The Geary Series Boxed Set (34 page)

It had been years since Elijah had paid attention to what he wore, he liked that he was making an effort. He knew she liked what she saw but now he wanted to always look his best for Lilly. It was just dinner with his brother and his future wife, so it was a relaxed evening. They normally had an array of food that let you pick and choose what you wanted. It was less formal than a three-course dinner and less effort to make this close to the wedding.

He still hadn’t written his best man speech and was hoping to wing it but knowing Jack he would want to hear some of it this evening. Elijah would come up with something to appease his brother. Jack was at the other end of the spectrum when it came to control. He needed total control over everything he did. Olivia challenged all of that and he loved it.

Elijah grabbed his leather jacket and headed out the back door of Blue’s and headed towards Lilly’s apartment. He thought about her constantly and couldn’t quite believe that she felt something for him, how much she felt was left to be seen. Any couple can be passionate together but he didn’t know if she loved him. He wanted to find out and soon. If she was going to break his heart then he preferred to know now rather than in six months time. He had already waited too long to kiss her, he didn’t want to wait another six months to make love to her. Each time they had been interrupted he was frustrated and a little relieved. Their time would come he just needed to be patient.

Pressing his finger to the buzzer for her apartment he waited for Lilly’s voice to answer. After a few minutes there was no answer, he buzzed again and waited. He wondered if she had fallen asleep or had changed her mind. He felt a pang of disappointment that she wasn’t ready and waiting to spend the evening with him. He must feel a lot more for her than she did for him.

“Hey, handsome, are you waiting for me?” Lilly said.

Elijah turned around to see Lilly standing there in a blue summer dress with tiny white polka dots scattered all over the material. She looked beautiful, he was going to kiss her.

“You look stunning, I thought you weren’t coming when you didn’t answer.” Elijah said.

Elijah stepped towards her and kissed her chastely on the lips, it was a soft melting kiss that lasted minutes as neither Elijah nor Lilly moved from the spot. The kiss was familiar and comforting, passionate without the heavy breathing.

“I needed to go and get some cash from the bank, my timing was poor, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” Lilly said and pecked his lips once more.

“It’s not a problem, shall we go?” Elijah asked and held out his hand for her to hold.

“Yes, let’s get going, I’m looking forward to Jack telling me childhood stories about you and revealing your secrets.” Lilly said and squeezed his hand as they set off for Jack and Olivia’s home.

Elijah groaned inwardly, he hoped not all of his secrets would come out tonight. Squeezing her hand back he led her on down the street. This would officially be their first date and that warmed his heart. He was dating Lillian Harrison.

Arriving at Jack and Olivia’s house, they were buzzed in and climbed the three flights of stairs up to the top floor of the building. Olivia was waiting at the door for them wearing a giant grin across her face and clapped her hands in glee when she saw the pair of them hand in hand.

“I’m so happy you came.” Olivia said.

“I come every week, why is this week such a happy event.” Elijah asked and winked as he moved passed her.

“Not you, you fool, I was referring to Lilly, I’m so glad she came, it’s your first date and you came here. I’m so happy.” Olivia said.

“Oh, yes of course, I suppose it is our first date, perhaps we should have gone to the movies instead.” Lilly said with a straight face which only lasted for a few seconds. She already knew Olivia would be hurt if they turned around and left. For Olivia this was a distraction to the upcoming wedding and Lilly was only too happy to be the focus to give Olivia a rest from all the organising.

Lilly kissed Olivia on the cheek and walked through the open doorway and into the apartment. It was white walled and filled with artwork, it took her a few minutes to walk down the hallway, looking at each picture as she went. Art was her secret world she got lost in. This was heaven on earth looking at all of Jack and Olivia’s artwork. She wandered down the hallway and ended up in the main living room where she could see Jack pouring a drink and handing it to Elijah. They were deep in conversation and Olivia was nowhere to be seen so she carried on looking at the photographs that adorned their walls.

There were some amazing black and white photographs on the wall, she was mesmerised by their beauty and wanted to know who the photographer was.

“Do you like them Lilly?” Jack asked and offered her a tumbler of clear liquid.

“I adore them, thank you for the drink, how did you know I liked Vodka?”

“Elijah told me, he has a great memory, you must have mentioned it to him over the last six months. He’s really smitten with you, if you don’t feel the same would you do him the favour and back away now?” Jack asked.

“You are the second person to tell me to do that, I can assure you Jack he is in safe hands. I won’t hurt him, he is the most amazing man I have ever met and I intend to keep him around.” Lilly said.

“Good, because I think he may finally have found someone to rescue him from his loneliness. He’s a believer in true love and one of these days he’s going to give you something very special. I hope you treasure it.” Jack said.

“Oh, I see, well when he gives it to me I will treat it with the care it needs. What is it he will give me?” Lilly asked.

“That’s not for me to say, you will know when he gives it to you. Now, Lilly let me tell you about these photos.” Jack said swiftly moving the subject along to something less intimidating. “They were taken by Olivia’s best friend Cecily, I understand you met her online yesterday. She’s an amazing woman and photographer, she’s over in America at the moment opening a gallery of her work. I’m so proud to know her.” Jack said.

“She has a fabulous eye, I love art in all forms but my first love is to paint. I can get lost for hours painting.”

“Another artist, I seem to be surrounded by them, you’ll have to show me some of your work.” Jack said and smiled.

“Sure, I’ve only sold a handful locally and have some in my studio at home, I shall return the favour of dinner and can show you them.” Lilly offered.

“I’d like that.” Jack said.

“What are you two talking about?” Elijah asked.

“Jack was telling me about-” Lilly started to say.

“About Cecily’s photographs and Lilly’s paintings” Jack interrupted by finishing her sentence.

Lilly briefly looked at Jack’s eyes to understand that she wasn’t to talk about the gift Elijah was going to give her. She wasn’t materialistic so anything she was given would be treasured no matter what it would be.

“Ah yes, Lilly here is an amazing painter, Jack you should see her work, you would be enchanted by her pictures.” Elijah said.

“How could I refuse a look with a description like that, we shall have dinner soon at your place Lilly so that I can take a look.” Jack said and clinked his glass with hers and raised it in a toast.

Lilly was thrown by the praise Elijah had given her, she wasn’t used to it and felt a little uncomfortable and looked around the room for an idea to change the subject when she spotted it. She froze on the spot and stared at the wall on the far side of the room. It was a small picture and she couldn’t quite work out if she was hallucinating or not.

“It’s a small world Lilly, as I said if you are not all in, walk away now.” Jack whispered into her ear so only she could hear.

Elijah looked at them and grew concerned for Lilly’s ashen face when his brother whispered something to her.

“Are you ok Lilly, you look pale.” Olivia said, just joining the three of them.

Lilly looked at Jack and mouthed ‘all in’ to him and slowly moved across the room to the painting on the wall. She adored the picture and couldn’t believe that she was looking at it again. She remembered every stroke she painted and how she was feeling at the time. It was like hearing a song and being transported back to that very moment in time.

The time machine in her memories took her straight to that moment, it was the day she buried Elizabeth and she needed to escape the real world and enter a fantasy world in her painting. The picture was of a South American couple in an Argentine Tango pose. The woman’s leg clasped in a strong hand held high on his hip. Lilly had always wanted to learn the Argentine Tango and Elizabeth kept encouraging her to go to classes to learn but she never went while she was alive. Once she passed away, she signed up the next day after painting this picture.

The painting wasn’t particularly big, no bigger than an A4 piece of paper but it had vivid red colours of the woman’s dress and swirls of orange in the night sky. Lilly hadn’t realised how much she had missed it until now, or how much she missed Elizabeth. Soft cloth was placed into Lilly’s hand and it took her by surprise. It was a handkerchief with a J sewn into the corner.

“Wipe away your tears Lilly, I had no idea looking at the picture would upset you. Please accept my apology for surprising you. I already love your work you see, and I wanted you to see it on someone’s wall. Please say you’ll forgive me?” Jack said.

Lilly took the handkerchief and wiped under her eyes and felt strong arms wrap around her from behind. She instantly knew it was Elijah because his smell was distinctive, he always smelt the same and it felt warm, familiar and comforting.

“Why are you crying sweetheart, is everything ok?” Elijah asked.

“Yes, I’m fine, this painting brings back happy memories of a woman I adored that passed away. I miss her so much and wish she was still around to offer me some advice.” Lilly said quietly and wrapped her arms over his and held on tight.

“I hope between Olivia, Jack, Cecily and I we can be that support system and offer you the advice you need.” Elijah said.

“I hope so too, it’s such a small world and it’s overwhelming at the moment, the connections that are there between us. I had no idea who had bought this painting all those years ago and am so happy to see it again. These tears are happy tears, I promise.” Lilly said.

“Good, because it breaks my heart to see you upset, are you feeling better now?” Elijah asked.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Lilly said.

“Great because dinner is ready, come and sit and eat with us.” Elijah said.

Elijah dropped his arms and held her hand, taking her through to the dining room where Olivia and Jack were bickering happily about names for their baby. It was a humourous scene as they were sword fighting with bread sticks over the round table. Once Elijah and Lilly were spotted they stopped their play fighting and sat back down in their chairs like naughty children being caught.

“Oh, don’t stop on our account, it looked fun, who normally wins?” Lilly asked.

“I do.” They both answered and then burst into laughter.

“Come and sit down and dig in, there’s enough to feed an army, take whatever you want.” Jack said and patted the seat next to him.

Elijah sat in the seat next to Olivia and snatched the bread stick out her hand and ate half of it in once go. It got him a slap on the arm and the other half was snatched back by Olivia and eaten.

“Lilly, what are you going to do next with your life, are you really going to work behind that bar at Blue’s. Surely you don’t need the money.” Jack asked.

“I’ve no idea what to do next, I’ve savings but they won’t last forever. I should be ok for a few months. Working behind the bar will keep me occupied but it won’t be my chosen career, drawing and painting is what I would like to do but I’m not sure in what capacity.” Lilly said.

“Why don’t you take over the painting at Blue’s? Elijah, why haven’t you asked her to do that yet?” Olivia asked through a mouthful of fresh bread.

All eyes looked to Elijah for an answer, he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. He wanted to ask Lilly but was worried it would turn into the same as him and Elaine.

“Um, would you want to paint the wall at Blue’s?” Elijah asked sheepishly, he was embarrassed that he was asking in front of Jack and Olivia.

“Are you kidding? I’d love to, are you sure you could trust me to do it?” Lilly said.

“I’ve no problem with you doing it after what I’ve seen you do so far, if you’re happy then I’m happy.” Elijah answered.

Olivia and Jack high-fived over the table, they were delighted with themselves and when they were caught grinning at each other they changed their expressions to ones of innocence. It didn’t last longer than half a minute before the smiles broke out again.

“So does this mean you are officially a couple?” Olivia asked.

“Are they always this forward?” Lilly mocked mimed to Elijah.

“No, this is a whole new side to them, they’ve never been this keen about anyone I’ve dated before.” Elijah answered.

“We’re still here you know.” Olivia said and pouted.

“It’s true, and you’ve never been this keen.” Elijah said.

“You’ve never been this in love, in fact I don’t think you have ever referred to love in the same sentence as a woman before brother.” Jack added.

Elijah dropped his head into his hands and groaned, he could have killed his brother for revealing the love part. He’d told him in confidence about how he felt. Next he would start talking about his gift and then he would sink under the table, mortified.

“Oh Elijah, will you give your gift to Lilly soon?” Olivia asked bouncing in her seat and clapping like a mad woman.

“You told her Jack, really?” Elijah asked, defeated as he knew he probably had.

“No secrets between us Elijah, which is the secret to a happy relationship, no secrets.” Jack said smugly.

“What gift?” Lilly asked.

“Nothing that we can talk about here, I’ll talk to you another time, probably when I give it to you.” Elijah said.

“Oh Jack, he said when and not if, she’s it, oh my God, I am so happy right now.” Olivia said.

“Easy there Liv, you’re hormones are in overdrive, don’t scare Lilly at this stage.” Jack cautioned and lifted her wrist to kiss it. “We’ve only just got her to come to dinner.”

Elijah sneaked a look at Lilly to see how she was doing being talked about and having their relationship talked about so openly. He was thrilled when he saw she was smiling and at him. She was cool with the situation and his heart thudded a few extra beats in celebration.

“We’ve sorted you two out, now I want to know what your kink is Lilly.” Jack said and winked at her.

The wine had been flowing and Lilly was just about to answer when an object hurtled through the air at Jack. He successfully dodged the bread roll and roared with laughter.

“Stop talking about sex like its normal, not everyone is as open as you Jack, cut it out.” Elijah warned.

“Hey, she was just about to answer, you need to know what she likes, have you asked her, I bet you haven’t.” Jack said.

“Let’s talk about something else, we’ll work out what we like in bed soon enough.” Elijah said.

“Oh excellent, that makes me so happy.” Olivia said and raised her lemonade in a toast.

The others clinked their glasses to hers and changed the subject to something safer. As the evening drew to a close, Elijah and Lilly left their good company and warm hospitality and he walked her back to her apartment.

“Did you have a good evening Lilly, I hope they didn’t embarrass you too much. I had no idea he had one of your paintings and that he knew it was yours, it’s a stunning picture.” Elijah said and kissed Lilly’s nose.

Lilly grabbed his coat lapel and pulled him in for a searing kiss.  She loved kissing him, his plump lips were soft to the touch and she could kiss him all night long.

“You need to let me go in now Elijah or you’ll make me so hot and bothered you’ll have to finish things off in my bed.” Lilly said.

“In that case, I shall bid you goodnight, I’ve had too much to drink to let tonight be our first night.” Elijah said and kissed her long and slow.