Unlikely Places (22 page)

“Sounds good to me”. 

“Where are we staying?”

“I’ve booked a hotel that’s right near the centre so it
should be easy to get around”.

“I can’t wait it’s going to be great”.

Her smile told me all I needed to know, I had made the right
choice.

She took my hand in hers. “We’d better get back before they
send out a search party from the surprise party”.

As we made our way back down stairs I said to her back. “We
need to leave about half four to make sure we get to the airport in time, I’ve
already checked in online but we need to allow for traffic”.

“Okay...and we need to stop by my place to pick up a few
things on the way”.

Nat was idling in the hallway sipping a can of pop as we
came down the stairs, I saw her smile as she saw Sam’s animated movements.

“So?....Sam where’s she taking you?”

I looked at Sam’s beaming face as she announced our
destination, she looked so happy I think I felt my heart actually increase in
size at the sight of her.

“Ooh lovely I went with Rich a few years ago it was
lovely...good choice Al”.

I managed to pull my attention from Sam turning to smile at
Nat. “Thank you...I think I’ll get some more food before we have to start
packing”. Leaving them chatting in the hall I found Lucy hovering by the
buffet, I did the dutiful thing of offering her more cake while Nat was out of
sight.

Later as we frantically packed I felt a hand on my elbow, I
turned towards her as she started talking.

“Al I’m really grateful for the party....I know it’s not
really your thing being surrounded by lots of people, and you’ve probably used
up all your face time with people for the next six months but I really
appreciate it, I had a great time thank you”.

She punctuated her speech with a soft kiss on my lips. 

“I’m glad you liked it....I wasn’t sure it was the right
thing but I thought it’d give you a chance to catch up with a lot of people all
at once....I know I’ve taken up a lot of your time but I don’t want you to lose
your friends”.

I watched as a frown developed on her face. “But I wouldn’t
change a thing, I love spending time with you...I’d rather be with you than
anyone else, you know that right?”

I grinned back at her. “I know...and this way I get to spend
the next five days with you all to myself”.

Pulling her into my arms for a few moments, my mind drifted
to how much both our lives had changed over the last year, I felt incredibly
lucky to have met her and become part of her life. As I released her levelling
my gaze at her, she looked concerned at my expression.

“What’s up?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t invite your mum I wasn’t sure you’d want
her here...I was a bit worried it might kick off if she turned up”.

Moving her hand to the side of my face she smiled. “I think
you made the right choice, I got a card in the post last week...she never could
remember the date”.

Pulling her towards me again I whispered. “I’m sorry”.
Against her lips before kissing her softly. Maybe we’d seen the last of Mandy
for a while, in truth I hoped that was the case as she only seemed to leave
carnage in her wake.

Returning to the party we left our bags near the door ready
for the off, I noticed some guests were preparing to leave, Nat must have
passed the word we were going away. It felt like we were newlyweds leaving on
honeymoon, umm maybe one day, I’d certainly never had that thought before.

I watched Sam as she made her way around her guests thanking
them for coming, while I found Nat and Lucy to tell them again how grateful I
was for all their help. Nat agreed to stay on to tidy up, in return for some
serious babysitting allowing her to go away with Rich for their wedding
anniversary. So that was the price I had to pay? The idea made me a tad nervous,
but Lucy reassured me that Poppy had stopped screaming day and night so we’d be
fine apparently. I’m not sure I shared in her confidence as I remembered back
to Poppy’s teething only a few months ago.

Breaking the news to Sam of our impending responsibility as
we drove to the airport, Sam seemed happier about it than me, I presumed Nat
had already primed her. As we neared the airport I pulled a Paris City Guide
out of my coat pocket handing it to Sam. “I got you a something to read on the
plane”.

“You’re on it like a car bonnet aren’t you?......How did you
get all that planned without me knowing anything about it?”

“I’m not sure I should be giving away all my secrets....but
most of it was stored in the garage ready to go, I had the food delivered to
Nat’s house and she set it all up while we were out jogging”.

“I see, so it was Just a ploy to get me out of the
house?....I thought it was a bit weird but I couldn’t work out what you were
doing”.

“Ah...so you did suspect something?”

“Maybe but not to this extent”.

“Good, I was a bit worried it was written all over my face
for the last week or so”.

I felt the warmth of her hand on my thigh as I drove.
Opening the window I took the parking ticket as we entered the airport car
park.

I could see her thumbing through the guide book. “Jo was
very impressed with your house”.

“Was she?” I said as I found a parking space.

“Especially when I told her how much work you had done to
it....you don’t realise how talented you are you know?”

“I know how lucky I am if that counts”. I said grinning.
 

I watched her roll her eyes back in her head as I again
opted to hide my abilities under a bushel. Turning to her as I took off my seat
belt. “I have a feeling this might be just the start of our journeying”.

“Really?”

I smiled. “Really”. I said as I leaned across kissing her
softly on the lips.

“I think I like the sound of that”.

“Me too”

Getting out of the car, we pulled our bags from the boot.
Slipping my free hand in hers we headed for the departures building, while Sam
tried to recall some of her GCSE conversational French.

The End