I watched Cole pour the paint into the tray and couldn’t help picturing this as our house, rather than just his.
“Ready?” he asked, passing me a paintbrush. After pressing his lips to mine briefly, he dunked his brush in the paint and slapped it on the wall.
“Cole?”
He looked over his shoulder. “Hmm?”
“I don’t think I like this colour any more.” His face dropped, making me laugh. “I’m joking.”
“Oh, good one,” he replied flatly. “Get to work you.”
His whole posture was casual, and he had been playful all day. Tomorrow my father was going to be sentenced. Since I’d given evidence, three weeks ago, Cole had been deliberately keeping me distracted. He let me cry, promised everything would be okay whatever the sentence, but he always had something planned to take my mind off the waiting and worrying.
I dipped the paintbrush in the Caramel Blush paint and started on the living room wall. Mum was right when she said helping Cole would take my mind of off Dad’s sentencing. I wasn’t convinced at first but I was enjoying doing it now.
The muscles in Cole’s arms flexed as he moved the brush up and down. Painting with him took so long, but somehow, between the kissing, flirting and play fights we managed to get the first coat in the living room done.
I smiled at our work. The room looked so warm and inviting already. I couldn’t wait to see it completely finished with the sofas, coffee and TV table and large rug.
Cole sighed and flopped his arm over my shoulder. “Well, we’re done for today. Shall we go get ready?” We were going to dinner at his parent’s tonight, along with Mum, Miles and Jasper.
I leant against his side. “Yep. I need feeding soon. Want to share a shower? Save water and all.” And I needed the comfort and normality of us.
“Best offer I’ve had all day.” He kissed the side of my head and grabbed the paint tray and brushes so we could wash them before we left.
“Oakley,” Jenna smiled warmly, giving me a hug the second I walked into the house. “You don’t bring her here enough,” she scolded her son.
Cole held his hands up. “We’ve been busy, and you’re often very embarrassing.”
“Please, I watched you pee your pants when you were a kid. How much more embarrassing can it get?” I teased.
He pretended to take offence: “I was four and I’d had a load to drink.”
“Uh huh.” Jenna laughed and pulled my hand, leading me through to the kitchen. Cole followed behind, grumbling.
That was one of my earliest memories. I was only just three. We were all visiting the Lake District and had taken a long walk. We were told to keep drinking water because it was hot. Cole needed the toilet but refused to do it outside in case a bee stung his ‘winkie’. Bless him he had to walk back commando in my white shorts – the only spare clothing we had.
Mia sat at the kitchen counter, staring at her laptop.
“Hey, Mia,” I called.
She jumped up and off the seat, pulling me into a tight hug. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” And I was. Well, certainly doing a lot better since Dad had been found guilty. They believed me and not him. Whatever the sentence was, I would always have that. “What are you up to?” I sat down beside her.
“Looking for a place. I want a two-bedroom flat with a nice big garden for Leona to play.”
“Where is Leona?”
Mia smiled. “It’s Chris’ weekend again so she’ll be driving him up the wall instead of me.”
“Do you and Chris get along more now?”
She shrugged. “Most of the time. We’re arguing at the minute because he wants to introduce his new girlfriend to Leona, but I refused. This is the third one this year, and it’s not been that long. I don’t want random women walking in and out of Leona’s life.”
I nodded. That sounded reasonable. Mia didn’t have men coming and going so Chris shouldn’t have women. It would only be upsetting to Leona if she got attached to whoever the woman was and then they broke up. “What did he say?”
“He didn’t look that happy when I said no, but he’s agreed to wait. I don’t care if he’s happy about it or not to be honest.”
“You don’t think he would just do it anyway?”
“No. He wouldn’t do anything that could hurt Leona. We agreed that she wouldn’t meet anyone either of us is dating until we’ve been with them for at least six months. Oh look, this one is nice.” She pointed to a semi-detached bungalow. It was quaint and pretty with cream-rendered walls and colourful flowers hanging in baskets.
I grabbed her mobile from the counter and handed it to her. “Call the estate agent.”
Jenna gasped. “You found somewhere?” She rushed over to look at the pictures. “Oh, good. It’s not too far. Closer to me than your house, Cole.”