Page 96 of After Felix
He leans close and gives me a smacking kiss. “You’re late,” he informs me.
“Tell it to the bus company. Don’t whine to me,” I advise him.
He grins, gathering my hand and tugging me after him.
“Are we going for a meal?” I ask.
“Of sorts,” he says rather cagily. “Just wanted to show you something and get your opinion on it.”
“Okay,” I say peaceably, wondering if it’s something to do with his writing. No day is ever boring with him, and his research trips are always interesting. So far this year we’ve been to New Orleans to investigate the cemeteries there and then the other night I had to fire pellets at him as he ran around the boat. Max nearly knocking himself out on the low roof had been an added entertainment bonus.
“I’m glad we’ve got some time,” I say. “I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up?” he says, instantly ready to try and sort out whatever is bothering me. Hope not, because he’s a bit hit and miss with that.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about our living arrangements,” I say, “and I think I’ve come to a conclusion.”
I look around as he pulls me along beside him. We’re in St Katherine’s Docks, a marina which is a stone’s throw away from the Tower of London. It’s a very trendy place, once a working dock, but now surrounded by expensive apartments and filled with luxury yachts, posh shops, and restaurants. I wonder if we’re going to see Charlie and Misha, as they live near here on Shad Thames.
“Go on,” he prompts.
“Sorry,” I say absentmindedly. “It’s so lovely here, Max. Imagine having a mooring here. You can see Tower Bridge, and it’s so open and pretty.” He smiles at me, and I shake my head. “Sorry. I was going to say that I’ve decided to sell theAunt Sally.”
He stops dead, and I nearly walk into him. “You’re doingwhat?”
“Selling the boat,” I say, grabbing his arms and smiling up at him. “It’s too small for us, and I know how much you love the Cotswold house. So we can move there.”
“What about your job?”
I shrug. “I’ll get another one. I just can’t get another one of you.” I pinch his arm gently. “Not without a nervous breakdown anyway.”
He shakes his head and hugs me tightly. “You’d do that for me?”
“I would.” I rub my face into the side of his neck and inhale his scent. “I’d do anything for you, Max. I know I don’t say it enough, but God knows it’s the absolute truth.”
“I know, darling, and don’t think I don’t appreciate it, but wouldyou mind if I offer another option?” He pulls me after him for a few more steps and then comes to a stop. “Ta-dah!”
I stare at him. “Ta-dah, what? Why are you standing there like a bad conjurer?”
He grins. “A bad conjurer couldn’t have found us a new boat, my love.’
“What boat?”
I turn to the side and see what he’s gesturing at. “Oh my God,” I say faintly. It’s an old 1930’s steel barge. The paint is peeling off it, and it obviously needs a lot of work doing to it, but the bones are beautiful, and it’s massive. It would give us two floors and absolutely loads of space. “Oh my God,” I say again.
“I put a deposit down on it,” he explains quickly, “but if you don’t like it, we don’t have to buy it. I just thought we could do all the work together and make it really ours. There’s tons of room, easily five thousand square feet.”
“Like it?” I say and throw myself at him. “I fuckingloveit.”
He instantly relaxes. “Really?”
I nod furiously. “Oh my God,yes. I love these old boats, and this mooring is to fucking die for.” I look up at him. “Are you sure? What about the cottage?”
He shrugs. “I’m selling it.” I open my mouth to protest, but he shakes his head. “It’s a lovely house, but it’s never been a place that felt like mine. I want a home, Felix. I’ve been moving around for most of my life. I want to finally stop and put roots down, and I want to do that with you.”
“But it was your grandmother’s house.”
He smiles. “And she’d heartily approve of me selling it to the couple in the village who want it. They have a young family, and they’ll love it the way she did. She’d also adore the fact that I’m in love and happy.”
