Guarded Heart (The GH Series)

Chapter Forty-Eight

Monday

I am really going to become an activist for 'I hate Mondays.' But on the plus side, it will be the last Monday I will ever have to say goodbye to Ashley. "I have never seen my car look so full in all my life."

We all looked at Fiona's car and we don't know how we managed to cram so much in. It just meant when we leave on Friday, my car and Sarah's' will be all we need to take with us. "On the plus side Fi, you will be able to roll your way back to Glasgow."

"You aren't funny Callie." She said sniggering.

"Yet, you laughed." I walked around to the passenger side and Ashley was leaning against the door. "Are you okay babe?"

"I guess..." I knew she was feeling the way I was, but she expresses it more outwardly than I do.

"It's only for a few days and then there will be no more goodbyes." I ran my finger through the strand of hair that had come loose and gently tucked it behind her ear. Cupping her face, I kissed her tenderly.

"I love you..."

"I love you too babe. Now go before we turn into a pair of open taps and cry our eyes out." Ashley then opened the car door and sat in the passenger side looking sad. As the car started reversing, I shaped my hands to show her a heart, making her smile.

Stepping back inside the house, Sarah said what I was thinking. "It seems too quiet, doesn't it?"

"It does. I'm glad they decided to stay most of the day before heading home."

"Yeah, me too. Are you going to be okay to travel on the thirteenth or are you going to wait until the day after? You haven't exactly revealed your plans." We sat down on the sofa, instantly missing our company.

"Who knows? I am going to wait and see how I am on the day." Sarah nodded her head in agreement to my decision. "Anyway, you and Fiona..." I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

"Enough...you."

"Won't it be awkward living with her knowing that you both have been intimate?"

"Well, we chatted about that last night on the way to get food. We agreed that what happened, happened. It is not going to affect me moving in with her, temporarily." Sarah looked away and I knew I had to draw her back into the conversation.

"Glad you both can be mature about it. Was it any good?"

"Bloody hell Callie. You really need a filter..." I raised my eyebrows to encourage Sarah to continue as she knows I will become relentless wanting to know the details. "It was good, yes. For someone who is shy, she is a bit of a wild one in bed."

"Oooh, who would have thought it!?" I smirked.

"Now, I'm saying no more. I don't pry into your relationship with Ashley."

I held up my hands in mock defeat. "Okay, okay. I shall leave it be. But in all honesty, I cannot believe you are moving aswell. I always thought I would be coming back here to visit you."

"You really don't have any plans to come back here at all, do you?"

"None. The only way I would return if something happened to Kacey. Plus, as I have already said, I'm not coming back to see Amanda anymore, Fiona was right. Amanda is in my heart no matter where I end up living."

Sarah looked at me and we both looked around the place we call home. "It's just going to be strange after all these years."

"I have to do this Sarah, for me. This time I have to me more generous and less destructive to my soul." I'm listening to the advice that has been given and the love that surrounds me.

"It sounds like you have it all planned out."

"Kind of. I've decided not to plan stuff anymore. It is usually when things go tits up, the past few weekends prove that."

"That is very true."

My mobile phone rings and I jump out of my skin. I didn't realise I was so engrossed in my conversation with Sarah. "Hello?"

"Hey Callie. I hear that you have been stirring up some trouble?" That gruff yet mocking voice hit my eardrum.

"Oh, hey Jamie. Who me...nah? I don't stir anything up. Innocent until proven guilty."

"Sounds like you have been making progress in your recovery. The reason why I'm calling is to see if you are still going on Thursday?"

I'm glad that I never forgot that I would see Jamie on Thursday, he will be a tower of strength to me as always. "I have made progress, thanks Jamie. Yes, I'm going on Thursday. I should be there around lunch time. I'm moving back to Glasgow."

"I can't say that I blame you for wanting to move away. I will see you on Thursday, I can push to be there for lunchtime."

"It would be nice to see you Jamie, especially before I leave. Make sure you have safe travels getting here aswell Jamie." I'm protective of him, I can't help it.

"I will. Be seeing you Callie."

"See ya Jamie."

It was a short and sweet phone call, but that is typical Jamie. He was never a man of words, unless you really riled him in to talking then he was like a demented budgie and wouldn't stop nattering. "That was nice of him to call, we don't hear from him much since he moved away to be with his girl."

"He sounded good. He is going to be there on Thursday if you hadn't guessed already. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to chill and then head to bed." It has been a long day, that is for sure.

"Yes. It has been another manic weekend."

"Here is to a few more..."

"Eh!?" Sarah sounded exasperated with my comment.

"If you had let me finish, I was going to say quiet ones. So, keep your hair on woman!!"

"Honestly, sometimes I don't know if I will ever know when you are winding me up, or not." We both broke out into laugher and started to relax in front of the television.

"After all, I love the element of surprising you all..."

***

I was in my room and chatting to Ashley on the phone, who sounded absolutely exhausted from the journey back to Glasgow. "It was strange driving away, know it was the last time we were saying goodbye to one another."

"Yeah, apart from when we have to leave for work and stuff." I can't wait for that to start; it's going to be a whole new ball game for me.

"Well Callie, that is more of a see ya rather than a goodbye. Goodbyes are usually reserved for not knowing, I guess."

"True." Then there was silence between us. "I love you Ashley."

"I love you too Callie."

"I honestly don't think you realise how much I love you though." My heart was pounding in my chest, full of love for this wonderful woman.

"What do you mean?" I never responded quick enough, I don't know why. "Callie? Are you still there?"