Rose had him drop her at the cottage when they got back into town. She couldn’t face the noise of the men upstairs crashing around, pulling down walls and causing chaos in their new living area. She wanted quiet, time to lay down and sleep and some space to pull herself together. She knew her head was too full of suspicion over Morag’s involvement and didn’t want to cause any more arguments; she knew she had been unfair on him, distant and self-absorbed and told him that she would come home tonight if he just let her have some head space.
He kissed her warmly, understanding that need to deal with something alone, assuring her that she was to call anytime she wanted him to come and he would. That if she wanted to stay here tonight he would too. She felt grateful, tearfully held him close as he stroked her hair gently.
‘I’m sorry I’m being this way.’ She rested her face against his chest, his hand stroking her back tenderly.
‘There is nothing to be sorry for. You’re upset and tired. Take all the time you need.’ He kissed her on top of the head gently.
‘Stop being so understanding. I know I’m being awful.’ She raised her chin to look at him, those perfect stormy grey eyes, warm and inviting, even though she was being hell on earth.
‘No more awful than I can be baby. Just try and relax. Go to bed and enjoy the quiet. I have work stuff to take care of, but I will only be a phone call away. I’ll drop anything and come over if you need me.’
‘I love you so much.’ Her voice was fierce and raw, the doubts of insecurity gnawing at her because she felt like she was pushing him away.
‘I know you do, but I love you more.’ He pinched her cheek and rested his arms about her shoulders, smiling down at her adoringly.
‘I bet you don’t.’ Rose broke into a smile, despite her aching heart, his face close and comforting and his ability to just always make her feel so safe and secure, overwhelming her.
‘I am pretty sure I could prove it.’ His eyes had started twinkling suggestively and she buried her face against him with a giggle, loving his ability to always involve sex.
‘You don’t need to prove it, I already believe you.’ She held him close, breathing in his familiar smell that was only him, before turning her chin up towards his face once more with a twinkle in her own eye. ‘Maybe you could, though, later, when I come home?’
‘Anytime.’ He laughed now, kissing her on the forehead lightly and ruffling her hair. ‘Just call me and I’ll come straight back, I promise.’
‘I just need some time, a little nap and quiet. I just need to pull myself together in normal surroundings, away from all those strangers and chaotic mess. I need to absorb everything and pack up some of Muffins things for him coming home when he’s well. It will make me feel better.’
‘They won’t be around for long, things will be more normal soon baby. Just think of our new little love nest. That’s what’s keeping me going. And a special place to keep Muffin out of harm’s way.’
‘He would like that, his own cosy corner, instead of sleeping in bed with us.’ She smiled, her heart lifting at the mention of her little fuzzy faced cutie pie, talking this way was healing her heart and giving her hope that he would be coming home soon.
‘I agree with that. Too many males in our bed currently and I’m not one for sharing.’ He kissed her again, lingering a moment, his hand on her throat softly, holding her face in place so he could gaze at her before moving up to release her.
He gave her a light hug by the door and she watched him drive away smoothly. A sense of loneliness and a moment of doubt, wondering if she should wave him to stop and stay with her after all. She stopped herself, pushing it down. She needed some quiet and space if she was going to pull herself together and she had to do it alone. Had to stop raking her head over and over, mentally torturing herself, sure that Morag was involved and letting it pull them apart.
The sight of Muffin’s little chew toy under the chair made her cry, wandering the rooms, pulling out all his little treasures and bones that he loved to push under the furniture. She piled them all into a box, finding his spare fluffy bed and packing it up with them. When he came home she wanted him settled and safe in her room, surrounded by familiar things, smothered with love. She packed all his cans of food from the cupboard, his treats and spare chews. Somehow it made her feel better, more positive, that packing his little things for his return was reminding her that he was really going to be okay. She didn’t want him at this cottage anymore; the safety and security was tarnished here. She wanted him to never set foot here again, away from the watchful eye of Alice and Tommy in the manor gardens.
Maybe it was time for her to finally remove all traces of their time here together, pack up anything she wanted and close this place up. Let her parents use it as a place to stay when they visited.
All the charm and stability ruined, it felt as though it was dirty; that somehow believing that woman had walked over her grounds, laying a trap for her little dog had marred the very core of this place and it was no longer her beloved cottage.
She was tired, over emotional and not thinking straight. Rob was right. But for now, standing there in the room, she just wanted to pack it all up and say goodbye and never come here again.
Her mind made up, she found boxes and bags in the outhouse and laid them on the lounge floor. She knew she would be hopeless at organising everything without some sleep and headed through to her bedroom to take a nap first. A surge of heat and happiness at the familiar sight which held so many memories for her and Rob, making her feel a little less desolate.
Moving across the padded comforter and curling up in the plush cushions, allowing her mind to wander across every cherished moment, every memory, times he had made love to her in this bed. Sad that they would probably never venture down here again and if they did it would be brief and sporadic. She no longer needed or wanted this space around her.
Focusing on his voice inside her head, she closed her eyes. His face in her mind’s eye making her calm, he made her feel like everything was going to be okay and even though she had chosen to be here alone, she suddenly missed him more than ever.
She cast her mind back to the first time she saw him, the first moments and angry encounter. The way he had yanked open her car door aggressively, but not to yell, to ask if she was okay because he thought she had been injured by the near miss of his car. Those cool grey eyes and tanned handsome face, mere inches away; she had been too angry to really notice just how gorgeous a specimen he really was in those fiery few minutes. She recalled how her heart had pounded from her chest and it only made her want to bash him in his stupid head, an instant reaction that she never understood until much later; the sparks between them.
Her mind wandered forward to the first kiss in this very cottage, that brief unexpected grazing of his lips against hers, so natural and automatic and now something he had done a million times in exactly the same way. Still, each time making her breathless and light headed as though she was born to be kissed by him.
The first time he carried her to this bed, the anticipation, the fear and the overwhelming desire for him. He still made her feel like every time, as though it was the first time over and over; never tiring of her body and never ceasing to evoke that same passion from her. She loved him more than she could bear.
The ups and downs of their rollercoaster relationship, when her world was falling apart, and Morag controlled everything they did. The makeup and the break ups, she cringed at the memory of throwing his ring back at him stupidly, she groaned as she remembered it clearly.
All of it was behind them, ready to face a new chapter, a new life.
A marriage.
She had never imagined that the day she arrived here so long ago, seeing that chipped overgrown mess and wondering what she had done, that she would fall head over heels in love with someone like him. She didn’t deserve him. His patience, his strong protective instincts and generous heart. His hard, hot body, carved and toned, strong and male. His flawless chiselled face and dark looks. The ability to change his eyes depending on his mood. She would never tire of those eyes and their ever-changing depths. That face, that mouth. His ability to spin her upside down with a touch, bring her to the verge of complete meltdown, aching for his body to join with hers. He could do it all with just a look when it suited him, and he knew just how to play her in every way, instinctively tuned to her wavelength.
He had come into her life, turning it all upside down from day one, changing everything for the better, even when things didn’t seem that way. And she knew that no matter what, she would follow him to the ends of the earth. She would do anything to protect what they had. She wouldn’t let that woman come between them anymore, she wouldn’t let that woman hurt her family, her dog or her relationship. She would fight claw and tooth to make sure that from this moment on this was not just on Rob; it was not just his duty to protect her, but it was hers too. To protect him and their life together as much as he did; a partnership.
It made her more determined to end this chapter under this roof. To finally dedicate the entirety of her time to the manor; no more running down here, no more using it as a hideout. She would need to deal with the chaos at the house, knowing it wouldn’t be forever. It would be worth it all to finally have somewhere they could call theirs and theirs alone. To be able to close the door and hole up in the privacy and solitude of the haven he was creating for her. To be with him every moment from now until death, to be content with a whole future ahead of them and everything that held.
She finally drifted off to sleep, lost in the thoughts and whirlwind of emotions stirred up by this long epic journey to this moment. The friends she had made, the life she had carved out here and the happiness it all brought her in the end, despite the turmoil. All of it had made her stronger.
Lost in the darkness of a comforting slumber, finally taking her exhausted mind to a deep dark place to relax and unwind, much needed zoning out time to reset her switch and set her mangled thoughts adrift.
Undisturbed, she slept soundly for hours.
***
It was darker than she expected when she awoke, aware that she must have been asleep for a long while. Checking her phone, she saw a text from Rob asking if she was awake?... Assuming she would still be asleep he had left her alone, knowing how exhausted she had been. She texted him back.
‘I just woke up, slept for hours. I need time to pack up the rest of my stuff here. I miss you, and I feel better. I love you. Xxx’
He responded immediately.
‘Want me to come to help you? I miss you too, baby. Can’t wait to see you xxx.’
Rose smiled at his fast response, feeling his presence around her.
‘I won’t be much longer. I need to do this alone. xx’
Rose wanted to say goodbye to her little home finally. Time to look around one last time and fully separate herself from this place. She wanted to walk away tonight with no reason to keep coming.
‘I’ll come when you’re ready, just text me. I’m cooking us dinner, running us a bubble bath, and then we’re going to bed to watch a marathon of old movies in my mum’s old room. We can spread out and snuggle up with popcorn when you’re home. I aim to make you feel a hundred times better before you fall asleep, baby. Xx’
She could not think of anything more that she wanted to do. He knew exactly how to look after her. He had moved most of their things to that room over the last couple of days, giving them more space until the suite was ready to move into. A room more suited to her feminine needs and a place prepared for Muffin to come home to that was a lot more comfortable than his cramped bedroom by his office. He made her feel warm and loved, always attentive to her needs and striving to make her happy. It made her love him even more as they said their brief goodbyes.
She had more stuff crammed into this little house than she expected, having to light the fire and turn on the lights due to the growing cold in the air and earlier darkness. Winter was coming in from the hills and warning them that summer was leaving. She knew from past experiences that winter this far north could be brutal, and in a way, she was glad she would be warm and cosy in the walls of the manor with its modern heated floors and central heating. It wasn’t as late as it seemed, it was just the signs of the seasons changing and the darkness falling in earlier every evening and making it feel far later.
She packed up her entire workroom, stripped her shelves bare, desk cleared of everything and walls lacking any sign of her ever being there. Later she would turn this back into a guest room for her parents to use as they pleased. Another task for another day. Sure it would have more purpose when her family used it for visits.
It hadn’t taken long to extract herself from the rest of the rooms, no real method or neatness to filling the bags and boxes. She just wanted it done and had practically swiped it all in haphazardly. Her bedroom was far easier, most of her things were already in Rob’s bedroom, just a handful of clothes and toiletries, a ton of shoes and the odd personal trinket and treasure. The other rooms were not much worse. She wanted to leave the place still homely and habitable for when her parents or brothers came up north to visit; she didn’t have a need for much, just all her pictures and nick knacks. She knew starting over in the new suite being built she didn’t need to bring very much. Rob had made it clear he expected her to use the accounts he had set up, spend his money and start picking whatever she wanted for the house, a new start for them both.
She dumped the bags and boxes near the front door in the hall, stacking them up against the wall and sent him a message asking him to come down in about ten minutes. She wanted the time to wander the rooms once more. Check everything was off and see it alone for one last time in case she got upset; she didn’t want him to see her sad about leaving. She was ending it the way she had started, solo. She did not know when her family would have need of it again and wanted to treat this like it would be a long while.
‘Okay, baby. I’ll head up to you in ten. Xx Love you, Penny.’
She read the message with a heart-warming grin on her face and slid the phone into her bag, leaving it by the door with the mountain of stuff she had accumulated since coming here. Unlatching the front door in anticipation for him, turning off most of the lights, the only glow from the fire in the living room as she walked around. Taking one last look.
Moving to the lounge she chose to sit on the couch and watch the last glowing embers thoughtfully while they started to die out. It would heat this room for a while yet after she was gone and slowly go out. It felt symbolic. Like she would be leaving a small warmth behind long after she had gone. Staring into the depth of the fiery orange and yellow coals, the odd flicker of a flame fighting to remain alive, she heard a small sudden noise from the rear of the house. Pausing to listen carefully, her heart elevating slightly as she cocked her head and strained to hear it.
The wind was getting up and a tree branch gently tapped the back window, giving her a fright but then laughing at her own stupidity.
He would be here soon, she had nothing to fear from the wind.
She got up, moving to the kitchen, wanting one last check of the back door to make sure she had locked it. The lock sometimes stuck and had easily opened many a time when she was sure she had done it in the past. She had a chain she could slide on, to make sure it would stay locked.
The light switch had always been in a stupid place over by the far side of the room, so entering the kitchen was inevitable darkness as she walked into the small neat space in the moonlight.
She walked in boldly, suddenly her skin prickling from sixth sense as she paused, her blood ran instantly cold. Her body stopped, her gaze frozen on the door in disbelief as it stood freely open, a gap of several inches as it swung gently in the darkness. There was a slight breeze coming in to swirl around her eerily, making her skin tingle with goose bumps as the blood drained away to be replaced with sheer terror. Her breath halted, and her heart skipped a beat; the sudden feeling of warmth behind her as someone stood breathing in the shadows.
She was too afraid to turn. The icy cold slide of fear started at her toes like a tidal wave as it moved up, enveloping her body. Her eyes began stinging with moisture and emotion. She tried to take a steadying breath, glancing around for something to protect herself without making it obvious that she knew she was not alone but could see nothing within reach. Feeling the movement before it reached her, she jumped away, spinning, fierce glints of eyes and teeth as the figure came at her, trying to claw at her face as she screamed out in fear, lashing out defensively.
Adrenaline kicked in, and Rose fought back impulsively as the hot body surrounded her violently, with teeth clenched and a determination to get out of this unscathed, knowing Rob was on his way and he would be here soon enough. She had to hold her off until then, knowing fine well by the snarling abuse and clawing hands that her attacker was Morag.
The grabbing fingers and slapping hands were surrounding her head and face, caught up in her own struggle to hold her away, hitting her back. Rose was already breathless, already acting without thought, but just sheer impulse and panic, her own sense of survival kicking into gear. They bumped and rolled into the units and shelves, grappling at one another, grabbing on and trying to get the better of the other and ending up on the floor, surrounded by falling crockery and smashing dishes.
Morag was stronger than she looked, her hands tangling in Rose’s hair and yanking her head back painfully. A slap collided with Rose’s face, burning and stinging as claws grabbed at her mouth and tried to gauge at her eyes. Grunting and crying out, Rose’s clothes and skin were caught and yanked mercilessly, and nails tore across her exposed flesh. Her fists managed to collide with firm bone several times, grunts following and dragging Morag to the ground in a heap to try and get the better of her.
Rose tried to break free into a forward run as she scrambled to get up, but the woman grabbed her from behind with deathly speed, sending the pair crashing forward, head first into the closed cupboards.
Rose took a massive whack to the top of her forehead, seeing stars momentarily and sliding down, losing her faculties and sense of reality almost instantly. The other woman was dragging her lifeless body towards the centre of the floor. Flipping her onto her back, climbing on top of her and pulling at her shoulders, trying to get her hands around Rose’s throat. Fighting back with heavy limbs and nothing but darkness around her, Rose was flailing her arms, trying to shield her neck and face, trying to hit out. She was desperately trying to protect herself from this crazed attack while Morag was attempting to claw at her still, frustrated with the battle and screaming in her face that Rob was hers.
Rose, despite her dazed brain, was managing to still hold her own. To shield the onslaught of nails and fists with the might from nowhere, she managed to throw her off. Thrusting her with her body and every ounce of strength she could muster, back against the far side with a dramatic crashing noise. Clambering to her feet and sliding her arms across the bunkers, trying to pull her weight up and looking for anything to grab in defense. Rose’s hands caught on smooth objects, knocking things out of reach desperately. Her hands scrambling in fear but unable to really grasp anything of value that may help her.
Morag was back against her, arms around her neck, trying to choke her, trying to pull her down. They stumbled, tripping over discarded items in the dark and Rose was thrown to the corner, hitting her back hard on one of the door handles and knocking the wind out of her. She slid down unable to breathe, unable to control the jelly-ness of her body as she hit the floor. Morag was clambering around on her knees, looking for her, unable to see her in the shadow of where she had fallen and giving Rose a moment to gather her scrambled senses. Rose struggling to catch her breath, her ribs crushed and painful, the burning panic as she fought to breathe and was overwhelmed with nausea.