I wake up alone in bed, but I can't help the smile that spreads across my lips as I adjust to the early morning light.
Today is the day.
Francesca is finally moving in. It's only been a few days since she agreed, but Rose and Cheryl were keen to have the bedroom of the flat and I was eager to not miss another night with her in my arms. She argued with me last night about it over the phone. She wanted to wait until she had a day off so she can pack up and use my car to move in shifts, and I wanted to hire a mover. After an hour of cajoling, she finally agreed when Rose barged into her room. I could hear her threaten to have loud sex with Cheryl in all their free time if she didn't accept my offer. I could almost hear Francesca's shy smile when she agreed, and I quickly rented a van and made arrangements with a couple of teens from the community center. They were excited to have the work, so it was a win-win. Luckily, she didn't have much stuff of her own, especially since my place was furnished already. Rose offered to help them gather all of Francesca's stuff, and the wheels were set in motion. Francesca should be done at work around nine, and I'm picking her up to bringing her home with me.
Progress.
I roll out of bed and get dressed. I'm working at Bowen's all morning, but Jamie is going to help me with a surprise for Francesca before I pick her up. I want to make her feel at home here, so I had a photo of the two of us, one of her and Rose, and one of her and her mother blown up and framed. I wanted to leave the one with her mum up to her, but I was going to hang the one of her and Rose in the kitchen, so she could admire it when she cooked, and the one of the two of us I put above my bed.
Our bed.
I also went to my friend's gallery and bought the Amelia Murphy piece that Francesca and I discussed the night I met her.
I may have loved her, even then.
I hope she likes it.
But the big surprise was two-fold. Jamie was helping me turn my library/office into an office just for Francesca. She'll need one once she becomes a restauranteur and she likes working in a quite space, so I think it will be perfect. I want to show her how much I support her, and I like the idea of the flat set up like this-
our
room, a room for
our
guests, a room for the band, and a room for her
dreams, too. It's all we could ever need. So, I am enlisting Jamie's help to make the room more feminine and specific to Francesca, and then to help me make a passable dinner- a creamy thyme and chestnut soup, Francesca's self-proclaimed favorite.
I am nervous as I drive to pick Francesca up- I keep having to wipe my hands on my jeans. Everything is ready for her. The guys unloaded her belongings and the soup is made. Jamie and I worked hard to pick out furniture and artwork that we thought Francesca would like for the office. I had the walls painted a green color that reminds me of her eyes, and we included a slate grey accent wall where I thought we could hang the Murphy piece. The colours will really pop. I stocked the bookshelves with Francesca's favorites as well as the classics and bestsellers of the last few years that were already in there.
What if she hates it? Or will she be angry about the money I spent?
I pull up in front of the restaurant just as Francesca's shining face wanders out of the front door, and I instantly feel calmer. She climbs into the car and I kiss her quickly before peeling out back onto the road. "In a hurry?" she teases me.
"I want to get you home- to our home," I mutter sheepishly.
"You're really excited about this, aren't you?" she says, genuine surprise in her voice.
Why would she think I wasn't?
"Absolutely. I've never been so happy about anything," I make eye contact with her for a moment before refocusing on the road.
Out of the corner of my eye I see her lips lift in a small smile. "Oh, I didn't realize," it's her turn to be sheepish.
"How could you not realize? You are the brightest part of my life," I say back, surprised by her insecurity. She smiles wider. "Aren't you excited?"
With all of her hesitancy the last few days, I assumed she would falter here, but there was no hesitancy in her quick response, "I'm ecstatic." Now it's my turn to grin broadly. We chat about our days for the rest of the ride, but by the time we get to the garage, I can't hide my nerves from Francesca. "Are you okay? You're sweating a lot..." she asks.
I park and smile nervously at her. "Come, I have some surprises upstairs," I wipe my hand on my jeans again before reaching for hers and pulling her into the lift.
"Surprises, huh?" she looks up at me mischievously, and I wipe my brow as the doors close. "Love, relax! I'm just happy to be taking this step with you. I don't need any surprises."
Her words relax me. I lean down and really kiss her for the first time today, and my anxieties melt away. "I love you," I say, and go to press my forehead against hers, but she pulls away.
"Baby, sorry, but you're sweating- a lot," she grins up at me and I let out a deep belly laugh just as the doors ping open.
I walk her to the door, but before I unlock it, I pull an extra set of keys from my pocket. "For you," I hold them up, and she smiles wide and takes them from me.
She examines the saxophone key chain I put on them and smiles, "The horn makes it," she says wistfully, and I pull her in for another kiss.
She got the joke. I love this woman.
I turn and open the door, pulling her inside. Jamie and I hung twinkle lights throughout the apartment, and when we walk in Francesca gasps. "You haven't seen anything yet, baby," I wink at her. She's grinning like an idiot and it makes me so happy. "Come on." We wander deeper into the apartment and Francesca notices the photo of her and Rose. She doesn't say anything, but she squeezes my arm. "I put up one of us in the bedroom," I tell her, "and I had this printed as well. I thought you'd like to choose where to hang it." I hand her the photo of her mum with her.
Tears swim in her eyes, and I raise my thumb to her cheek to catch the first one as it falls. "Oh, Reggie. This is so sweet." She's floored. She sets the photo down on the counter and hugs me, hard.
"We're not done," I say quietly before kissing her hair.
She looks up at me quizzically, "We're not?"
I laugh and shake my head before directing her to the spare room. Before I open the door, I tell her my thoughts. "I want you to know that I support your dreams. And once you open a restaurant, you're going to be bringing your work home. So, I thought you could use a home office," I open the door and press against the small of her back to direct her into the room. Her jaw is slack as she takes everything in.
