I smile; "Youre not a big fan of privacy, are you?"
"With you? Naked? Never." The sleazy reply comes over the sound of the cascade of water and my smile slips into grin. I turn, only to cease the flow of water and the silence that descends is the same quietly charged silence that has become so common between us.
"Throw me a towel."
"Not a chance," I watch as Gary moves out of sight, away towards the mirrors above the sinks."Come out and get it."
"Gary dont be an arse." I shake away what droplets i can, twisting my hair and watching the residue trickle back down to my elbow then drip into the drain.
"Cant hear you, darling. Did you say something?!"
Sensing the beginning of a loosing battle, i settle for an eye-roll that i know he cant see and open the shower door. Despite the breeze that curls into the room being warm, goosebumps prickle my skin and i shiver involuntarily. Gary throws a glance to his side in time to see me reach for one of the fluffy towels from the rail, rewarding me with a wolf-whistle before turning back into the mirror and dashing Tom Ford onto his neck. His chest and feet are bare and i suspect, in fact, that the only item of clothing he has on are the cream suit trousers that hang from his hips in the most usually enticing way. He looks, lovely.
"Your clothes are on the bed." He says after a beat, moving to pull a second towel off the rail and run it over his own damp hair. When he discards the towel on the cushioned bench between us, his hair looks atrocious and i swallow my laughter.
"Choosing my outfits now are you? My mother always told me to stay away from controlling men." I move towards the vanity behind me, pulling out my face cream and idling back towards the sinks to take my place next to my husband. For a second Gary looks sheepish, smoothing a hand back over his head and flattening the stray tufts of hair, i watch his reply in the mirror, the look in his eyes still as intense despite the fine mist of condensation that coats the glass.
"I bought you something, id quite like you to wear it, -if you dont mind.."
Sensing the slight uneasiness in his stance, i smile as wide as i can manage, reaching for my toothbrush and smothering it with paste; "Okay."
And I would have worn a bin liner if that is what he had asked, just to see his answering smile.
Gary moves then, for his electric razor, and i raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"Youre shaving?" I mumble through a mouth full of minty-froth. "Must be a special occasion."
Garys only reply is a soft, rumbling chuckle.
Minutes pass in relative quiet, the only sounds that fill the room being those of the zips and lids and tubes of cosmetics, occasionally the blast of a tap and the sound of soft jazz echoing from the living room over the constant hum of the razor that Gary drags along the sides of his face with sheer concentration.
I screw the lid back onto my body butter and stand for a moment by the vanity doing nothing more than enjoying the view of the toned, tanned back and the sharp jaw line in the mirror.
"Quit perving."
"Pot kettle." I retort quietly, moving forwards and wrapping my arms around the hard planes of his back, linking my fingers together over his navel and clinging to him like Ethan does when he doesnt want to go to bed. I press my cheek to Garys shoulder blade and inhale. He smells like sex, passion-fruit and Tom Ford. "Thank you for this week." My voice is quieter than intended, but sincere not the less. "I love you. I dont think i tell you enough."
Gary stills the razor and discards it without particular care next to the sink, bracing both arms either side of the basin.
"You tell me everyday."
"Sometimes i forget." I mumble, staring absently at the towel i deserted on the bathroom floor in favour of my silk wrap.
"You tell me everyday." Gary says again. I feel him swallow before he carries on. "In the way you look at me. The way you look at me is enough."
The atmosphere shifts, a thick wave of emotion blanketing the steam riddled room and i find myself suddenly swallowing past a lump in my own throat. When i dont speak, Gary carries on.
"You still look at me like im something special, like you cant get enough of me. Keep looking at me like that for the rest of your life and you'll never need to tell me you love me ever again."
I sniff back a sudden onset of tears. My only answer to the heartfelt utterance being to tighten my arms around my husbands body the whisper three small words that just dont seem to do my feelings for him justice...
"You're insane." I breathe to no one but myself a short while later, stood stock still in our bedroom and staring at the reflection that greets me in the full length mirror. The woman standing opposite me looks.. transcendent. The dress id found hanging from the canopy of our bed is an Elizabeth Fillmore bridal piece that somehow doesnt look out of place in the slightest in our island hideaway. Fashioned from a sheer satin, so lightweight that i feel as though i have nothing on, the off white colour brings out the best of my holiday glow, making me look radiant without really having to try.
"You're insane.." Gary steps behind me, completing the picturesque reflection in the mirror in a white dress shirt and cream trousers, resting his chin on my shoulder and peppering a kiss just below my ear as i follow his gaze to the neck line of the dress. Its V-shaped, embellished with small decorative flowers of the same material and plunges low enough to show the right amount of cleavage -enticing without being tacky. Thin spaghetti straps hold it in place and run over my shoulders, only stopping at my lower back where they rejoin the vintage material that drops, with a non-existent weight, and ripples in the gentle sea breeze that breathes through the open door.
Gary runs a forefinger down my naked spine, leaving my flesh burning for more in its wake. The same thumb and forefinger reach for my chin then, tilting my head straight and encouraging me to look into the gemstone-green eyes that bore into mine through the reflection. "You're beautiful."
My answering smile is small, the intensity of his gaze causing me to drop my own to the flow of the expensive fabric and the band of flowers that sit under my chest, simultaneously accentuating the swell of my stomach but disguising it at the same time. I pin back the pieces of hair that keep falling over my eyes, all the while aware of Garys eyes burning through the reflection in the mirror and i know, without asking, that hes thinking the same thought that continually swims around my own head.
We look good.
Garys laugh catches in this throat as i pick my way through palm trees down to the beach, the wedged sandals id slipped my feet into before we'd left swing abandoned in the same hand that is trying to pull the hem of my dress out of the way, my other hand clutching onto Garys as he drags me, with suspicious excitement, down to our private beach. Night is falling over Fregate island, but despite the sun setting low on the horizon and casting a soft orange glow over the still ripples of the Indian ocean, it is still comfortably warm.
"I thought-" I stumble over a rock that i missed under the dark shadows of the palm trees. "..that we were going out for dinner."
"We are going out for dinner." Gary steps forward, pressing a warm palm to the small of my exposed back and urging me down a sandier path.
"On the beach?" I look up from my feet briefly enough to expose my raised eyebrow, tucking the piece of hair that has tangled itself around my neck as a result of the fluttering breeze back behind my ear.
"On the beach." Gary concludes, nodding solemnly and giving nothing away. Silently, i curse that damn poker face, finally falling free from the onslaught of rocks and padding quickly down onto the warm sand, scrunching it between my toes and relishing the sensation.
"Dinner on the b-" When i look up, im rendered speechless. My mouth opens, then closes, before opening again and wetting my lips with my tongue. "Have you.." I breathe, unable to focus my train of thought on anything but the scene that is set about one-hundred metres down the beach. "..completely lost your mind?"
"You dont like it?" Garys grip on my hand tightens ever so slightly and if i wasnt so mind-fucked i might have registered the element of humour in his tone.
"Gary, i-" I stare across at the single most romantic setting i have ever seen in my life. Leading up to a vast white cabana that decorates a table oppressed with champagne and other expensive looking condiments are rows and rows and rows of candles. There must at be least one-hundred, arranged to form a path riddled with red rose petals that flutter along the beach, some rolling unconsciously into the roaring camp-fire that bestows a warm, orange glow over the entire ridiculous setting. "..I." I try again to find the words that just wont come out. "..i.. How?!"
"I know a guy that knows a guy." I feel Gary shrug against my shoulder and smile at the typically nonchalant response. "Come on," He entwines his fingers with my own, urging me forward along the white sand and candlelit aisle, "Im ravenous."
I stare peacefully out into the open expanse of the shore-line in front of me, counting the number of candles i can see reflected in the oscillating ocean and thinking about how much i never want to leave. The thought of going back to work on Monday pulls my brows together in an unwelcome furrow and im glad of the distraction of Gary clearing his throat to pull me back into the present.
"Come on." He swirls the dregs of champagne around in the pristine flute before necking the vintage beverage and standing from the table. Garys white shirt looks dishevelled and sexy as hell in the light of the roaring fire as he comes around to my side of the table, offering me a hand. For a moment, however, i just gaze blankly up at him, admiring the way he looks bare foot, on the beach but dressed in cream suit pants and the white dress shirt all the same. I allow myself to get lost in the way that his shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showcasing two toned and golden forearms; and the same goes for his chest, the first three buttons of the shirt have been left abandoned, revealing a slab of sun-kissed flesh against the immaculate white of the cotton.
"Come on," He urges again, and i look at his face; equally tanned as the rest of him, and broken up by the most carefree smile ive seen in years, a smile that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners; only making me want to leap up and kiss every single one of the tiny lines. Its a sincere simile, but under the surface there is just a hint of playfulness, flickering away in the light of the candles that turn them from an emerald green in the sun, to a softer hazel in the moonlight. His hair, bleached by the sun and un-styled by gel, looks temptingly soft and reminds me of Ethans as two stray strands flutter against his forehead as a result of the sea breeze and against the backdrop of the candlelit, white sand beach, under a star littered Seychelles sky; he looks utterly breathtaking.
"Libby?" Gary stoops to grasp my hand, pulling it from my lap and urging me to stand. "Get off that voluptuous ass of yours."
I pout, shaking my trance and hauling myself to my feet, "What are you trying to say about my arse Barlow?"
"Nothing at all, dear." Gary showcases an appalling display of acting skills as his hand slips from my hip to squeeze at the flesh of my backside.
"Nothing at all, dear." Gary showcases an appalling display of acting skills as his hand slips from my hip to squeeze at the flesh of my backside.
I lift an eyebrow, slipping my arm through his as we begin to stroll along the beach. "Alright Heartbeat."
That earns a playful shove that nearly has me toppling into the sea with a shriek of laughter.
That earns a playful shove that nearly has me toppling into the sea with a shriek of laughter.
"Gary!"
"Gary Barlow OBE to you." He doesnt try to hide the smile as i give him a shove back. It doesnt phase him of course, hes like a rock, and so i slip my arm back around his and we continue to meander across the sand in the opposite direction and away from our beach house. That prompts the next question from my lips;
"We're leaving the table before we've had the food?"
"I have something i want you to see." Gary answers as simply as stating his name.
"What?"
"Its a bleeding surprise, Elizabeth, is that okay with you?" Gary breathes out an exasperated laugh, slipping an arm around my waist and tucking me into his shoulder. "You wormed this bastard holiday out of me, and the location, i am not folding on this one. Patience woman."
I grin like a fool at that, wrapping myself around my husband as we drift across the cooling sand, the breaking waves occasionally wetting our feet as the tide moves in with the rising moon. We walk in silence for a little while longer, weaving our way across the beach and out of the light of the roaring fire.
"C'mon." Gary jerks my hand suddenly, tugging me left and urging me up a set of winding, cliff face steps.
"Do you know where youre going? Or are you just dragging me aimlessly around this island like a kid in a play park? I am five months pregnant you do realise? Im not exactly up for outward bound activities." I smirk, kicking the fabric of my dress out of the way as i make a start on the smooth rock.
Gary chuckles as he moves behind me, a low sound that rumbles through his chest and still, three years on, makes everything south of my waistline tense. His one hand grasps my waist, imploring me to keep climbing the winding steps, the other catches the hem of my dress, gathering the satin in an easy grip and pulling it out of the way of my feet.
Gary chuckles as he moves behind me, a low sound that rumbles through his chest and still, three years on, makes everything south of my waistline tense. His one hand grasps my waist, imploring me to keep climbing the winding steps, the other catches the hem of my dress, gathering the satin in an easy grip and pulling it out of the way of my feet.
I climb higher, and as the sea breeze drops away, the humid island air becomes a comforting haze, thickening the atmosphere as the candlelit beach disappears below us.
Garys hand reaches over my shoulder, pointing a long index finger straight ahead as he speaks against the back of my neck. "You see that light?"
I nod, more intent on keeping my footing.
I nod, more intent on keeping my footing.
"Thats where we are heading, but stop here."
I pause, we're half way between the beach and the island mainland, the fire, still kindling away on the shoreline casts a warm amber light over the rose adorned table we'd been laughing at half an hour ago. The view, is magical.
"Im going to need to pick you up."
I furrow my brow and gawk at my husband who is four inches shorter than me on the step below. "Are you mad?" Is the only thing i can think to say. One step wrong on these steps, one misjudged footing and we'll be saying goodbye to ever going home.
Gary shakes his head. "I need you to trust me; im going to pick you up."
"No Gary..." My eyes widen and i look quickly back over my shoulder, trying to gage how steep the steps actually are. My conclusion is-very. "..Youre no-"
I shriek when my legs are pulled from underneath me without any form of warning what so ever. I kick my legs but to no prevail as Gary swoops me up bridal style, one arm banded across my shoulders and the other under my knees with a laugh that makes me want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.
"Put me down! Gary! Put my God damn feet back on the ground or i swear to God!-"
Pressed so tightly against his chest, i feel the bubble of laughter before i hear it and the look in his eyes tells me that there is no point in arguing, and so, for the umpteenth time this week, sit back, quite literally, banding my arms around Garys neck and let my husband do whatever it is that he wants to do.
The building that i find myself presented with is a quaint little beach house with a pool outside surrounded by solar-powered candles. Gary cradles me still, climbing the final steps effortlessly without any sign of a physical exertion at all and pauses momentarily before the white-wood French doors in front of us.
"Libs,'" He muses against my neck, his breath as warm and humid as the island air.
"Mm-h?"
"Kiss me."
"What?" My eyes widen. I heard what he said of course. There is no way i could ever mishear that sentence, but the context of it knocks me off me feet- or would have done, had they been on the ground to begin with.
Gary opens his mouth again, uttering the same sentence with the same point-blank sincerity; "Kiss me."
And how could i refuse? How could i not lean further into the warm, shirt clad body and wrap my hands around the freshly shaved jaw, cupping his face and angling his lips just so underneath mine so i can press onto them without haste or expectation. How could i refuse as Gary shifted my body in his arms until my legs are wrapped around his middle and his hands are cupping my backside, one occasionally breaking away to cart up to the nape of my neck, holding me to him as i kiss away the back drop of the candle light island that has become my utopia, my world narrowing to him and him alone as it does each and every time he kisses me. The only thing that matters in that moment is the soft movement of Garys lips against my own so much so that i dont notice when he takes another step towards the French doors, bending the handle with care not to disrupt the simple tranquillity of our kiss. The warmth of his tongue stoking against the side of my mouth is enough for me not to register him taking another step inside the building, and the way he nips my plush lower lip between his teeth is enough to leave me dazed and confused when he pulls away and breathes the word; "Surpirse."
"Surprise!"
I turn, quickly, in horror, and nearly falling out of Garys arms. A small sound somewhere between a scream and a sob slips from my lips and my hands move instinctively to cover my face when i stare into the sea of faces that know so well i could draw from memory without second thought. Theres a triumphant roar that i barely register beyond the haze of my own recognition as Gary slides me down his body and onto my own to feet that i am not entirely sure will support me. There are balloons, and streamers, all cream and whites and gold glitter and so, so many people.
My mother is the first to catch my eye long enough to hold my gaze, her face a beacon of light with a grin so wide i hardly recognise her at all, but it is the sight of my father next to her that shatters my heart. Dad? Dad!
But then a small voice sounds above it all. A voice that i would know anywhere and hear above any volume of noise at any time.
"Mumma!"
"Oh." A huge sob bubbles its way through my chest and tears out of my throat, a raw and broken sound as my heart swells in my chest and then drops to my stomach. "Ethan!"
"Im going to need to pick you up."
I furrow my brow and gawk at my husband who is four inches shorter than me on the step below. "Are you mad?" Is the only thing i can think to say. One step wrong on these steps, one misjudged footing and we'll be saying goodbye to ever going home.
Gary shakes his head. "I need you to trust me; im going to pick you up."
"No Gary..." My eyes widen and i look quickly back over my shoulder, trying to gage how steep the steps actually are. My conclusion is-very. "..Youre no-"
I shriek when my legs are pulled from underneath me without any form of warning what so ever. I kick my legs but to no prevail as Gary swoops me up bridal style, one arm banded across my shoulders and the other under my knees with a laugh that makes me want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.
"Put me down! Gary! Put my God damn feet back on the ground or i swear to God!-"
Pressed so tightly against his chest, i feel the bubble of laughter before i hear it and the look in his eyes tells me that there is no point in arguing, and so, for the umpteenth time this week, sit back, quite literally, banding my arms around Garys neck and let my husband do whatever it is that he wants to do.
The building that i find myself presented with is a quaint little beach house with a pool outside surrounded by solar-powered candles. Gary cradles me still, climbing the final steps effortlessly without any sign of a physical exertion at all and pauses momentarily before the white-wood French doors in front of us.
"Libs,'" He muses against my neck, his breath as warm and humid as the island air.
"Mm-h?"
"Kiss me."
"What?" My eyes widen. I heard what he said of course. There is no way i could ever mishear that sentence, but the context of it knocks me off me feet- or would have done, had they been on the ground to begin with.
Gary opens his mouth again, uttering the same sentence with the same point-blank sincerity; "Kiss me."
And how could i refuse? How could i not lean further into the warm, shirt clad body and wrap my hands around the freshly shaved jaw, cupping his face and angling his lips just so underneath mine so i can press onto them without haste or expectation. How could i refuse as Gary shifted my body in his arms until my legs are wrapped around his middle and his hands are cupping my backside, one occasionally breaking away to cart up to the nape of my neck, holding me to him as i kiss away the back drop of the candle light island that has become my utopia, my world narrowing to him and him alone as it does each and every time he kisses me. The only thing that matters in that moment is the soft movement of Garys lips against my own so much so that i dont notice when he takes another step towards the French doors, bending the handle with care not to disrupt the simple tranquillity of our kiss. The warmth of his tongue stoking against the side of my mouth is enough for me not to register him taking another step inside the building, and the way he nips my plush lower lip between his teeth is enough to leave me dazed and confused when he pulls away and breathes the word; "Surpirse."
"Surprise!"
I turn, quickly, in horror, and nearly falling out of Garys arms. A small sound somewhere between a scream and a sob slips from my lips and my hands move instinctively to cover my face when i stare into the sea of faces that know so well i could draw from memory without second thought. Theres a triumphant roar that i barely register beyond the haze of my own recognition as Gary slides me down his body and onto my own to feet that i am not entirely sure will support me. There are balloons, and streamers, all cream and whites and gold glitter and so, so many people.
My mother is the first to catch my eye long enough to hold my gaze, her face a beacon of light with a grin so wide i hardly recognise her at all, but it is the sight of my father next to her that shatters my heart. Dad? Dad!
But then a small voice sounds above it all. A voice that i would know anywhere and hear above any volume of noise at any time.
"Mumma!"
"Oh." A huge sob bubbles its way through my chest and tears out of my throat, a raw and broken sound as my heart swells in my chest and then drops to my stomach. "Ethan!"
"Mummy!" The toddler, dressed in a tiny white shirt and tan shorts, with copper hair and eyes like his father runs to me, pushing his way through the legs of standing guests with open arms and stumbling along the way; and i drop to my knees, despite the audience, to receive him as he hurls himself at me. My arms closing around the small, warm body instinctively, my lips unconsciously plastering kisses across his sun kissed and smiling face.
"Oh, I missed you." I pull back, only to smooth his ruffled hair before crushing him into me again. "I missed you so much, baby boy."
Ethan grabs onto a stand of my hair, pressing his face into my neck and i screw my own eyes shut against the top of his head, willing my pounding heart to just slow down and letting hot, stray tears roll unchecked down my cheek.
When i do, eventually, find the strength to clamber to my feet again, the sea of faces havent stopped smiling and the white fabric banner that hangs artistically from the ceiling and reads, 'Happy Anniversary' makes me laugh quietly, turning into Gary and pressing my nose to his neck.
"Its not for another month.." I mumble on an exhale, so overcome with emotion that i feel as though i have forgotten how to speak.
Gary pulls away, tucking a peice of hair behind my ear and kissing my forehead; "Ultimate surprise?"
I laugh on an exhale, my cheeks hurting from the intensity of my smile. "Ultimate surprise." I agree, ignoring the swarm of people desperate to greet us just for a second longer as i stare into Garys beaming face with Ethan getting predictably restless in my arms,
"You planned the whole thing?" I breathe, the glaze of tears threatening the drop from my lids making his eyes twinkle indefinitely.
Gary nods slowly, his mouth curving that the corners into that god-forsaken smirk. "I planned the whole thing."
I think theres another roar and applause when i lean up and smack an over the top kiss onto his mouth, although; it felt so much like a dream, i might have imagined it.
The room full of party guests silences quickly when Gary stands up two hours later with a champagne flute in his hand a stomach full of smoked salmon, beef tenderloin and home-made apple pie. Theres a whoop from Ian that earns a bubble of laughter from those at his table, but hes too far away from me to hear what he said. I grin anway; too caught up on a wave of complete euphoria to do anythihg else.
"I suppose," Gary clears his throat, treading lightly from foot to foot and finding his ease very quickly in the room full of people. "..I should really start by thanking you all for coming half way across the world just for my anniversary."
Another bubble of laugher.
"..But im sure you will agree that the look of on wifes face when she came through those doors was enough for you to say that you'd do it again in a heart beat." Gary grins down at me, lifting my hand from where it clutches a napkin on the table and lifting it to his lips. "You shit yourself, Darling."
I laugh too then, along with the thirty other guests,
"This year," Gary carries on when the mutterings die back down, keeping my hand down my his side and running a thumb methodically back and forth across my kuckles. "This year has been a bit of an adventure for us. Hell, the last four years have been a complete whirlwind, but looking around this room now i know for certain that i would never have had it any other way. However," He swallows. "I do realise that i have already asked so much of you and so i will keep this speech, and consequently your suffering as brief as possible."
Another eruption of quiet laughter.
"This woman," Gary furrows his brow, turning slightly to face me and the look in his eyes causes the feeling tightening my chest to become nearly unbearable. "..has taught me so much in the relatively short time that ive known her- how to actually poach an egg properly, for example. And my job, you know.." Gary runs a finger along his brow, drawing in a breath and searching for the right word. "..its not normal, but she not only deals with all the bullshit that comes with what i do, but she does it in a way that i can only admire her for. You wouldnt believe the amount of arguments that have ensued because she wont come with me across Europe to promote a record, or up to Glasgow to play a gig just because i dont want to leave her side. But as usual, my darling wife and Ethans darling mum, was right in telling me that our marriage would never work if she gave up her life to follow me around. And then Ethan came along, and i was scared; petrified. But at a time when i thought there was no way i could love this woman any more than i already did, she proved me wrong- again. I swear to you now, there is not a day that goes by that i dont thank God that that shitty little car of yours broke down on that duel-carriage way and bought you into my path..."
"Hey-" I admonish quietly, smiling through the hot tears that cloud my vision and roll unevenly over my cheeks as i wonder if i will ever stop loving this man as much as i do in this moment in time. So much so that my heart feels heavy, my head feels light and the hairs on the back of neck are standing on an end.
"...Because i dont know who, or what id be without you. So," Gary straightens once again, lifting his champagne flute a little higher and tightening his grip on my hand, thumb rubbing over my wedding ring. "Id like to make a toast. To a woman, who, no matter how well i think i know her, never ceases to surprise, amaze and inspire me...So," He turns to nod towards Ethan who, for the first time ever is genuinely enthralled in what his father is saying. "...To your mother, your daughter, your friend, my wife and my muse...To Libby."
~~~
And so concludes the next chapter of Gary and Libby's story, thank you, thank you and thank you for sharing the adventure. Thank you for your patience, your inspiration and your support. Writing is what i love and through writing i have eternally fallen in love with the chatacters in this little saga; i sincerely hope that you have too.
So, from Gary, Libby, Ethan and your eternally grateful authour, it is not goodbye, but it is; a great big Thank You x
"Oh, I missed you." I pull back, only to smooth his ruffled hair before crushing him into me again. "I missed you so much, baby boy."
Ethan grabs onto a stand of my hair, pressing his face into my neck and i screw my own eyes shut against the top of his head, willing my pounding heart to just slow down and letting hot, stray tears roll unchecked down my cheek.
When i do, eventually, find the strength to clamber to my feet again, the sea of faces havent stopped smiling and the white fabric banner that hangs artistically from the ceiling and reads, 'Happy Anniversary' makes me laugh quietly, turning into Gary and pressing my nose to his neck.
"Its not for another month.." I mumble on an exhale, so overcome with emotion that i feel as though i have forgotten how to speak.
Gary pulls away, tucking a peice of hair behind my ear and kissing my forehead; "Ultimate surprise?"
I laugh on an exhale, my cheeks hurting from the intensity of my smile. "Ultimate surprise." I agree, ignoring the swarm of people desperate to greet us just for a second longer as i stare into Garys beaming face with Ethan getting predictably restless in my arms,
"You planned the whole thing?" I breathe, the glaze of tears threatening the drop from my lids making his eyes twinkle indefinitely.
Gary nods slowly, his mouth curving that the corners into that god-forsaken smirk. "I planned the whole thing."
I think theres another roar and applause when i lean up and smack an over the top kiss onto his mouth, although; it felt so much like a dream, i might have imagined it.
The room full of party guests silences quickly when Gary stands up two hours later with a champagne flute in his hand a stomach full of smoked salmon, beef tenderloin and home-made apple pie. Theres a whoop from Ian that earns a bubble of laughter from those at his table, but hes too far away from me to hear what he said. I grin anway; too caught up on a wave of complete euphoria to do anythihg else.
"I suppose," Gary clears his throat, treading lightly from foot to foot and finding his ease very quickly in the room full of people. "..I should really start by thanking you all for coming half way across the world just for my anniversary."
Another bubble of laugher.
"..But im sure you will agree that the look of on wifes face when she came through those doors was enough for you to say that you'd do it again in a heart beat." Gary grins down at me, lifting my hand from where it clutches a napkin on the table and lifting it to his lips. "You shit yourself, Darling."
I laugh too then, along with the thirty other guests,
"This year," Gary carries on when the mutterings die back down, keeping my hand down my his side and running a thumb methodically back and forth across my kuckles. "This year has been a bit of an adventure for us. Hell, the last four years have been a complete whirlwind, but looking around this room now i know for certain that i would never have had it any other way. However," He swallows. "I do realise that i have already asked so much of you and so i will keep this speech, and consequently your suffering as brief as possible."
Another eruption of quiet laughter.
"This woman," Gary furrows his brow, turning slightly to face me and the look in his eyes causes the feeling tightening my chest to become nearly unbearable. "..has taught me so much in the relatively short time that ive known her- how to actually poach an egg properly, for example. And my job, you know.." Gary runs a finger along his brow, drawing in a breath and searching for the right word. "..its not normal, but she not only deals with all the bullshit that comes with what i do, but she does it in a way that i can only admire her for. You wouldnt believe the amount of arguments that have ensued because she wont come with me across Europe to promote a record, or up to Glasgow to play a gig just because i dont want to leave her side. But as usual, my darling wife and Ethans darling mum, was right in telling me that our marriage would never work if she gave up her life to follow me around. And then Ethan came along, and i was scared; petrified. But at a time when i thought there was no way i could love this woman any more than i already did, she proved me wrong- again. I swear to you now, there is not a day that goes by that i dont thank God that that shitty little car of yours broke down on that duel-carriage way and bought you into my path..."
"Hey-" I admonish quietly, smiling through the hot tears that cloud my vision and roll unevenly over my cheeks as i wonder if i will ever stop loving this man as much as i do in this moment in time. So much so that my heart feels heavy, my head feels light and the hairs on the back of neck are standing on an end.
"...Because i dont know who, or what id be without you. So," Gary straightens once again, lifting his champagne flute a little higher and tightening his grip on my hand, thumb rubbing over my wedding ring. "Id like to make a toast. To a woman, who, no matter how well i think i know her, never ceases to surprise, amaze and inspire me...So," He turns to nod towards Ethan who, for the first time ever is genuinely enthralled in what his father is saying. "...To your mother, your daughter, your friend, my wife and my muse...To Libby."
~~~
And so concludes the next chapter of Gary and Libby's story, thank you, thank you and thank you for sharing the adventure. Thank you for your patience, your inspiration and your support. Writing is what i love and through writing i have eternally fallen in love with the chatacters in this little saga; i sincerely hope that you have too.
So, from Gary, Libby, Ethan and your eternally grateful authour, it is not goodbye, but it is; a great big Thank You x
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