Random Encounter

Chapter 26 - Getting To Grips

The strong light beams cascading in through the little gaps in the curtains where enough to wake me as I opened my heavy morning eyes and let them adjust to the light levels in the room. I felt Robert turn over and pull me close to him and all I could think about was how warm and smooth his skin felt pressed against mine.

"Morning" Robert says though his face is firmly still planted into his pillow.

"Morning" I reply through the same tired voice.

I think the whole time zone thing was finally catching up with us.

"Do you want to go back to sleep?" I ask Robert as I start to will myself awake.

"Depends, what time is it?" He asks.

"10am."

He takes a moment to think before responding.

"In that case no, I want to get up and start our first full day in our home."

"Looking forward to it. So what's the plan for today?" I ask as we both finally manage to get out of bed and head downstairs.

"Well for now lets start by having breakfast, blueberry pancakes OK with you?"

"Of course." I say with a slight head tilt and take a seat on the kitchen counter as Robert moves around the kitchen, and me.

"And then after we eat I thought we could starting sorting some of your stuff out. You know to make the place feel more like home for you. I thought having your own stuff here would help with that."

"That sounds like a great plan." I say with no hint of a lie because it really would help make this place a little more me.

After breakfast is finished with and the plates are in the machine we both head back upstairs to get changed from our Pjs, we both opt for simple shorts and Tshirt. Considering we will be sorting and moving things around today I think we picked well.

I start with my suitcases full of clothes while Robert starts moving boxes inside from the van. I didn't actually bring that much with me so it wasn't long before Robert came to find me in the bedroom and started helping to hang my clothes on hangers and put them into the wardrobe.

"So I saw something when I was moving the stuff inside." Robert suddenly says, like he has been wanting to say it for a while but kept it in.

"Humm" I respond, not sure where this was heading or what he found.

He wonders over to the bedroom door, slips behind it for a second and then reappears with it.

"Why do you have a giant Simba, Lion King plushy?" He asks slightly laughing.

I respond with a slight laugh as well and go over to him and take Simba from and and hug my beloved friend.

"Well for one very good reason Robert. He is my first memory. I can remember my Gran and Granddad putting him on the conveyor belt ready to pay for him. I can remember watching him move along it and just wanting to hold him. My Dad told me since that day I took him every where with me."

"Aww that is so sweet and what a great thing to have a visual reminder of your first memory."

"Yeah." I say and take a moment to remember the two people in that memory who aren't here any more. Robert saw my expression change and my stillness and comes over for a hug.

"You alright?" He asks slowly.

"Yeah I'm OK. I was just thinking about my grandparents, they really where amazing. I miss them so much."

"I know my dear. I wish I could have meet them." Robert responds while hugging me slightly harder.

"Oh my Gran would have loved you. She would just keep repeating how easy on the eye you are."

We both giggle and I could feel a smile returning to my face.

"I have just the right place to put you Simba." Robert says as he takes him from my arms. He places him at the head of the bed resting against the pillows.

"There now he can guard our bed when we aren't in it." He says and turns to judge my reaction to his plan.

I simply stand there with the biggest grin on my face.

"Perfect!"

It was late afternoon by the time we had finished. Everything of mine was now in it's proper place. Simba on our bed and various photos dotted around the place but most importantly a picture of my grandparents on my bedside table. Everything was finally in it's place all I needed now was Sam. I felt sorry for him having to go through quarantine for a week before being allowed to come here but the staff did say we could visit him, plus I guess it gave us time to get the place ready for him as lovely as Roberts place was there was no dog bed and Sam just would not stand for that.

"What do you want to do for dinner?" I ask Robert and we both flop onto the sofa tired from our days activity. Robert turns to look me in the eye.

"Miss Hughes I was actually wondering if you would accompany me for a night on the town?"

"Really?" I say quite surprised he thought off this already and secretly wondering how he knew what I wanted to do.

"Of course. I thought we could start with dinner, a movie, because I know how much you want to check out the local cinema and then a stroll around the town."

"Sounds wonderful Robert."

"Great! We best get ready then."

He goes to get up but I pull him back to me.

"Not just yet." I say as I pull him into me and kiss him ever so gently.

"What was that for?" He asks.

"For simply being you."

We take a few hours to get ready so it was already quite late by the time we actually left the house. I was surprised how good just dressing up again made me feel. As I steeped out into the evening air I took a moment to let it fill my lungs and feel the cool crispness of it wash over me. Robert followed behind and slipped his hand into mine and walked me to the car and held the door open for me.

The evening started with dinner at a lovely sushi place, the staff greeting Robert by his first name, he must have been here a lot and it ended with watching a movie at a surprisingly small cinema only 5 minute drive from the house. I knew as soon as I stepped into the cinema with it's lush red velvet curtains hiding the screen until that second before the lights turn off they start to move, I knew that I would be here a lot. As we drive the short 5 minute drive back to our home I couldn't stop myself from thinking about this wonderful new place I found myself in. I had always wanted to travel and see new places and this was one of my favourites despite never being here before now, I just knew I would love it and I was right. The street that lead to our house was quite with only the noise of the leaves rustling in the trees that ran down either side of the street separating the grey of the road and the pavement with a splash of colour. To my surprise we ended up driving past the house, confused I looked after at Robert, he must have seen me doing this.

"Oh we can't go home yet I haven't shown you around town." He said with a little smile on his face. I knew from that look he was excited to show off the place he calls home.

"Would it be OK if we did that tomorrow?" I ask.

"It's not that I don't want to, I'm just really tired and I need some energy left for my plan for you this evening." I say with a little wink. With that Robert stops the car, turns around and drives back home. I guess that's a yes then, I think to myself. We retreat to the bedroom as soon as we get in and only move from there to retrieve a bottle of wine and put a movie on and settle down into each others company.