Chapter Forty
Kivi
It may have been a dangerous game, to stake her claim on Saskia in public when neither of them were out about their relationship, but something about the moment was making Kivi feel reckless.
She’d been aching to touch Saskia all afternoon.
There was something about her, her effortless grace and poise and charisma as Kivi introduced her to all sorts of village residents and stalwarts, that made Kivi want to wrap her arms around her and tell them all, “She’s mine.
” She also looked exceedingly beautiful today, wearing a blush-pink V-necked blouse that was cut just high enough to be appropriate, tucked into blue ripped jeans that poured themselves down her legs until they stopped at her stiletto-clad feet.
Several men had sent approving glances, and it boiled Kivi’s blood.
Never before had she felt a possessiveness on this scale, and Saskia being so bloody irresistible didn’t help either.
Combine that with music, and Kivi was screwed.
Just like movies, music was a sure-fire way to connect with her heart.
Especially when it was unapologetically, vomit-inducingly soppy and romantic, like this song.
As the ladies on stage sung heartrendingly about being desperate for a connection with one’s lover, the three parts of the choir coming together to conclude in a final long, sustained note, Kivi tightened the grip her arms had around Saskia’s waist, uncaring of who saw them.
She had to make her feelings known, even subtly.
She could already tell that she was starting to fall for this spiky, secretive writer.
After the applause, the choir took a step back as one, and Jean moved to the side to let Petra and Miss Berry take centre-stage.
Miss Berry wielded a microphone as if it were a weapon she would use against anybody who dared interrupt what she was about to say, while Petra seemed her usual calm and collected self.
From the little she knew about the pair, Kivi would have expected them to be the other way around – but if Saskia had taught her anything over the last few weeks, it was that nobody was quite as they seemed.
“Thank you, everybody, for your attendance at our treasured annual gathering,” Miss Berry said into the microphone.
At the first syllable of her words, the playground hushed, everyone turning their attention to the headmistress.
“It’s wonderful to see you all here. As you may recall, I was absent from last year’s summer fete, and since last year’s Christmas bazaar was cancelled due to the snow, this means that I am addressing you all now for the first time in two years. ”
Saskia shifted, and for a horrible second, Kivi thought she was moving away from her.
But then she felt Saskia’s hand on her leg.
Her hip. Pulling her closer, in what was almost an equally possessive gesture.
She lost her breath, and nearly missed the next thing that Miss Berry said.
How could she listen, when Saskia had just given her unspoken permission to claim her… ?
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your patience over the last year as I adjusted back into my role as headteacher, following my car accident last spring. I could not have asked for a better team to keep the school going. And I could not have asked for a better deputy to step into my shoes while I was away. Petra – thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Now Petra stepped forward, and Kivi noticed she was holding a microphone too.
This was a first. Aside from last year, Petra never spoke at these events.
“I echo your sentiments. Not just the bit about me being an awesome deputy…” The crowd chuckled.
“But about the staff. Each and every one of them were essential last year when I took over the reins, and continue to be so now. But really, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, Miss Berry.
I know you don’t hold with gushing words or overly long sentiments of affirmation, but I really would like everyone to know how hard you worked to get back here.
Without giving too many details – it was a long hard slog, wasn’t it? ”
“It was,” Miss Berry confirmed, the only hint of her embarrassment being the tight fist with which she clenched the microphone. “But I didn’t do it alone. Without the support of you, Petra, and my partner, Miss Anastasia Savchenko, it would have been even harder.”
Petra turned back to the crowd. “That is why I would like to draw everybody’s attention to Miss Berry. A fighter if ever I saw one. What do we say to three cheers for Miss Berry, everybody? Hip-hip?”
“Hooray!”
“Hip-hip?”
“Hooray!”
“Hip-hip?”
“Hooray!”
“Thank you,” Miss Berry said, still the very picture of calm. “Thank you for your kind sentiments. And now, we will leave you to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, after one final performance of A Medley of Broadway Smash-Hits, arranged and conducted by Mx Jean Taylor.”
Miss Berry followed Petra off the stage, and the choir stepped back into position.
“It took a lot of persuading for Victoria to agree to that,” Anastasia said in a low voice.
Jesus Christ, how long has she been there?
“It’s the very antithesis of everything she’s comfortable with, and everything she’s stood for.
But it’s a necessary step, if we’re going to reframe the public’s opinion of her.
She’s fed up of being viewed as this dragonesque ice queen.
She wants to be just that little bit more human.
And ultimately, we want to announce…” She reached down the front of her top, and pulled out a ring, which was attached to a thin chain around her neck. “This.”
“Congratulations!” Kivi said, feeling a rush of happiness for her friend. “Oh, my goodness. When did this happen?”
“At Christmas, actually,” Anastasia said. “We’ve been keeping it very much under wraps. Until just now, she’s never even squeaked a word publicly about our relationship.”
“Why?” Saskia said, brow furrowed. “What business is it of theirs whether you’re together or not?”
“It shouldn’t be their business, but it is,” Anastasia sighed.
“She’s pretty much the most well-known person in the village.
It seems odd, for a village headteacher, but almost every resident has had children or grandchildren go through the school under her jurisdiction, so they’ve all encountered her.
Add to that her public image, and she’s become this mythical creature who nobody dares to approach.
After her accident, and after we got together, she decided that she didn’t want that any more.
Hence Petra’s little…” she waved a hand, “…endeavour.”
“Seems like I have a lot to learn, still,” Saskia said, with a half-smile. “Do you think she’d object to meeting me? Not necessarily for a full-on interview, but maybe just for a quotation that I can use in my article…?”
“I don’t know.” Anastasia bit her lip. “She’s going to be exhausted tonight, and I can tell from the way she was standing that her back is killing her. Leave it with me, okay?” Now she smiled. “If anyone can bring her around, it’s me.”
“The magic of love,” Saskia said, and at that magic word, she just moved her elbow so it would nudge Kivi. It made Kivi nearly combust on the spot.
“Oh look, they’re about to start again,” Anastasia said, and they all turned their attention back to the choir.
Kivi barely noticed them, even when they broke into a Broadway-style chorus-line up complete with hilarious high-kicks towards the end.
Saskia laughed, as did the rest of the crowd, but Kivi just clung on tighter to Saskia’s waist, still pressed against her.
Yep, completely screwed. Absolutely falling in love with her.
When they got home, sun-soaked and deliriously happy, Kivi wasted no time in attacking Saskia’s mouth with her own.
They shut the door, leaving Toto in the garden because he’d found a toy that he was determined to play with, and then Kivi pressed Saskia up against it, determined to kiss her senseless.
“Oh my God,” Saskia moaned in a brief break for air, before Kivi belaboured her with kisses again.
“Wanted to do that all day,” she panted, untucking Saskia’s blouse so she could snake a hand up her front. “Do you have any idea how many people wanted to do this to you? Do you?”
“Perhaps,” Saskia said, not even attempting to play coy. Kivi liked her confidence. “But you’re the only one who gets to.”
“Because you’re mine.” Kivi’s blood surged. “And I love you.”
At the magic words, they both froze.
“You… do you?” Saskia said, her voice almost steady.
“Mm-hmm,” Kivi said, averting her gaze. She couldn’t bear to look at the confusion she was sure was painted across Saskia’s face. “Sorry. Too soon. I’m an idiot.”
“Kivi…” Saskia breathed. “Look… look at me.”
“No.” She couldn’t.
“Please.”
“No.”
“Kivi.”
Saskia put two fingers under her chin and applied pressure, forcing Kivi to raise her gaze.
“I’m so sorry,” she garbled. “I can’t believe I just said- you don’t have to say it back or anyth-”
“I love you too,” Saskia whispered. Then she leaned forward and placed a delicate kiss to her lips. Then another. And another. Before she could stop herself, Kivi let out a half-hysterical laugh. Her head swimming with emotions, it was the only way she could think to let them out.
“Now we’ve got that out of the way, shall we continue where we left off? I believe you were in the process of undressing me.”
Kivi looked at Saskia once again. Her eyebrow was raised in an expression of hauteur, but there was no mistaking the tell-tale uncontrollable raise of her lips. Kivi laughed again, and obeyed.