‘I’d say we have a lot of making up to do,’ I agree.
‘Good, then your place or mine?’
‘How about yours for a change?’
Abe agrees, and takes my hand in his and kisses it. Then he calls the waiter for the bill and once again I find myself walking hand in hand along the canal with Abe, which is the best feeling in the world.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ted jumps up on the bed, waking me with a start as I remember that I stayed in Abe’s houseboat. It is the first time I have stayed over here, rather than let him come to me. His bedroom is more masculine with a black cabinet of drawers and plain blue curtains that match his bedsheets. His jeans are thrown on the floor beside the bed, a reminder that nothing else mattered more than being united again last night.
‘Ted, can you get your butt out of my face?’ says Abe, laughing.
‘Who says romance is dead?’ I laugh.
Ted pushes between the two of us, creating a barrier.
‘So much for snuggling in together this morning,’ says Abe.
‘Ah, it’s fine. It’s cosier with Ted,’ I tease.
I can’t help grinning to myself as I lie in Abe’s cosy bed with Ted already snoring beside me.
‘I just want you to know that’s not me,’ says Abe.
‘I know. You never snore because you’re just perfect.’
‘And so are you.’
We both reach over Ted, to hold hands and gaze at each other.
‘What a lovely way to wake up,’ I say.
‘I couldn’t think of a better way to start the morning.’
‘So, what shall we do today, once Ted decides it’s time to get up?’ asks Abe.
‘Don’t you have to get to work?’
‘Nope. Beatrix is in. It’s my day off. I was thinking, if you like we could sort the paint out? I was worried about that as I knew you wouldn’t know where to pick exterior boat paint up from. We can go together and order everything, if you want. We might even be able to start painting later today. At least we can do the base coat. What do you think?’
‘That would be amazing. Why not? If you’re sure you have nothing better to do.’
‘Oh, I can think of something better to do but, unfortunately, Ted got in the way. Maybe we can get back to that later,’ says Abe, grinning.
‘Sounds like a plan.’
As Abe gets up to make us coffee to start the day, Ted follows at the sound of his food bowl being filled up.
I sit up in bed as I wait for Abe to return with our morning coffee and smile. I can’t believe I almost lost all of this because of assuming something so ridiculous. From now on, I promise myself that I will never doubt Abe’s intentions again.
After dashing back home to change, Abe and I head to the paint store on our bicycles and collect the first items we need. Abe recommends a primer for the wood, and we take the pots back to the boat in our respective baskets. As soon as we get back, he puts on those paint-splashed overalls that I love so much and together we start work on the outside.
Abe and I make the perfect team as we begin sanding down the barge. I soon realise how much more fun it is doing renovations when you have someone you care for doing it beside you. We sing along to the Eighties radio station that blasts out from my small radio as we paint on the primer. This job is going to take a lot of time and hard work, and I am already impatient for a quick result and wanting to start painting on the colour. Thankfully Abe is more patient than me, and reminds me of the importance of getting it right from the off if I want a good result. When we finally use the body filler to cover some uneven bits, I see what he means.
‘You see why you can’t just gloss over things?’ he says.
‘You’re right. We have to start from the foundations. It’s just tedious when you can’t wait for the end result.’
