Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Joel
I finish packing the small suitcase and look around the room, trying to think of anything else that I will need for the surprise, long weekend away I have in store for Edith—not that we’ll need much because I have no intention of venturing out of the hotel any longer than we have to.
Edith had mentioned she’d been looking into some of the courses Lucy Knighton is holding in Manchester and London. So, without her knowing, I’ve booked her in for one of the make-up courses she is interested in. It’s an opportunity for her to learn new skills while giving us a chance to spend time together without worrying about who is watching.
“Are you sure you don’t mind looking after Milo?” I ask Daniel, who is currently leaning against my bedroom door.
“It’s fine. I’ll have him down the pub with me.”
Anxiety has already swarmed my stomach at the thought of leaving him, but the idea of him having to go up and down the stairs frightens me more.
I cup the back of my neck, looking at my brother. “You might have to give him a hand. He’s not as steady as he used to be. His legs buckled when he tried to climb the stairs the other day.”
The sadness in my brothers eyes no doubt matches my own as he gives an understanding smile. “I’ll take good care of him. You know I will.”
I nod, knowing he will but still feeling guilty. “You call me if anything happens.”
“I will. Although, you still haven’t told me why you’re going away.”
“I told you. It’s for Edith’s work.”
“Bullshit. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the sparkle in your eyes these past couple of weeks. I take it you’ve made up with her?”
“We are just good friends. ”
“Again. Bullshit.” He laughs. “But you don’t have to tell me as long as you are happy.”
I look at him with conviction. I meant what I said when I told Edith we’d keep our relationship under wraps but, even though I’ve technically not said anything, he knows. “This is between us.”
“What is? I don’t know any more than what I did an hour ago.”
“Good. Make sure it stays that way.”
He shakes his head with a grin and shifts aside following me downstairs where Milo is curled up in his bed, sleeping.
“So, when is Edith back?”
“Soon. It was only a little catch up with her dad before he heads to a meeting.”
“I’ve never known a man to retire yet still go out to work.” Daniel laughs. “Then again. If I had a wife like Lorna, I’d never want to be home either.”
I laugh. “Well, there is that.”
I gather up Milo’s blanket, food and toys and place them in a bag, handing them to Daniel before I look around for anything else he may need. He doesn’t even need a lead anymore because he has little intention of or energy for running off.
“Right, everything is in there. He doesn’t play with his toys now, but I like to keep them with him anyway. Just in case. He may not eat much either. That’s normal now too. Just make sure you watch him on the stairs.”
My brother smiles. “Joel. I promise he will be fine. I’ll be glad of the in-house babysitter for Ted anyway.”
I nod and call over my boy. I lift my chin and he licks me before I give him a hug. It’s not often I leave him for more than a day, and the separation anxiety is killing me already. “Now you be a good boy for Uncle Dan and I’ll be back soon.” I pat his back and kiss his head as I hear the front door go and Edith shout for me.
“I’ll see you soon. And don’t worry,” Daniel says, heading down the hall with my four-legged best friend as Edith makes her way to me looking confused.
“Hey, I got your text. What’s with Milo and the bag?”
I wrap my arms around her. “Daniel is looking after him for the weekend.”
“Why?” Her big crystal eyes are full of awe and apprehension as her arms link around my neck. I pull her closer and push my worries about Milo aside to focus on the woman standing in front of me.
"So, I've been thinking."
She raises a brow. "Sounds dangerous. "
“And this thinking has led me into doing something.”
“Okay.” She sounds curious now.
“I’ve booked us a long weekend away in Manchester. Hence why Daniel has taken Milo.”
A slight look of panic crosses her expression, and I know what she’s thinking before she’s even uttered a word. I know she’s worried about work, but with the help of Alice and with Edith having Mondays off anyway, it was only Saturday’s appointments that needed to be covered.
Putting my finger on her lips to stop her I add, “You don’t have to worry about your clients. I’ve spoken to Alice and she’s sorted everything out for tomorrow. You just need to go home and pack a bag.”
“But… How? And why?”
“Because I want to spend time with you. And there’s the small fact that I’ve booked you into one of Lucy’s workshops tomorrow.”
The panic in her eyes transforms to pure surprise as they widen. “What? No.”
“Yep. Tomorrow morning, while I’m relaxing in the hot tub, you’ll be learning about party makeup and that contour stuff you ladies go on about.”
“But there’s a waiting list for her courses.”
“Not when it comes to you. Lucy was more than happy to fit you in.”
“Oh my god, Joel. This is amazing. Thank you. But you didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to. You work hard, and I know what it means to you to build your business bigger and better. I want to be a part of that anyway I can.”
Something flashes in her eyes, but I’m unsure what. I’m assuming it’s good because she presses her mouth to mine.
“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” she whispers before hugging me.
I have every idea because she’s doing things to me that I’ve never felt before. It’s unconditional and has consumed me so hard that I can’t breathe without her yet at the same time, I’m breathless when she’s near. And I never want it to stop.
I don’t know what Edith has been more excited about: the fact we are away together, spending the morning doing something she loves or that Manchester has trams. Either way, the smile hasn’t left her beautiful face since we arrived last night .
My morning, however, does not happen as I’d expected.
I walk Edie to the hotel where the workshop is being held and plan to head back to our hotel and work on a few designs while I FaceTime Daniel and Teddy. However, once we arrive, Lucy mentions she is a model down and Edith, being Edith, comes right out and tells her I’ll be more than willing to help out where necessary.
So here I am, sitting in front of a class of fifteen beauticians with a full face of fucking makeup. Drag makeup. Everyone looks at me with intrigue as they learn. Meanwhile, my best friend and girlfriend has a smug look on her face like this is the best thing she’s seen all year. I’m all for those who wish to wear makeup, no matter their gender, but this is not for me.
Payback. I’m going to get fucking payback for this. However, a part of me is glad I came: Beauty therapy is a private affair, so she works behind closed doors and I’ve never been permitted to watch her work. Okay, I’ve seen her do certain things on Daisy at home, but I’ve never seen the professional side to her.
She’s come here to learn new skills, but she’s spent most of the day teaching others her own. The way she talks about products, the way she helps the other students to understand the importance of them and the way she applies their makeup. I could listen and watch her all day. She truly is talented.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Edith for sharing her expertise with us today; I hope you have learnt some things from her,” says Lucy. “And I would like to thank our models who have given up their time for us. Especially Joel, who I don’t think had much choice in the matter.” She smiles.
“Nonsense. He loved it,” Edith replies, causing everyone to laugh.
“As much as it was a little surprising, I’ve enjoyed it. Edie will just pay for it later.”
“I bet she can’t wait for that,” one of the students shouts.
As everyone packs up their things and the conference room clears, Edith and Lucy are in deep conversation about how the day has gone. I don’t want to disturb them but I want to get this stuff off my face because it’s starting to feel a little uncomfortable.
I stand and make my way over to the mirror on the wall, not sure if looking at myself is a good idea or not.
“Jesus Christ,” I breathe. I turn at the sound of Edith’s low chuckle and find her and Lucy now watching me.
“Joel, it’s not as bad as it looks,” Edith says.
“You think?” I turn back to the mirror and take another look at my face. Vibrant shades of orange and green are blended over my eyelids and bright yellow stretches up to my eyebrows, which incidentally look like big black slugs. My lashes have become jet black fans while my face is coated in foundation, a shade darker than my skin tone. My cheeks are covered in rouge and my lips are finished with hot pink lip gloss. To those who have the eye for fashion makeup, this may look incredible, but I’m not convinced, especially on me. However, this contour stuff is pretty impressive: my nose doesn’t look like my own! “How do people even think these lashes are comfortable?”
“It takes some getting used to,” Lucy laughs.
I’m glad I’ve provided some form of entertainment for the others today. “It was good to see you again, Joel. I have to shoot off now.”
Soon enough, Edith comes to stand at the side of me and wraps her arms around my waist, looking back at me in the mirror. “You look like a queen.”
“I feel like a fucking idiot.”
“Hey. People pay good money to look as good as you.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean… Well look at me. Playing dress-up was not on my weekend schedule.” I look back at her. “Can you take it off no w please?”
“Erm. Well.” She bites her bottom lip, trying to hide a grin. “Lucy has packed up and gone already.”
I look around the room and register the fact that it’s just me and Edie, my heart stopping with what I fear is coming next. “And?”
“My makeup remover is back at the hotel.”
Fuck. Holy… Fuck.
My eyes widen in horror and I wag my finger in front of her. “Oh no. No. No, no, no.”
I already know my fate when she starts to control the laughter that is bubbling up inside. “Edie. No. You can’t expect me to walk through the city like this.”
“No one will take any notice,” she quips.
“Are you for real? It’s bad enough that I’ve had to sit here and endure it. I can’t walk out like this.”
She pokes out her bottom lip, loving every damn second of this. However, I’m starting to sweat a little.
“But you said you’d do anything for me.”
Shit, fuck and all its bollocks.
“But not this. I look like something out of the Rocky Horror Show.”
There’s no point even trying to reason with her now because she’s currently laughing her fucking head off.
Swiping her phone out of her back pocket, she holds it up in front of her trying to get it together but she’s now wheezing like Muttley from Wacky Races. “Oh my God. I need to send a picture to Daisy.”
“Can you focus for a minute please?” I order. Only it’s no good because I’ve completely lost her to hysteria. “I need to wash this shit off.” I leave her laughing and head to the nearest toilet, splashing my face with water to try rubbing the makeup off. Only I just make it worse because it all smudges into a cocktail of colours.
“Shit.” Drying my face on some paper towels, I give myself a once over in the mirror and shake my head.
As I pull the door open to leave, I find Edith waiting outside and when she sees the mess I’ve now created her laughter leaves her once more. And because she drives me crazy in all the right ways, I find myself thawing to the shock of how I look and grin at how humorous she finds the situation.
“You are un-fucking-believable. You know that?” I bring her in for a hug and growl in her ear. “You will pay for this later.”
“I can’t wait,” she says, wiping the happy tears away. “Your face is a picture.”
“Literally.”
Cupping her jaw, I bring her close and press my mouth to hers. Kissing her is the only way I know will calm her down so I can get any sense back into her. “Why do I get the feeling this was your plan all along?”
“I’ve no idea what you are talking about,” she whispers with a grin.
“Bullshit.” I press my lips against hers once more.
“Can you give me one last flutter of your lashes please?”
I roll my eyes and give in, flashing my lashes and blowing her a kiss, too.
The sooner we are out of here the better because I want her back at the hotel stripped bare and withering.
For many years I’ve not felt anything but a hollow ache that has eaten away at me, not knowing how to repair the damage or where to even begin with freeing myself of it. But these last few weeks have made me realise that nothing is going to repair and that it’s more about who can repair it.
I laugh more with her in a day than I ever have in a week. Edith excites me. She can make my day feel like the sun is shining even if it’s pouring with rain. She’s my reason and my world. She always has been, and I’m determined to keep that smile on her face for eternity because if she’s smiling, it means I am, too.
They say the best love of your life comes after the mistakes you’ve made, and I know I’ve found mine. I’m falling in love with her all over again… Even though I never truly stopped to begin with.
“You ready to walk the catwalk, big guy?” she smiles.
I take her rucksack off her shoulder and place it on mine to carry it for her. “I’m ready to make your day, even though I look worse now.”
“You have no idea how proud I am of you for doing this.”
“Stop taking the piss and let’s get out of here.”
We make our way out towards the entrance and I’m already getting strange looks as I link hands with Edith.
“Oh, by the way. I’ve just sent the photo to Daze and she said she’s going to put it on all her socials and tag you.”
“Jesus, Christ. Am I trending yet? Because if it doesn’t go viral I’ll be pissed.”
She bursts out laughing again as we step out onto the street.