Taylor
I’m lying on the bed after just stepping from the shower when I hear a knock on the door. What the fuck? I knot the tie around my robe a bit tighter and stand at the bathroom door. “Chris there’s someone knocking the door?” I tell him with a frown.
“Go answer it.” He turns off the shower and steps out in his full glory. “Don’t be looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I innocently ask as I flutter my eyelashes at him.
“Like you want to eat me.”
“Hmm, or maybe lick all that water from your body.”
“Answer the door.”
“What if it’s some kind of weirdo though?”
“Well, I can’t go I’m soaking wet. At least you’re dry.” I huff and turn away from him.
“Fine! I’ll go. If I never see you again, it was nice knowing you.” Glancing back at him I poke my tongue out. Whoever is stood at the door is really impatient because it knocks again. “Alright. Keep your knickers on!” I pull open the door to see Ash, with Ryan and Alyssia standing in front of me. The shock must be clear on my face because Ash bursts out laughing.
“You know it’s cold out here Tay.”
“Oh shit, come in.” I take Alyssia from her and carry her inside, placing her car seat on the floor beside the couch. “Take a seat, I’m going to get dressed.” I tell them the frown etched into my forehead, not knowing what the fuck is going on.
Chris is already dressed when I enter the bedroom. “What the fuck are you not telling me? Why is Ryan and Ash here. I mean we’re in Scotland for fucks sake it’s not like it’s the next town, is it?” My eyes narrow at him suspiciously.
“Get dressed all will be revealed later.”
“Chris! You told me we could do whatever I wanted today!” I frown but he just smiles then kisses the end of my nose and walks out of the room. What is he up to? I pull on a pair of jeans, a fluffy, baggy jumper and my boots then brush my hair through and pull it back into a ponytail.
Chris is making coffee in the kitchen when I go back through so I sit on the couch and take Alyssia from her seat. “So, what’s going on?”
“I thought you knew we were coming up?” Ryan says.
“Nope. Hang on I’ll be right back.” Walking into the kitchen I see Chris slip his phone back in his pocket quickly thinking I haven’t seen. “Who was that now?”
“Erm no one. Can you help me with these?”
“I swear if you’re lying to me then I’m going to chop your cock off.” Whispering so only he can hear me.
“Then you’ll be ruining your own fun.” He quickly kisses my lips and picks up the cups handing them out to me to take from him. My hand cups his balls as he’s holding the cups filled with hot liquid and squeeze just enough for him to tense up.
“Taylor. Don’t.” He laughs nervously. “What are you hiding from me?”
“I can’t tell you right now, honestly. It’s nothing bad.” He squeaks. Freeing his balls from my firm grip, I take the cups and see him visibly relax.
I turn towards the door and glance back. “Oh, and Chris?” His hand holds onto his crutch but looks up at me, “no more blow jobs for you!” I smile and walk from the room. Ryan and Ash are laughing as I enter the room. Chris looking a little pale enters a minute later carrying the other two cups and placing them down.
“Chris man, I hope you value your crown jewels because she’s going to have them on a platter after what I’ve just heard. Chris raises his middle finger at Ryan and drinks his coffee every now and again rubbing where I held him. I didn’t squeeze that hard - he’s exaggerating.
We took Ash and Ryan around the shops we were in yesterday and spent a couple of hours shopping for Christmas items and getting something for Alyssia. Our sit in the lodge and veg day is now non-existent and Chris has some serious sucking up to do.
We’re currently standing in the park; the setting is stunning. It’s all woodland around us, god knows why we’re here but I’m about to find out. I sit down on the bench with a huff, obviously not too happy that I’m just hanging around in the freezing cold. Pulling up my feet to rest on the bench I hug my knees to keep in the warmth. “Chris why are we here? I mean this is beautiful and all that but it’s bloody freezing. I actually can’t feel my fingers.”
“I promise babe, not much longer.” He kisses my forehead and stands upright again. I see a slither of a smile appear on his face, I look behind me and see his Mum and Dad, my Dad and Michelle, Todd, Adam and Darcy walking towards us. I feel something wet hit my face, great now I’m being dripped on by the trees. Wiping my cheek, I stand up and turn to face him.
“You need to tell me now, why all our family is here on our break away and why you couldn’t just tell me?!” He lets the others get nearer to us and after hello’s and hugs from everybody he turns back to look at me. He takes my hands in his and lifts them to his lips.
“Okay, I wanted to do this with all the people we love around us.” He drops to one knee. “I want you to marry me Taylor. I don’t work without you, nothing makes sense. You are my everything. I know before you say anything that you’d already agreed but I want to do it sooner rather than later which is why we’re here. Why everyone is here.”
“I... I don’t understand.” I stutter.
“I want to marry you, here. In….” Chris looks at his watch trying to work out the hours, “around twenty-four hours.” In two days. Everything’s booked. You haven’t got to do a thing except get something to wear of course.” He smiles but it’s a nervous, cautious one, like he doesn’t know how I’m going to respond. Stunned does not even come into the equation right now and I’m not sure how I feel. He went behind my back after I told him I wanted to wait. “Taylor please say something...”
My mind is telling me no don’t do it but my heart is saying what the fuck are you waiting for. I’m so scared I’m going to screw everything up, then I’ll be alone and I don’t want to be anymore. I love Chris so much, so why can’t I just say screw it and let’s get married. It’s like I have the devil sitting on my shoulder whispering into my ear, stopping me from making the right decision. I want him, I can’t live without him but he went behind my back. Who the fuck does that?!
“I’ll be right back. I... I just need to get my head around it.”
I walk to the edge of the park to have my Dad catch up with me. “Sweetheart wait.” I stop and swing around. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Dad asks softly.
“Dad you don’t understand, I do want to marry him but why couldn’t he just wait? I didn’t want to get married yet.”
“Does it matter? What does it matter if you do it now or six months’ time?”
“Because he took my choices away!”
“No, he took the initiative to make an honest woman of you and he took the planning away that’s all he did. If you ask me you’ll never find a better man that than one stood right there.”
“He’s done it so I’ll have a baby.”
“What?” An angry look - one that I haven’t seen in years takes over his normally resigned and relaxed one. “What year are we living in again. Don’t give me that shit Taylor!” He holds my shoulders. “Pumpkin I just want you happy. I know your mother did a number on you and I know this is why you are the way are, but you need to let that shit go right now. I know your mother and I arguing changed your perception of happy and I’m so sorry...but I can’t change that, god knows I’ve tried!” He looks from me and in the direction of Chris before fixing his eyes back on me. “Now I’m going back over there to your family and I’m going to let you think about what you’re doing. You’re going to lose him if you don’t stop thinking about yourself all the time.”
WOW! I’m kind of stunned at that little speech, my dad isn’t usually as tough as all that. Seeing a bench in front, I walk to it and sit down, resuming my position from half an hour ago and resting my chin on my knees.
“Taylor?” A hand rests on my shoulder, startled a little my head quickly turns to see Todd. “Can I sit down?” My head nods to agree.
“Talk to me. What’s going through your head?”
“I don’t know. What’s wrong with me Todd? It was like everything just stopped moving around me and the ground opened up. I should be happy he wanted to do this and I am really... I just don’t know how to show it. I’m such a selfish cow!”
“No, you’re not. I’ve known you a long time Taylor and you’re one of the nicest, fiercest women I know. I know that Chris just wants to marry so it’s official, he just wants you by his side. Is this about the whole baby conversation?” I shrug. “I thought you said you were going to talk to him about that?!”
“I did - kind of!” He turns to sit side on so he can see me properly.
“Taylor. Listen to me. Chris, is Chris. He’s honest and he loves you with every piece of him. He wouldn’t do a thing to hurt you or cause you any pain, surely you know that?”
“I do.” My head hangs in embarrassment.
“Look around you right now. He wouldn’t have gone to this much trouble for just anyone.” I do look around me... the park is done in decorations, there’s a huge Christmas tree with lights on wrapped around it with a small fence placed around it… I’m lost to my surroundings. This place is stunning and he did this for me, to take stress from me.
“Taylor? What you say then? You ready to become my sister in law officially?”
“Todd what if he doesn’t want me anymore?”
He scoffs. “Yeah right, he’s been in love with you for about three years I can’t see that changing anytime soon.”
Chris
What the fuck, she walked away? Ryan walks towards me. “I hope you’ve got those bollocks of your well protected?” He laughs.
“Fuck off, Ry. This shit ain’t funny!” I sit down on the bench that Taylor vacated not five minutes earlier and put my head in my hands then try to come to a conclusion as to why this has happened.
Adam sits next to me and slaps me on the back. “She’ll come around dude.”
“Yeah it better be within the next few hours then. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but I never expected her to walk away from me.”
“She’ll come around. If anyone can talk sense into someone it’s Todd.”
“Yeah well, this is Taylor. She’s not just stubborn but pig headed too. Why didn’t I see this coming?!”
“I think that maybe you did. Which is why big brother - you took over and did it yourself.”
Looking at Adam with a grin… “when did you become so observant?”
“I’m full of surprises!” He taps me on the back smiling before walking back over to Darcy.
Movement from the side of eye catches my attention, I turn my head and see David, Taylor’s Dad, marching across the grass towards me - he doesn’t seem very happy though. “She’s a stubborn arse, that girl of mine. I’m sorry Chris, I’m not sure if I’ve made matters worse.” He sits beside me with a huff. “That girl wouldn’t know good if it smacked her on the arse. She doesn’t know when she’s on to a good thing.”
“Be fair. She had the rough end of the stick, I just thought we were past all this shit.” Mum is next to come over.
“Sweetheart she’ll come around I know she will. It’s just a shock that’s all.”
I take Mum’s hand in mine. “I know. Thanks Mum. Do you think I should go over there?”
“It’s entirely up to you.” Fuck this waiting around I’m going over. Standing from the bench I let them know what I’m doing and to go get coffee or something instead of standing around here - it’s too bloody cold.
Making my way towards her I stop when I get ten yards away and see her with her chin resting on her knees. Todd stands and turns then sees me. He taps my shoulder and carries on walking. Taking a step forward, she seems so delicate. “Tay?” Her head turns to the side at the sound of my voice, I step closer to her around to the front of the bench. She glances up at me. “Can I sit”
“Of course you can.”
I sit right next to her thighs touching, as she drops her legs back down to the bench, just so she doesn’t think I’m angry - I’m not just maybe a little disappointed. “I’m sorry, babe. I should’ve told you what I was planning but if I had I would never have got you here.” Entwining our fingers, I carry on. “I want you to be honest with me, okay?” She nods but doesn’t look at me. “What’s the real reason you don’t want to get married yet because I know that’s not the reason for this.”
“You want kids. I don’t.” She shrugs. “I won’t be good enough as a mother, I’ve tried to imagine myself with them and I can’t - all I see is my mother, I’m her. She was a shit parent and I’m going to be the same.” She answers quietly but at least she’s being honest.
“Do you honestly think I only want to marry you so you can have my kids, am I that shallow...?”
She cuts me off. “Chris, you have it all wrong.”
“I don’t think I do.” I watch her closely for a reaction before I go on, “so, every time I tell you I love you, did I not mean it or did I say it because I have an ulterior motive?” Sliding from the bench, I move around to the front of her and squat down. She shrugs again, probably because she doesn’t want to answer. She turns her head to watch the branches from the trees blow in the breeze. Capturing her chin, I make her look at me.
“Taylor this is called communicating... yeah? So, I’m going to say this once, I would like a child one day, but if that day never comes then so be it, because I’ll have the most important thing in my life right by my side and my love for you will never change. Kids or not! I don’t know how many times I need to say that before it sinks into that stubborn brain of yours. I just want you to be Mrs Taylor Willows - my wife. My partner.”
A teary smile crosses her face so I go on. “So, what you say? You wanna marry me?” I move to one knee on the ground as she wipes the tears from her face and nods. I lift my knee from the wet grass and stand then pull her up to meet me so I can kiss her, pouring all my love into her. My hand pushes her head against my chest as I hold her close to me.
“I’m sorry. I’m a selfish cow. My dad did take the pleasure in telling me that, not that I didn’t already know.” Her eyes roll and right there I know I have my girl again. My lips rest against the top of her head as the vanilla scent of her shampoo wafts up my nose, this is home. She’s my home.
“You ready to go back?” Her head moves in an up and down motion against my chest. “Come on then.” Kissing her forehead, I then bend putting my shoulder against her tummy and lift. She squeals as I throw her over my shoulder and head back to the rest of them.