Page 64 of On The Edge

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The next morning Cat woke to make them some tea, leaving Patrick snoozing under blankets of all colours and sizes, draped over the bed to keep the cold out. She wrapped herself in her dressing gown, ventured downstairs, and opened the front door to a freezing cold morning; the sea rumbled before her, and white snow covered everything. It was a beautiful sight, as gentle snowflakes fell from the sky, promising more cold weather to come. She wasted no time getting back upstairs to Patrick, and handed him a cup of tea. He propped himself sleepily up against the headboard, and let Cat nuzzle into his chest.

“There’s a blizzard starting out there. I just heard on the radio that all ferries are off, and people are advised to stay at home.”

“Oh - so I have to stay here until it clears?” He grinned down at Cat.

“Looks like it!” Cat ran her fingers down his chest and stomach. He was strong and lean, and happily for Cat his interest in the tea didn’t last long. His arms tightened around her and they disappeared under the covers once again. Hours passed, and the snow continued to fall gently outside, undisturbed.

Night descended, and Cat lit the fire. Nat King Cole played softly in the background whilst the gentle flames crackled. She poured a glass of wine for them both while she rustled up a simple beef stroganoff. Patrick picked up the wooden spoon and sipped the sauce.

“Hey!” Cat pulled the spoon away. “It’s not finished yet, you do not disturb an artist at work do you?” She adopted a theatrical French accent. “Go make yourself useful and set zetable!”

“You’re very bossy do you know that?” Patrick chuckled and pulled Cat to him; kissing her neck and making her want him all over again.

Cat had laid a blanket on the floor beside the fire and scattered some cushions to sit on for dinner. The coffee table was moved sideways, and set with plates and cutlery, as Patrick came through with two large glasses of wine. Cat looked around at their makeshift luxury. She loved Bramble cottage. It had given her so much already; nurturing her talent and helping discover her family. And now being here in the space with Patrick felt right, giving life back into the building, making it a home again.

Patrick served up the food and sat down on a cushion beside Cat.

“This is all very bohemian,” she laughed.

Relaxed and very full of food they both lay on the floor next to the fire.

“I’m so thankful for this snow,” Patrick said, stroking her neck. “If it wasn’t snowing, I wouldn’t have banged my car up and had to come back here last night. It forced me to make a decision. I’m pretty stubborn at times, and all I wanted to do was get away last night, thinking you didn’t want me.”

Cat touched his lips. “We both know now.” They kissed, and Cat laid her head on his shoulder. “Hey!” she exclaimed suddenly, “I never told you I found out that my grannie lived near here, did I?” She told Patrick about her recent findings, with the help of Mrs Grey, and the photos that Johnny and Billy had unearthed.

“That’s a bit spooky!” Patrick stroked Cat’s hair as she lay her head back on his chest. “I mean, of all the places you could have decided to go, you came to the very spot your grannie was born!”

“I guess!” Cat lay still, enjoying his touch. “I do think it was there, somewhere in the back of my head, like a distant memory lurking in the wings, until finally there was too much evidence to ignore! When I saw the island that day in that magazine, it seemed familiar. And thinking about it now, I saw it at a time I really needed to.”

He reached over to the table for the bottle of wine, trying not to move Cat’s head and refilled their glasses awkwardly. Cat felt the gentle rise and fall of his breathing as she stayed close to his chest, gently lifting his shirt up and stroking his stomach underneath. Patrick pulled Cat’s face to his, kissing her slowly as they slipped into endless moments lost in one another’s arms.

The phone rang early the next morning, and a sleepy Patrick held it out to her, his eyes half-closed.

“Ms MacGregor? It’s Mrs Grey the librarian.”

“Oh my goodness, Mrs Grey I’m... I'm so sorry I didn’t call, I, er... completely forgot I was meant to come over yesterday!”

“Oh my dear that’s fine, I assumed there was no way you’d be over – we did have a blizzard after all!”

“Thank you, Mrs Grey! So... what can I do for you?” Cat was relieved; choosing between Patrick’s warm, glorious body and the prim but kind librarian was no choice at all, really, especially in the winter.

“Can you spare some time to come over later today? It looks like it’ll be safe to travel now. I have some exciting news for you.”