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He’s at the kitchen table, coffee and paper in front of him. I wrap my arms around him tight when I get to him, giving him the biggest squeeze I can manage. He kisses my arm and warm tingles of happiness flood through me.
When we were young, something as simple as sitting at a table and reading a paper together would have been unthought of, but now it’s my most favourite bit of the weekend. Doing things like this with Freddy finally makes me feel like the grown-up I really should be.
“So, for your birthday…” I squeeze myself between him and the table and settle myself on his lap.
“You’re going to finally finish the story you’ve been staring at on your computer for the last couple of months?” A smile teases the edge of his mouth.
“Uh, no. And don’t interrupt.” I interrupt myself by planting a full-on kiss on his mouth. “So, we have some time at home, this morning. And then this evening I have a romantic surprise planned.”
“I’m more interested in what you plan to do during our time at home this morning.” His eyes dance as one hand slides up my leg.
“Well, it is your birthday, so your wish is my command.”
Freddy lifts us both off the chair and carries me out of the kitchen. I’m screeching and we are halfway up the stairs when Mum comes out of the lounge looking confused. “Amber, Freddy?”
Freddy drops me to the ground, and I straighten up, shifting my clothing so I don’t look too wanton.Fail.
“Are you going out?” Mum asks.
“Later, Mum. We won’t be late back though, I promise.”
She looks at me in confusion. “Amber, you’re nearly thirty. I don’t think it matters if you come home late. Try not to wake me up though.”
Freddy’s hand releases mine and he leans in to my side. “Go and spend some time with your mum,” he whispers.
“But it’s your birthday.”
He offers me an off-handed shrug and walks away.
Tentatively, I step towards my rarely present mother. “Would you like a cup of tea, Mum?”
“That sounds lovely.” She turns for the kitchen, humming as she goes, and I speed after her, determined to spend as much time with her as possible while I can.
Later,to my surprise, Mum is still fully lucid. She hasn’t had a lapse all day and I feel kind of guilty still encouraging her to go to bed early. We’ve had such a good day. Freddy made us lunch. Mum knew that it was Freddy and that we were in the present, and she knew who Isaac was and that he was with my ex-husband, or eventually-to-be ex-husband.
Her improved state during the rest of the day has made me feel slightly more comfortable leaving her without a sitter tonight.
“Are you still worrying?” Freddy comes up behind me as I put in some earrings and he kisses the back of my neck.
“A little. Maybe you should just go out with your family, and I’ll stay here.”
“Would it make you feel better if I told you that I’ve been around to the neighbours and told them we will be out for a couple of hours and for them to keep an ear open for anything? I’ve left both our numbers just in case they need us.”
The unsettled feeling inside me disperses slightly. “That’s very thoughtful.”
“It’s totally selfish. I want to go out for dinner with you without you worrying all night.” He grins at me and turns me in his arms. His lips graze over mine and suddenly my own reasons for wanting to stay in tonight are entirely selfish.
"You know, considering you are now so old, you are still very easy on the eye.” He’s dressed in the most formal clothes I’ve ever seen him in (excluding the night he dumped me wearing a suit): dark jeans and a black button up shirt. The black sets off his blonde hair, making it glow like a halo and darken his eyes to the point they look dangerous.
‘Old! I’m thirty-one; I’m in my prime.”
“Nope. Your prime was when you were eighteen, and I missed that.”
“I still feel like I’m eighteen, does that count?”
I pretend to think for a moment. “Maybe.”
‘Maybe?” He hoists me closer, fitting my body into his perfectly. The firm curve of his chest presses into mine and his hands slide along my floaty dress, strong fingers pulling at the fragile material.
