THIRTY-SIX
Reilly
Elton’s strong hands firmly press on my shoulders as he slathers more sun cream against my pale skin.
“So fucking beautiful,” he whispers against my ear, his breath sending chills across my skin.
I feel my face flame as my mum raises her eyebrows at me from across the table and I swat him away, laughing.
“Later,” I mouth at him as he wanders off to join Charles at the outdoor cooking area.
They’ve managed to turn a small get-together into a competition.
Charles turned up with an ice box of meat and his own BBQ, declaring himself the “Meat King”.
They poke at each other’s cooking, and I grin at the brotherly love they clearly share.
MJ and Neive have been in the kitchen with Claire all morning. They wouldn’t let me anywhere near it. Apparently, my birthday means I have to relinquish all control and allow everyone to fawn over me.
I’ve had a morning spa session, courtesy of Elton’s family.
It didn’t come as a surprise to see Jeeves’s and Charles’s names included on the gift card.
But I was taken aback to being presented with a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and a magnum of Whispering Angel from Charles as he came through the door.
Sarah grabs my wrist again, turning it back and forth, allowing the sun to hit the diamonds of the Tiffany watch Elton gave me this morning.
It was already on my wrist when I woke with his head between my legs.
He then slipped a pair of pearls on my ears while I was in the shower.
And slowly, throughout the day, he has presented me with gift after gift.
He says that, now he has me, he’s allowed to shower me with expensive presents, and I have no choice but to accept with grace. I’m getting used to it.
“Lucky, lucky, bitch,” Sarah says, shaking her head.
“Hey, our girl deserves this. He’s still got some making up to do,” Dorothy exclaims as she feeds Chip another crisp.
“Thought you had forgiven him, Dorothy.” I call Chip towards me. She’s going to make him fat.
“Of course, dear. Doesn’t mean we don’t need to put a gentle reminder out there every now and then.
Good to keep them on their toes.” I giggle at her brashness.
I’ve forgiven Elton, and I would never hold it against him.
We had a rocky start to our relationship, but now I couldn’t be more thrilled about where we are.
He finally convinced me to move in with him. I say “convinced”, but not much persuasion was needed. I spent so much time here that one day Mum and him booked movers to get everything sent over. She misses me dearly, and Dorothy misses Chip. But they are over as often as possible.
Elton tried to buy them an apartment in the same building as MJ and Neive but Mum was having none of it. She still won’t be beholden to any man.
She says she’s happy in her little house with Dorothy next door.
Maybe I’ll get her closer one day, probably when we have kids.
Which isn’t happening any time soon. My bakery is my baby, and I have no time whatsoever to make any real ones.
Well, the making wouldn’t be a problem. It’s the growing and raising of one I’m not ready for.
Elton isn’t either, although we are definitely on the same page about kids now.
We’d love to have little Eltons and Reillys running around one day.
And can guarantee Neive would be an amazing big cousin.
One day.
I need to conquer the world a little bit more first.
Elton
When I first bought this house, it was to show myself what I had achieved.
I wanted to wake up every day and step out on this decking with a coffee in hand, knowing I had made my own way in the world.
It was to make me feel rich, powerful, and in control.
I’ve always thought money equals happiness – after all, it was the only thing that saved me.
But now I have a new focus and new saviours.
The people sitting around the large oak table make me feel rich beyond my wildest dreams.
Watching MJ conquer her demons has made me a proud brother, as well as seeing Neive grow into an amazing young lady. She is fierce and strong and is helping me become an amazing uncle, which will turn me into a fantastic father when the time comes.
Jeeves still has mountains to overcome, but there is a certain someone who is going to pull him through them.
No one but me noticed earlier when he and Thea sneaked out from behind the side of the house, his shirt askew and hair messed, her face brighter than a beetroot.
One of them needs to acknowledge the pull that is happening between them.
Reilly and I are evidence of what can happen when you finally own up to your feelings.
I nearly lost her, and these are the people who showed me what I was about to sacrifice for nothing.
I never pictured this. Family.
I’ve never known a love like it. Growing up, I had MJ. She gave me a sense of protectiveness and obligation. But now I feel real love. I would do anything for them all.
Sitting together, sharing a meal. Who knew something so simple could bring such peace into my life.
Reilly laughs at something MJ says as Neive scribbles a cake idea in her notebook, proudly showing her mum and Reilly. Those three are everything I live for. My sister, my niece, my future wife.
Yes, wife. It sounds good.
I stand and clink my glass. “I just want to say how happy I am to have you all here today. Someone very important has brought us all together, and we cherish her deeply. It is safe to say we wouldn’t be sitting around this table together without her.
She has worked solidly this year to bring her dream to life, and we are all so proud of you, Reilly. ”
I step around the table, making my way over to where she sits.
“I love you, Reilly. You make me a better man. You’ve made all the dreams I never knew I had come true. And now I ask you to make one more fantasy a reality.”
I sink to one knee and pull out the vintage 4-carat emerald Cartier ring. Reilly’s hands shoot to her face as she gasps.
“Will you be with me forever, Reilly? Will you argue with me and forgive me again and again? Will you put me in my place and keep me on my toes? Will you be the person I have in my arms at night and the face I wake up to in the morning? Will you marry me?”
Tears stream down her face, and she nods. “I need your words, Sunshine.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
THE END