In His Eyes

Paradise...

"Hi love, I'm here!" He walked in and dropped his keys on the hall table.  Beth appeared at the kitchen door, a suspicious smile on her face.

"Good, you're on time. Go and sit in the living room. I have a surprise for you!" She shooed him away, and he trotted into the room and sat down on the sofa. 

Bobby careered through and rolled over at his feet, tongue lolling madly.  Tom bent down and rubbed his tummy. "How's my boy? Have you been a good boy for Mummy?" He whispered.  "Yes, Bobs, with luck, you'll have a mummy in a couple of weeks' time."

"You ready? Close your eyes!" Her voice floated through from the hall, and Tom instantly sat up, hands over his face.  Bobby sat up, tucking in by his feet.  He loved Beth, but Tom would always be his Dad.

"Ready!"  

She walked in, holding the completed triumph out in front of her.  Jammed, creamed and dusted with icing sugar, it sat on a plate as proudly as any fancy gateau or three tier spectacular.  Placing it down on the table in front of him, she stepped back.

"Ta-dah!"

He took his hands away and let out a genuinely touched "ohhhhhh darling!"

He turned and grabbed her hand. "You made this for me?" She nodded. "What did I do to deserve this wonderful surprise?" He pulled her to stand next to him, wrapping his arm around her legs.   She looked down and stroked his face, feeling his beard beneath her fingers. 

"You love me.  That's worth me baking a million cakes for you every day!" She smiled and bent down to kiss him slowly. "Have to say, though, you haven't tasted it yet!"

He picked up the plate, grabbed the sponge, and broke off a large piece with his fingers, shoving it in his mouth.  The icing sugar stuck to his beard, and she laughed at the "ghost" moustache." He now sported.

"Are you laughing at me?" He quizzed her as he pulled her to sit next to him.

"And if I am?" She challenged with a wink.

"Then you shall be punished!" He didn't wait. He took another piece of cake and held it out to her. Gingerly, she leaned forward, opening her mouth to bite it. She never got the chance.  He instantly smooshed the cake in her face, smothering her with jam and cream, laughing like a drain.

"You... you.. MONSTER!"

She squealed, laughing almost as hard.  She grabbed him and kissed him hard, transferring  cream and sticky jam onto him. He shook his head as they parted.

"I think we're even, don't you?" He smiled and carefully broke off a reasonable piece.  "Here, let me feed you a proper piece." The laughing stopped, and he looked at her intently.

She sat still, eyes glued on his.  Leaning forward, she parted her lips and took the soft fluffy cake in her mouth. His fingers went with it, and she sucked them slightly as he withdrew, making him catch his breath.

"Beth..." he murmured, taking her in his arms. "Thank you, my love.  I've never been so lucky as when I found you." He kissed her tenderly, dragging her bottom lip between his as he released her. "Now, let's clean up.  We have a date with a pizza restaurant and I have something I need to talk to you about.  If we stay here, I'll only want to eat my two favourite things."

"Two?" She whispered.

"Yes. Victoria sponge and you. Not necessarily in that order." He kissed her again.  "Go, get your coat. You've pulled!" He winked, and she laughed.

"Oh you!"

They sat in the restaurant, sharing a pizza and a bottle of wine. To outsiders, a couple on a normal date. To them? A milestone in their blossoming relationship.

"So, I have something to ask you, love." He poured her some more wine and then some for himself.  Lifting his glass, what he said next floored her.

"How would you like to come on a trip with me? I've got a couple of weeks in America doing press, and I thought we could take a little holiday at the end?"  He smiled at her gently. "It would be so special to share it with the woman I love most in the world."

Beth couldn't quite believe what he was saying, in a nice way.  There was just one thing niggling away at her.

The keys.

She took a sip of wine.  "I am so flattered  Tom, and feel so special, thank you, darling." She smiled.

"I feel a 'but' coming."  He suddenly felt incredibly scared.

"Sort of." She paused.  "Tom, I found something in the house.  Something that could only belong to you.  I don't want it to eat away at me, at us.  I need to know." She looked down and reached for his hand. "Tom, are you leaving me? Are you moving away and this trip is your final goodbye?" A single tear, despite her best efforts, slid down her cheek.

"What?" He looked at her in complete astonishment.  "No!" His voice was soft, full of emotion and confusion. "What on earth would... oh!" He smiled. "You found them, didn't you.  The keys." He squeezed her hand. "Thank you for your honesty, my love, but you're wrong. So very, very wrong." He patted her hand, and she let out a breath she'd been unaware she was holding in.

"The keys belong to Ben and Sophie.  They've very kindly said we could use their holiday home." As he watched her face light up, he knew he could tell her almost the whole truth.  Holding the final bit back would, on balance, be completely acceptable.

"We can leave as soon as you can ok it with work." That much was true, their tickets could be arranged in minutes, the connections at the other end on arrival.  Such were the benefits of small Caribbean islands.

"Darling, I'm sorry if I spoiled anything." She looked at him as she took another swallow of wine.  He shook his head.

"No love, I'm sorry I gave you even a moment of doubt.  I love you Beth and by the end of the trip, I plan on making sure you realise just how much.  You are the best thing that ever happened to me.  I'm not going to let you down."

As they kissed at her door later, he looked down at her and smiled wickedly. "I really REALLY want to come in, but I'm not going to.  I want our first time to be like... well... you know." He flushed and she nodded.

"I know, me too.  See you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow. Love you."

He walked away down the road, Beth watching him with a rising feeling inside.  Suddenly, it washed over her and she ran down the steps.

"Tom, Tom! Wait!" She ran along the road and he spun round, his face breaking into a huge smile.

She launched herself into his arms and he caught her and spun her round.

Kissing her tenderly, he set her down and they just looked at each other. She smiled, her face wet with happy tears.  He nodded and kissed her, his smile reflecting her joy.

She slipped back away to her house, looking back now and again to see him still gazing after her.

He couldn't wait to show her that not all lies are a bad thing. Some are a gateway to a wonderful beginning.