Chapter 44
Mac
Ispend the week putting my decision into action, making all the necessary plans while wrapping some things up at the office, knowing my father will have a whole list of new things to do the second we land in London.
By the time the day of our flight rolls around, I’m ready for a vacation.
Hopefully a trip that includes Eliza and me and no one around for kilometres.
This flight isn’t as awkward as the last one was.
We brought cards to play and we both have our books, but this time instead of Eliza leaning towards the window, she leans into me, and I wrap an arm around her.
She falls asleep, and I take her Kindle from her hand and tuck it into the seat pocket and pull her blanket higher.
I close my own book and watch her. I want to be able to watch Eliza for the rest of my life.
To see her smile and laugh and to be the place she seeks comfort when she needs it.
I want to be her safe place where she feels like she can fall asleep and know everything’s going to be all right.
When we land, we head straight to the flat. I told my father we weren’t arriving until Thursday, two days before the gala, so I’d be able to spend an entire day with Eliza before the craziness. We drop our bags, and Eliza says, “I need a shower.”
“Is that an invitation or an announcement?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be,” she says as she pulls her shirt over her head and drops it to the floor before turning to the bathroom, and I’m hot on her heels.
I don’t know how long we’re in the shower for, but my fingers and toes have started to prune when we finally get out and I wrap Eliza in a warm towel.
I pinch her chin between my thumb and index finger, needing to kiss her again.
“What are we doing tomorrow?” I ask.
“Don’t you have work?”
I wrap my arms around her and pull her flush to my body, kissing the tip of her nose. “No, I told my father we wouldn’t be in until Thursday, so we have all day tomorrow, just you and me.”
Her smile is radiant, and she rises on her tiptoes, her lips finding mine again. Her arms wrap around my neck, and I find the backs of her thighs, picking her up. She breaks the kiss and runs her hand through my hair.
“You have the nicest eyes,” she says. “They’re so soft and warm.”
I smile at her. “Have you seen yours? They sparkle, especially when you’re happy.”
“I love your smile. I hadn’t seen it until we spent time alone together, and I’m glad you’re smiling more now.”
“Your laugh is like pure happiness. I don’t know how anyone can be sad when they hear it.”
She dusts her lips over mine softly, and I let her. She does it again before she’s kissing me. I think I know what she’s trying to say with it. I hope I know, because if I'm right, then we’re on the same page.
I kiss her back and make my way to the bedroom, falling onto the bed with her.
I don’t let go of her, holding her close.
We eventually slip into bed and stare at each other, neither of us saying a word, just looking at the other.
If I were to capture anything in a picture or painting, it would be this moment.
The two of us just existing in each other's presence, nothing else needed.
When she yawns, I pull her closer and she rests her head on my chest, and I run my fingers through her hair.
When I wake up in the morning it’s with Eliza still in my arms as she softly drags her finger over my chest and stomach. She seems lost in thought and like she’s doing it to distract herself.
“Morning,” I whisper, and she looks up at me, a soft, hesitant smile on her face.
“Morning,” she whispers back.
“Everything okay?”
She nods and forces a bigger smile. “Yeah, everything’s great.” She slips out of bed and heads straight to her suitcase and pulls out clothes. “Can we go to that café again? I really liked their breakfast, and I could really use some food.”
I push myself up in bed and lean against the headboard. “Yeah, of course, love. Whatever you want. Are you sure you’re okay? You can talk to me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. In fact, everything’s perfect. We’re back in London and the weather is amazing and we’re going to get food and then explore. It’s all perfect.”
I know there’s more going on, but I don’t push.
I get out of bed and find my own clothes and meet her in the living room so we can leave.
I can’t take my eyes off of her the entire walk to the café.
I almost run into a lamp post because my eyes were glued to her.
She’s wearing the dress she bought the last time we were here, and it’s just as perfect as when she tried it on.
The second I saw it on her today, I was immediately thinking of peeling it off of her later tonight.
If her behaviour hadn’t been so weird when we woke up, I probably would have tried to convince her let me do just that before we even left the flat.
While we’re eating Eliza asks if we can see if there are any tickets available last minute for a show at the Globe and I manage to find us two tickets. The seats aren’t great, but they’ll do. We decide to spend the day in a park and browsing shops before heading back to the flat to get ready.
Eliza looks at everything while we walk, inside the windows of store, the flowers planted in the flower pots, and the dogs walking with their owners.
I love the way she does what she can to immerse herself in the city.
No phone, just her walking down the street.
She pops into a few stores, looking at a variety of different things, ultimately not buying anything, but still enjoying all the new things she finds.
We finally make it to the park, and I lead her towards the pond where we take a seat. She watches the birds and people.
“It really is lovely here,” she says. “Do you ever think of moving back?”
I shake my head. “I like living in Vancouver. I still love London and don’t get me wrong, the tea in Canada is nothing compared to here, but Vancouver has become home.
” I don’t tell her that before I met her my answer may have been different.
I didn’t have anything tying me to the city except my job, and really that can move to any city where my father's company has a branch, or I could find another job. She’s become my tie to the city and her my deeper connection with my teammates has turned them more into friends.
She’s quite literally changed my life and the way I view it.