pulled her close to his bare chest. All Maddie could hear was the sleet hammering on the window, and the heat of the fire on her back as she lost herself in a warm syrupy feeling. It was like sliding into a warm soothing bath. Greg used both hands on her upper arms to haul her even closer to him. It was exhilarating. It was like coming home. She never wanted to let the feeling go. But she had to; there were things she needed to explain.
‘Greg. I need to tell you…’ But he put his fingers up to her lips. ‘Shh. Don’t spoil the moment. You have no idea how long I’ve imagined this, wanted to hold you. When I saw you at the reunion, I—’ He smiled at her as she reached out and touched his hair, still damp from the beach. He gripped her hand in his and kissed her fingertips.
‘But you were so gruff with me at the reunion.’
‘I was protecting myself. I didn’t know how to react when I saw you. It was easier just to keep my feelings bottled up – but I have never stopped thinking about you. Never. Not a day has gone past where I haven’t thought of you.’
All these years…
‘We don’t need to do anything, Maddie. We’ve got all the time in the world.’ And with that, he pressed her head down to his chest, and stroked her hair, his fingers tracing the outline of her cheek. She lay there, feeling a contentment she hadn’t felt in nearly twenty years. She needed to talk to him about all the thoughts muddled in her mind, but she knew there would be time. She didn’t want to burst this cosy cocoon, nor leave his side, as she drifted off to sleep in his warm embrace, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart beneath her.
*
Maddie woke with a start to the sound of Greg’s phone was bleeping. She lay for a moment, confused, then blissfully remembered, not wanting to move. Her head was on his chest, and Taffie was curled up by their feet, the fire now a dark orange glow, some logs luminous with the heat. Taffie lifted his head up, looked around, opened his jaws and yawned, then placed his head back on Greg’s legs. The phone rang again, and Greg woke with a start and fished it out of his pocket.
‘Damn,’ he said, peering at the screen. ‘Someone’s not turned up for their shift. It means there’s no one over eighteen there – I have to go.’ He looked anxious, glancing at her as he slowly got up and reached for his now-dry fleece on the floor by the fire. She wandered behind him to the front door. As he got there he turned around to face her. ‘Shall I come round tomorrow? Help you with a few things here? Friday’s my day off.’ He nodded to the pile of tools in the hall.
She smiled. ‘Yes please. Greg,’ she started to say but he quickly swooped down and gave her a peck on the cheek.
‘See you tomorrow.’
After she closed the door behind him, she padded back to the lounge in her bare feet and stood by the window. The storm had settled and patchy streaks of ochre sun had appeared over the horizon. Its rays cut a slice through the swirls of dark silver clouds and lit up sections of the ocean. Her mind was full of unanswered questions. What about his wife? Maddie felt shivery. Then there was— No. How could she? What should she do? She replayed what Greg had said in a loop as she took a deep breath. She had lost a baby…
But did she dare tell him the whole truth now and break the spell? No, she needed to find the right time.
37
‘Right, where do you want this?’
Greg was hauling a dust sheet across the lounge floor to cover up the sofa. He’d arrived bright and early at 8 a.m. to find Maddie still in her pyjamas. She’d bounded upstairs, ridiculously excited, changed and raced back down the stairs with Taffie barking at her heels. She let the dog outside in the garden and looked over at the horizon. It was becoming one of her favourite views. The storm had cleared completely and it was a bright, crystal-clear day – a blessing in December – with the sun bouncing off the greeny-blue sea.
‘Hey, lazy bones! C’mon we need to get the sander.’