To The Future - complete

Chapter Seven

Connie charged into the pub scouring the crowds for Grace. She started to panic when she couldn't find her so she pulled out her phone. Just as she had her finger hovering over the call button Connie heard her name being called behind. She whirled round to see Jacob approaching from the opposite direction.
"Hey sweet cheeks, I'm glad you came!" He was pleased, Jacob assumed Connie had decided to join them.
"Where's Grace? I'm here to take her home!"
"Con? What's wrong? Are you angry with me?" Jacob couldn't understand what he'd done wrong, he thought he'd done the right thing.
"What the hell do you think your doing bringing a nine year old to the pub, on a piss up no less?!"
"A pi.... Connie it's a meal, a few friends... what the hell!...."
Jacob sighed. "Look come through, we're in the back, it's a family area... Connie I wouldn't do what you think I've done! Please... Grace is having a lovely time. You'll never guess who's here. It's a small world you know."
Connie followed Jacob into the next room.
"Guys I would like you to meet my girlfriend Connie. Connie these are my oldest friends from school. We've got Steve, Pete and Adam and this is Mark, I believe you've already know his wife Dawn...aaanndd... over there..." Jacob put his arm round Connie's waist. Pulling her closer he pointed over to the opposite corner of the room, a few feet away she could see Grace laughing with her friend Emily. They were in a kids area playing on a Nintendo Wii, sandwiches and a glass of juice each on a nearby table.
Connie gave Jacob an apologetic look and proceed to shake everyone's hand saying hello.
"It's nice to meet you all, sorry for the intrusion, I've just come to get Grace."
"Err not so fast, come sit down, you can't leave me surrounded by all this guy talk!" Pleaded Dawn.
"Erm...Well I guess I could stay for a little while if you don't mind?" Said Connie feeling a little unsure of herself, looking towards Jacob as he indicated to the spare seat beside his.
"White wine?" He asked.
"Thank you."
As Jacob left to get the drinks Adam spoke up. "It's nice to put a face to the name, Jacob's forever going on about you. Connie this, Connie that. You've certainly made an impression on him, we've never seen Jacob so loved up!"
Connie blushed and shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
Dawn jumped in. "Oh stop embarrassing her Adam."
"So, Connie, how's Grace settling into school? Emily's over the moon she's back."
Connie was telling Dawn how please she was with Grace's progress since her return when Jacob came back with a try of drinks.
"All her teachers are saying how different she is to the girl they remember. I'm so proud of her. So did you go to school with Jacob as well?" Connie asked Dawn.
"No, Mark did, I met Jacob about... Err... 15 years ago now, when me and Mark first got together."
"MUM!" Grace came running over. "This place is so great!" She said, giving her mum a hug.
"Hey sweetie."
After a while Connie started to relax, joining in with the banter and exchanging stories about Jacob. She'd actually learned a few interesting tip bits of information from Jacob's youth, she decided to store the embarrassing ones away for a later date.
They had all finished their meals and were relaxing chatting away when Connie leaned into Jacob. In a low voice she said. "I really should get back, I've got some paperwork to do for tomorrow. I'll take Grace with me."
"Give me two minutes and I'll come with you."
"No it's ok, you stay....here take this." Connie had pulled a shiny new key from her pocket.
"It's for the front door. I'm going for a long soak in the bath after Grace has gone to bed. I'll see you later?" Asked Connie. Earning a cheesy grin from Jacob. "Definitely."
Connie and Grace said goodbye to everyone agreeing that they would all meet up again soon.

Back home Connie sat at the kitchen table surround by papers, she'd decided to get stuck into them while Grace was getting washed and ready for bed.
"MUM! I'm ready for bed!" Shouted Grace from upstairs.
Connie put down her pen and joined Grace in her room. She sat down next to her daughter on the bed. "Muuum." Grace said tentatively. "Do you think for my birthday I could get a Nintendo Wii? It was so much fun."
"We'll see sweetheart, you might change your mind between now and your birthday, we'll talk about it nearer the time ok?"
"Ok. Jacob's friends were nice don't you think mum? They kept making me and Emily laugh with their silly jokes."
Connie smiled. "Yes, they seem like a great group of people... right... come on missy, sleep time, it's getting late and you have school in the morning."
"Goodnight mum, I love you."
"I love you to Grace, sweet dreams."
With that Connie left the room closing the door behind her heading back downstairs to her paperwork.

It was a hour later when Jacob let himself into the house. All the lights were off so he made his way up stairs being careful not to make any noise that would wake Grace. He followed the light that was coming from Connie's room. Inside he could a gentle splashing noise coming from the ensuite bathroom. "Connie?"
"Hey, in here."
Jacob put his head round the door. He'd never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. The room was lit with candles and Connie was laid in the bath surrounded by bubbles, her hair tied up in a messy bun on top of her head.
"Hi."
"Your back early, I didn't expect you for a while yet." Connie said, a little surprised.
"I did say it wouldn't be a late one. Dawn took Emily home not long after you left and then Pete had to go, early start in the morning. Besides... looking at you in that bath is so much more fun." Said Jacob with a cheeky smile.
"Why don't you come and join me, I've only just got in the waters lovely!"
Jacob, still smiling raised an eyebrow but wasted no time at all throwing off his clothes and easing himself in the bath behind Connie.
"I love you Mrs Beauchamp."
"I love you too Staff Nurse Masters."