Chapter Thirty-Nine London
Chapter Thirty-Nine
London
In London, Finn and Sophia had enjoyed a whole day of make-up sex. They drank a bottle of cava and had pizza delivered to eat in bed to keep their strength up. In between orgasms they talked properly about the future.
Finn looked at this bright and beautiful woman and knew he couldn’t imagine his world without her in it.
He’d spent most of his life having cheerful-but-casual sex with a variety of women, mostly tourists who went back home from Orkney with happy memories of making love to a silver-tongued Irishman with no strings attached.
Finn could hardly remember any of their faces.
It had meant nothing to him, although he always wanted them to have as much fun as he did.
He couldn’t help himself flirting with every woman who had a pulse. For every knockback he received, there were more than enough who fell for his chat-up lines. And then Sophia had come along.
She was nothing like any of the other women he had encountered. Obviously, she was intelligent and extremely sexy and good-looking, but she was also kind and strong and loyal. Sophia was the full package and for the first time ever Finn wanted to settle down and have a clutch of babies.
It was time for him to grow up and stop being so self-centred. He loved his work, but he loved Sophia even more.
Sophia forced him to get up and hit Regent Street before the shops shut. She wanted to buy him something smart for Freya’s party.
Finn gulped but seeing the determination in Sophia’s eyes he knew there was no point in arguing, so he suffered the ordeal of going shopping for smart new trousers and a jacket.
Sophia thought it made him look like James Bond, and Finn preened in front of the mirror, saying it wasn’t all that bad to dress up now and again.
They had both fully intended to make Freya’s birthday party.
With their flights booked and their outfits bought, the two of them headed to terminal 2 at Heathrow the next day, only to discover they couldn’t check in to their early morning flight to Dundee and then on to Kirkwall. A computer outage meant every single plane was grounded.
Check-in staff were being harangued by incensed passengers who were missing business meetings, weddings and, like Sophia and Finn, special events like birthday parties.
Sophia was stressed and devastated but said to Finn, “I’ve never understood people getting so cross with staff who are trying their best. It’s not their fault that the technology is so shit and keeps breaking down. ”
“Agreed,” said Finn. “Flying really is fucking stressful though.”
She smiled at him, “Tell me about it. I’ve been doing the commute for over a year now and feel as if I have spent more time at airports than with you in Orkney.”
He looked shamefaced. “I’m so sorry, love. I didn’t appreciate it. The cost and the hassle and everything. I should have realised and not been so selfish.”
Sophia said, “It’s OK. I’m glad we have straightened everything out.”
Finn frowned, “But what are we going to do. The party is tonight. We have left it far too late to drive up and get the ferry. I think we might be stuffed.”
Sophia sighed. “I think you’re right. We just won’t make it. It’s a real shame. I hate to let Freya down and I am really worried about Evie. She hasn’t been herself recently.”
Finn frowned, “What do you mean?”
“Amelia’s arrival has really unsettled her. You know she’s been copying Evie’s looks, right down to her hair style. I know Evie is uneasy about it all. I hoped to have a really long hard look at this woman and find out exactly what’s going on.”
She bit her lip. “I’ve been so wrapped up in what’s going on with us that I haven’t been as good a friend to Evie as I should have been.”
Finn gave her a hug, “She’s tougher than you think. I was terrified of her when she gave me a right bollocking about you, and how I had to make more of an effort. She will handle this Amelia.”
“I hope you’re right”, said Sophia. “I will just feel better when I see her in person.” She looked up at the board again, showing nothing but cancelled flights.
“Let’s wait a while in case things change, but it’s not looking good. I will give Evie a call and let her know.”
In the end they had to go back home after hours of waiting at the airport, as by late afternoon it was clear they would definitely be missing Freya’s big event.
There was a tearful phone call to Freya, who told them not to fret and that she’d see them soon and how glad she was they had mended their quarrel and they were to have lots of lovely sex.
Sophia tried to call Evie but had to leave a voice message when she failed to pick up.
They stayed up late into the wee small hours, taking Freya’s advice and making delicious gentle love.
They toasted Freya with a bottle of bubbly and Finn told Sophia something that would change their lives forever.