This = Love

Chapter 26

I was woken the next morning by my phone, Danny was face timing me, and I've just woken up, nice!

As I answered the phone he appeared on the screen and shouted "It's Chrisssssstmaaaaas!" just like Noddy Holder does in the song. I laughed at him.

"Are you ready to do presents?" He asked excitedly.

We had agreed to only spend £10 on our gifts for each other so it was more about being creative and having a laugh.

"Ok, do you want to go first?" I asked before noticing that he was already opening the small parcel I had carefully wrapped for him. I bought him some guitar picks with his face on them and a couple of beaded bracelets.  He laughed as he opened them.

"Thanks babe" he said as he pushed the bracelets onto his wrist "Your turn"

I began opening my present from him and revealed a pillow case with Danny's face printed on one half of it and the other half had a heart with 'I love Danny' written on it.

I turned and grabbed a pillow from behind me and slid it inside the pillowcase. "I love it" I said to him, hugging the pillow. "And I love you" came his reply.

The call was kept fairly short because I had to go and see my nieces and nephews and he was heading to Temple Street hospital to see the kids there, but this had been a great way to start the day.

I went downstairs and wished my mum Merry Christmas and we exchange gifts before packing up the car to go and drop off our gifts for my nieces and nephews.

After doing the rounds, we got back to my mums and she opened a bottle of wine, pouring us each a glass while I helped with dinner. 

Christmas dinner was always a big deal to my mum and this year there would be 15 of us all squeezed around the table.  I have no idea how she can cook for so many people.

I set the table, ready for everyone arriving and before long the house was buzzing again as my grandma and my 3 brothers arrived with their families.

Sitting down to Christmas dinner I felt really lucky to have my family around me and I got lost amongst the numerous conversations all going on at the same time around the table.  One addition to the table and today would have been perfect.

After dinner, we played board games with the kids before it was time for them to go home.

"Are you staying again tonight Kay?" My mum asked. Part of me wanted to go home but I didn't want to leave my mum on her own so I said I would stay.

She poured more wine while I went to put my pyjamas on.  I came down with my pillow and settled myself on the sofa to watch the soaps, my mum never misses them.

"What the hell's that?" She said looking at the pillow.

I laughed and told her it was what Danny had got me for Christmas. She rolled her eyes before asking "What did he really get you?"

"No seriously mum, this is what he got me" I said smiling.

"You two are weird" she said before becoming engrossed in the TV.

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Boxing Day - when all the hype of Christmas is over and you're stuck in no mans land just waiting for new year.

Arriving back home I started to put away all of the gifts I got yesterday and tidied around the house.

When I was done, I curled up on the sofa to watch a film.  I found Home Alone on the TV and I had only missed the first 15 minutes of it so I started watching it.

The film was about half way through when I received a text from Danny:

Date night tonight! Meet me at Skype bar at 5:30, can't wait to see you xxxxx

I smiled to myself as I read it, but thought 5:30 was a bit early, date night used to always be 8pm. I wondered if it was a typo so I text back:

Can't wait to see you, but 5:30??? Isn't date night 8pm? xxx

Danny's reply offered no explanation:

No 5:30, don't be late. I love you xxxxx

I wondered why he was so adamant on 5:30 but decided I still had plenty of time to finish watching the film and get ready so I wasn't going to argue, 5:30 it is.

When the film finished I went upstairs to my bedroom to choose an outfit for tonight, I wanted to make a real effort and I eventually settled on a pair of black wide legged trousers and a tight fitting, strapless corset style top which was black and gold.  I decided on wearing killer heels as well, not that it mattered what shoes I was wearing, or if I was wearing them at all for that matter but I would never go on a date with Danny without wearing heels so tonight would be no different.

After showering, I still had plenty of time so I curled my hair before pinning it into a sideways French twist with just a few curls falling around my face.  I also took time over my makeup creating dramatic smokey eyes which looked great.  I don't often spend a lot of time on my hair and makeup but I wanted my levels of effort for tonight to reflect how much I had missed Danny.

After spraying some perfume I came downstairs and set up my laptop before going to pour a drink.

I waited patiently for the Skype call to come through but it didn't and by 5:45 my heart sank.  I assumed that Danny must've got held up with whatever he was doing today and couldn't get home by 5:30 but I was still really disappointed.

Taking out my phone, I composed and deleted texts to Danny on numerous occasions before finally sending:

Hope you are ok? No sign of you in Skype bar, call me when you're free xxx

That didn't sound too needy did it?

I resisted the urge to cry, I felt sure that Danny would have a reasonable explanation as to why he couldn't make it. Gulping back my drink I let out a half hearted laugh, all dressed up and nowhere to go.

As I went to refill my drink I heard a knock at the back door which startled me a little bit.  Taking a deep breath to pull me from my disappointment I went to answer it. 

At first I opened it cautiously, just a crack, because I wasn't expecting anyone but the shock of what I saw made me throw the door wide open and then stand for a second with the palm of my hand pressed against my mouth.

My heart was racing so fast I expected to pass out at any minute.

Stood on my doorstep, clutching a bouquet of lilies and roses, my favourite flowers, was the last person I expected to see.

"Sorry I'm late babe" he said with a smile as he walked in lightly kissing my cheek as he passed me.