For Me?

Time to go Home

P.O.V Aila

The morning had been rather uneventful, he had showered and changed long before I had even woken up. He had opened the window to let the spring air in, it smelt wonderful. He was pottering about making sure that I had clothes laid out on the bed ready to change into. He didn't say anything nor did he even attempt to look my way. He looked deep in thought.

I let him get on with it and made my way to the bathroom to use the loo and then have a wash. I looked at my reflection, I didn't realise that just by being away from my mothers house how different the world seemed now. The world seemed somewhat brighter. Shaking my head I smile and come out. He appeared to not be in the room, so I took this opportunity to get dressed, after dressing I pull my plait out and brush out the crimps. I felt different and I looked down at the silver plain band on my left hand. I couldn't have yellow gold as I am allergic to it.

Mrs Scott. No Longer am I Miss Foley. I'm a wife. I'm not sure how I am suppose to feel, but for the first time in twenty years I haven't woken up with dread. I think that now I have a purpose and a goal things seem different. My aim really is to try to make this work. We may not have a fairy tale ending, but we can at least try to create something.

I packed up my pj's and bushed out my hair, after putting the brush away I turn to go out and stopped dead in my tracks... She paled instantly. How long had he been there for.

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P.O.V Thomas

He had walked in as she had pulled off her pjs, she wore no underwear underneath her pjs so he leaned against the door frame and watched the surprise strip. He slightly frowned though as just beneath her buttock where old scars, thin lines that were fading but they were the only discoloured thing on her. It kind of reminded him of tiger stripes. Otherwise her white skin was just that white. Her legs were very shapely suggesting that she may actually have some interest in exercise. She was becoming slightly more interesting. Her hair hung all over the place which hid parts of her which in some ways made it more teasing. She slid one slender leg into the dark panties then the other and pulled them up. He'd seen women get dressed before but this was much more tantalizing, possibly because she was unaware of his presence.

The bra was next on, he couldn't quite see her but a slight curve at the side when she had reached for it. She pulled on dark blue jeans that clung to her, and then she pulled on a light green blouse. He saw her gaze at the wedding band she now wore and he wondered what she maybe thinking. She began to put her things away and brush her hair into order and he smirked when she turned round and looked mortified that he was just standing there watching her.

"Ready?" I ask her.

She shrugs her bag onto your shoulder and nods while walking towards the door, I offer her my arm and she slips her hand gently to rest on my arm. Her cheeks are now a rose red. He would definitely hold that image of her bent over the bed naked till he could make use of it.

"We will be going directly to my house, my father does live there but don't worry he works a lot."

Her next words shock me a little.

"I hope he doesn't mind that we are there."

He looked sideways at her and said nothing more. I led her to the main entrance where my car awaited. I helped her into the passenger seat and shut the door, I head to the driver side and glance just in the distance and notice someone staring at me. It looked like a female but from this distance it was hard to tell.

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P.O.V Aila

We arrive at what I can only describe as the most beautiful but biggest cottage I've ever seen. The windows were cross-hatched with dark brown wood and they stood out against the cream-coloured brick work. The windows had beautiful flower baskets with an assortment of pansies in them. It must have been his late mother. You would hardly believe two grown men would take such time and effort in the colour coordination of the flowers to brick ratio. The front door was a beautiful natural wood colour, it looked very well cared for.

I'm taken from my appreciation of the home when Thomas's father, Mr Scott, opens the door and greets us with the most relaxed and contented smile. It is contagious and I can't help but smile in return. I wanted to make up for my earlier rude behaviour at the wedding and greet him with a small hug, and his reaction was to embrace me tightly. This feeling is so alien, but it makes me feel safe and warm. After counting in my head what i feel is an appropriate among of time for a hug I pull back and smile.

"Thank you Mr Scott for the beautiful wedding and for welcoming me to your lovely home and family."

He seemed genuinely pleased and took my hand to place in the crook of his elbow to guide me around the house. He had such a grandfatherly appearance, but not because of age, but because he was just so warm. He was the same height as Thomas, though his eyes were brown where Thomas's were gray or maybe even blue, she wasn't sure now.

"Please do call me dad, or David if that is a little easier for you, we don't need such formalities here as we are family after all."

Something about this man makes me feel at home already. When I lived with my mother, I always felt like a guest who had over stayed their welcome. But here it felt like the warmth you get when you sunbath in the sun. So inviting and fresh. I did also feel out of place but the warmth of this man was so intoxicating it was hard to keep feeling like an outsider.

I could hear Thomas behind him.

"Dad I'm going to place mine and Aila's stuff upstairs. We need to talk about some things later."

With that, he walked away to do just that. David didn't seem to mind, he seemed much more intent on showing me each room of the house. Our first stop was the kitchen and it really did look like something out of a story book. A beautiful yellow colour used for the walls brightened the entire room. The table in the middle was round and had a white cloth draped over it, a fruit bowl sat in the middle with an assortment of fresh goods. The kitchen island was the same natural wood colour as the front door and housed a bread bin and some cups. I am broken away from my observantions by David.

"Aila dear, would you care for some tea with an old man?"

I smiled at him warmly, his ease around me was becoming contagious as I became more settled around him. I'm not fond of tea, but nod politely. He asks how I took it and replied that milky with no sugar. His smile widens and explains that it's exactly how his late wife took her tea. From the look he gives, you can tell he loved her deeply and must miss her a lot.

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P.O.V David

This young woman was uncertain, he knew for sure, but she was a lot more relaxed than she had been yesterday. He was very pleased at this. He had seen her grow from a tiny baby to about the age of five before things had taken a horrific turn. He didn't want to sour his mood by thinking about it, but if what he had witnessed that long ago had continued till she had turned twenty-three, then there would be a long road ahead for her and Thomas. He just hoped that his bull-headed son would actually take note and act accordingly. His rebellious outburst was enough to give him grave concerns. But then his mother had doted and spoiled him rotten over the years, much to my regret, I allowed it.

He looked over at the young woman who was now sipping her tea on the patio outside the kitchen and couldn't help but think of his loving wife. She sat just like that, she had enjoyed it when Aila had come to visit, as she had always wanted a daughter, she had taken a liking to Aila and was very fond of her. But Patricia was an evil woman and had said the only use for a daughter was to marry her off young and be done with it.

"Aila, would you like a slice of fruit bread?"

She smiles warmly again at me. I feel that she must deep down remember who I am because she has taken to being quite relaxed around me.

"May I have some butter on top please?"

I nod at this and spread a thin layer on for a slice for her and for myself. I walk over to her and sit opposite her. Crossing my leg over the other I wonder how she feels about this place.

"So Aila. what do you think so far?"

She takes the plate and grins. She looks at me and I see a light in her eyes I swear I haven't seen since she was a child.

"It is very beautiful here, feels like home already and I haven't seen the rest yet. It may sound odd but I feel like I've been here before, its very warm and inviting, you've kept it so well."

But my dear you have been, I think sadly. I look out into the garden. I can clearly see the young girl even now in her yellow dress spinning round and round in a circle as fast as she could while singing at the top of her lungs. My boy Thomas at that age was sat grimacing by the swing. A slight chuckle bubbles from me. If things go well, then I can expect the sound of happy children again in this very quiet home.

"Thank you, home, my dear is where the heart is. Deep down we always know where we are meant to be."

She looks at me while chewing and nods not knowing what to say, I can see her staring into the garden thinking. From the corner of my eye I can see my son leaning against the kitchen island watching us. I have a good feeling, a very good feeling indeed. This could really work.

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P.O.V Thomas

I rarely saw my father look so at peace. Ever since mother had died he seemed to be a shadow of his former self. But Aila has managed to reignite that energy back into him. I was taken aback when she had hugged him so warmly and I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of him for receiving such a loving gesture. But I shook it off because after all its an arrangement.

He watched the two silently for a little while before he cleared his throat to make himself known.

"Ah son! I hope the room is in order. I wanted to make sure you and Aila would have a very comfortable arrangement."

I look at Aila, who is now looking a tad embarrassed. She is probably wondering how we will break it to the old man that we have agreed to arrange something else until we know what we both will find appropriate.

"That is what I wanted to talk to you about. The room is lovely and I have no doubt Aila would love it, but for the sake of both of us we would like to live separately within the house until we strike an accord."

My father literally looked like he was about to contest this. He held his composure very very well, he glanced over at Aila and you could see the visible change in him as he grew tender again and he sighed.

"Yes, I can see why you both would want that. Forgive an old fool Aila. I had hoped too much too soon. It must be very weird to marry someone you don't know and be thrust into a house like this..."

She placed her hand over his on the table and smiled cutting in innocently.

"David, please no forgiveness needed. I am very grateful for everything you have done, please do not think we are being ungrateful but we are strangers to each other and maybe some time getting to know each other will help everyone"

I again am faced with insane jealously. She will placate the old man but seems to be skittish in my presence. I narrow my eyes and try to keep my own composure. I wonder what else she can do because, where as i would argue with the old fool she in one swoop had changed his frame of mind in the simplest way.

"I have taken the liberty to move Aila's belongings into the guest bedroom for now, as she says it's better to become better acquainted."

I almost gaped at her when I saw her smile warmly at me. That one smile almost, almost won me over like my father. I mentally shook myself and turned to leave for the study. She seemed at ease now, but was that because of his father or because she now had an escape from him?