Page 53 of Branson's Promise

Once Zach had left and Rosie had turned back to her client, Milo picked up his gun, muttering under his breath something about his colleagues - a fond smile on his face - then resumed his work.

Noel disappeared and came back a few moments later with a soda and bar of chocolate. “Thank you. Can you take a photo for me please? I want to send it to my mum.” Noel placed the foodnext to me, then pulled out his phone and took multiple photos of me in the chair, and of Milo bent over my leg.

“She’s going to love it,” Milo said. My mum had been thrilled when we sent her a photo of the design. She’d video called me straight after I sent it and she’d cried. Thick hot tears running down her cheeks as I explained the significance. I’d told her about Noel and Branson and while she had been surprised, she’d accepted that I was in a relationship with two men, asking a few non-invasive questions which I was more than happy to answer.

“I think my dad would have loved it too. He had a really cool tattoo on his shoulder. It was a mountain with the sun above it.” I tried to recall all the details but couldn’t bring a clear image into my mind, deflating at the crushing realisation that I was forgetting parts of him. Like his voice that I now struggled to recall. It scared me how time had the power to erase parts of someone as if they never existed.

Reaching for my wallet, which I’d placed on the tall table next to me, I pulled out his letter, unfolding both pages and reading one of my favourite parts.

I have so many fond memories of my life. I lived a good, full life. But there are some that stand out above the rest. The day I met your mum, the day I married her and the day you were born. That day, my entire world changed - it got bigger and brighter because you were in it. My sweet baby boy, with the sparkling blue eyes and chubby cheeks. And as you grew, you continued to make my life shine - with your laughter, and your kind heart and your strong, unwavering ability to see the best in people. Never stop being that brightness in the world, Bran.

I won't dad. I promise.

Early October brought with it cooler temperatures along with some unwelcome rain. All week, I’d worried that my date would be a bust thanks to the shit wet weather. As we climbed out of the car, waving goodbye to Ray, I sighed in relief at the bright blue skies, not a rain cloud as far as the eye could see.

Today was our third date. Technically, we had been on plenty of dates - dinners, dancing, the odd concert or two - but in sticking with our original agreement, this date was planned solely by me and was meant to encompass my favourite parts of the city. And even though our hotel suite had become my favourite place - my home - I had an awesome day planned for us starting with a trip to the Farmers’ Market.

“How have I lived in this city for so many years and never been here?” Noel asked. He was dressed casually today in blue jeans and a green Henley. His blonde hair was curly, not styled back into the usual sleek style he wore and his blue eyes were covered by dark sunglasses.

Despite me telling my guys that we were having a picnic after our trip around the market, both Noel and Milo were sampling everything they possibly could. Noel was already dangling three paper bags from one hand and was munching on a cinnamon roll.

“I’ve been a few times,” Milo replied, sipping from a takeaway cup of coffee.

“You've missed out, Noel,” I said. “They have the freshest produce, the best bakery treats and some real hidden gems. Look at this.”

We’d stopped in front of a pottery stand and my eyes landed on a handmade mug, decorated with not only a swirl of rainbow colours but textures too. Small grooves and dots added a dimension to the design. It was so pretty and would be such a unique addition to my collection.

“How much is-,” I started to ask the seller but was cut off when Noel handed his card to the lady.

“We'll take it.”

“Noel! You didn’t let me finish asking for a price!” I exclaimed, turning to the seller who was smiling warmly at Noel.

“Doesn’t matter. If it will make you happy, it’s yours. I’ll buy you the whole fucking place just to see you smile.” He was dead serious and though his money had never been a factor in how I felt about him, butterflies danced in my chest at how easily he acted to make sure I was happy.

The lady chuckled and wrapped the mug in bubble wrap before taking Noel’s payment. I kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. I don’t need a whole farmers’ market, though. For the record, the only thing I need to make me happy are the two of you.”

“AndThe Vampire Diaries,” Milo joked, coming up beside me and taking my hand. He looked particularly scrumptious today in all black with a yellow ball cap backwards atop his dark hair.

“That too. Oh! And Juliet,” I added because we all loved that feisty tiger-kitten. We’d actually found another kitten that we would be collecting in a few days from the animal shelter - we’d named her Lena. She was a tabby and very fluffy.

“Why mugs?” Milo squeezed my hand as we walked down the lanes of the market, watching as Noel stopped in front of a seller with a display of wines and artisan beers.

“It started as a joke between my mum and dad, when I was really little. We’d go on holidays or he would go away on business and he would always bring back a mug. Usually, one from the place he'd been or from some historical site or tourist attraction. She would just laugh and comment about not knowing where to put them all.”

Mum had been right though, we didn’t have enough space so, she alternated them and used some for storage - coins, pens, bits and pieces. But she never threw them out.

“My dad told me once,‘Memories, Branson. Every single one is a memory. Treasure them.’I think I was probably seven when he told me that and I took it to mean I had to treasure the mugs. It was only much later I realised he’d meant to treasure the memories.”

Milo smiled, small creases appearing at the sides of his eyes and those dimples I adored making an appearance. “I love that. He sounds like a great guy, I wish I could have met him.”

“Me too. He would have loved both of you.”

“You know,” Milo added, “if we run out of space at the hotel, I’m sure Daddy Noel will buy you an entire house for them.”

“He’d buyusa house. You, me, Noel, Juliet, Lena and all my mugs. Somewhere outside the city. Oooh, with a pool and a garden for the dog we’ll get.”

Milo scoffed, shaking his head, “Sounds perfect.”

---