“So is now a good time to tell you we’re going on a babymoon?” I wince as I ask the question.
“What’s a babymoon?”
“It’s a little break that…uhm…parents take before the baby arrives.” I don’t meet her eyes, even though she said she wants me. There is a small part of me that worries someone will turn around and tell me that I’m not dad material and this baby isn’t mine.
“Cole, look at me.” Somehow, Lacey always seems to know what I’m thinking. I meet her eyes. “I cannot wait to go on this babymoon together.” Her smile is broad, and her eyes sparkle with lust.
I want to take hold of her right now, but my mum uses that moment to walk in singing, “Cauliflower cheese!” I give Lacey a look that promises later.
We spend a few hours eating our food and laughing at old stories from when our parents were younger. As I sit aroundwatching Lacey laugh so much that she cries, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be the one who sees it.
I have a feeling this babymoon is going to be precisely what Lacey needs.
I can only hope that everything with DBD is sorted by the time we get back, because if he comes after my family again, he’s going to regret it.
Chapter 25
Lacey
Babymoon.
Something I’d never heard of before, but I am so glad that Cole had. He had Emmy and Hayleigh pack some things for me, and they brought them to May’s house for us. Now, we’re on the road to our destination, which is a secret, according to Cole.
It’s nighttime, and the moon shines brightly in the sky without a cloud in sight. We left the main road about half an hour ago, and now Cole skilfully navigates around the country roads. There is no lighting, just the moon and stars to guide our way. I look out of the window and up to the stars, watching them slowly pass by.
May used to tell me a story about stars when I first started going round to their house. She would sit out with me on warm nights and tell me that the stars were those who had left us,shining bright in the sky. To this day, I find a star and imagine it's my mum looking down on me. I like to think she would be proud that I’m going to be a mum.
I sneak a peek at Cole’s face and smile, knowing that my mum would have loved him.
“It’s rude to stare.” His lips twitch to one side.
“Sorry, you’re just so beautiful.” I blow him a kiss. “How far away are we?”
He nods towards the windshield.. “Five minutes away.”
We travel along the bumpy road, shrouded in complete darkness, when I spot lights in the distance. As we drive, the road comes to an end, and Cole indicates a right turn, turning down a small passageway. As we drive through the arched trees, we see twinkle lights woven into the branches. Not long before, every part of the archway is covered in glittering, warm lighting. I can’t help but stare out the window at the display. It feels magical and cosy. When the archway opens up to a driveway, I gasp at the sight of the beautiful cottage, tucked away from the world.
Cole parks up and opens my door to help me out. “I’ll get us inside first, then come back for the bags.” He walks over to the front door and crouches to lift a gnome, who is fishing in his Speedos and sunglasses. Underneath is a key; he holds it up triumphantly and opens the door.
Inside, the smell of vanilla and sugar hits me at once. The hallway is small, with space for shoes on a mat underneath a table holding a bowl for keys. The stairs are in front of us, and to the right is a doorway, much too small for Cole, who has to duck to get through.
The living room is small and cosy. A log burner sits in one corner, and a corner sofa follows the room. A small coffee table reigns in the middle and a bookshelf on the other side, crammedwith books. I walk over and take a look; it's a nice collection, all romance, all spicy.Hmm, interesting.
We walk through to the kitchen in comfortable silence. In the middle of the island sits a covered plate of cookies and a note.
Enjoy your stay at the cottage. I did a little shopping for you earlier today, and as promised, I have booked the item you requested. Marj xx
“Is Marj one of your dad's relatives?” I grab a cookie and stuff it in my face. I haven’t eaten in hours, and I swear that grumble is from Peanut.
“Yeah, his cousin. This is her cottage. She’s gone away to Cardiff and offered it up for our babymoon– the babymoon.” He corrects himself and must think I don’t notice, but I do.
“Our babymoon.Ours,Cole. Peanut and I are your girls, no one else’s, and I promise you that will never change. Okay?” I hold my hand to the side of his face and bring him down to kiss me softly. In that moment, Peanut chooses to growl very loudly, or my stomach does, and Cole kisses me quickly and stands back up.
“I need to get our bags from outside. Go upstairs, run yourself a bath, and relax for a bit. I’ll make us some food and shout for you when I’m done.”
He kisses me on the cheek as he leaves, and I snatch up another three cookies…eating for two!
When I pass through the living room, I stop by the bookshelf and snatch up a book without looking. I head up the stairs and check out this floor. It has one main bedroom, a study, and a bathroom. I walk into the bathroom and marvel at the size. This could have easily been split into another room, but why would you, when you had this? The flooring and walls are tiled in a white colour. A standing shower, large enough for two, takes up one corner of the room, featuring a waterfall showerhead and a bench. The true beauty in this room lies in the large floor-to-ceiling window and the silver claw-footed tub, which sits in front of it.
