Love is Everything, page 14
Charlie came running through from the kitchen and I was grabbed by both boys in a big hug.
“This is Elliot,” I said as I looked up at him.
“Hi,” they both said in unison.
“Hi-five!” Elliot grinned holding his hand up to both of them who giggled loudly and hi-fived his hand. “What are you playing?”
Charlie spoke first. “Oscar is a baddy from the planet, Zinon, and I am trying to catch him to take him back to my planet.”
“And where’s that?” Elliot asked, his stupid grin seeming even wider.
“Spitnick!” Oscar added on Charlie’s behalf.
“Right then,” Elliot said seriously. “I’m gonna take these bags upstairs and then when I come down, I want you both to have your wellies on along with your coats, hats, scarves and gloves, ‘cos we’re going outside to find the planet Wobo.” He knelt to be on their level. “Wobo is a dangerous place,” he whispered and they both moved closer, listening intently. “It’s a cold, cold planet, it snows there all the time and the only way we can be sure to be safe is by building the biggest snowman we can manage. Do you like the sound of that?”
“Yes!” they both shouted in unison and ran out of the room to get ready.
I stared in amazement at Elliot. What was all that about? He was brilliant with them. Did I just fall even more in love with him?
“You are a bloody lifesaver, Elliot,” my dad said as he turned in his chair, the paper placed on his knee. “They’ve been driving us mad since we got back from the park.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the planet Wobo,” Elliot said before charging upstairs with our shopping bags.
I smiled at my dad when Elliot was out of the room. “Wobo. . .?” I questioned.
My dad laughed.
“Where’s Ruth?” I queried.
“Still in bed.” He sighed as he spoke. “Sometimes I feel that your mum and me bring those boys up more than she does.”
I nodded and moved to sit on his chair arm. “That explains why they’re such nice kids.” I touched his hand. I knew how he felt about Ruth, how he thought she abused the help he and my mum were prepared to give her. “You do a great job with them, Dad.”
He nodded before picking his crossword up again and chuckling. “If only Elliot was as good at crosswords as he is with children.”
I kissed him on top of his head and moved through into the kitchen to see if I could help my mum. She was busy preparing things for the Christmas dinner tomorrow.
“Want some help?” I offered.
“You’re okay Grace, I’m fine.”
“Mum,” I knew what she was like, she wouldn’t accept help easily. “Please let me help, anything, I’ll even make you a mug of tea.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll have some tea.”
I flicked the kettle on, pulling three mugs from the cupboard and proceeding to make tea for my mum, dad and myself. Elliot charged through the kitchen followed by Charlie and Oscar as they disappeared into the back garden and the heavy falling snow. I stared out of the window watching Elliot, unaware of my mum watching me. Her voice broke my concentration.
“Grace, it seems ages since we’ve had a proper chat . . .”
Oh shit, those words were not really what I wanted to hear. I turned to see nothing but concern on her face.
“What do you want to talk about, Mum?” I asked, knowing all too well that the subject of her concern was the man running around her garden trying to find the planet Wobo. I grinned at my assessment of the situation.
“Are you listening to me?” she asked.
“Sorry Mum, I was watching Elliot.”
“Hmm . . . that’s what I wanted to talk about.”
Yep. I’d guessed correctly.
I looked directly at her. She smiled again before speaking. “How long have you known him?”
Did she want minutes, hours, or days? They were constantly etched on my brain.
“Just over three months,” I replied. “Why?”
“You just seem so . . . I don’t know . . . so in tune with each other, so intense as well. It’s like you’ve known each other for years.” Her statement was more of a question.
I wanted to tell her that it was exactly what she’d said and more. He was the reason I now got up in the morning, the reason for everything I did. I felt like I’d know him all my life, even though he managed to surprise me as he was doing now. I took another look out into the garden to see a snowman quickly beginning to take shape on the white lawn.
“It is quite intense,” I found myself saying as I watched him.
“You okay with that?” she asked.
I nodded. There was a silence between us for a few seconds, the conversation not moving forward. My mum broke the silence.
“Do you love him?”
I turned and looked at my mum. I nodded again. “I love him so much,” I replied honestly.
She smiled at me. “And I can see he feels the same.”
“Thanks, Mum.” I wanted to cry. She must have sensed it as she closed the gap between us and hugged me.
“You know where I am if you ever need me, Grace . . . for anything.”
Her words forced the tears from my eyes as I nodded my understanding.
She released her hold on me and looked out into the garden. We both watched Elliot as he raced around like a mad fool, throwing snowballs and trying to build the snowman which was steadily growing bigger and higher.
“He’s lovely,” she stated.
I couldn’t help but think she should have added, ‘if only I was 30 years younger’ to her statement. I smiled, wiping the tears away.
Mum went back to preparing the vegetables whilst I poured the water into the mugs.
A few minutes later, Ruth appeared in the doorway before making her way across the kitchen to the freshly poured tea. She jumped up to sit on the kitchen counter and picked a mug up. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe before she looked out at the scene in the garden.
“I’ll just take your dad his tea,” Mum said as she picked the two remaining mugs from the counter and went into the room.
I ignored Ruth as best I could, pouring myself another cup of tea to replace the one she’d taken. She was quiet, watching me as I looked out of the window watching Elliot race round the back garden with Oscar and Charlie still following him. He was covered in snow, his hair hanging wet around his face, his black coat practically white. The snowman they had been building was complete and stood as high as Elliot.
“Quite a catch, Grace,” Ruth said, her words edged with bitterness.
I turned to look at her, not answering.
She inclined her head towards the window, her gaze following Elliot’s movements.
“He’ll make a great dad. But you need to have sex to have kids, Grace.”
I frowned, trying to guess the meaning behind what she was saying.
“You done the deed then, my sweet, innocent, virginal sister.” The viciousness in her voice surprised me.
I nodded, not trusting myself with the words forming in my mind. She looked me up and down again as though I was a worthless object placed in front of her to pick at.
“Did he take your virginity then?” She nodded to Elliot outside. “You were so precious about losing it?” She paused, waiting for her words to sink in. “I bet you made him work for it, how many meals did he have to take you for, did he have to express his undying love for you, huh, just to get in your knickers?”
I steadied myself inwardly.
How little she knew. But I kept quiet, I didn’t want her to know any details about Elliot and me.
“If you can’t say anything nice, I’d rather you not speak at all, Ruth,” I hissed at her.
She grinned. “He did, didn’t he?” Her voice brightened. “He took your virginity.”
I looked away from her. Why was this such a big deal for her. And then she was right beside me, whispering in my ear. “What was he like? Quick and fast, got it over with as soon as he could?”
I frowned even more. “What the fuck is your problem?” I demanded.
She laughed and moved away from me, jumping up to sit on the counter again. “I don’t have a problem, I’m just curious. He looks like a man of the world, been around a bit. I mean what the hell does he see in you?” she gestured at me with her hands. “I’d have thought that once he’d deflowered you, you’d never see him again.”
“How little you know,” I responded.
“Hmm . . . so what’s he like then?” She glanced into the garden, as I did. Elliot saw us looking and smiled, waving madly at us. I smiled back, wanting him to come in and rescue me from my shit of a sister. She carried on with her inappropriate questions.
“Mum said he’s in a pop group in Edinburgh, lead singer.”
I nodded, watching her expression. I could tell she was building her own pictures of him in her mind. It probably centred around him being buried deep inside her, fucking her against a wall. Not that I could comment of course, having had several moments like that of my own with him. The difference was that she was quite liberal with lots of men, any that showed her attention were guaranteed at least a quick grope and usually a quick fuck.
“I’ve never had a lead singer before,” she said.
I snorted. “Well, you won’t be having this one either.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure Grace, you forget that I’ve got more experience than you. I know how a man’s mind works. I know all the tricks. I know what I’m doing.” She looked outside again, watching him. “And he is fucking gorgeous.”
“If you were any sister of mine, you’d back off, he’s not interested in you,” I said, controlling my building anger as best I could. I knew it’s what she wanted. My anger, upset, any reaction she could garner from me. It fed her sick, pathetic, twisted mind.
“We’ll see.” She smirked as she jumped off the counter and walked past me and into the room where mum and dad were. I downed my hot mug of tea as Elliot chased the boys inside. It was late afternoon and starting to get dark. The snow was still falling heavily, covering the snowman and threatening to make it even higher.
There was a flurry of activity as the boys piled into the kitchen throwing their outdoor clothes on the floor as they ran into through the kitchen and into the room to tell their mum how much fun they’d had with Uncle Elliot.
I looked at Elliot. “Uncle Elliot?” I grinned, my sister’s words already history as he smiled and wrapped his cold arms around me, pressing his wet coat onto me.
“You ever been fucked by an uncle?” he whispered, his cold lips hitting my ear.
“Elliot!” I exclaimed.
“You two fancy playing twister?” my mum called from the room. I loved this game and was good at it, but I hoped Elliot would decline. My sister would be all too happy to play this game with him.
“You go play,” he said. “I need a hot shower, and I fancy having a play on my guitar for a while. That okay?”
I kissed him on his cold nose. “Just don’t miss me too much.”
He turned and disappeared upstairs as I ventured into the room to win a game I was very good at.
As I entered the room Ruth lifted herself off the sofa, too tired she said to play twister, which left my mum, dad, Oscar, Charlie and myself to play a game which would have us balancing in the most ridiculous positions you could ever imagine.
I knew where Ruth was going, it was so obvious. She was heading upstairs—not to her room—but to the room Elliott and I were staying. She would try her best to seduce him. But, surprisingly, I wasn’t concerned about his reaction. My faith in him was solid. He’d had years of experience dealing with females who threw themselves at him. My sister would be treated with the same disdain I’d seen him show other women after his gigs. Sometimes they were so blatant—pushing their hands on his groin, trying to caress his bum, moving in to sneak a kiss. He refused every single advance. I was confident that my sister would have the same brush off. I really did trust him. It was my sister who I had no trust in whatsoever.
About half an hour later, the boys had disappeared into the kitchen and were raiding the fridge for chocolate. The front door banged shut and I caught the sight of Ruth rushing down the drive. There was a red car waiting of her and she climbed in slamming that door as well.
“Whose is the red car?” I asked as I turned to my dad.
“New boyfriend,” my dad stated quietly. “Don’t know his name. She met him last night.” He raised his eyebrows at me as he spoke.
“Charlie,” my mum warned as she shot him a sharp glance.
I looked at each of them in turn. “What’s going on?” I queried.
My dad obviously decided to ignore my mum as he continued to explain. “That was what the row was about last night. She wanted him to stay the night. She’d only just met him and was insistent he stop here.” He paused. “I mean, what was she thinking? A stranger, someone she’d just met, stopping the night here? He didn’t stop. I’m surprised he’s even bothering with her now.” He inclined his head towards the window where the red car has screeched to a start, wheels spinning in the snow.
“Shhh . . .” my mum warned as Charlie and Oscar ran back into the room.
“More twister?” I asked, determined to continue my run of winning. My mum and dad shook their heads, they’d given up, I certainly hadn’t. My competitive streak had kicked in, and I continued to play with my nephews. Ten minutes later I was bent over backward in a crab position, just about to win my fourth successive game when Elliot appeared in the room. He shot me an amused expression.
“Is she winning?” he asked Oscar and Charlie as he approached.
“Yes, she always wins,” Oscar complained.
I could see the look in his eyes as he bent over me. “Elliot, don’t you dare.”
He spoke to Charlie. “Just so we’re sure on the rules here, if she moves one of her arms or legs off the coloured spots, she’s out of the game, yeah?”
“Yes, yes!” Charlie shouted.
“Elliot, I’m warning you,” I shouted from my upside-down position. “I am the champion of Twister and you will not de-throne my winning streak!”
He moved his hand to under my arms and lightly tickled me. “Elliot!” I shouted, immediately collapsing on the floor.
“Out!” shouted Oscar.
“That’s cheating,” I complained, looking to my mum and dad for back-up, but they were laughing. The boys both jumped up and down clapping at my demise.
Elliot pulled me up off the floor and I slumped onto the sofa.
“Is this how it’s going to be now?” I asked as Elliot sat next to me, his arm around my shoulder. “You all gang up on me?”
“You’re adorable when you’re cross,” Elliot whispered, pulling me even closer.
My dad slipped out of the room with the boys, promising them hot chocolate, and my mum turned the television on searching for something we could all sit and watch. Christmas Eve was a wild combination of programs and there was always something showing that suited the whole family.
“Liz!” my dad shouted from the kitchen. “Where are those marshmallows we got the other day? The boys want them on their chocolates.” She headed out of the room to assist my dad.
“I had a visit from your sister when I got out of the shower,” Elliot said.
I froze. Even though I’d been convinced she was going to see Elliot to try and seduce him, I was still taken aback by her sheer nerve.
“I thought as much,” I said, glancing to the kitchen to make sure no-one could hear us. “What did she do?”
“She wanted a bit of horizontal dancing, or even vertical dancing. I maybe led her on a bit before crushing her wild fantasies.”
“I won’t ask what you did,” I said. I trusted him, and he’d have dealt with it in his own way.
“I don’t think she’ll bother me again,” he said, chuckling. “I still can’t believe she’d try something like that with her sister’s boyfriend.”
“Maybe you can’t, but I can. She told me she was going to have you when she spoke to me earlier this afternoon.”
“Have me?” he said, feigning shock. “I’m not just another notch for her bedpost.” His hand rubbed my arm and he grinned even more. “Seriously, Grace. I’m not the slightest bit interested in your sister and she knows it now.”
I nodded, believing him, but I was convinced my sister would try again at some point. I knew her better than he did.
Elliot kissed the top of my head, and his arm tightened around my shoulder. This position was like the one we used to sit in at his flat. The only difference being that he would usually twist his body so he was lying along the sofa, his feet hanging over the far end. I would squeeze myself between the back of the sofa and his body, and usually wrap myself around him. We’d sometimes watch the television or listen to music. Elliot sometimes sang quietly whilst stroking my hair. We also spent time talking. He helped me make sense of the subjects I was struggling with in my studies, suggesting different ways of looking at things. Many times, this relaxed position would lead into something more. Both of us revelling in each other’s company.
Elliot suddenly shifted. “Ron, let me help. It’s a massive tree!”
He was on his feet, strolling into the kitchen.
“Not as big as last year when Liz thought it would be Grace’s last Christmas at home for several years,” my dad said. “Bloody thing was taller than the damn room. The fairy on the top was squashed between the ceiling and the tree. I managed to persuade her to downsize this year.” He chuckled as he spoke, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Elliot and my dad positioned the tree in the room, making it secure, and my dad dragged a huge cardboard box next to the tree. Once we were all happy with the position of the lights my dad sat down again. “Over to you three,” he said, looking towards Elliot, Charlie and Oscar.
I curled my legs under me on the sofa and watched them in action. It didn’t take long for them to make the tree look fabulous and I relaxed even more. Seeing the tree decorated on Christmas Eve always settled me—it was a magical time, full of hope for the future, and good thoughts about everyone and everything. I sighed. If only Ruth felt the same.
