Kindled Hill Equestrian Centre

Chapter 15

I tucked Tess in for the night, gave her a huge smooch, waved a goodbye to the girls, and hopped over the garden fence home.

I kicked off my coat and boots in the utility room, and listened, the sound of metal hitting off wood echoed around the house, 'Jared must be in the studio', I thought to myself, skidding across the laminate in my damp socks, I peeled my sopping clothes off and threw them in the washing machine, as I tiptoed across the laminate.

I knew he hated it when he was disturbed while tapping, however, I couldn't help but poke my nose around the door, trying to stay in the shadows, but there was something so attractive about the way he worked his feet, panting and sweating his cute little arse off! I saw the corners of his mouth twitch. 'I wondered how long it would take for you to come up here.' He stopped and paused the music, 'come here chicken, I've got something for you!'

'Jared, I'm half naked, and your studio is bloody freezing' I protested, he snuffed at me, and in return, I rolled my eyes, 'Fine!' as I walked in, my feet sticking to his cold dance floor, he lay on his side, propping himself up on his hand, 'Tell me..... How do you call your lover boy?' he asked cheekily.

'Come here lover boy!!!' I shouted in response, he chuckled to himself, seeming pleased I knew what he was quoting.

'If he doesn't answer??'

'Ohh lover boy'

'And if he STILL doesn't answer.' I cut him off there, protesting that I wouldn't break into song, because my nipples were freezing off, he snuffed at me again, turning on the soundtrack, and swiping at my feet and pinning me to the floor, resting his forehead on mine, and kissing me tentatively, he reached into his back pocket, 'Look what I got us! I figured we hadn't been to the theatre for a few weeks, so I thought I'd treat us!'

Two tickets for Dirty Dancing! 'Oh you bell end! That's why you started singing that! Thank you though my lovely, I can't wait!' I exclaimed, giving him another peck, as we pulled away, I looked into his eyes, feeling that childish surge of excitement pass through my body, I thought he was going to take me there on the floor, but no, he flicked me on the tip of my nose, and got off me to continue his tapping.

I'd have felt less used if he had, had sex with me. 'Oh well', I thought, 'there's still lots of time for him to take me....'

As I warmed myself by the aga, in my dressing gown, and slippers, sipping hot chocolate, knitting and listening to Jared singing in the other room, I couldn't help but fondle my empty ring finger.... I wondered on when he'd pop the question... He'd definitely said something about a proposal on the phone another day, and it didn't sound like a work proposal.....

The music stopped, and he came in looking radiant as ever, his eyes a brighter blue than ever, and his face red, I could tell he had been crying, that song meant a lot to him, and he always put his heart into it, I slid a hot chocolate across the table to him, his face twitched, as he wiped the bridge of his nose, 'Thanks hon, god that got me worked up' he forced himself to smile, I hurt me to see him upset, and I stood up to cuddle him, he buried his head into my belly, as I suggested we finished our drinks and nipped off to bed.

As he brushed his teeth, I sat in bed, and started my taxes, I opened my diary, and the entire page was glittered up, it looked camper than my old lecturer. I was about to tell Jared off, when I remembered that I had glittered it up, awkwardly, I brushed the excess glitter off the bedsheets, before he came in and had a hissy fit about it.

It was then it struck me that it was Anna's wedding in the morning, how could I forget such a thing? I was the maid of honour to start with! After losing the baby, and Carl's coming out, she wanted me to be on top form for when her posh photographer friends came to capture the most amazing day of her life.

She was a darlin', I felt terrible getting in the way of her original date, but she was more than happy to hold it off another year. 'More to put in the wedding fund!' She'd keep saying.

I called Jared to remind him, and I think he almost died of embarrassment, as he had forgot aswell, he started fretting about what to wear.

I slept uneasily that night, and awoke still feeling knackered. I looked at the clock, it was 6.00am, I pulled myself begrudgingly out of bed, and plodded out the bedroom, treading on the cat as I went onto the landing, she hissed and scratched my foot, with a very un-pc kick, I booted her out the way.

I got onto the yard, still in my dressing gown, and the horses all stuck their heads out the stables and whinnied at me, I lobbed their feeds over the doors, changed their rugs, and opened the doors and the field gate for them to let themselves out after.

Tess finished first, and came over, digging in my nightgown pockets, pinching a soggy digestive I had in there for some reason, before letting herself out.

I went into a trance for the next few hours, and they seemed to fly by, before I knew it, I was signing my name as a witness for Harry and Anna, Anna, walked down the isle gracefully, almost gliding under her frock, she shined radiantly in a pink wedding dress, with a white laced corset top. Stan stood, in his black and green tux, occasionally snuffling and Scott, dressed in a formal kilt and a tux upper, being his best man, had to dab Stans eyes with a handkerchief for him.

They both exchanged vowes, and as they said 'I Do.' the entire hall erupted with applause, and 'you don't know you're beautiful' came on.