Gary and Libby; Take Two

"Do you need a hand?" Gary asks, coming up besides me and placing more crockery on the work surface as i stand at the sink, hand washing all of the wine glasses and china plates you only get out on special occasions because theyre too delicate for the dishwasher. Pulled from my thoughts, i take a moment to answer, staring into the foam of bubbles swallowing my hands. "What, with the washing up?" A quiet; "Um-huh." Is my answer, and i can only assume Gary is nodding too. I cant see him though, my hair hangs annoyingly in front of my face, bedraggled and un-kept until i have a dry and soap free hand spare to brush it over my shoulder with; i smirk behind it never the less. "When was the last time you hand-washed a dish?" A long finger from behind me pulls my face free of my hair and i take the moment as a chance to glance across to Gary who is mindlessly running the tip of his left index finger around the rim of a wine glass. "Could be toni...

"He's zonked.." Gary smiles, glancing back into the rear-view mirror to find Ethan fast asleep in his car seat, chubby cheek smushed against the seatbelt and two tiny hands clutching 'Lizebeth the infamous blue rabbit and an orange gifaffe from our day trip to Battersea Park Childrens Zoo -the newest addition to his collection, in a vice grip in his lap.  I twist in my seat to gaze at the toddler, leaning forward as best I can to pull the seat belt away from his face so as not to end up with a red sleep crease across his already pink face. "It didn't take long, did it?" I smile. We've only been in the car seven minutes.  Gary laughs slowly, taking the first left onto Sloane street. "I hope he had a good day.."  "Gary, did you see his face? He was elated." Turning back to face the front, I glance at the time;  5:26pm  "Only issue now though..." I sigh, peeking back at Ethan who is now snoring softly in the back ...

“Do you think he’ll like it?” “Im sure he’ll love it Gary.” I reassure for the umpteenth time since half past 6 this morning as we sit cross legged in the lounge staring at the box of a childs play car set, complete, of course, with a firenegine with working lights and a siren that i am sure will make us both regret buying such a toy for a three year old very quickly. “You know what hes like though, he’ll be bored within five minutes. Dont be disheartened when he toddles off will you?”  I mumble, hauling myself onto my feet, limbs stiff from pregnancy, yet worsened by being prematurely dragged out of bed to set up Ethans presents. Gary scrambles to his feet quickly to help me, one arm around my waist as if he were assaisting an elderly woman across a busy road. I roll my eyes. “Im not an invalid you know?” Im presented with his shy smile, sleep mused and ungelled strands of hair flop over his forehead. “You know i worry.” “Hmm.” I agree, slipping free from the protective ho...

"And he just stopped calling so frequently when he was away, and-and i thought it was odd- well, i suppose i knew really, i always had an inkling, you know!?" I nod, smiling as politely as i can muster at nine forty-five on a Monday morning, having been up since four with a teething toddler and only one mug of coffee since. I fight back a yawn, as Mrs Watts unloads the burdens of a collapsing marriage behind a handful of Kleenex, dabbing appropriately at her streaking mascara. Mrs Watts sniffles, pulling the tissues from in front of her mouth, only to wave it in the air instead. "Im so sorry; im being silly i know.. Its just- it came as such a shock; i just didn't expect to find the two of them together like that! And to think; in our bed as well!" And then shes nose deep in the tissues once more, wailing silently, head in her hands. I wait a couple of moments before i clear my throat. "Mrs Watts?" I urge quietly, feeling awful but conscience of thi...

"You gonna tell me what all that was about then?" I murmur so as not to wake Ethan. The three of us are curled up on the settee, Ethan, having lost his battle with over tiredness after the third episode of Postman Pat, sleeps soundly in Gary's lap, head lolled back against the arm of the settee, arms hanging limply by his sides. Gary turns his head ever so slightly, regarding me with an amused gaze, eyebrows flickering towards his hairline the way they always do. "What about?" " I cant tell you.. " I drawl, doing my best, and still failing dismally, to mimic his voice. " Its a surprise.. " Gary laughs, a genuine, cathartic, head-thrown-back laugh, but regains composure quickly when Ethan stirs in his lap, two sleepy green eyes revealing themselves. We curse in unison, both of us cussing under our breath. "Ill take him up." I urge softly, standing before the toddler is fully awake again. "Ill take him if you want?" Gar...

Before i even open my eyes, the easy thrumming of my muscles reminds me of the antics of the night before. I stretch with stiff limbs beneath the covers, and my muscles whine in protest as the kinks knotting my spine slip away one by one. "Hey." Opening one eye, i roll onto my back to find Gary smiling down at me, elbow bent, resting on the pillow, supporting his head and looking bright eyed and bushy tailed as ever. The Blackberry he holds across his chest is discarded quickly when he turns and slips it onto the bed side table. "Sleep well?" He cranes his neck to kiss the corner of my lips, the fingers of the hand formerly holding the Blackberry, pushing my hair back from my shoulders. I nod, smiling, but too stated with sex and sleep to speak. Gary smiles back, the shy smile, the one that is only reserved for Ethan and myself, and my heart skips a beat. "You look like an angel like this." Gary tips his chin towards my hair, and i can feel it, fa...

Garys lips find mine and move hungrily, leaving no room for oxygen. This kiss was not gentle, it was neither sweet nor tender. Instead, it was hot, flush with burning desire and an urgency that was all too familiar, yet, at the same time, this kiss was not bereft of love, or passion, in fact, as Gary's lips move over my own, tongue taunting my bottom lip away from my top, it tastes of a kiss of almost too much love, too much passion. The kind of kiss that, as always with this man, leaves me weak at the knees. And then his hands are everywhere, restlessly flexing and groping at whatever piece of flesh happens to be under his palm at the very moment. With little will to succeed, i brace my hands against his still damp shoulders, feeling the burn of his skin against my own because he always has the water that little bit too hot. "Gary-" I pry my lips from his just long enough to croak his name when the backs of my knees hit the bed. "Ssh." Garys lips are at the ...