When I finally found him, he was holding a bouquet of...I wasn’t sure. What is that?
We rushed forward as if in a race to get to each other.
Caleb wrapped his arms around me before I could figure out what he was holding. Not that it mattered. I wanted to be wrapped up in him like this forever. His familiar smell engulfed me, and he squeezed me so hard, I thought I might break. It felt so good to be in his arms again.
“I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for a year,” he said against my ear.
When he finally let me go, I got a look at what he was holding.
I covered my mouth. “Oh my goodness. What did you do?”
“It’s a charred marshmallow bouquet.” He flashed a crooked smile.
He’d wrapped a purple ribbon around a bunch of toasted marshmallows on sticks.
“That has to be the most creative thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
“Only the best for you, my love.”
He handed me the bouquet before pulling me in for a deep kiss. We stood for an indeterminate amount of time in the middle of the crowded airport, sucking face, completely oblivious to the crowd of people around us.
“Can I tell you something?” he whispered.
“Yeah?”
“I’m so fucking nervous.”
“Why?”
“Because I want things to be absolutely perfect for you here, and I know they won’t be.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want you to be comfortable. Our flat is small, Teagan. It’s nothing like your house back home.”
“Please don’t worry about that. You know it doesn’t matter to me.”
“I know. I’m just not sure you realize how different things are going to be.”
Unsure how I could convince him, I spoke louder. “I don’t care about that, Caleb. I came here for you, not for the roof over my head or anything else. I don’t want anything but you.”
He let out a long breath before reaching over to place one more kiss on my lips. I’d thought I’d never be with him like this again. That seemed unfathomable now.***Caleb’s neighborhood in Stratford was really cute. It was a market town with over eight-hundred years of history and happened to be where William Shakespeare was born. It was apparently easy to get to and from London from where he lived. The downside was that it wasn’t the safest area at night. Caleb made it clear he wouldn’t trust me walking alone after dark. I wanted to tell him his concerns were probably unwarranted, but then again, I hadn’t listened to Maura when she’d warned me about Syd’s Theater and look what happened.
Caleb and Poppy’s second-floor apartment was inside a narrow brick house. My heart pounded as Caleb helped me carry my bags up the stairs to their place.
As soon as the door opened, Caleb’s mother came rushing toward us.
“My goodness, you’re back faster than I thought. I wanted to put some makeup on.” She reached out to me. “Teagan, welcome.”
As we hugged, I said, “It’s so amazing to finally meet you, Mrs. Yates.”
“Please call me Poppy,” she said.
Caleb looked a little nervous as he stood with his hands in his pockets, observing my interaction with his mother.
A few moments of awkward silence ensued as his mother took me in. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
Stupid American girl?
Boy, I would think my son could do better?
So, this is the girl who wanted to steal my son and keep him in the US?
Then she finally said, “I can see why my son is so smitten with you. You’re absolutely lovely.”
Caleb smiled over at me. I didn’t know what to say, but relief flooded through me.
“The feeling is mutual,” I said. “And you’re lovely as well.”
“I made some lunch, if you’re hungry,” she said.
The only thing I was really hungry for at this point was Caleb. But given that we were now home with his mother, I had no clue when we would be able to properly “reunite.” But I knew I should eat, and there was no way I could refuse her offer.
“Lunch sounds wonderful.”
I followed Caleb and his mother into the small kitchen. A large pot of something was boiling on the stove. Through a window leading out to a fire escape I could see a clothing line with various shorts and shirts blowing in the wind. Then next to the sink was the washer.
“There’s the famous kitchen washing machine I’ve heard so much about.”
His mother seemed confused. “What’s that?”
“Mum, would you believe in the States they have a designated room for laundry? It’s brilliant.”
She laughed. “I hope being here isn’t a rude awakening for you, Teagan.”
“Your place is cozy and intimate. I spend most of my time down in my basement bedroom back home anyway, so this is just my speed.”
Caleb seemed unable to stop staring at me. I, of course, noticed this because I couldn’t stop staring at him.