Page 133 of All Wrapped Up
‘I know,’ he said, after a beat had passed, ‘that you must be feeling scared and all kinds of vulnerable and that memories of conversations you had with Callum and the loving wordsyou spoke to one another must be springing up all over the place now we’re together.’
Tears filled my eyes and there was nothing I could do to halt their progress as they streamed slowly down my face.
‘And I don’t want you to suppress any of that, okay?’ Ash continued. ‘Trying to pretend that those words were never said or even that you don’t think about Callum anymore, would be exhausting, so please, don’t do that.’
I nodded as more tears came.
‘I want you to know that I am fully aware that Callum will always have a place in your heart, that a part of you will always be attached to him and that you’ll always love him. I would never ask you to switch him out for me. There’s room for both of us, okay?’
‘Okay,’ I whispered.
‘And I also want you to, but only if you want to, tell me when the tough days will be, birthdays, anniversaries, all of it. What you’ve experienced has shaped you, Clemmie, and I would be a pretty crap partner if I didn’t acknowledge that.’
I looked into his eyes and wondered what I’d done to deserve such a magnificent man entering my life.
‘My god, Ash,’ I sobbed. ‘How did you get to be so amazing?’
‘I’m not amazing,’ he said, drawing me to him. ‘I just want to have the best possible life with you and be the very best person for you, that I can be.’
‘Well,’ I sniffed, ‘in my book, that does make you amazing.’
I knew my eyes were still red and puffy when I arrived home and seeing the look that passed between Mum and Dad when I walked in, I also knew I needed to explain why I hadbeen crying. Mum shed a tear when I told her and Dad was misty-eyed, too.
‘He’s a keeper, Clem,’ Dad said, squeezing my hand.
‘He certainly is,’ I agreed, while Mum blew her nose.
‘That was a truly genuine heart to heart,’ Mum sniffed.
‘It was,’ I agreed.
‘And you know,’ Dad then smiled wryly, ‘we knew you hadn’t really gone to see him to talk about tomorrow.’
‘How did you work that out?’ I gasped.
‘You left your clipboard and notebook here,’ Dad said, with a nod to the table.
‘I’m an idiot,’ I laughed. ‘Now, shall I put the kettle on?’
Mum and Dad shared another look and Dad nodded.
‘What is it?’ I asked.
‘Well,’ said Mum, as she reached down the side of the chair for her handbag, ‘as we’re traversing emotional territory, it feels like the ideal time to give you this.’
She pulled out a letter and held it out for me to take.
‘It’s from Jill and Colin,’ Dad said unnecessarily because I recognised Jill’s handwriting. ‘I saw Colin a couple of days ago and told him your lovely news, and that evening, this was posted through the door.’
I turned it over and started to open it.
‘You don’t have to read it now,’ Mum rushed to say.
‘I want to,’ I told her. ‘Like you said, we’re navigating emotional territory, so…’
‘As long as you’re sure?’ Dad asked.
‘I am,’ I told him.
