CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Grace

I don't wait for anything else, I press down on the handle and pull on the door to open it, I step back out into the pouring rain as the gasping devastated sobs leave me. I start walking towards the car as the rain soaks me, a hand on my arm spins me around. Before I can register what’s happening, his hands grip my face as the rain pours down running down my face as Owen’s lips crash against mine. A mix of tears and rain mingles in with the kiss but this isn’t the kind of kiss we’ve shared before it’s passionate with feeling, emotion.

My hands fist the t-shirt that definitely wasn’t there when I was in the house and pull him closer to me until our bodies are flush against each other, his fingers tangle into my wet hair, holding me in place. “Grace” he gasps. Don’t go!”

“Owen. Shit. I didn’t think you wanted me?!” Moving slightly from him I wipe the water from my face and out of my eyes as the rain continues to pour down on us. Owen picks me up and runs us back inside the house as I laugh and squeal. He kicks the door shut and puts me down.

“Wait there.” He turns and runs up the stairs. Looking around, I’m expecting Ella to pop up until Owen comes back with two towels. He places one on my head and he rubs his hair up with the other, he strips off the soaking wet t-shirt as my eyes revert straight back to his bare, wet chest. Moving the towel from my head to around the back of my neck, he grabs the ends and pulls me closer

“It’s not going to be easy, but I want you. I need you. You make everything better, this last few weeks have been torture not seeing you. I’m sorry I hurt you Grace, but yeah... if there’s one thing that I’ve learnt from this little break away; it’s made me think I’m a little in love with you too.” I smile as tears prick at my eyes threatening to fall over. “Do you think you could put up with me?”

“YES! Oh God YES!” I shout as his arms go around my waist and lifts me up and swings me around then kisses me again.

 

He walks me to the couch and sits me down as he hovers over me. Gazing into my eyes, he smiles, no sadness, no trepidation and definitely no guilt. He kisses the end of my nose before moving to my lips. Softly, he moulds his lips to mine, opening my mouth just enough for him to tease me with his tongue. The feel of his hand on my cheek warms me as I lean further into him. His tongue slides against mine as he brings me closer.

Before completely breaking away from me he nudges the tip of his nose against mine and my eyes flutter to a close. “I’m glad you came today. I’ve been trying to work out when was the best to come and see you. I wanted to sort my head out before I made you any promises.”

“And now?”

“We need to talk about that.” He tells me as he leans down on his knees on the edge of the seat. He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my fingers tenderly, one by one.

“Erm Owen, I hate to stop you there - but I’m a little wet.” My hands cover my face in embarrassment as I realise that sounded as a booming laughs tears from him and my head shakes.

“Stay right there, I’ll go fetch you a t-shirt and some shorts to wear so you can get out of those clothes and then we can talk, yeah?” he asks as I’m nodding my head, he places a sweet, soft kiss to my lips again, smiles wide then turns to go back upstairs.

“Here you go,” He hands them to me and I head for the bathroom. Stripping out of all my clothes it looks like going commando but I keep my bra on, it’s really not that wet. Picking up the clothes from the floor, I head back downstairs. When I reach the bottom, the fire is burning and Owen is bringing in two cups of hot chocolate on, with cream on too.

“Marshmallows too?”

“Oh yeah only the best.” He hands the costa style glass to me and I take a sip of my hot chocolate. Owen sniggers as he wipes off the cream from my nose.

Placing the glass on the table I move into the corner of the couch, tuck my feet under me and try to get warm. “Owen, I’m sorry for barging in here today. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“I’m glad you did.” He moves closer to me and holds his arm open for me, I twist around until I’m tucked under his arm and ready to listen. “I’ve been going to counselling, it’s why I haven’t been around. I needed to deal with everything. I needed to grieve my wife, even though I thought I had, I hadn’t, not properly anyway... I wanted to come around so much and the amount of times I’ve gone to text you and haven’t is, it’s pathetic... but I needed this and now, well, now things are so much clearer. It’s you I need now. You and Ella. If you’ll still have me?” He places his lips to rest on the top of my head and as he speaks again, “don’t get me wrong Vic will always have a place in my heart but you’re healing me.” My chin lifts up so I can face him and see his eyes.

“I know it’s going to be hard but I’ll be here for you both every step of the way.” I tell him lifting my hand to stroke his cheek.

“I don’t want you to be my crutch when I’m falling.”

“Why not? Isn’t that what a relationship and love is about? It’s about holding each other up through the good and the bad - no matter what and that’s what I want for us.”

“I love you, Grace. I wish I’d known that weeks ago but you came along when I wasn’t strong enough to handle it, but, as I was told the fates tend to make up their own mind about that.” He smiles at me but raises an eyebrow.

“I love you too, and yeah, you’re right, so maybe it was the right time. You’re worth the wait.” I feels like I have a grin stretching across my whole face like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

“Thank you, Grace, for being so patient.”

“Don’t talk anymore, I just want you to kiss me.” He slides down into the cushions and pulls me to lie on him. Without further ado or talk, he slants his lips over mine and takes from me exactly what he wants. I circle my arms around his neck, with our bodies flush against each other, feeling that spark between us, the same one that sets my whole body alight.