Chapter 20 #3
‘I want you to know that I wouldn’t want to go back to Jennifer even if you and I weren’t an item.
I’ve closed the door on that particular chapter of my life.
It’s time for everyone to move on. Obviously, after all the hurt and upheaval, I’m sorry for Jennifer that it didn’t work out with Jack, but I can’t be held responsible for her happiness any longer.
’ He gave a regretful shrug and Tess nodded her understanding.
‘She’ll be okay, but these things take time.
I think both you and I are battle weary after our break-ups, but we’ve come this far and we’re doing well.
I’m proud of us, and how strong and resourceful we’ve been, but this is only the beginning.
’ He held up her hand in a winner’s salute, pumping the air, making her laugh.
What a relief it was to Tess to be able to clear the air.
Hearing Rob talk candidly about his feelings, and his marriage, which he hadn’t often done before and Tess had been loath to probe, went a long way to reassuring her that they were of a similar mindset, that she could trust him to be honest and upfront with her.
It was still early days for them, who knew what the future might hold, but she was really looking forward to finding out.
‘I’m discovering that it’s not always straightforward, the moving-on process, and I can’t always trust my emotions.
That’s my excuse for jumping to conclusions,’ she said with an apologetic smile.
‘It’s been a crazy few days. I don’t think I realised how uptight I was about my guests arriving, and then with Barney escaping, and now Charles being in hospital, it’s been stressful to say the least.’
‘What?’ Rob’s reaction was immediate and concerned.
‘Oh, I’ve not told you, have I?’ Her head really was all over the place right now. ‘He’s got pneumonia. We went to see him earlier and he seems in a pretty bad way.’
‘Christ, I’m sorry to hear that. You must be worried.’ Rob squeezed Tess’s shoulder and she was grateful for his support, for him simply being there, because Charles’s current predicament had stirred all sorts of unfathomable feelings within her.
‘Yes, he’s always been such a fit and strong man, so to see him so unwell is upsetting.
It’s Hannah I’m mostly worried about. She’s taken it hard.
Her relationship with her dad hasn’t been great ever since she came home from travelling so this has come as a real shock.
I think it’s made her realise that her dad isn’t invincible, that he might not always be around. ’
‘That’s not such a bad thing. No one would have wished this on Charles, but if it means that it helps in rebuilding his relationship with his daughter, then that has to be a good thing.’
‘Yeah, I suppose so.’ She knew Rob was only trying to find some positivity in such a dark situation, but Tess couldn’t really view it that way yet. ‘I just hope he pulls through.’
‘Ah, come here. This must be so tough on you, too.’ Rob cupped his hand around Tess’s face, his eyes filled with tenderness. ‘You know I’m here if there’s anything I can do to help, even if it’s just providing some moral support or a cuddle.’
‘Thanks.’ She exhaled a big sigh. ‘All cuddles gratefully received at the moment.’ She lifted her head to look up at his handsome profile, only relieved that their earlier misunderstanding had been cleared up.
He leaned down to kiss her on the lips in a way that was so gentle and tentative that it made her whole body unfurl, releasing all the pent-up emotions of the day.
In Rob’s arms, she felt so at home, at one with herself and with Rob, believing that everything would work out for the best, if she would only trust in their connection.
She returned his kisses, enjoying every sensation, the scent of him teasing at her nostrils, the feel of his light stubble against her cheek, the taste of him on her lips and the way his touch sent ripples of delight to the tips of her fingers and to the ends of her toes.
The weight of his body against hers made her fall back against the sofa and she wriggled, making herself comfortable, annoying Barney in the process, who reluctantly shifted out of the way of the tangle of limbs.
She giggled as Rob inflicted a barrage of tiny kisses along her neck and collarbone, making her squirm in delight until they both stopped, alerted by a noise behind them.
Quickly disentangling themselves, they pushed themselves up to find Hannah observing them disapprovingly.
‘Oh God, I didn’t realise you were here, Rob!’
‘Hey, Hannah, good to see you. Are you okay?’ Rob said, resting his arm along the back of the sofa nonchalantly, totally unfazed by her sudden appearance.
‘Yeah, I think so. Well not really, but you know, one of those days.’
‘I heard. Your mum was telling me. I’m really sorry about your dad. Hopefully, now that he’s in hospital, they can get him fixed up quickly.’
‘I hope so too.’
‘Look, I was just going. I’ll leave you to chat to your mum, but—’
‘No, don’t go,’ said Tess impulsively. After their earlier misunderstanding, she’d been relieved to clear the air with Rob and she was keen to explore that heightened connection further.
Also, after the upheaval of the last couple of days, she was grateful for his physical presence and his calming emotional support.
‘No, please, don’t go on my account. I was going to grab a snack then head back upstairs, but I just wanted to ask you a favour, Mum.
I was speaking to Billy earlier, telling him what had happened with Dad, and he said he would come down at the weekend.
Would it be okay if he stayed? Obviously not in the annexe,’ she said with a worried, sideways quirk of her mouth.
‘Yes, that’s fine. If that’s what you want.’
Tess wasn’t sure where Hannah and Billy were in terms of their relationship.
She didn’t like to probe too closely, respecting her daughter’s right to a private life, but knowing that if Hannah wanted to talk to her mum about anything, then that door was always open.
Either way, there was a lovely guest bedroom available if it was needed.
Hannah leaned on her mum naturally, for emotional support, but Tess was happy that she had someone else she could turn to for a different perspective.
If Billy could provide that for Hannah, then that had to be a positive thing.
After all, Tess had her own special person in her life that she could rely on, which was still a source of surprise and delight to her.
She turned to glance at Rob, who gave her a smile and an encouraging squeeze of her hand.