Authors: Z. Elizabeth
“Well get me drunk again and you know I will shout it from the rooftops, hell, I will do that sober too. I love you, Craig, so much.”
“And I love you, my gorgeous wife. Now let's watch the remaining sunset and pretend we are in a romantic film and the credits are just about to roll now we are all happy and in love and all that other shit you love.” I flick his nose at him mocking my favourite genre and I push myself up and off him, letting him sit up too. He pulls me between his legs and I lean back against his chest, holding onto his hands which have snaked around my waist. He rests his head on my shoulder and kisses the side of my neck, breathing me in.
“I know we have more to talk about, but I am just so content being here with you, Nic.” I hum in response. Words aren't needed. We both sit in silence, cuddled together just watching the yellow ball of heat make its way lower and lower until day turns to night. When we are surrounded by the onset of the dark cloud, we decide it's probably best to head back and see what has been going on between our fathers. Brushing the sand from one another, a cheeky grope here and there, we walk hand in hand back to our flat, praying that everything will be okay.
***
My heart is hammering in my chest. I'm petrified over what will be behind the door. I know they were both scared to be left alone, God, I would be, too, if thirty years had passed, but they also both seemed to want this as well. Craig unlocks the door and we step inside. My hand is clutching his so hard that he laughs at me and tucks me under his arm. We walk into the living room to find a bottle of Whiskey on the table and our fathers laughing together. It was not the sight I was expecting to see, but I’ll take it. They look so happy and so utterly buzzed. How much have they drunk? We haven’t been gone that long. Craig and I stand in the doorway, much the same as his father did not too long ago and witness the scene in front of us. When our dad's notice us, they grin and motion us over to them. With our dad's drunk, I'm hoping that John won't say anything to me, although from personal experience, I now know the truth comes out when you’re totally lashed. Craig drops down on the armchair, pulling me onto his lap. I curl up into his body and fling my legs over the arms. My father is smiling at us whereas John has an unreadable look on his face and I shelter inwards, not liking that look. Seeing us affectionate must kill him and it's making me feel uncomfortable being in Craig's arms. I go to get off him but he tightens his grip and tells me to stay still and ignore his dad. So Craig can see what he's doing?
“What happened while we were gone? Seems like you got through that Whiskey bottle?” Craig chuckles, trying to defuse the attention from us and back onto our fathers. My dad looks to John and he wraps an arm around his old friend, downing the last of the liquid in his glass. I love seeing him this happy, I don’t think I ever have, not around my mother anyway.
“The Whiskey really helped and of course nothing is going to go back to normal but I think I finally have my best friend back.” John smiles and hugs my dad. It warms my heart that they are back on speaking terms. It's going to take more than an hour to sort out thirty years worth of mess but it's a start. It's the beginning of something new, and the beginning of an old friendship. So much as happened; they've grown up, had kids, fallen in love but one thing never changed, they never moved away from Swansea and it's clear to see that deep down, both of them hoped this day would come around. I smile up at Craig, who bends down and captures my lips in his. I grin into his lips and pull away, not comfortable in frolicking in front of the parents.
“We have thirty years to catch up on and it starts tonight. We are going to go back to John's and carry on the evening. If your mother calls tell her I’ll pick my shit up tomorrow when I am sober enough.” My dad winks and I freeze. It's final then. He isn’t going to stay with her. I should be begging him to give her another chance, but I can't. She broke them up and now she has to pay the price. I give him a nod and get up off Craig, ready to hug my father goodbye. Wrapped in his arms, I can smell the stench of alcohol and I know he's drunk so much because of his nerves, because of what this meeting entitled. But looking at them both, they seem to be relaxed around one another and I thank the Lord for that. My dad lets me go and I stand awkwardly opposite John. I glance up at him then avert my eyes. I can do this, I can just hug him and get it out the way. But John makes the first move and wraps me up. I stand still and quickly put mine around his waist.
“I don’t trust you, Nic, but I want to get to know you. Can we meet tomorrow at the café opposite the beach? Say midday?” He whispers. He knows Craig and my dad won't overhear, as they are deep in conversation with one another. I nod my head sharply then step back, needing my own space. Craig steps into the space I just left and says something to his dad who briefly looks my way then nods. I want to know what is being said but I'm not going to delve. I'm sure I will find out tomorrow.
With the goodbyes out the way, a horn beeps outside and I assume that Craig phoned a taxi somewhere between the hugging. We watch the two men stumble out of the house and then stand by the window, watching them stagger to the taxi. Once it drives off I put my head against the glass and let out a yawn. Craig chuckles and picks me up into his arms, striding into the bedroom. My stomach lurches at the thought of him being all alone for the last three nights and the guilt rises yet again but I push it back when he lowers me onto my side and jumps over me, pulling me into his arms. I don’t care that we are fully clothed, I don’t care that it is still early, all that matter is I am back where I belong – back in his arms and back home. With my husband.
Nic
I bite my nail in anticipation and my eyes constantly flicker towards the café door. It's just after noon and I am seated, hot chocolate in front of me and I am in a state of panic. I have never been one on one with John. I haven’t spoken to him unless Craig has been with me. Can't actually say I’ve had a full on conversation with him either which makes that all the worse. I lied and told Craig I was meeting Jamie because he had work things to go over with me. It was the only excuse that came to mind because if he knew I was meeting his dad, he would want to be here, protecting me from harsh words that I know will be thrown my way. But I'm a big girl, I can stand up for myself and hopefully make it right about John's misconceptions about me. I want him to know I am nothing like my mother. I'm not going to break Craig's heart and dump him for a wad of money. Hell no. I've wanted him for years and now I finally have him, why in the world would I give that up? Craig and I may have more talking to do, to try to get over this bump but that won't happen unless I can get on the same page as John, and we are going to do this today! He's already on the way to having his best friend and now I want a relationship with my husband's dad. One where we get on, I can pop over and see him without Craig. Isn’t that what the in-laws are all about?
I hear the bell go and my eyes flick to the door. I let out a shudder because John is entering the café, his eyes glancing around looking for me. When he finally spots me, he gives me a slight nod and strides over. My heart is in my throat and the nerves are kicking in. What has happened to me? I'm normally strong, confident, and I have reverted into a little girl. It's time to put on the big knickers and show him I'm not intimidated by him. By the time he reaches the table, he shrugs his jacket off and takes the seat opposite me. I force myself to look at him, and not into the chocolate liquid in my mug. I have no idea what he is thinking because his face is blank, but I think he's studying me behind those blue eyes. The ones that Craig have. Despite his age, John still looks good. He's an editor at the local paper and mine and Craig's fake marriage would be a great story for him to report on - if we weren't family. Craig gets his wavy hair from his father and he is definitely what we would call a DILF. I can't actually believe I said that but those eyes, his broad shoulders and muscular arms, and the waves make him look so much younger than he is. And a lot of ladies love the intensity of a guy too. But right now, I feel like I am going to be interrogated and I would rather his eyes be on someone else. And with him not saying anything, I try to defuse the bomb about to go off.
“Would you like a drink, John? I'm just about finished with mine.” I ask him, if only to get away for a few minutes to try and exhume the tension between us. I go to make a move but John grabs my hand. I stop short of standing up and bite my lip.
“It's fine, Nic, I don’t want anything. I can also see you have a mug full, so please sit down.” His voice holds authority and I shrink back onto the chair, folding my arms across my chest, reverting into myself. My eyes make the rounds, taking in the other people scattered around the room and I wish that I could swap with just one of them, so they could get a massive lecture. I return my eyes onto John's and swallow. Can't he just get this over with?
“I want to start by saying thank you,” he says, and I widen my eyes at him. He gives me a smirk, knowing I was not expecting that before carrying on. “You and Craig have been put in a very difficult position by your grandparents, our parents, to obtain your inheritance and although I disagreed with their way and of you two going through with it, you have both brought best friends back together after thirty years so I thank you for bringing Peter back into my life.”
I have no words. All I can do is nod and give him a small smile. He sounds so sincere, so grateful that we brought them back together that it warms me. I do really want him to like me and it will take some time but I hope we can get there in the end.
“I also want to apologise for the way I told you that Craig knew about the reasons behind the feud. That was disgusting of me to be so spiteful towards you. You had a right to be eased into finding out and for me to just spill that Craig knew, I won't forgive myself for that. Craig had every right to scream and call me all sorts of names. I hurt you and in doing so, he hurt you and although I don’t trust you, I didn’t want to be the cause of you two having an horrific fight and you leaving.”
I'm pretty sure that was a backhanded apology, especially slipping the trust issue into it but I’ll take it. It's probably as nice as I’m going to get now he’s got that all over with it's down to the nitty gritty stuff. I clasp my hands together and lean on the table. John leans back on his chair and stretches his legs out. He looks casual, spread out on the chair and I look like I mean business.
“Now I know you are wondering why I asked you here today and the truth is I want to know the truth. I love my son very much, and I don’t want to see him get hurt, Nic. He lost his mother young and I, my wife, and he didn’t exactly have a mother figure the rest of his life, it was just the two of us. I know he was a little shit growing up, acting out, playing the big man, sleeping around – I'm not that blind – but I was blind to his feelings for you. I suppose when you are told to stay away, it makes the other more appealing.” He shrugs his shoulders and runs a hand through his hair. I can see why my mother played them both off. I've sneaked looks at old pictures of them I found in our attic when I was younger and they looked like heart breakers back in the day. But the only thing that happened was he got his heart broken and a broken friendship.
“I didn't have a clue that his feelings for you ran so deep. He kept that hidden from everyone but that day at the solicitors changed everything. I knew it wasn’t legal and I wanted Craig to see that. I didn’t want a son in prison for fucking over the system, but he was old enough to make up his own mind and he decided to go ahead with this fake marriage for you. He didn’t even want the money, he married you because you want yours. And that was when I knew I couldn’t trust you. How do I know that in three months you wont say 'goodbye, Craig' and just leave with your inheritance and leave my son devastated? I'm sorry but I can't let go of your mother picking your father and having no remorse about it and then I see you doing the same to Craig and I see red. So if you are planning on doing that, do it now please, to save my son the pain he is going to go through.”
I see red. I cannot believe he is so shaded, so blind to see that I love Craig with everything. I can understand why he thinks I would just up and leave with the money. I did go into it with that in mind, but I also went into it marrying the love of my life. This wasn’t just a twelve month payment plan, this was for life. I slam my hands onto the table and seethe at John, who retreats back.
“I don't want an argument, John, but if you are going to slander me then I am doing to stick the fuck up for myself because what you are saying could not be further from the truth. I have no intention of divorcing Craig nor running off with my inheritance in three months time. I will be taking the money and although it's not any of your business, that money will be going towards opening my own business. A business I have been planning since university so before you call me greedy, because I sure as hell know you want Craig to take the money, think about that. Think about how I want it to further my career, because what the hell else would I spend it on? Material items? I'm not my mother, John. I'm not cheating on Craig, I'm not manipulating him in any way, I love him with my every fibre. I have since I was sixteen and I will until I die. I don’t know how to make you see that there is no one else for me but Craig. Sure the money came into it, but also my selfishness. I wanted to marry Craig so I could call him mine for twelve months.” I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair. I close my eyes and count to ten before opening them and facing John again. He hasn’t changed his facial expression, but I can see in his eyes that what I am telling him is slowly cracking him, that maybe, just maybe, he is seeing me for me, and not my mother.