After the funeral we all have an early dinner together at our hotel – Jake, me, Susie, my mum and dad, Stuart and Dave.
Jake seems a little more relaxed at dinner. He’s currently talking guitars with my dad, and he looks happier than I’ve seen him in days.
The funeral was difficult and over quickly, thankfully. We were the only ones there. Paul had no one. No family left except for Jake. No real friends. No one who really cared about him.
I know I should feel sad at the thought, but I don’t. I hate him for what he did to Jake. And I never thought I would be happy that someone was dead, but I am, because now, maybe Jake can finally let him go for good. Let his past go once and for all.
There was no wake after the funeral, and this dinner most certainly isn’t one.
This dinner is for Jake to help lift his spirits. I’ve also got a little something planned for later which I’m hoping will put a smile back on his face, one that I hope will stay there for a long time to come.
Not long after dinner is finished, Susie, tired from her flight, tells us she’s going to retire early, which works perfectly for my plans for Jake.
My mum and dad decide to go home too, and Stuart goes for a drink in the hotel bar with Dave.
“You want to join Stuart and Dave for a drink? Or just have an early night?” Jake asks, threading his fingers with mine, pulling me to his side as we walk back through the lobby, after seeing my mum and dad out of the hotel.
“Neither. We’re doing something else tonight,” I say.
Stopping, I turn to face him.
“We are?” His hands go to my hips, his head tilting to the side, assessing my face.
“Ahum,” I nod, smiling.
“What?”
“That, my gorgeous boyfriend, is a surprise.” I take hold of his hand, leaving him wondering, and lead him to the lifts to take us to the car park, and to the waiting car which contains everything I need for tonight.
As it’s my surprise, and Jake has no idea where we’re going, I’m driving … and tonight I’m driving James Bonds car.
Aston Martin’s are Jake’s favourite car, hence the hire for our stay. And I’m so totally flooring it on the motorway.
I honestly didn’t know it was possible to feel sexy driving a car. But I do right now. I feel like I’m a model in an advert or something.
It’s so cool. And I keep wanting to let out little squeals of excitement, but of course I won’t, because that would be weird, and also a little inappropriate considering Jake just buried his dad a few hours ago, or cremated him or whatever.
“So you won’t tell me where we’re going?” Jake asks, as I push the car up to eighty-five.
I don’t get to drive very often, and I have never driven a car as amazing as this one, so I’m totally making the most of it.
“Nope, it’s a surprise.”
“I thought you didn’t like surprises?”
Keeping my eyes on the dark road ahead, I say, “I don’t like receiving them. I never said anything about giving them.”
“Touché,” he laughs.
There’s only so long I can keep it a surprise before he guesses where it is we’re going, as he keeps looking at the bloody road signs. I should have had the foresight to bring a blind fold with me.
Jake, in a blindfold, totally at my mercy. Hmm, I’m liking the sound of that. Maybe later.
As I see the sign post signalling my turn to the place we’re going, I slide a glance at him, seeing the look on his face, and he looks happy.
He turns to me, smiling widely. “You’re taking me to Lumb Falls?”
“I am.” I give him another quick glance, a little smile of my own forming.
Jake reaches his hand over and puts it on my thigh. “Are you going to let me do dirty things to you while we’re there?”
“Well, I was planning on doing dirty things to you, actually.” I bite down on my lip, giving him another quick glance.
“Have I told you just how much I love you?” He slides his hand a little higher up my thigh, fingers inching my dress up.
Heat pools in my tummy.
“You have.” I swat his hand away, grinning. “But behave yourself pervy, or you’ll get no dirty tonight at all. I’m trying to drive James Bonds car here if you don’t mind.” I put my best prim and proper teasing voice on.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, resting his hands back on his lap, grinning back at me.
He looks so free in this moment, and it makes my heart swell.
Tonight is going to be so much fun, I just know it. I knew bringing him here was the right thing to do.
I park the car up near the Falls. Climbing out, I go straight to the boot, and open it up.
I get the picnic box and cooler out which Stuart helped me get ready earlier on.
I hand the cooler to Jake, as he meets me around the back of the car.
Keeping hold of the picnic box, I grab the blanket, shut the boot and lock the car up.
Jake follows behind me, taking the picnic box from my hand, leaving me with just my bag and the blanket to carry as I navigate our way to the shore of the Falls in the darkness.