Welcome To The Pack

Chapter 5 - Eden

Following the walk exploring the village, the girls are happy to do some drawing and colouring in while I get their room sorted out.

Thankfully this room has just plain white walls so there is no immediate decoration to do in here. Instead I set about giving everything a really good clean to get rid of all the dust that covers every surface.

An hour or so later and I was sweating. I’d tied my hair back into a messy bun to keep it out my face earlier but now had fly away bits sticking to my forehead and neck. Who know moving heavy wooden furniture out of the way, for what looked like the first time in a very, very long time, would be such hard work?

At least I now knew that the girls room was spotless. They had their favourite bedding on their beds and I’d managed to unpack just enough of their stuff to make their room feel homely. I might have to come and sleep in here as well tonight I thought. It was definitely the cosiest feeling room of the house right now.

I stood in the doorway to admire my work. I must have zoned out for a second because when the door bell rang suddenly I just about jumped out of my skin and gave a little shriek.

I ran down the stairs with my hand over my chest, laughing to myself at the reaction and threw open the door to see who was there.

It was the guy from this morning! I looked at his face for a second, noticing the smirk on his face and wondered what he found so funny.

“Are you ok?” he asked. “Sounded like something might have given you a scare?”

I looked at him all confused then realised my little shriek must not have been so little after all and he must have heard it.

I laughed before explaining that I must have zoned out and got a small fright when the bell went. I looked up into his eyes, ignoring the smirk on his face that was starting to annoy me just a little. My green eyes met his chocolate brown ones, but the depth that I had seen in them this morning was missing.

I held out my hand to the guy. “Thanks for your help earlier. Sorry I never managed to catch your name?”

His smirk deepened. I decided then that his smirk made him look a lot less sexy than he had looked earlier. Maybe I had just been so grateful for the help that I had imagined just how he had made me feel?

The guy took my hand in his and shook it. “Torben” he answered but I wasn’t really paying attention to what he said, I was too busy noticing that the spark I had felt when we had touched earlier was missing. I had to admit to myself to being a little disappointed. OK, admit to being a big bit disappointed. I really hadn’t thought that I had made up the feeling that I had felt when we had touched.

Maybe it had just been static.

Maybe I did just read far too many romance books where the lead characters felt a spark when they touched each other.

I must have been concentrating on our joined hands for a minute too long because the guys spoke again. “My name” he clarified, “it’s Torben. Although most people just call me Ben.”

I look up at him again and give him a polite smile. “well thanks again for the help this morning Ben.” I say letting go of his hand and going to step back into the house. “It was much appreciated”.

He grabs a hold of my hand again. His giant one wrapping around my wrist. “Maybe I could be of more help to you?” he asked. I smiled politely at him again and shake my head.

“That’s very kind of you to offer, but I’m OK just now. Thanks again.” I reply pulling my arm back and hoping he will release my arm.

A door opens behind me and I hear the pitter patter of not so tiny feet come up behind me, as the girls yet again attached themselves to my legs shouting. “Mummy, mummy, mummy” Elodie starts “look at the pictures of bears that we drew” while waving a lot of sheets of paper, that I can only assume are covered in drawings of bears, at my face.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit busy right now” I say to Ben as I look back from my girls to him. He’s looking at both he girls with a strange look on his face, like he’s never seen kids before. I pull my arm back again and this time my wrist pulls free from his hand and I can step back and close the door.

I know its rude to close the door on someone, but compared to the amazing man I thought he was this morning, Ben is acting totally weird. I’m very pleased I hadn’t asked for his number or anything this morning. I’m not sure I would want to go on a date with this guy now.

“Mummy?” Elodie asks as she raises her arms indicating that she wants lifted up. “Who was that man?”

“That was the man that helped Mummy this morning. I think he must be a neighbour or something.” I reply to her while picking her up for a cuddle.

“He was different” she states.

Out of the mouth of babes I think.

“Yes sweetheart, he was. That he was.”