I think it’s time you left Connor.”

And before Connor could even reply Grace’s father agreed. Connor’s derogatory remark about Grace had already brought Hugh Reid to his feet and now moving around the table towards Connor he said in a firm voice “great to see you again Connor but it’s time to go.”

Hugh was shocked by what he saw. He used to like Connor and had a great deal of respect for him but he was sickened by what he had become. Positioning himself between Connor and the table he gestured towards the door giving Connor no option but to leave.

After one last scornful look at Josh, Connor staggered off.

As her ex-husband went Josh looked down at Grace and winked before moving over to Hugh. Watching Grace’s ex-husband negotiate his way out the door Josh said to her father “thanks.”

Turning to look at him Hugh shrugged “no worries Josh, I wasn’t going to let him stand there and talk about Gracie like that. Besides I could see if you were to do anything it would have got messy.”

Smiling Josh said “yeah probably.” And after a moment he added “he had it coming though.”

Nodding Hugh agreed “Absolutely, but Grace didn’t.”

And looking over at Grace Josh said in a quiet voice “I know.”

Patting Josh on the shoulder Hugh returned to his seat.

Going Home

Part 133

Connor! What the hell was he doing there? Josh was furious and glared at the man approaching the table. They had not seen him for months and the last time, when they ran into him at a pub, it wasn’t pleasant. Josh had no idea what his life was like now but the few times they had been unlucky enough to see him he’d been drunk. And this time appeared to be no different as it was clear from the way Connor was walking he had been drinking. Christ how the hell were they going to get out of this with her whole family there?

Grace could only watch helplessly as a clearly inebriated Connor stopped at their table and in a loud voice announced himself. Surprised at the interruption, her family, who were all focused on Josh due to his unexpected movement of a moment ago, turned almost in unison in Connor’s direction, and unsure how to handle the situation, looked at Grace a little before greeting him. Grace could only give a tight smile in response knowing that they had little choice but to humor her ex husband if they wanted to avoid an unpleasant scene. Then closing her eyes for a second, she turned to look at Margaret and Robert, mortified that they had to witness this. Saddened by what Connor had become she felt more than a little guilty for the part her actions may have played in it. But because he was so objectionable the last time they saw him she had little sympathy for him now.

Connor meanwhile, too drunk to notice the awkwardness, was pleased with the seemingly warm welcome he received from Grace’s family and turning to Grace muttered “I had to come and say happy birthday Gracie.”

Grace lifted her eyes to look at him but remained silent. She didn’t trust herself to speak. She was afraid if she said anything she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from telling him exactly how she felt about his presence. But she was well aware that would only make matters worse.

However her silence only seemed to anger Connor anyway. As when it became clear that Grace wasn’t going to respond his expression hardened and turning to Josh he sneered, “Josh, you still hanging around. I’m surprised she hasn’t moved on by now. That seems to be the way Grace works.” Then with an unpleasant smile he added “besides I thought you’d have gone on to destroy some other marriage.”

Going Home

Part 132

Making sure they arrived early so they reached the restaurant first Josh was unable to sit still. He wanted the evening to go well for Grace’s sake. It was her birthday and he didn’t want anything to ruin it for her. But he was not used to having his family at these things.

Fortunately his parent’s were the first guests to arrive so Josh was able to say hello in private. He still felt a bit awkward about greeting them after he hadn’t seen them for a while so he didn’t need a mass of witnesses to contend with as well. But Josh’s relief was short lived as they only had time to exchange greetings and for Grace to open her gift before the Reid clan start to roll in. Taking a deep breath Josh braced himself to make the necessary introductions. Several minutes later he was relieved that the greetings were done and he could sit down and take a back seat to proceedings. This was Grace’s night and he was more than happy to be here for her but all this family stuff was really not his thing. Maybe he had been too long without it.

Despite Josh’s concerns the evening progressed smoothly and finally he managed to relax a little. He had watched his parents though out the meal and noticed the way they had talked to Grace’s family with ease. So after they had finished eating, content that all was well, Josh sat back with his arm around the back of Grace’s chair and ran his thumb idly over her bare shoulder as she talked to her brother across the table. His other hand on his beer Josh was absently contemplating her soft skin when all of a sudden he felt her stiffen. Wondering what had caused the reaction he frowned and followed the direction of her gaze. Seeing the person Grace had spotted coming towards them Josh stood up, his chair flying backwards in the process.

Idolatry

A few seconds later he lifted his head and she noticed for the first time how tired he looked, like he hadn’t slept for a week. She led him to the couch and they sat down together. Win reached out to touch his chest, her actions hesitant. She was having trouble believing he was real.

“Don’t Win” he said with a frown.

She didn’t understand what he meant. “Don’t touch you?” she said looking up and drawing her hand away.

“No” he said “don’t touch me like you did in the beginning, as if you’re afraid of me.”

She looked away. “I didn’t mean to. I guess I have to get used to having you around again.”

“When you do that it hurts. It hurts almost as much as not having you touch me at all for the last week” he said with a sad expression.

Win turned back and met his gaze. “I’m sorry” she said.

“We’ve been through this. I don’t want to be untouchable, not to you.  I don’t want you to feel inferior, or not enough. You are everything to me Win.”

“I don’t feel that way” she said “not anymore. It’s just a familiarity thing I promise. I just need to get used to things being back to normal. I thought I’d lost you you know?”

He nodded “I really am sorry for what she said.”

“I shouldn’t have believed it. I should have had more faith in you.”

He sighed and dropped his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. “Do you have any idea how horrible this week has been?”

“I’m sorry” she said.

“I’ve had no help at work and the whole time I was afraid that I’d never see you again.”

“I’m sorry” she said again. Then after a pause she asked “but how did you know I was home?”

“I’ve staked your place out before and after work every day. Some nights I slept in my car out the front, if you could call it sleep.”

“Oh Cole” Win said more sorry than she could say. “I don’t know how to apologise.”

He pulled her onto his lap “just tell me that this crazy idea of yours, that you aren’t up to the correct standard for me, whatever the hell that is, is forgotten. I love you just the way you are. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Win was crying again “it’s forgotten” she sobbed into his neck.

“Good” he said because “when you’re Mrs Winter Blake I want everyone to appreciate my wife for the wonderful woman she is, the same way that I do.”

Lifting her head to look at him and trying to get her emotions under control she said “Mrs Blake?”

“Yes” he said “and it’s not negotiable. I never want to go through this week again. I want us tied together in a way that you’ll never have to doubt me again.”

Tears began to flow again as Win hugged him. Then as her lips found his she knew that she would never again believe she wasn’t good enough. 

The End