A Life Plan Without You. (60 page)

“Seriously, no wonder you want to get back there.” She spat
her drink over her Dior dress.

“You speak Spanish Michelle?” I spoke to her again still in
Spanish.

“My best friend Tasha comes from Spain. She has been teaching
me for years; I have a very good, ear for learning foreign
languages, at least my old language teacher tells me so? Your
secret is safe with me who can blame you if all your husband does
is play golf. You needn’t worry, go back to Spain and enjoy the
building work. I look forward to seeing your villa. Sam has often
said we need to visit you out there.” Sam and the rest including
Jimmy looked at me and smiled.

“Sorry, I just told Aunty Jane my best friend is Spanish and
she taught me, I love speaking with her in Spanish, when we have
secrets we need to tell each other.” She smiled she finished her
drink, and said her goodbyes. She hugged Sam, smiled at me, and
disappeared Aunty Allison was smiling too.

“What other secrets are there in that head of your Missy?” Oh,
Sam you don’t want to know.

“I have a best friend who is Spanish, and one who is Italian
and my pen friend is Russian, so I speak a little of those
languages but I have a good ear for picking different languages up
and quickly.”

“Yeah you were always gabbing to Tasha I wondered why I could
never understand, I thought it was French.” Sheisk Jimmy is so
numb.

“Well, Michelle you are a very pleasant surprise and so
clever. I always wished I could speak in different tongues. That
was our youngest sister; she is a whirling dervish as she breezes
in and then breezes out again! She is windswept and interesting.
Now let me see the lip, umm that looks painful, ease up on the
kisses, Samuel.” I blushed and Sam laughed.

“A task easier said, than actually done Aunty, I love kissing
my girl too much.” Now I really was blushing.

“How many are there for dinner then?”

“Six and Emma’s promised plate, she didn’t stop raving about
it to the nurses she told them that they needed to employ you, and
the patients would get better with good food in them…” I laughed
and kissed her cheek as I passed her, and went to the kitchen and
started on the dinner sealing the roast and placing on rough
chopped veggies, seasoned it and put the joint in, it seems Aunty
forgot to do it when Jane arrived! Good I can do it my way! All the
veggies pealed, all I needed to do now were the puddings and the
gravy. I went out to hear Sam and his Aunty deep in conversation, I
heard, my name mentioned.

“My ears are burning what have I done now?” Sam went
red.

“Nothing just about you and turning down my many proposals.” I
blushed.

“I didn’t turn you down flat I just said not yet, you know my
reasons too Sam, please don’t keep pushing.” I went to check the
meat. Sam smiled and went to see to Emma’s things for the
hospital.

“He really does want to you, know.” Aunty had followed me in.
I smiled.

“I don’t have to have a ring from him, I don’t need those
things I just want him, that’s enough for me, I’m not going
anywhere, but I can’t get that through to his beautiful thick head.
I didn’t say no. I said not yet.” She smiled.

“I suppose we will have to wait then.” I smiled, but inside I
was in knots, they’ll be having us married before our second month
date night. He came in putting his hands around me.

“She just wanted to know what we’d been up to and it sort of
slipped out.” Shit.

“I don’t suppose you told her we had the biggest argument, we
fell out and argued three times yesterday, leading us to have the
most shittiest, crappiest day ever yesterday did you?” Argh, I made
him blush, as he shook, his head. “No, I didn’t think so. I do want
to say yes, because I don’t want you to leave me, you want it for
the same reason is that a good enough reason to say yes?” He
smiled.

“Is that a yes then, your confusing me?” I smiled.

“Welcome to my world Samuel Todd. It’s a let me get the last
weeks of college, out of the way and we will see, we have to talk,
practicalities and yes that old chestnut of mine money, it’s damn
expensive getting married and playing at house.” I went to the
garden to sit and think.

I loved him that’s not the problem and my plans had been a
bigger part of my life for so long, so changing them for him was
worrying me too. Shush, it’s not as if you’re getting married
tomorrow. I would love to argue with my inner voice, but she was
right we could have a long engagement! I was still committing to
him, as he wanted, what a perfect solution thank you voice, you’re
not that bad after all.

I smiled whilst checking my watch meats been in two hours. I
got up to sort it out. It was ready, I ran through the usual
routine, I turned the radio on and started the cooking marathon, I
was singing along to the radio, as it played, ‘Working My Way Back
to You…’

“I'll keep working my way back to you, babe with a burning
love inside. Yeah I'm working my way back to you, babe, and the
happiness that died…” I had an audience.

“So you don’t sing very well?” It was Zoë. I laughed yeah, I
sing as well as you are at being sincere!

“See I have my imperfections singing being one of them. Did
you have a nice night?” She had the biggest smile. I smiled through
gritted teeth.

“I did, I know why you dance now. Your dancing is so great
Michelle and I really enjoyed myself! How did you manage to get
Andy dancing babe?” Blackmail I think they call it,
babe…

“I didn’t give him the option to refuse. Are you two here for
dinner too?” She nodded and went through to the lounge. There was
laughter and cheers. Oh he hasn’t? I put my thoughts into finishing
dinner. I called through for Jimmy to bring the dishes and stuff he
came in loaded with them.

“You ready for college tomorrow?” He smiled.

“No. I want to leave now but Mum won’t let me.” I
laughed.

“I’ve exams Monday, Tuesday, hockey Wednesday and another
Thursday, so I think I want to leave too.” He congratulated
me.

“What would that be on exactly?” He grinned.

“Apparently your new name’s Rocky?” I smiled I really thought
he had said something.

“Don’t forget it Jim Bob!” He disappeared as Sam came to help
he had his arms around me.

“Something smells really good in here, good enough to eat
even.”

“Funny Sam, I hope it is, are Kim and Teddy in, they are very
quiet?” They were.

“Do you need any help?” I pointed to the meat.

“Slice it please.” I finished everything off, hoping the
puddings were as good as they looked. Jimmy had set the table and
Sam and I put the, dishes on the table. I’d plated Emma two dinners
up. I shouted for the rabble to come to the table. They came to
eat, laughing and joking whilst we ate. Mainly about me, my fat lip
and my new name… Rocky. I loved being with them. Lunch finished and
a drive to see Emma. Andy followed with Zoë in a taxi I think they
are keeping us apart for some reason? We arrived at the hospital
with dinners in hand.

“Can I use the microwave in the kitchen to zap this for Emma
please?” The nurse had a look.

“Yes of course you may, do you know how to work it? I don’t
think she will eat all that, she doesn't have a great appetite, but
she needs to be eating and soon. Are you her daughter Michelle? She
raves on about you all the time.” I smiled.

“Yes, I’m her son’s girlfriend, she and he think if they say
it enough it will happen. Yes, I know how to use the microwave
Sister and if she only eats a little, we will be happy. Thanks and
oh she has another for later, if she is still hungry?” The sister
smiles and looks over at them.

“Which one of them is yours? All her sons are good looking.” I
laugh and point at Sam, um... Even a nurse is ogling him, she is
right they are all nice to look at. I gave Emma her dinner, and she
ate every bit. Sam and Aunty chatting away, me? I sat on the end of
her bed, watching them. Sam cleared her plate away as the nurse
came to the bed.

“Did you manage to eat anything Emma?”

“I did thank you, I could eat it all again.” The nurse smiled
and gave me the thumbs up at Sam. I smiled because I’m seriously
thinking more about marriage especially after these last few
days…

“Are you going to be able to eat well, at home?” I laughed
this was going to shock the lot of them.

“Yes, I‘ll be doing the cooking, well until Emma is well
enough to do it for herself, I will fill the fridge with things for
her to snack on whilst I’m at college too.” Aunty joked, and the
boys just smiled.

“I’m moving in too then.” I was in smug mode, I loved cooking
and appreciated the complements Sam hugged me tightly and kissed
the back of my neck.

“Sam has taken a week off to look after you too. I will come
when classes have finished, and spend time with you so you’re not
on your own, and get you built up again, we need to put some meat
on them there bones.” She liked that.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, at home at tea time Emma.” Kisses and
hugs given before Aunty dropped Sam and I of at my
house.

“Thank you for a lovely meal and for what you’re doing for
Emma, Michelle. I, sorry we love having you in our
family.”

“I love being part of it too, we will sort her out together
please don’t worry anymore we will sort it all out, everything.” I
kissed her cheek and hoped she knew I meant Dennis when I said
everything! She sped off, as if she was in the Grand Prix. “You
need to grab your things, I’m sure they’re all washed and
ironed.”

“Thanks for looking after Mum tonight and offering to be our
cook, should I get you a little maid’s outfit Mi cielo?”

“Erg, right seeing me butt naked doesn’t do anything, but
getting me an outfit will do it? Well hell yes in a size ten
please! It’s my pleasure to look after her and you, you know I love
cooking why wouldn’t I help you out my nearly fiancé? Is Jimmy back
too? He’s a lot nicer when he’s at Aunty Allison’s, don’t you
think?” He slowly nodded.

“I hadn’t thought about it really, but your right. He was nice
to you today, my nearly fiancée, who is going to look kind of kinky
and hot in the black and white number, feather duster too?” We
laughed as he leant in for a kiss.

“The Rocky thing made him laugh, get in I will sort your
things out. Do you want a coffee?”

“Please, I’ll go ask everyone else.” He popped his head in the
front room.

“Do you want a drink, Susan, Pat?” Mum smiled.

“Please Sam.” Pat was getting up to leave.

“I’ve told Susan about the weekend she has planned, isn’t it
right Sam you’re having sex in a hotel at the weekend?” I was on my
way in, when I overheard the comment, he was mad, she had pushed
him and I as far as the nosey cow could.

“What plans are these Pat?” Sam asked her, she looked like the
cat that got the cream.

“Manchester overnight, next weekend?” I smiled Sam looked
worried he saw the look in my eyes, this was a wonderful way to end
the weekend, she was having it both barrels of the gun this time,
she’d pushed me too far…

“Pat, as I said before keep your nose out of my business. In
fact, we are yes, and having dinner and going to a few clubs in
Manchester and as we can’t get back, we are stopping in a hotel for
the weekend and making the most of it, if that’s okay with you?
Then oh wait… It’s got sodding nothing to do with you, what I do
and with whom I do it. Mandy couldn’t wait to tell you then?” She
recovered from my barrage of abuse.

“No, she didn’t say anything, Paul was asking Mandy if she
fancied an overnighter like you and him, whilst they were in the
kitchen and I overheard, the plans you’d made and came around to
warn your Mother.” I’d had enough; good old Mandy hadn’t said
anything it was Psycho Paul, but why?

“Again Pat, it has nothing to do with you what I do. I’ll ask
Dad to stop you coming here if your nasty mouth continues to meddle
in my life. Really Pat you try the patience of a saint. As to me
sleeping in a posh hotel, with him… Who’s got a name and it’s Sam,
who is a nice, kind and generous man, one who just happens to love
me.

You need to worry more about Mandy, than you do about me and
Sam! Psycho Paul her boyfriend, remember him, the nice catch she
landed? Well Psycho Paul he got that name for a fucking good
reason, he was expelled for hitting a teacher and putting him in
hospital! That good catch she landed and is still seeing is a
nutter and he suggested they have an overnighter too! Your daughter
is out for the night with a lunatic where as I am out with my
loving fella Sam? Look to sorting your own sodding house out first,
before you bloody well comment on mine.

My future husband Sam has promised my Father, whose is the
only opinion I give a shit about, to look after me and he does all
the time. I am serious, if she keeps bloody interfering I swear
Mum, I’ll do something about it.

It’s bad enough she just bloody well treats this house as her
own and you flipping well let her, get a grip Mum, your better than
her, miles better. She has a sad life, and brings her bile here,
well not anymore you have said too much and done too much and I’ve
had enough! I swear Pat; push my button one more time and you’ll be
on that fucking fat bum before the next word is even out of your
nasty mouth. I am not my fucking Mother, you will not tell me what
I can do, and what I cannot do any more, are we fucking clear? No
wonder your fucking husband left you sad bitch you’re one hell of a
nasty controlling bitch, try controlling what you put in your
fucking mouth as well as what you spew from it?” I left the room,
Pat was fuming, mum wasn’t much better, but I felt
great.