She waited until I’d dressed, we grabbed a coffee, and travelled into work together.
Chapter Fourteen
For the next couple of days Gabriella either stayed with me, or I with her. We moved clothes and toiletries and then found the nuisance of this.
“Do you know where my aftershave is?” I asked, as we were getting ready for a night out with my mother.
“In the cupboard, there,” she said, pointing to one above the sink.
“No, not that one. I don’t like the smell of that.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe you have the one you want at your house?”
“Maybe. I thought it was here.”
We had both started to duplicate items. She had recently waved around a gadget that straightened her hair, informing me that she had to buy a second one as she needed it in both properties.
“This is ridiculous,” I said. I started to walk from the bathroom. “We should just live in one house.” The words were out of my mouth before my brain engaged. I turned to look and she stared at me with raised eyebrows. “Right. Yes. Fine. Okay. This is madness, where do you want to live?”
“Oh, what a wonderful way to invite me to live with you,” she said, and then laughed to assure me she was teasing.
I winced and then smiled, rubbing my hand over my chin as if it would give me the courage to speak the words I wanted to.
“Gabriella, my Lady, would you do me the honour of moving in with me? Or I move in with you, or whatever we do.” I stuttered towards the end of my sentence.
Despite still cleaning her teeth and having toothpaste on her lips, she walked over and kissed me. “I’d be delighted to. You’re becomingsogrown up, Alex, your mother is going to be delighted.”
I slapped her arse as she walked back to the sink. “We’ll, err, sort the details later,” I said. I left the room to the sound of her laughing.
“God, I’m such a jerk sometimes,” I said to myself as I sat on the bed to tie my shoelaces.
“Ah, but you’re my jerk,” came the reply.
* * *
I hadn’t seen Mother for a couple of weeks, she’d been busy, or I had, and it was with trepidation that I knocked on her front door. I wondered, with Duncan gone, if she might have slipped back into her dark mood. However, the bright smile that greeted us, assured me otherwise.
“Come in, my darlings. Let’s have champagne before we leave, shall we?” she asked, before linking arms with Gabriella and leading her to the living room.
“I’ll just follow on, shall I?” I grumbled and followed them.
“He’s as crusty as his father was sometimes,” Mother said and Gabriella laughed.
“Mother, Gabriella and I are going to live together,” I said once I’d sat and raised my champagne glass.
“A toast then,” she replied. “Although I’ll keep the best stuff for when you propose to this gorgeous girl.”
I nearly spat the champagne from my mouth. Worst was to come. Mother and Gabriella then chatted about where we were going to live. They had conversations I expected Gabriella and I to have although, I had to admit, it would be reluctantly on my part. I didn’t care for wall coverings or what paintings of Mother’s we should have.
“I mean, they will all come to Alex at some point, you might as well have them now,” she’d said.
“Mother, please. We’re way off this yet. There’s a lot to discuss, let’s leave the paintings where they should be, and that’s in the safe. I’m assuming you’ve had the Van Gogh back?”
“Yes, and we’re having fun, aren’t we, darling?” she said, patting Gabriella’s hand. “The insurance might need adjusting since the valuation has increased.”
I promised I’d get on that the following day. “Shall we get going before we lose our table?”
Mother and Gabriella didn’t stop talking the whole journey, through a three-course dinner, and then in the car on the way home. Occasionally, I was invited to participate but, to be honest, I was thrilled. I was so happy they got along so well; it was as if my mother had yet another lease on life. Gabriella had promised to collect Mother for a girls shopping trip in a couple of weeks, too.
