Meeting Mr Firth

7

Got up late in the morning after I barely could get any sleep the previous night. Colin came to pick me up and the conversation in the car went on like this..

-Would you stop being so tense? People will think you're the one who has the court meeting.
-My concern is perhaps worse.
-They'll like you. If you're nervous you'll probably freeze and won't be able to say a thing. Just relax, dear!
-Easier said than done. I really try to relax but I don't know how they'll react to..my age. You told them that?
-I said you were much younger than me. Don't know what they have imagined..
-I suppose we'll see.

Arrived at the court and the kids were already there with Livia. Waiting outside on a bench. I had the instinct to run away but Colin took my hand and told me to walk on. The kids saw me and had a quite shocked expression in their eyes. Couldn't blame them..

-Livia, boys.. This is Andreea.
-Hello! Look.. Before you say anything I just wanted to tell you that I hope we could get along though I can't ask any of you to like me. And apart from what Colin told you, that it all happened spontaneously. I like to think it was fate. And we are happy.

Colin nodded in their direction, putting an arm around my waist. He smiled at me and I smiled back. No member of his family could say anything and neither was there time for that as the court meeting had to start.
It was a brief meeting as all the details were already agreed upon and everything went as it should have. I was sitting in the back watching the whole thing and wishing I could've sat next to Colin, holding his hand. Because I could clearly tell he was nervous.
When the meeting finally ended he looked at me and then in the direction of his kids as to tell me: "We should talk to them." So we got out in the hallway and he initiated the conversation..

-Boys, would you like to have lunch with me and Andy today? I mean, we could discuss things.
-We'd like that.. I guess. But we can't. Have a bunch of homework to do.
-Oh..okay. Maybe another time.
-Another time. Bye!
***

-That went well.
-I don't understand why they're so cold, so distant with me.
-Is not you, is me. They clearly didn't expect me to be THIS young. And I can't blame them for this reaction. They might never like me. But you're still their father and when everything settles down in their minds and hearts they'll come back to you.
-I hope you're right.
-Maybe we should go have a quiet lunch somewhere.
-I feel more like spending the rest of the day at home. Can we?
-Sure. Let's go!

But as I was saying that, Livia approached us with a slight expression of anger in her eyes. I sighed waiting for what I though was going to me a "lecture" addressed to me. And remembered what Viv said that this was not the way I wanted to meet her. I never wanted her for an enemy neither perceived her that way. But maybe she did..

-Just wanted to tell you.. No hard feelings. And Colin, the boys are just shocked and I think rightfully so. But they'll come back round. Just give them time.
-Right. Thank you.
-Me too. We mean it.

Later in the day, at lunch..

-You okay? I mean, about the boys and everything..
-Yeah, I think so. It didn't work as I expected but I guess it could've been worse.
-I know exactly what you need to get your mind off all this. Let's go see the gang.
-They're going to ask infinite questions about what happened.
-They'll ask me probably, not you. I won't let them bother us but simply be there as friends. We can have some fun.
-Okay. Let's go then.
***

-Hey guys!
-How did it go? Asked Viv impatiently.
-It went mostly okay. We didn't come to discuss this.
-The important thing is that it's over.
-And that you can get back to work tomorrow, said Jack.
-Very funny. But yes, I'll get back to work. Still have the rest of the day free though. Does any of you fancy a little party or something?
-Sorry, I can't. I have paperwork to do. Life as a HR isn't any fun during the week. And I need Jen to help me with those so she can't either.
-Viv?
-Don't want to interfere with your plans so maybe I would just go visit some places.
-Okay, so the plan is off..
-Shall we go back home?
-If you prefer that..
-I do. If you excuse us guys, we'd better get going.
-See you tomorrow!

Back in the street I stopped for a second thinking what we could do to get rid of the tension and stress. And I found my brilliant idea.

-We can go home now..but what about a little midnight walk tonight?
-Let me guess. Trafalgar square?
-That was my point.
-Okay, but I really need to sit and reflect a little now. So, shall we?
-Okay.

At home he just sat motionless on the sofa with his mind on the reaction the kids had. I sat next to him, taking his hand and trying to make him understand once again that it was a normal reaction but that everything was going to get back to normal when they'll accept us.
He just smiled slightly and then put his hands on his face and started sobbing. I got closer and put an arm around his shoulders.

-It's alright. They still love you but they're confused. Maybe even a bit angry. With me, not with you. They'll come back round, you'll see. So please, stop worrying.
-I..I'll try to. Can you..give me a napkin?
-Here you go. Now stop whining about it because it doesn't do any good to anyone. And just give them time.
-Time solves everything.. Right. And I still have you here, by my side.
-Always and forever. I'm not going anywhere even if you want me to.
-But I don't. I want you to stay..forever.
-Now that discussion about living forever seems to take a different turn. You said you'd be bored and I agreed. Now I think..I'd never get bored with you.
-Me neither with you. Already a number of crazy stuff happened in less than a week.
-And there are many to come I think.
-Like our little planned walk for tonight?
-Yeah, like that. Or like this..

And I put my arms around his neck and started kissing him passionately. We forgot about everything as if we were the only people left on earth. So magical it is to have someone to love and who loves you back.
He pulled me closer and kissed me back on the lips hurriedly, passionately. Then on the neck and the shoulders.
But he suddenly stopped and stared at me for a few seconds as unable to speak. Then opened his mouth to say something but couldn't articulate any word. So I took his hand and nodded reassuringly to give him courage.

-I wanted to tell you something but feared you might think I'm.. Can't find the right word. Maybe delusional..
-What is it? You can tell me anything and I promise I'd never think that of you.
-But you might. Well.. I wanted to tell you that.. Quite incoherently so.. That I.. love you.
-You..what?
-I love you, Andy. I really do despite the fact that I tried not to fall too hard for you. I think you deserve better.
-I.. I love you too. Colin, in fact I think YOU deserve better and I'm still not sure why you'd choose me when you can have any other woman.
-What do you mean?
-Let's face it! You have so many female fans that fancy themselves in love with you and I've been one of them for so long.
-Yes, maybe. But it is you I love. Because.. I don't know. I guess you're different. You're sensible, you're smart, you're funny. I feel like I can talk to you about everything. And I want our relationship to work, I really do.
-I sense a "but" coming..
-But I think you deserve to be with someone your age, someone who can provide you a future.
-I don't care about age. Maybe there is a 37 years gap between us and maybe that's a scary difference and people won't be willing to accept it. But I don't care about it because I truly love you. Come here!

He came closer and I gave him a hug. When we parted he was smiling and he took my face in his hands and gave me a sincere and pure kiss. I kissed him back and then we picked up where we left earlier..

Laying in bed next to him, resting my head on his chest, was the best and only place in the world I wanted to stay.. forever. He thought I fell asleep and was gently playing with my hair.

-What time is it?
-About 8pm. Do you want to go have dinner?
-Yes. At the restaurant we had dinner on Saturday. Okay?
-Perfect.

We agreed on a remake of the night we had our first kiss(mine literally the first) and we even had the same thing for dinner. Then by midnight we went into the quiet and magical Trafalgar square and sat on the same spot by the fountain. We didn't speak much and just got carried away by the magic look of the surroundings. Colin leaned forward to kiss me but before that he said..

-I hope that you won't repeat EVERY aspect of that night, right? Don't push me away when I want you the most.
-I have no wish to push you away but to draw you closer. I love you!
-I love you too!