Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ANDRéS
It’s a pale and watery winter light that greets me as I open my eyes.
I blink into the familiar room, the house that’s become home over the last month.
It looks the same but I know it’s not. Everything is different now.
Now it’s full of Simon, and he doesn’t have to leave for an early work shift, or sneak around so he’s not seen.
He shifts slightly in his sleep and I look over at him.
His hair is mussed and his face relaxed making him look younger than he is.
I know that behind his cute smile and sparkling blue eyes is a will of iron and a fierce independence.
One he’s had to create as he’s been on his own for so long.
I admire that about him, that he’s forged a path and career for himself, even though life hasn’t been kind to him.
He’s tough, a survivor. I know that if I want him to let me into his life fully, I have to respect that.
And I want nothing more than to be a part of his life and for him to be part of mine.
He slowly opens his eyes, a smile gracing his lips as he sees me watching him. His beauty takes my breath away.
“Why are you smirking?”
“I’m not smirking,” I protest.
“Of course you are, it’s the first thing I noticed about you,” he says trying to look serious.
“The first thing?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Definitely.” He nods. “Most people have a resting bitch face, but your default is a smirk. It’s a good thing I love it.” He raises himself up on his elbow and leans over to kiss me. “Now, why were you smirking at me?”
“Because I’m happy you’re here, and I was trying to work out if we should have breakfast in bed or go out for it.”
He considers for a moment. “I like the idea of going out, but where would we go?”
“I hadn’t thought that far,” I admit and he laughs.
“Well, I know a great little cafe, which is open . . .” He reaches over to the bedside table and picks up his phone. “In an hour, so we have plenty of time to get ready.”
“Sounds good. Which cafe is it?”
“My aunt and uncle’s bookstore in the village.”
“You want me to meet your family?” I ask, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.
“Of course I do, honey.” He snuggles into me and I put my arm around him, loving the name he’s given me.
“I didn’t like the job in Aspen, I only took it because I needed to.
Then you walked into my kitchen and brightened up my life.
You made it so bright I didn’t want to let that light go.
I certainly wasn’t looking for anyone, and I’m going to be honest and say the timing wasn’t great.
I thought once I’d managed to get back on my feet, I eventually might start dating, but we don’t get to choose that, do we?
All we can do is recognise it when it hits and hold on tight.
Knowing you were here, a bright spot in the darkness, is what got me through the last month.
I want to be with you, Andrés. I don’t know my future yet, but I know it has you in it. ”
I shift slightly and put my other arm round him, encircling him. I touch a kiss on his forehead. All of it to give me time to try and talk around the lump in my throat. His words echo my thoughts, but I don’t know what to say. Perhaps I’ll try the truth.
“I honestly don’t think I can say this as eloquently as you, but I’ve known you were special from the start.
I tried to resist it, not understanding what I was feeling, except I couldn’t stay away from you.
The indescribable pull only got stronger the further away I was.
I can barely explain the joy I feel that you’re here now and want to be with me. ”
I roll over, covering him with my body. I brace myself, my arms either side of his head, and gaze down at him. Beautiful Simon, my Simon.
“I’ve never said this to anyone before,” I whisper. “I love you, Simon.”
“I love you too.” His voice is thick with emotion. He reaches his arms up and winds them round my neck. “Let’s make the most of that hour.” He pulls me down to him and steals my breath for the second time this morning.
We make out lazily and then shower slowly, luxuriating in washing each other. I’m looking forward to spending more time learning every inch of his body.
“Do you want a coffee first? I can’t drive unless I’ve caffeinated,” I ask when we reach the kitchen.
“Of course,” he laughs. “I’d love a coffee, we’re in no rush.”
I set about making drinks for us. I haven’t managed to get organised enough to buy a coffee machine yet, so I boil the kettle and fill the cafetière. Simon starts opening the cupboards, having a good look.
“I doubt it’s up to your standards,” I say as I place a mug on the counter next to him. He gives me a grin that makes me believe that was exactly what he was thinking, even though he was never going to say it.
“I want to go and see my horse first. I can’t go without taking her something. What will she think of me?”
“There are some carrots in the fridge,” I say, trying to hide my smile. He opens the fridge and holds up a couple of limp specimens.
“These won’t do. You’d just about be able to use these to make a stock.”
“I’ve never made a stock in my life,” I reply and he chuckles. He could probably make one in his sleep. Chef skills 101 or something.
“Well, what else do you have to feed your horse?”
“Oh, so I’m allowed to have her now, am I?”
“Yes, when you need to have food in stock so I can give it to her. But I suppose we can share her. I can give her carrots and you can do all the . . . you know . . . cleaning up after her.”
“Oh no, if you want to share her, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty.” I can’t help laughing as he wrinkles his nose at the thought.
“There must be something else she can eat. Don’t tell me, I’ll look it up.
” He pulls out his phone and starts searching.
“Look at this cool graphic.” He waves his phone at me and I take a couple of steps across the kitchen to stand by his side.
The picture shows a list of good foods and also what to avoid.
“I didn’t know they could eat grapes, strawberries, even bananas and citrus fruit.
Did you know that?” He looks up at me, his eyes shining with excitement.
I don’t know about everything listed on the graphic, I’ve never needed to, and the list is definitely British so not all of the foods are readily available in Argentina.
I check the website it comes from. It specialises in equine enrichment, so I’m confident it’s not giving him false information.
It seems he doesn’t need me to answer as he starts bustling around collecting a few items on the list. I retreat back to the corner of the kitchen and sip my coffee while he works.
He sorts everything out neatly in front of him and starts chopping with amazing precision.
It’s almost hypnotic to watch. I can just see him creating recipes for her, not that I’m going to suggest it. He doesn’t need any more ideas.
Eventually he declares himself ready and I look at the box he’s holding.
“What have you made?”
“It’s just a quick fruit and veg salad. Look, I chopped everything lengthways like you said.” He brandishes the box at me.
“Are you going to let the others have some?” I ask as we get in the car. It’ll be easier to drive over to the fields where they are right now, enjoying a couple more weeks of rest before I start getting them fit again for the season.
“I suppose I ought to. It would be unfair for them not to join in. You can do that while I feed my sweetheart.” He grins at me and I know I’m lost. I can’t deny him anything.
We stand at the gate and I whistle. Five sets of hooves come thundering across the grass.
Simon goes pale for a minute as they charge towards us, but I know how quickly my horses can stop, and sure enough they come to halt just before the gate, snorting dragon breath from the exhilaration of the run into the cold morning air.
It would be madness for me to allow Simon into the middle of them as they sidle and stamp their feet, excitement still coursing through their veins.
So I take a couple of handfuls of the food and instruct him to stay next to Chispa as I lead the others away to make sure they all get some of the treats.
When I look back, I see my traitorous horse gently lipping food off his palm.
He smiles, whispering to her like he did in Aspen.
His care for her, the way he thinks of her, deepens my feelings for him, and a sense of rightness settles in me.
It would be hard for me to be with someone who didn’t like horses, but Simon has gone way beyond that.
It’s as if he understands their importance to me, and they’ve become important to him too.
By not opposing his insistence about her being his, I realise I’ve already given in on this point.
Would I share my favourite horse with him?
There’s no point even thinking about that question.
It appears there are three of us in this relationship now, and I’m not even mad about it.
I check the others over to make sure there are no injuries and their rugs are straight. They’ll get some hay later but apart from that, they’re left mostly alone to be horses. Then I slowly walk back to Chispa and Simon, and I check her over too.
“Are you done?” I say when I straighten up from running my hands down her legs to check for any swelling or heat that would indicate a problem.
“Yeah, I’m good,” he says and gives her one last stroke. “See you soon, sweetheart, and I’ll make sure your other dad gets some more food for you.” I turn away so he can’t see my face. But I can still hear him as he whispers, “He tries to pretend to be serious, but I know he really loves it,.”