Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound Chapter 14

I was correct in my assumptions that I wouldn't sleep as I kept mulling over what I was going to say to my boss. I knew that he was going to let rip on me about not telling him where I was going. I didn't think that it was any of his business where I went after work hours. Mum hadn't got much sleep either, which made her irritable and even worse to deal with that usual. I decided not to take my irritation out on the cat as I knew mum would blow up in my face.

With breakfast made and eaten which was cornflakes as usual, I sat staring at the phone trying to work up the gumption to phone the boss.

'Are you going to sit and stare at the phone all day,' mum snapped from where she was crocheting a bit more of the blanket for Tibbles.

'Alright,' I sighed going to pick up the phone before being interrupted by a loud knock at the door. I rushed towards the door, feeling slightly relieved that I had been interrupted only to find Gideon stood in front of me. Why thank you I thought as I took him in. He was wearing an old battered pair of jeans which seemed to have more holes in it than actual fabric but they still looked good on him. He wore an equally old shirt. I think I had only ever seen him in jeans and I couldn't help but think about what he would look like with a suit on.

As if he sensed my thoughts about his dress he grinned sheepishly.

'Sorry about my choice of clothes, I was up at the crack of dawn to help with the calving.' He we still look good in a bloody bin bag.

'Oh, it's alright.' He then produced a bunch of flowers that he had obviously bought from the co-op because the old florist had closed down when I was still living here.

'I wanted to come and apologise to you about ruining you date with Mark.'

'Matthew,' I replied feeling a bit emotional that he had decided to come and say sorry when in fact I hadn't been bothered that my date had been interrupted by Meg and then Gideon. For the date hadn't been going that well before he got there as it was like pulling blood out from a stone to even get an answer out of Matthew.

'I hope to get your forgiveness by taking you out for a walk.' This surprised me that he was begging me for forgiveness when it should probably be Matthew he should be getting on his knees and grovelling to.

'Are you going to stand on the door step all day yacking or do I have to come and say for them to bugger off?' mum hollered from the living room.

'Err I'm going out.'

'You are not going out little missy. It seems like you are never at home. You did say that you came down to help me young madam!' mum got going as she waddled out into hollered before striking the mum pose. The mum poses always used to get me to do what mum had wanted me to do as well as the if you don't do this there will be consequences threat. However, these threats did not work on me anymore.

'Yes, I am,' I argued back crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at mum. I felt like a teenager all over again.

A chuckle distracted me from my stare off with mum. Gideon lounged against the door frame looking like he owned the bloody house. I glared at him, which didn't do anything. He seemed to have become immune from my glares.

'Ma'am I'm really sorry about your daughter having to go out. You see last night I upset your daughter and I feel the need to make it up to her,' he charmed mum like it was the most simplistic thing he had ever do. Well seeing as he had his hand down cows' backsides as a living, I could see why he didn't flag in the face of mum.

'Gideon you are such a gentleman,' mum swooned. I didn't blame her as he turned his panty dropping smile onto me.

'Well I can't have a good-looking woman angry at me can I.' He winked at me causing me to audible gasp. His smirk just grew larger.

'Meg isn't here today,' mum questioned not noticing the sizzling tension between the pair of us.

'nah, she's in the car. I don't trust her with the cat after what happened last time.'

Last time?' I did a double take. When had he visited mum and why hadn't mum told me because she normally did on the phone that was always lengthy?

'Gideon was here to put the shed up after it fell down and Meg took a disliking to Tibbles that's all,' mum brushed off.

'Not just a disliking. Meg chased the cat around the house which resulted in a broken television and many other items. I did pay for it.' Gideon drawled. Get in! Meg was fast approaching best friend status. Anyone be it human or beast if it they took on the furball known as Tibbles they automatically rose in my respect.

'Do you think you can come and mend the fence in the back Gideon. It's been leaning in since those bloody people at the back put several boulders against it?' mum grumbled.

'Sure, I'll phone you about when you want me to come over.'

With this arranged mum let me go peacefully without a fight which I was thankful for. The minute I got inside the car after picking up my handbag I was greeted by Meg like I was her long-lost friend.

'We are going to have a wonder along the river, I've brought lunch so we can make a day of it. You're a crafty bastard I thought not really minding that much as he had sort of grown on me a little bit.

The car ride was a short one in which Meg spent the time with her head out of the window her tongue out. We didn't converse during this journey as he had obviously fixed his radio for now, he had Dire Straits crooning in. At least he had a good taste in music. I remember buying the brother in arms album and playing money for nothing at high volume. This got to dad so much that he turned off the electrics several times when I had played it over and over again.

I helped him unload all off the bags he had packed. He had certainly come prepared as he even had a little mini stove to make hot drinks and the like. He let Meg off her lead and we watched as she went chasing after the various ducks, we ambled side by side carrying all the paraphernalia before we came across a small alcove where the trees had grown to make a hollow.

'I used to come here as a teenager, especially to watch the sunset,' he mentioned as he showed me his special hiding place. 'It always seemed to look bigger.' He spread out the blankets onto the grown before setting up the picnic he had prepared.

'Well you were smaller back then,' I teased nudging him slightly.

'True. Tea or Coffee. I peg you as a tea girl,' he teased back. He was correct.

'You seem to have me fully pegged out then.'

'No not really. There is a lot about you that I don't know, but I know that you are running from something,' he said suddenly very serious as Meg re-joined us now tired out from her chasing of the wild fowl. She immediately made herself comfortable next to me which had me shuffling nearer to him to give myself some more room.

'I suppose you're correct I sighed before leaning forward to get a sandwich, accidently brushing his arm. I sucked in my breath.

'Things went pear shaped at work. I walked in to see something I really shouldn't have seen so now they want to shut me up.'

'What do you mean by that?' However, I didn't have chance to reply before my phone rang. I apologised before picking it up.

'What!' I snapped now irritable that my lovely date was being interrupted.

'Cara. Finally, you pick up now,' A voice snapped back at me before I realised it was my boss.

'I'm on leave for a funeral.'

'I know Devon is watching you,' he said threatening to me, 'If you don't come back soon, we will be forced to take action.'

'What?' now thoroughly spooked my lip began to quiver as I felt like I was going to burst into tears.

My phone was suddenly ripped from my hands. I turned to see a murderous looking Gideon, any of the laughter that had been there had now gone.

'Listen here you little upstart bastard! If you as so much as threaten Cara like that again I will hunt you down and punch your teeth through your face so hard that you will be spitting up blood.' He threatened 'Do you understand?' He cut the call and he tossed the phone back into my handbag.

'Come here,' He hauled me into a hug as I stared crying as every emotion that I had tried so hard to suppress came bursting out as I hung onto him like he was my anchor.