Read Online Baggage & Buttons by C. J. Fallowfield - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C. J. Fallowfield
Ads: Link
a huge framed antique mirror, which
was standing on the floor, leaning against the wall. It was all very modern,
masculine, clean cut and sexy, very Gabe.
Two sash windows overlooked the rear of the house, but
it was already dark so I couldn’t see anything as I squinted out of them. I went
to the toilet then washed my hands, picturing him getting ready here every day.
I put on his joggers and even with the draw cord done up really tightly they
were far too big, as was the t-shirt which I pulled over my Basque. At least I
was covered for dinner, even if I looked ridiculous. I came out of the bathroom
and walked through to the bedroom. Gabe was standing looking at my canvas and
smiled as I came over.
‘How do you still manage to look sexy wearing my baggy
clothes?’
‘You think I look sexy in these?’ I asked, pulling at
the loose fabric horrified.
‘You’d look sexy in anything baby, especially to me. ’
He kissed my forehead. ‘Come on we’d better go and eat, dad will need to leave
soon.’
He insisted on carrying me downstairs, in case I tripped
on his over long joggers. He kneeled in front of me as he set me down at the
bottom of the stairs and turned them up for me, then grabbed my hand again and
led me back into the kitchen, where Robert was pouring some champagne into
three flutes and smiled as we came in.
‘Mia, you’ve no idea how pleased I was to hear Gabriel
had invited you,’ Robert said as he handed me a glass.
‘Well thank you Mr Austin … sorry Robert,’ I corrected
myself and took a sip.
‘I was beginning to wonder if he was gay,’ Robert
chuckled and I nearly choked on my champagne. Gabe? Gay? Did he not know
his son?
‘Dad, seriously?’ Gabe gave Robert one of his scowls,
which only made his dad chuckle more.
‘Robert please can I tell you what an amazing job
you’ve done in raising your son, he’ the most caring, kind, considerate and loyal
man I’ve ever met, as well as a fantastic cook.’ I flashed a smile at Gabe and
was sure I saw him blush.
‘That’s lovely to hear Mia. It wasn’t easy for either
of us when his mother passed away, but we did our best.’
‘I’m so sorry that you both had to go through that, I
really am.’ He smiled at me and I saw a shadow of pain flicker across his face,
I’d seen the same look on Gabe the night he told me. I hated that they’d both
suffered like that.
‘Ok to the table you two,’ ordered Gabe breaking the
silence. ‘Dinner’s well overdue and probably well over cooked now too.’ He
carried a large casserole dish to the table and then two smaller ones. As he
lifted the lid off the large one I inhaled and smiled.
‘Gabe it smells fantastic, what is it?’
‘Chicken breasts in a white wine and cream sauce with
button mushrooms. We have wild rice and asparagus spears to go with it.’
‘Then as you’ve done all the hard work let me plate up
and do the clear up,’ I said as I took the serving spoons from him.
As we ate Robert filled me in on stories of Gabe as a
youngster and I forgot all about my meeting the parents fear. I was laughing so
much I cried, while Gabe sat cringing saying ‘ Dad do you really have to? ’
Robert also told me how Gabe used to get into trouble, drinking and fighting
and said how glad he was that he’d stopped, then flashed a quick concerned look
at the large purple bruise on Gabe’s cheek.
‘ Dad, I told you it was a misunderstanding, I
don’t do that anymore.’
‘Well I hope that Mia continues to be a good influence
on you Gabriel, my days of bailing you out are over.’
Bailing him out? I’d already got the impression Gabe
had been a bit of a bad boy, but exactly how much trouble did he used to get
in? Robert turned back to telling me happy stories and I felt so relaxed
sitting with them both and was surprised to find I was disappointed when the
doorbell rang and Robert looked at his watch and announced it was time for him
to leave.
‘You can’t stay a bit longer?’ I
was standing on the floor, leaning against the wall. It was all very modern,
masculine, clean cut and sexy, very Gabe.
Two sash windows overlooked the rear of the house, but
it was already dark so I couldn’t see anything as I squinted out of them. I went
to the toilet then washed my hands, picturing him getting ready here every day.
I put on his joggers and even with the draw cord done up really tightly they
were far too big, as was the t-shirt which I pulled over my Basque. At least I
was covered for dinner, even if I looked ridiculous. I came out of the bathroom
and walked through to the bedroom. Gabe was standing looking at my canvas and
smiled as I came over.
‘How do you still manage to look sexy wearing my baggy
clothes?’
‘You think I look sexy in these?’ I asked, pulling at
the loose fabric horrified.
‘You’d look sexy in anything baby, especially to me. ’
He kissed my forehead. ‘Come on we’d better go and eat, dad will need to leave
soon.’
He insisted on carrying me downstairs, in case I tripped
on his over long joggers. He kneeled in front of me as he set me down at the
bottom of the stairs and turned them up for me, then grabbed my hand again and
led me back into the kitchen, where Robert was pouring some champagne into
three flutes and smiled as we came in.
‘Mia, you’ve no idea how pleased I was to hear Gabriel
had invited you,’ Robert said as he handed me a glass.
‘Well thank you Mr Austin … sorry Robert,’ I corrected
myself and took a sip.
‘I was beginning to wonder if he was gay,’ Robert
chuckled and I nearly choked on my champagne. Gabe? Gay? Did he not know
his son?
‘Dad, seriously?’ Gabe gave Robert one of his scowls,
which only made his dad chuckle more.
‘Robert please can I tell you what an amazing job
you’ve done in raising your son, he’ the most caring, kind, considerate and loyal
man I’ve ever met, as well as a fantastic cook.’ I flashed a smile at Gabe and
was sure I saw him blush.
‘That’s lovely to hear Mia. It wasn’t easy for either
of us when his mother passed away, but we did our best.’
‘I’m so sorry that you both had to go through that, I
really am.’ He smiled at me and I saw a shadow of pain flicker across his face,
I’d seen the same look on Gabe the night he told me. I hated that they’d both
suffered like that.
‘Ok to the table you two,’ ordered Gabe breaking the
silence. ‘Dinner’s well overdue and probably well over cooked now too.’ He
carried a large casserole dish to the table and then two smaller ones. As he
lifted the lid off the large one I inhaled and smiled.
‘Gabe it smells fantastic, what is it?’
‘Chicken breasts in a white wine and cream sauce with
button mushrooms. We have wild rice and asparagus spears to go with it.’
‘Then as you’ve done all the hard work let me plate up
and do the clear up,’ I said as I took the serving spoons from him.
As we ate Robert filled me in on stories of Gabe as a
youngster and I forgot all about my meeting the parents fear. I was laughing so
much I cried, while Gabe sat cringing saying ‘ Dad do you really have to? ’
Robert also told me how Gabe used to get into trouble, drinking and fighting
and said how glad he was that he’d stopped, then flashed a quick concerned look
at the large purple bruise on Gabe’s cheek.
‘ Dad, I told you it was a misunderstanding, I
don’t do that anymore.’
‘Well I hope that Mia continues to be a good influence
on you Gabriel, my days of bailing you out are over.’
Bailing him out? I’d already got the impression Gabe
had been a bit of a bad boy, but exactly how much trouble did he used to get
in? Robert turned back to telling me happy stories and I felt so relaxed
sitting with them both and was surprised to find I was disappointed when the
doorbell rang and Robert looked at his watch and announced it was time for him
to leave.
‘You can’t stay a bit longer?’ I
Similar Books
