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I pulled her close, placed her head on my chest and held her tight as we shuffled in a tight circle. I thanked the universe she was standing in my arms, I would never let her go again.
“Buster misses you,” I said into her ear.
“Only Buster?”
I kissed her mouth, crushed my lips to hers, I didn’t care who watched. I need to feel the connection, to show her how much I missed her.
“I love you, please never leave me again,” I said to her, holding her face so she would read my words.
“I love you too, I’ll stay by your side always,” she said and kissed me softly.
I pressed my forehead to hers and held her tight as we danced around the floor. We were interrupted many times by friends asking after my health and when would they see me at work. All I wanted to do was get Adaline home and plan the rest of our lives together.
Adaline
New Year’s Eve
We'd left Steph, Elliott, Scottie and Felicity, in the apartment on the fortieth floor. Callum had hired the apartment for New Year's Eve weekend. I didn’t know where we were going, but he'd bundled me up in my coat and added a hat, scarf and gloves. They were brand new and looked expensive. I'd never owned leather glovesbefore. I looked at his head and then back at his face to question where his hat was, not moving from my spot at the front door.
“I don't need a hat, I won't get cold, but you get cold in the summer months, so I'm not taking a chance, now that it’s winter,” he said without me voicing my question.
I loved that he knew what I was thinking most of the time, it saved me askingnumerous questionsand having to understand the answers. I'd got used to Steph years ago as well as Elliott. Scottie made accommodations for me naturally, but I guess that had a lot to do with growing up with a deaf mother. Felicity was a natural and had never once talked to me like a toddler.
The New Year would bring change for us all. Scottie would be starting college to earn his qualification in design. Felicity would manage the shop that opened in the middle of January. Callum had agreed to put a suit back on and run his father’s company side by side with Elliott. Steph was pregnant with their first child.
“I suppose that's true and you have loads of hair now. Do you think you'll ever get it cut?”
“Don't you like it?” He's asked looking a little wounded, fluffing up the ginger curls that flopped over his ears.
“I love it, gives me something to hang onto,” I said and stepped toward him for a kiss. He lightly brushed his lips against mine and stepped back.
“We don't have time, we need to get moving,” he said and then called out to the others we were leaving. After a cheer of goodbyes, he took my hand and escorted me to the lift and then out of the building.
The cold air hit me in the face. I was grateful for the hat, scarf, and gloves, my coat would never have been enough to keep me warm.
The six of us had decided that we wouldn't dress up for new years. Jeans and jumpers were our chosen outfits to see in a brand new year. I could hear Big Ben chime eleven times. The apartment block overlooked the Thames and the London Eye. Callum would need to be quick if we were to get back to countdown the seconds and raise a glass of champagne with our friends.
Callum walked us along the embankment and to a man dressed in black clothing. They shook hands, and he introduced me to his friend.
“You need to hurry if you're going to do this,” the man said and beckoned usover.
We walked up the metal ramp leading up to one pod on the London Eye. The door automatically opened torevealthe empty capsule. Or I thought it was empty, it was completely dark.
“Is everything in there?” Callum asked the man.
“Everything you askedfor. Good luck mate. We need to get that beer you promised me,” he said and clapped his shoulder.
“Soon, Paul, soon,” Callum said and took my hand again to carefully lead me into the capsule. As soon as we were in, Paul signalled to a guy in a booth and the door locked. The Eye started to gently move and felt like we were at sea. We stood admiring the view of London as we went higher and higher.
“What are we doing here?” I asked. I used the bench at knee level to help guide around the capsule so I could get to the glass. Callum pulled me back, lifted me in his arms and then dropped to the floor. There was a duvet under our bodies.
“No one can know we're here. I called in a couple of favours and linedsomepockets. If the public knew we were here, then the phone would ring off the hook for next year bookings. We have to lie down and stay down for about two hours.” He told me.
“That means we won't be back in time to see the New Year in with the others,” I said, aware I was stating the obvious.
“I'm hoping I can do something unique with you for our first New Year’s Eve. We can have company next year,” he said.
I looked up to see the night sky. There were hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the Thames to see the annual fireworks display, and we had the best seats in the house. I sniffled with emotion at the effort he had goneto. I love fireworks as a child and then grew to hate them. Callum pulled off my gloves and stuck ear buds in my ear. Any noise I could hear was completely muffled. Callum lay to my left and held my hand. We didn't have long to wait, according to the clock shining onto the buildingopposite.
To make good use of the time, Callum hauled me onto his body and kissed me. With one hand speared through my loose hair and the other grabbing hold of my hand, I was trapped. Before too long the crowd starting counting down, Callum fiddled around with my hand once more and then rolled me back into position to watch the fireworks.
The capsule vibrated as each firework went off, it rained down multi-coloured sparks. At one point I was blinded by the light. To shield my eyes, I lifted my hand, and that's when I saw it. It was the platinum band that caught my eye first. Turning my hand and waiting for the next firework, I saw the single diamond. I choked back a sob and looked to Callum. Tears were watering his eyes, he stayed silent, his lips firmly pressed together. It was his one raised eyebrow that asked the question.
“Yes,” Isaid noddingfuriously. Callum grabbed the back of my head and kissed me hard before relaxing as he kissed me softly. I didn't see the last five minutes of the fireworks display.
