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| SOMEONE SOMEWHERE SOON WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU by Enola PART 19 Some days later James phones you and says Sean has given him a copy of the video he filmed at Rhys’s wedding, so you tell him to come over to ‘The House’ later so that you can watch it all together when the kids will be asleep. When he arrives gives you the tape you put at once into the video recorder then you join Olivia, Shane and Chris in the sofa while George and James are in the armchairs. The video opens with an amazing view of the castle surrounded by tall trees. Afterwards you all are entering the chapel and Sean also filmed you sticking your tongue out at James before you sat in the pew! The whole scene makes everyone laugh a lot. The video goes on with the ceremony then starts again before the meal while you and Nick were talking about your dogs and sports, then Sean switched his video camera off as soon as the meal was served. When he turned it on again he was talking with Nick about the orchestra, which according to both, was playing very good. Then suddenly, Sean asked James what he thought about that since he hadn’t said anything yet. He was smoking nervously having a drink and staring at something in front of him at his right. Sean moved his hand and shot the people who were dancing and a while later focused on you and Hugo. Some seconds later he returned to James and jokingly he said, “What’s up James? You look…jealous!!” He didn’t either reply or turn, he just took his glass and got up. Sean followed him while he went to fetch another drink and in the meantime Nick told him to leave him alone and turn that useless thingy off for a bit. The rest of video concerns you and James dancing, Alicia throwing her bouquet, Alicia and Rhys cutting the wedding cake and…James with his hand on the eye after you kicked him!! This his another thing which makes the other laugh a lot, especially Shane who can’t believe you really hit him, but James remarks he did deserve that! The video goes on with Nick wondering where you and James were so went and looked for the two of you. A couple of minutes later he returned with a big smile in his face and told Sean he had to go with him since he had to film something very interesting. Sean followed him in the corridor so Nick turned just before entering the library and told Sean, Rhian and Rachel not to make noise because as you all can see now, you and James were both asleep over the sofa!! Your head was resting over his chest, your hand over his belly and his hand over yours, the other arm was round you and his head leant on yours. “Aren’t they lovely?” said Nick softly, “She’s very sweet…She must be an angel!!” You can’t help smiling when you scene the scene as you didn’t expect that. You turn quickly to look at James and notice he’s smiling too. He looks at you as well but just for a moment. You have no doubt, he’s embarrassed just like you are. Some minutes later he decides leaving so you walk him to the door and when he opens it you ask shyly, “Were you jealous?” He giggles for a while then without looking at you he mumbles, “Ehm…a bit!” Then he leans his hand on your arm and whispers, “Night!” before kissing your forehead so he goes away. That night you woke up next to James on the sofa and after having awoken him up you went to your rooms. You didn’t have a god sleep although the for-poster bed was extremely comfortable. It was just like one of those four-poster is possible to see in tons of movies set in the 18th century. Staring at the canopy above you it came to mind you were in a castle, in a real one, and you could have been a princess, an unhappy one, waiting for her Prince Charming to come with his amazing white horse to save her from her miserable existence. You used to believe in Prince Charming when you were a child, Cinderella was one of your favourite fables and you love telling the kids it, but something has changed, now you think that Prince Charming exists, but just for a few luckier women. You had realised that the day before when you had met Rachel and Rhian. They looked so madly in love with their husbands as much as Nick and Sean were with them. You got up at about 9.30 am, had a shower and went downstairs. You were sure James was still sleeping, but you’d probably find the others already up. Walking in the corridor you heard some voices coming from one of the rooms and as you got closer you recognised Nick’s. They all were there and invited you to join them. They had already had breakfast and you remember that Nick laughed when you asked the butler for a cup of tea…something quite unusual for him, but the typical British breakfast is unusual for you and you don’t know if you ever get used to it. Having finished your tea Nick told you to go with him for a moment and while you were leaving the room he said he had hoped you to get up before they’d leave since he wanted to talk to you. He suggested going for a walk outside and you agreed but before you went to your room to take your jacket. When you got up you had noticed, opening the curtains, it was a cloudy and rather windy day, but it wasn’t raining, at least not yet. As soon as the two of you went out he started saying he was extremely happy he had known you because he wanted that very much. He confessed it was him who had convinced James to ask you to come. James was sure you wouldn’t accept because he knew how you hate parties and being among strangers, but Nick had persuaded him and had suggested that James had to tell you that he and Rachel wished to meet you. He went on saying that James had told him everything about things which had happened between the two of you and he still couldn’t believe what James had told him. He had got shocked and angry with him, he could hardly believe he had behaved so badly towards you because they’ve known each other since they were young and he has always considered James the kindest and nicest person he has ever known, a person totally incapable of hurting anyone. Nick didn’t know what had happened to James, he didn’t have any explanation, the only thing he could think was that that wasn’t the real James. Furthermore, he added he was sure James wouldn’t ever do it again, he’d rather die. In any case, he was happy things between the two of you are alright now. He said something that flattered you a lot: “Now that I know you I understand why James has grown very fond of you. There’s something of angelic in you, something that we’ve found only in another person who’s very special to us.” Before they went back home you exchanged your numbers since he’d like to keep in touch with you. It was nice talking to Nick at it was talking with all of them during the meal, but the best thing was talking with James. The two of you talked a lot about many things alternating serious and funny subjects. It was the night of confessions, things the both of you had never told anyone before. The most amazing moment was when he confessed he was jealous of Nick and Sean and later he added he was jealous of Shane as well. When he had met him he was gay while now he’s got a wonderful girlfriend. “So you like Chris!!” you smiled but he shook his head and replied you were mistaken. He likes her but not in the way you thought he did. He thinks she smart, pretty and nice but that’s all. There was something he wanted to know but was afraid because too personal but you told him he could ask you anything. He asked you that, quite embarrassed, speaking in a lovely mumble as usual: “I wonder if you’ve ever thought about…ehm…your first time…I mean y’know…how it should be like and stuff...does it make sense?” Strangely enough talking about that didn’t embarrass you at all. You told him that’s something you often think about and every time you do it you always come to the same conclusion: you’d like it happened in a bed with a caring bloke and some lit candles all around. “Candles?” he smiled, “Yep…candles!” you smiled back. Too much light would make you feel extremely embarrassed, a dark room would be better, but with candles light it’d be a lot better and a lot more romantic!! Sometimes he has the impression he’s known you for ages but in the end he realises he’s known you just for one year and thinks it’d have been wonderful if he had known you when you were kids. There were those children at school that laughed at him because he was cross-eyed. They used to nickname him with stupid names and that hurt him a lot. He knows you would have never laughed at him as he would have never allowed anyone to tease you. One week later you and James to go Ian’s pub to watch Liverpool match and after you stay there and play pool for a couple of hours. You’ve been practicing a lot lately and that’s rather evident since you beat him twice although he’s tried to distract you in every possible way. You’d like having another game but he rejects firmly, having lost twice is enough for him so you leave. Since taxi drivers are on strike and it’s a nice night, “What about having a stroll?” you suggest, “What if it rains?” “Don’t be pessimistic now! It won’t rain, don’t worry!” “I hope for your own good you’ve got un umbrella!” he says playfully. You’ve been walking for about ten minutes when it starts raining. “I knew that!” he snorts, “Now tell me you’ve got an umbrella in your bag” “Erm…no…I haven’t” you start sheepishly, “but stop worrying, it’s just drizzling!” Rain doesn’t bother you at all simply because your bomber jacket had a big hood which protects your head. “Drizzling? You call this…drizzling?” he’s annoyed now and has every reason to complain. “I knew that!” he repeats, “We should have taken the tube shit!” As he speaks he starts striding off and you find it hard to keep pace with him, but fortunately, you notice a phone box just in front of you, so suggest taking refuge there until rain wouldn’t stop. As soon as you’re in you remove your hood and you can’t help laughing, although it’s not nice of you, when you look at James as his hair is soaked, “Do you want some Kleenex?” you say handing him them which he doesn’t take. “I cannot see anything to laugh at in that!” he says a bit harshly. A while later he takes his cigarettes out from his jacket pocket and puts one between his lips, “Hey? You don’t really want to smoke in here, do you” “Why not?” “’Cos it’s too small in here!” He seems not to care at all about that and lights his fag, but you snatch it from his lips and the packet from his hand so open the door and throw them out. Having done that, you have the impression you’ve exaggerated this time! He doesn’t speak for a moment then he cups his face in his hands and takes a deep breath, “I wonder what else must happen tonight” he says still annoyed shaking his head, “I lost twice at pool…I’m soaking wet…I’m stuck in a phone box…and I don’t have any fffucking fags…what a wonderful evening!!” You’re starting feeling sorry for what has happened even thought you keep telling yourself it’s not your bloody fault if taxi drivers are on strike and if it always rains in London!! In any case you want to do something to get out of this unpleasant situation. You call Shane since you’re sure he’s still up, you explain him everything more or less asking him to come to pick you up. “What? You and James are stuck in a phone box? What the hell are you doin’ in there?” he asks amazed, “Fuck Shane! I’ve just told you it’s raining so would you please come here?” “OK! Don’t get angry! I’m coming!” James doesn’t speak a word while you wait for Shane to arrive and doesn’t even looks at you. He also keeps silent during the journey towards his flat. As he gets out of the car he thanks Shane for the lift and goes away quickly. You have the impression you’ve really fucked up this time but Shane says you don’t have to worry about that, he’ll have forgotten everything by tomorrow. The day after James phones you and asks you a favour, he sounds quiet. He doesn’t feel fine, his throat aches and he has a cough. He’s out of aspirin and since he doesn’t feel like going out asks you to buy it for him. A couple of hours later, after you finish to help the kids with their homework, you go to the chemist’s and buy some aspirin and a cough mixture. You ring his bell and wait more than one minute before the door opens. As you come in you see him entering his bedroom. You close the door and take your jacket off leaving it over the sofa so you go in his room. He’s coughing and doesn’t look any fine. You sit on the edge of the bed and put your hand over his face. He’s hot. “You have a temperature.” You notice a thermometer next to a glass of water over the night table, it indicates 39°. “It’s rather high, how do you feel?” “What d’you think?” he mumbles, “Very stupid question I know!” you smile slightly stroking his hair. “I bought a cough mixture but you should eat something later, I can prepare something.” “I’m not hungry” “Ok! A cup of tea at least.” You go to the kitchen and put the kettle on the cooking the take a spoon and go back to James’ room where you fill it with some cough mixture and give him it. “Yuk! It’s bitter!!” he protests turning his nose up. Some minutes later you return with his tea. “Fuck! It’s hot!!” “Jamie stop complaining like a kid and drink! It’s good for your throat!” You say in a reassuring voice, “Do you want me to call Chris?” “Why should you? “’Cos she’s a doctor” “She’s a paediatrician” “Firstly, she’s a doctor…secondly, she’s pretty woman…I know you men lose you head in front of women in white overalls…” you smile playfully, “Listen Monica…I’ve got a splitting headache so if you’re in here just to tell bullshit you’d better leave!” he cuts you off quite annoyed before turning over. You bend over him and stroking his hair you whisper, “I’ve fucked up again, but I was just trying to cheer you up a bit. I failed and I’m sorry. Take care!” You get up and leave the room, but you stop as soon as you hear him calling your name. His cough breaks his voice. He’s still coughing when you enter his bedroom again. You sit on the bed next to him. “Pleeez stay for a bit!” he says softly, “I know it’s my fault if you fell ill and I’m very sorry…can you ever forgive me?” “I’d forgive you anything” he whispers smiling. “You’re too kind! Why don’t you sleep a bit?” “Yeah…would you sing to me?” “Sing?” you smile, “Yeah…my mum used to sing to me every time I was ill…then Shane told me you always sing to the kids when they are…” Damn Shane! He just can’t mind his own business!! James asked you to sing at Rhys’s wedding party but you refused, you told him he wouldn’t ever hear you singing, but you believe you can make an exception for once. You start singing softly…“Goodnight, to every little hour that you sleep tite - may it hold you through the winter of a long night - and keep you from the loneliness of yourself - heart strung is your heart frayed and empty - cause it's hard luck, when no one understands your love - it's unsung, and I say - Goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day - goodnight, always, to all that's pure that's in your heart - goodnight, may your dreams be so happy and your head lite - with the wishes of a sandman and a night light - be careful not to let the bedbugs sleep tight nestled in your covers - the sun shines but I don't - a silver rain will wash away and you can tell, it's just as well - goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day - goodnight, always to all that's pure that's in your heart.”…and in a few minutes he falls asleep. He looks extremely sweet asleep, you keep on stroking his hair gently aware of the fact you can’t help it. You don’t feel like leaving him alone, you know that if you’d do that you couldn’t manage to sleep since you’d think of him constantly. You call Olivia and tell her James is ill so you’d like to stay there overnight, that’s alright for her. You eat something, watch some TV and finally return to James’s room. There’s a book over the other night table, you take it then sit on the bed next to him and start reading. In the meantime, he moves and coughs every now and then, but he doesn’t wake up. It’s almost 6 am when you open your eyes and realise at once that James is right behind you and his arm is round your waist holding you tightly. You see the book you were reading next to you so you understand you fell asleep without even realising it. You grasp his arm and try to move it slowly because you don’t want him to wake up, but he moves, holds you even tighter and moans, then whimpers unconsciously like a little child something you can hardly comprehend, “Pleeez dongo…need ya…pleez neva leemmee” You can’t go away, not now. You reach for your cellphone over the night table and send Shane a text, ‘James isn’t fine yet. I’ll be late.’ You fall asleep again and when you wake up James’s arm is not holding you anymore so you sit on the edge of the bed and put your shoes on. “Morning!” says James behind you, so you turn and greet him back with a big smile. “Slept well?” he asks rubbing his eyes. You nod still smiling. “You slept well although my cough?” You nod smiling once again. “Gotta go now” “Okay, I feel better today! Thank you for everything…and sorry for last night and the other night too…for…well y’know what” “No problem! I’m used to naughty children!” you smile. He laughs quietly in a lovely way for a moment, then speaks again, “Did you call me Jamie last night or it was just my imagination?” “Ehm, it wasn’t your imagination! I won’t call you Jamie anymore if you don’t want me to” “D’you like it?” “Yes, I find it sweet maybe ‘cos it sounds a bit like ‘jam’…it’s nice for a sweet child!” “Sweet child me last night?” “You were” “Since you like it you can use it. Thank you also for singing, Shane was right, you sing well” “Naaah…it was the song!” “It wasn’t just the song believe me…I think I’ve already heard it but I can’t remember…” “Farewell and Goodnight…Mellon Collie and the infinite sadness…Smashing Pumpkins…anything familiar?” “Yep! Must have that CD here somewhere…it’s a very sweet song” “Yeah, the kids love it” “They are lucky” “Lucky? They don’t have a family, I don’t think they are!” “That’s true, but think of them when you got here and now…they’re a lot happier…you’ve found the way to make them smile” As he succeeded in embarrassing you, you think you’d better leave. You kiss his forehead and remind him he can call you anytime. Two days have passed since you last saw James, you’ve phoned him and he sounded fine. In the afternoon you are in the playroom with the youngest children who are drawing. Colin, a four-year-old little boy of Jamaican origin is sitting on your lap. He’s trying to draw the ocean with lots of colourful fishes. In front of you there’s Zoe who’s 4 too. She’s making a kind of portrait of Buffy, her favourite doll. She’s very nice and funny, she calls you Ica since she doesn’t manage to say your full name, you’ve tried to teach her how to pronounce it, but all that she can say is Ica!! “Can I join you?” says James from the threshold. “Hey? You should be in bed!” you reprimand him jokingly, he laughs and comes in so sits close to Zoe who gives him some of her sheets and lends him her felt-tip pens so that he can draw something. He refuses to tell you what he’s going to draw, you’ll see his drawing just when it’ll be finished. When Zoe finishes hers runs towards the wall in which there are all the drawings made by the kids. There’s a lot of room in the lowest part of the wall but she wants to put her drawing above the others so that everyone can see it easily. She takes a chair and climbs over it but can’t manage to place it, so she asks James to help her. Before getting up he covers his drawing with the other sheets to prevent you seeing it. He kneels down next to the chair where Zoe’s still standing and lets her sit on his shoulders. As soon as she has put up her drawing James walks back towards the table and puts her down, then they both sit down but just a second later Zoe gets up and gives James a big kiss in his cheek to thank him. She starts making another drawing and asks James permission to draw him and he consents flattered. In the meantime, James finishes his and finally shows it to you. He drew a girl. “Who should she be?” you ask, “It’s you!” he replies smiling “Me? Am I so fat?” you ask “I didn’t make you fat…these are your curves!” he says with a silly smile in his face, “My curves?” “Ica I have curves?” asks Zoe, “Nope darling, you haven’t!” you reply sweetly, “But you’ll have them when you’ll be old like Monica!” remarks James, “James!!” you exclaim a bit aloud to rebuke him, “I remind you she’s only 4!!” “I just told her the truth!!” He takes his drawing again and writes something in it, then he gives it back to you. He wrote ‘To SuperMonica with love, James X’ He wants you to make a drawing of him so you do it. Blue jeans, loose black shirt, stubble, a fag in one hand, a glass in the other and his ring. He has a great laugh when he sees it. “That’s amazing! But you forgot sumthin!” You look carefully at it but you don’t have a clue about what he means by ‘you forgot sumthin’’…but then you notice you didn’t put your name in it so you add it. “Is that all?” he says staring at you. Just after having taken a look at the drawing he made of you, you understand what he means. You add ‘To Jamie with love’ and a big ‘X’ after your name. “This is a real autograph!” he grins, “Oh, I’m sorry! I’ve never signed autographs in my life…the expert is you after all!!” He giggles for a while then he gets up saying he has to leave. “You didn’t even tell me why you came!” “Oops! You’re right! Erm…would you have dinner with me at my place tonight?” “Why this invitation?” “Erm…let’s say I wanna do sumthin’ kinda nice to…erm…to apologise! Chinese food?” “Yeah, it’s okay for me!” “Good! Oh, could you please make a cake…erm…an apple pie?” he smiles before leaving. Entering his kitchen you immediately notice something different. The drawings you and Zoe made of him are in his fridge hold by 2 small magnets shaped like a tomato and a lemon. You tell him you’ve put it up on your bedroom wall just in front of your bed. He’s sure you’re kidding so you tell him he can phone Shane and ask him about that, but he doesn’t. He takes a bottle of red wine out of the fridge and 2 glasses out of the cupboard above the sink, the after having filled one he reopens the fridge and takes a coke can and fills the other glass which hands to you. You wouldn’t mind tasting some wine, but he doesn’t want you to. During the meal you have a nice chat, another of those pleasant chats you’ve been having since the 2 of you made peace only one month ago. But there’s something strange you’ve been wondering for a while, “You haven’t been going out with anyone lately, have you?” “Why are you askin’?” “I’ve noticed that since we made peace we’ve been spending a lot of time together and if you went out with someone it’d be strange…that’s all” “It’s like you said…I’m not seeing anyone” “Good!…I mean that I wouldn’t cause trouble between you and…someone else” “You don’t have to worry about that!” he smiles, “OK! Can I have some wine now?” “No!” “Just a sip!” “No! You won’t have any even if you beg me on your knees!!” “Don’t be mean! Gimme some or I’ll go away!” “Ahah…you won’t do it!” “Don’t challenge me Jamie boy!! I did tell you that once…remember? I kicked you that time!!” “Do what you like…you won’t have any, that’s that!” “Okay!” you say putting your hands over the table, “I can’t say it was a pleasure eating with you!” you go on getting up, “Oh, I hope that apple pie will go down the wrong way!” you finally add upset before leaving quickly. You take your coat and open the door the you push it with force so that it can do as much noise as possible, then with a big grin in your face you go and hide in the bathroom. You hear him calling your name aloud, then you see him opening the door and going out screaming your name again and you can’t help laughing at that. You go back to the kitchen, sit down and pour some wine, in the meantime you hear the door closing and a while later James enters the room. “Hey Jamie, this wine is delicious!” you smile. He comes closer without saying a word and snatches the glass from your hand and places it over the sink. “Guess you had a good laugh while I ran after you!” he says extremely serious crossing his arms, “I’m sorry!” you say getting up, “I forgot you’re the only one who can joke!” you add a bit harshly starting clearing the table, “What are you doin’?” he asks quietly, “Clearing away” you reply without looking at him. He holds your arm gently as you pass by, “I didn’t make you come here neither to clear away or do the washing up” he breathes, then he takes your hand and leads you into the lounge and tells you to sit in the armchair. One of his guitars is over the sofa, he takes it and plays the 2 pieces of Carlos Santana you like most, those he asked the orchestra to play at Rhys’s wedding party. You know it’s strange, but you’re not pleased about that. There’s something you’ve never told him, you’ve never told him you really think he’s an good musician. You didn’t do it because it’s him, you’ve always had the same attitude towards your dad as well. You don’t want him to play or sing to you because you don’t feel at your ease. You know he probably did that just because he wanted to do something nice and you’re sorry you can’t appreciated it as it’d deserve. When you finish explaining you breath a sigh of relief as he smiles promising he won’t play or sing to you anymore. As he’s rented some films he suggest watching one and lets the choice to you, but choosing isn’t difficult, “101 Dalmatians” is the one you want to see. You don’t know how many times you’ve already seen it, but every time you do it. It makes you laugh till you cry, above all one of the very first scenes when Pongo sees Peggy for the first time…love at first sight!! He stars running after her dragging his poor owner, who’s riding a bicycle, over into a park and makes him fall into a fontain!! That scene’s absolutely amazing!! The 2 of you enjoy the film eating almost the whole apple pie. As soon as the film ends, James puts some music on, Santana again, and invites you to dance. You wrap your arms round his waist while he starts stroking your hair and then you hear him sniffing close to your ear. “Stop it!” you laugh, “You’re not a dog…and I’m not a steak!!” “You know I love your shampoo…can’t help it!” he sighs, “I’ll have to change it then!” “Don’t you dare!” he exclaims keeping on sniffing your hair. Afterwards you start sniffing his face, “MMM, also your aftershave is good!” You both laugh for a while the you rest your head over his shoulder. Now he’s only stroking your hair all the way down slowly and gently. He goes on for some minutes keeping silent and also you don’t want to speak, then he whispers in your ear, “Think this music’s…sublime!” He looks at you and goes on whispering brushing your cheek with his fingertips, “Sublime just like the smell of your hair…the sound of your voice…the sweetness of your eyes.” He stops, leans his forehead against yours and cups your face in his hands staring at you sweetly for several moments. He brushes your brow with his lips once, twice. His fingers are trembling over your cheeks. He looks at you again, the tip of your noses are touching each other. He stays still. You feel his hot breath over you lips. You aware of what could happen in a very short time but you’re not scared of it. He probably is still because afraid to do something you don’t want him to. He’s probably waiting for you to go away from hi, but you don’t want to. You don’t know why, you only know you don’t want to do it. Slowly his lips brush yours. The only thing you do is closing your eyes and then you wait, you wait for him to kiss you. He does it a while later. He kisses you sweetly extremely slowly and you can just kiss him back the same way wrapping your arms round his neck. As you stop kissing each other you wrap your arms tighter and tighter and he does the same a moment later. You can hear his heart beating quickly. “I can’t go on this way anymore” he starts speaking softly in a trembling voice, “I’m tired of pretending I don’t fell anything for you…” he pauses for a while and takes a deep breath, “I love you Monica!” He keeps silent for a couple of minutes, you’re still holding him tightly and you’d like not let him go anymore, but he says something which breaks your moment of bliss, “Please stay here tonight!” You break the hug immediately and step backwards going away from him slowly, “I…I can’t…I can’t” you stutter shaking your head, then you grasp your coat and rush away… PART 20 >>> <<< Enola's stories |