TouchStone for ever (The Story of Us Trilogy) (38 page)

Ayden
appears from the lift and comes bounding across our rooftop terrace like a man
returning home from battle. The make-believe metal encasing his Sir Lancelot
costume is rattling as he walks, adding to his comedic performance; my husband
has been reborn with a joie de vivre that even I could never have imagined.
He’s making me giggle, and so powerful is his presence I am bowled over by it.
The light-hearted ambiance is set against the incongruent backdrop of a Latin
beat. Pink Martini plays
Let's Never Stop Falling in Love,
proclaiming
our joy for all to hear.

Ayden takes my hands
and I am swirling; a Star Wars princess all dressed in white, wrapped up in the
arms of the only man she has ever loved. That’s me.

The music dies.
Exhausted I fall backwards onto the sofa bed, my view of the sky obscured by my
knight in shining armour, no less noble for his impending state of undress.

 “I thought they’d
never leave. I can’t wait to get this stuff off.” Ayden’s fiddling with buckles
and creating an untidy pile of bits and pieces; letting them fall noisily by his
feet.

“Do you need any
help?” I ask, amusement glistening I my eyes.

“No. You just lie
back, birthday girl and sip your water. Give me a minute… I’ll be right with
you.” He gives me a playful wink and continues to disrobe punctuating, his
mediaeval striptease with profanities.

I use the time to
unclip my hair; the Princess Leia buns I fashioned for my birthday party seem
superfluous now, but better a white robe than a leather bodice and Bat Girl
boots … hardly suitable attire for a mother to be.

He flops down next to
me, dressed in what amounts to an undergarment made of chainmail. It clings to
his muscular frame and I can’t help but leer; his chest is heaving and his
biceps are flexing.

He catches me
looking. “I know I look ridiculous but I’d rather be here looking like this
than another minute away from you getting changed. I’ve had to share you with
everyone tonight.” He slides his arm across my shoulders.

I fold into him,
avoiding the herringbone pattern of the material that stretches all the way up to
his chin. “Thanks for the birthday party. This house has never been so full of
people and music.“  I brush back a curl from his forehead and stroke the small
scar on his right cheek … that perfect imperfection I love so much. “I know
you’re not one for dressing up.”

He sniggers. “At
least I looked half decent. What was Jake thinking coming as Superman?”

My head rocks on his
chest as he chuckles, forcing me to place my hand upon it to steady myself.
Wanting to see him in this gloriously happy state, I arch my body away from his
and rest my chin on my palm. “It was a little obscene, wasn’t it? There aren’t
many men who can pull off a look like that.”

“Well, I think we’ve
established that Jake isn’t one of them.” He laughs loudly and pulls the
material from his throat after almost choking.

Our happiness rings
out into the night and I fall backwards laughing, recalling Jake dancing with
Charlie. What good friends they have become.

Still harbouring a
gleeful expression he turns to face me; I sense his eyes on me and feel his
forefinger following the line of my nose, my lips, my chin. Turning to meet his
adoring gaze I ask, “After all this time, are you still assessing me, Mr.
Stone?”

He’s shaking his head
and holding me spellbound with a shimmering stare. “No. Always enjoying, Mrs.
Stone, especially now you’re beginning to blossom.” He kisses my cheek and
places his right hand on my stomach. “All that we’ve been through has brought
us to this point, Beth. I can’t recall a time when I was ever this happy.”

“Me either. We’re the
luckiest people in the world, Ayden.” Enjoying the intimacy, I weave my fingers
through his hair. “Once we meet your mother tomorrow and are introduced to your
extended family we’ll have everything we’ve ever wanted.”

Softly he kisses my
nose. “What a wonder you are, Beth. You never did tell me how you found her.”

“I told you; through
a good friend.” I turn from him, ending the conversation, and look skyward at
the brightest star directly above my head. “We need never wish for anything
more.”

His grip tightens on
my shoulder. “This is true.”

From out of the
midnight sky appears a streak of light. “Look, Ayden. A shooting star! Maybe
you get to make a wish, after all.”

His mouth closes to a
slant. “No need. I have everything I want, darling.”

Special
thanks you go to my awesome TouchStone family for helping to make this dream
become a reality. They have been my best friends, Beta readers and a constant
source of encouragement and support. Love you guys, Paula, Jenn, Julie and
Steph.

Songs featured in the soundtrack to TouchStone for
play,

TouchStone for giving and TouchStone for ever will
be

available as a CD. They are the perfect
accompaniment to

The Story of Us ….

Twitter: @SydneyJamesson,

@TouchStoneFans, @ElizabethP1984,

@AydenStone, @CharlieM_TSFP

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