25. Ellie
25
ELLIE
A few days had passed since the Easter Egg Hunt at the café. Ellie had thoroughly enjoyed the day, especially the picnic afterwards that she’d shared on the grass with Jasper, Mabel, and Alfie. They’d eaten tiny cheese and leek pasties, salmon and cucumber sandwiches, zesty lemon tarts, and plenty of chocolate. Alfie had been keen to share his eggs with Ellie and she’d become choked up when he’d climbed onto her lap after he’d eaten and snuggled into her. He was a sweet child, and he seemed to be as fond of her as she was of him. She also adored Mabel, who chatted to her easily now and seemed to have thousands of questions about everything. Mabel had then suggested that they do one more sweep of the gardens in case anyone had missed any eggs. Ellie had looked down at Alfie to ask if he wanted to go too and discovered that he had nodded off in her lap. Jasper had got up and told Mabel he would take her around the gardens and Mabel had taken his hand. As they’d walked away, Ellie had glanced over at the café to see her gran watching her from the doorway, beaming. She had given Ellie a thumbs up and Ellie had returned it. Cuddling Alfie was wonderful, and she wanted to be there for him more and more, the same with Jasper and Mabel too.
She was on her way to Jasper’s house now because Mabel and Alfie were going away with his parents for a few days. He’d looked anxious when he’d told her about it, so she wanted to cheer him up if she could. She’d packed a basket with some of the Easter foods she’d prepared for the café so she could make Jasper lunch. It was the least she could do after the meals he’d made for her recently and after how well he’d taken care of her after she’d hurt her ankle. Said ankle was fine now, and she was certain it was because Jasper had acted so quickly when she’d first been injured.
When she reached Jasper’s home, she rang the bell and waited, conscious that she was on the doorbell camera.
‘Hello there!’ he said as he opened the door, looking so handsome he took her breath away. In a fitted charcoal T-shirt and black cargo shorts, he looked muscular and toned. His stomach was washboard flat and his upper arms stretched the sleeves. His military-style haircut was fresh, and his golden beard and the golden hairs on his muscular forearms shone in the sunlight.
‘Hi.’ She felt suddenly shy as he invited her inside. After all, when she’d been here before, so had the children, but now it was just the two of them. ‘How are you doing?’
He led the way through to the kitchen. ‘Not too bad, actually. It wasn’t easy seeing them off this morning, but they’ll be with my parents and have a great time, I’m sure of it.’
‘I brought lunch.’ She held up the basket. ‘It’s nothing fancy, just some bits from the café.’
‘That’s really kind of you.’ He accepted the basket and set it on the island. ‘Would you like a drink? Tea? Coffee?’
‘Something cold would be great, thanks.’ She sat on a stool at the island and a flashback hit her. Jasper had held her, laced his fingers through her hair, and almost kissed her before they’d been interrupted.
‘How about some wine?’ he asked. ‘I rarely keep much alcohol here but I thought that seeing as how I have a few days without the children, I could relax a bit.’ He showed her a bottle of white straight from the fridge, and she nodded.
‘Wine would be great. I have the rest of the day off.’
‘Excellent!’
He opened the wine and got two glasses from the cupboard. After he’d filled them, he handed her one.
‘Here’s to relaxing.’ He frowned. ‘And maybe catching up on some sleep.’
‘Cheers.’ They clinked glasses, then Ellie sipped the wine. It had a floral aroma and tasted of apricots. It was refreshing and delicious. She took another sip, then set her glass on the island. ‘So what have you got planned for the next few days?’
‘I have some work to finish, and I thought I’d try to empty the washing basket. It’s a never-ending task with the children filling it constantly.’
‘Gran used to say the same about me and I was just one person.’ Ellie laughed.
‘Tell me about it. And Wiggy makes his own washing piles for me.’
The dog wagged his tail from his bed near the bifold doors, then stretched out and closed his eyes again.
‘Will he be OK with the children gone?’ Ellie asked.
‘Yeah … He’s used to them going off to school in the mornings, so he probably won’t notice until later and I’ll keep him busy, anyway.’ Jasper sipped his wine. ‘This is tasty.’
‘It’s lovely.’
They fell quiet and Ellie looked from her glass to the dog and out of the bifold doors. ‘You really do have the most beautiful view here.’
‘It’s not bad, is it?’
Ellie got up and went to the doors and gazed out at the sea. Her vision blurred as memories washed over her. She had loved living in the village growing up and had many happy memories there, but there were also sad ones. Her grampa had lost his life in that water, had sacrificed himself for another. But she had also swum there herself, spent happy days at the beach and walking the coastal path. Any location would hold a plethora of memories and emotions, both good and bad, happy and sad. Surely that was the way and wherever you went in life, it would always be the same. No one could outrun their past. Life was hard, but it was also incredibly beautiful; it brought so much joy while it also brought pain. Jasper had been happy here but also lost his wife. Her gran loved the location, but had lost her husband to the sea. Her parents had been happy together for a while but had then parted ways and left a long time ago. People would come and people would go, whether by choice or as their lives came to an end, but the sea, the sky, the sand, the cliffs, and the village would continue as they always had done.
The hairs on her nape rose as she sensed Jasper behind her.
She blinked.
Turned.
Found him gazing down at her. Longing shone in his sparkling blue eyes.
He took her hands and raised them to his mouth, pressed gentle kisses to her fingers, her palms and then along her wrists. The sensation sparked exquisite shivers, and as she peered at his handsome face, her heart thundered in her chest, her body aching with desire.
‘Is this OK?’ His voice was soft, but the fire in his eyes burned bright.
‘Is it OK with you?’ she asked. ‘Here, I mean?’
He nodded. Leant closer and slid his hand around the back of her neck, then lowered his head. He paused just inches from her lips and she took a shaky breath.
As their lips met, Ellie reached up, wrapping her arms around Jasper’s neck, the scent of his cologne filling her senses as she rose on tiptoe, feeling the steady beat of his heart against hers.
Her last thought as she lost herself in him was that in his arms, she felt safe. Accepted. And loved.