All I Want Is You

Helping A Friend

Taylor

"Hey Taylor can you give us a hand for a sec?" Bellowed Rosalind from the bedroom across the hallway, I mean the palace is large and to be heard from one of the guest bedrooms to the other across the hall you had to shout.

"On my way" I yelled back.

We most certainly would not be screaming at each other in the family wing that was a definite no-no, but here of the beaten track so to speak we could get away with it.

Minutes later after helping Ros to lift the mattress and tuck the sheets and blankets in, we were both resting on the edge of the ensuite bath getting our breaths back.

"I'm getting to old for this" groaned Ros.

"Twenty is to old, there's no hope for me then" I giggled.

"Shut up, you know what I mean, I should be doing something exciting with my life, not making beds for people with more money than sense"

"I know what you mean, I loved this job when I first came here, now it seems mundane, I wish I had the confidence to do something more exciting" I sympathised.

"Well if you could Tay what would you want to do?"

"I don't know, I took a degree in music and music management, but never finished it, I always wanted to be part of a production team, you know planning and arranging big stadium concerts, that sort of thing you know"

"So why don't you then, finish your degree and go for it"

"I wish" I sighed.

"But I can't afford to finish my degree and I'm not sure I'm up to working with a lot of people, I like my privacy to much, but perhaps one day"

Just then there was a tap on the door and both Ros and me answered together.

"Come in" the fact we had answered simultaneously made us both laugh, then in came Justin Mallory, who worked on the estate like my father, plus Justin and I had a history, we had dated a few times, but I wasn't ready for a serious relationship so we eventually split up, but have remained friends especially as he had been dating Sadie for just over a year and a half.

"Umm high" he seemed very nervous for some reason.

"Hi Justin what's up?" Ros asked, as I frowned at him.

"Well I was hoping to have a private word with Taylor if that's possible"

"Sure, I'll just go and put these sheets in the linen basket downstairs"

Good old Ros always so considerate where others are concerned.

I smiled at her as she left the room then turned my attention back to Justin.

"Well Just what do you want to tell me?"

"Well Taylor, I was hoping you would help me out" he was looking around the room nervously.

I waited for him to enlighten me, but he leaned towards and whispered.

"Sadie's not about is she?"

I shook my head wondering what he was getting at.

"No she's in the East wing, why?"

He seemed to physically relax then.

"Good" he sighed. "I don't want her to know yet"

Now I was worried.

"Don't want her to know what yet" I had to ask.

"I was hoping you would help me buy an engagement ring for her, I want to surprise her, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at this, having never done it before"

I felt the rush of relief rush through my body, I was beginning to think this whole situation was going to get bad.

I stepped up to him and gave him a hug and a little squeal.

"Oh Justin how romantic, congratulations and of course I will help you, tell me where and when"

"Well Taylor, I was hoping this afternoon if that's okay with you and we could nip into Oxford"

"Sounds great, I won't have time to change, so I'll be in my work gear and we can go straight after my shift if you want?"

"Oh Taylor that's great thank you, I meet you out the front at half four then"

"That will work out just right, I think we have a visitor tonight so I should get home in time to see them, provided you can find something you like"

After finishing my shift and we found the ring that I just knew Sadie would love, Justin left his car at the palace and walked me home, stopping me on the brow of the hill, he turned towards me with a big smile on his face, he looked so happy, he intended to propose to Sadie the next evening as he had planned a romantic meal and lots of flowers.

"Thanks for your help Taylor" Justin whispered pulling me in for a hug me giving me a peck on the cheek.

"You're welcome" I replied hugging him back.

"I'm sure she'll love it and I'm pleased you have found someone that loves you and that you and Sadie will be very happy together"

Released from the hug I skipped down the hill towards home happy that Justin and Sadie were together and that he was going to propose to her.

As I reached for the front door handle it flew open and I faced a very angry Declan.

"Hey Dec what's up" I asked still happy with my day.

"Nothing" he growed as he pushed past me.

"See you around Taylor" then he leapt on his bike and roared off up the road.

Wow what's up with him, I wonder.

I shugged my shoulders and went inside, where I met my equally unhappy parents.

"Hey guys what's up and why's Declan moody all of a sudden?"

"Perhaps it has something to do with you kissing your ex boyfriend just now" a very irrate mother said folding her arms over her chest.

"What!" I cried.

Then it dawned on me, they must have seen Justin and me on the road hugging, shit! and they thought we were together and Declan must have thought​ so to.

" Mum that was nothing we most certainly were not kissing, Justin hugged me because I helped him chose a ring for Sadie, he's going to propose to her and he wanted my help, that's all"

"Well you better explain that to your young man he saw it and wasn't very happy, he left before we could even  ask him to stay for dinner" stated my mother.

Shit! Why is everything so complicated, I needed to go and see Declan tomorrow and straighten ​this out once and for all.