Restart (The Revival Series) (9 page)

“I should have let you get on with it today; I’ve taken up way too much of your time.”

“Oh shut up Lee, no you haven’t! My brain would not have been in the right zone to get that done earlier; I’m only starting to feel more normal now, to be able to concentrate. I swear to you I am never drinking like that again.”

Leah nodded at Carrie, smiling and knowing that’s the same thing that Carrie had been saying since she started drinking.

A knock at the door broke the silence, and Leah looked at Carrie in alarm. There was no one who should be knocking at that time of night except for Daniel, and he was with the kids playing more video games, so unless there was an accident or similar, he wouldn’t leave the house.

Carrie looked at her friend from under her long lashes, and once again tried to hold back her grin. “I guess you should answer that Leah.”

“Carrie, what's going on?” Leah questioned, standing up from her chair slowly.

“Just go and answer the damn door!”

Leah walked slowly to the barn door, and turned the handle slowly, apprehensive of whom it would be.

“Ryan!”

“Hey Leah, surprise!”

Chapter 10

Leah stood there staring at Ryan as if he was a ghost. He stood there in his usual work shirt with a bunch of pink roses in his hand.

“Well, can I come in?” He asked after a minute where Leah did nothing but stare at him. Leah pulled herself out of the trance she had got in and stood back to let him in.

“Ryan, what on earth are you doing here?” Leah asked, still shocked to see her husband in front of her,

“I wanted to surprise you. I know I don’t normally manage to get the time to come with you, but after I pulled off that job for Melissa, she felt she owed me one, so here I am.”

Carrie stood up from the kitchen table; the squeak from the chair legs on the wooden floor, alerting Leah to the presence of her friend who she had momentarily forgotten was there.

“I’m going to make my way back to the house;” Carrie said, pulling Leah into a one armed hug, and whispering in her ear “Talk to him.” She then gave Ryan a quick kiss on the cheek and slipped out of the front door.

“You look gorgeous Leah,” Ryan said, walking over to her and pulling her into a hug, kissing her cheek at the same time. Leah hugged him back, trying to shake off the shock that he was actually there, and confused as to why.

“Did Carrie know you were coming?” Leah questioned, suddenly wondering if Carrie’s make over’s were more planned than spontaneous.

“Yeah, well I assume she did, I called and spoke to Daniel yesterday about it and checked it was all okay to just turn up. I did tell them to keep it as a surprise, though, although you don’t look too pleased?”

“Oh god, no, of course, I’m pleased, it was just a shock that’s all, you were the last person I expected to see, but I’m glad.”

Ryan passed Leah the roses and she smiled and went to retrieve a vase from the kitchen. Not finding one she grabbed a tall glass and used that instead, to make sure they were standing in water.

“Kids in bed?” Ryan asked, making Leah jump as he appeared behind her in the kitchen, and she hadn’t heard him approach her.

“No, err they are sleeping at Carrie’s, with Tyler. The three of them have been inseparable since we got here, they are hardly even arguing.”

“Wow, the country air must be doing them some good then,” Ryan chuckled.

“Would you like a drink?” Offered Leah, she felt strangely nervous, as if they were on a date rather than being a married couple. She retrieved the last bottle of wine from the fridge and waved it at him.

“Looks good, here let me open it why you get the glasses.” Leah passed the bottle to Ryan, who popped the cork, whilst she grabbed the glasses from the cupboard, and then he poured wine for them both.

Sipping from the glass, Leah glanced nervously at the floor, not knowing what to say to Ryan.

“Shall we go in the living room?” Asked Ryan. Leah nodded and they both made their way and sat on the sofa, Leah curling her legs underneath her.

“God Leah, you have no idea how good it feels to not have to worry about work for a few days. I will go back Friday morning, so you can have Saturday with Carrie before you come home Sunday. I will even take the kids back with me if you want me to.”

“That sounds great if you are sure?”

“Of course, I am, it’s good for you two to catch up without having to worry about the kids getting in the way.”

Leah sipped her wine and felt very confused; this Ryan that sat in front of her was the Ryan she had married, the Ryan who thought about her and did things to make her and the kids happy, not the grumpy character she had seen for the past year who was too preoccupied to notice if they were upset, or needed him.

Ryan moved across the sofa, and pulled Leah into his arms, kissing her lightly on the head.

“I do have another motive for being here as well,” He shifted his weight forward and pulled a velvet box from his trouser pocket and turned it around in his fingers, before looking directly at Leah. “I am thinking with everything that has gone on lately that you have forgotten the date?”

Leah quickly recalled the date in her mind and felt ashamed with herself; it had completely slipped her mind, or had it? Had she forgotten on purpose not wanting to think about it?

“It's our Anniversary.” She whispered

“Yep, 10 years today and I thought really we should be together to celebrate, and I got you this.”

Ryan lifted the lid on the small box to reveal a beautiful platinum diamond ring, and Leah gasped at the beauty of it. It had obviously cost a small fortune.

“Oh my god Ryan, it's stunning,”

“Just like you are, it’s an eternity ring, Leah, as I want you to know I want to spend eternity with you.”

Tears formed in the corner of Leah’s eyes as Ryan removed the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. It fitted her finger perfectly and Ryan had obviously gone to a lot of trouble to get something so perfect.

“I feel terrible Ryan, I don’t have anything for you, I truthfully didn’t realize the date..”

“Leah its fine baby, I have you which is the only thing I need,”

Leaning down Ryan kissed Leah softly on the lips, and although Leah wanted nothing more than to enjoy this moment she felt a rush of guilt flow through her, and the image of Greg. Not only did she feel guilty for cheating on Ryan with Greg, but she also felt guilty for kissing Ryan when she knew Greg was now in her life.

Leah could not stop the tears that continued to flow down her cheeks, and although Ryan took them for tears of joy and love at how much she loved the ring, they were not tears of joy at all, but tears of guilt.

The kiss became harder and more urgent, and Leah tried to push all her feelings to the back of her mind. She had wanted this version of Ryan for so long and she wasn’t going to push him away now she had him.

Pushing herself up she straddled his lap, and pushed her fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of his mouth on hers, and his hands pulling her closer to him.

Ryan pulled away, and stared Leah straight in the eyes, before grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it off over her head. She followed suit and began undoing the buttons on his shirt whilst resuming the kiss.

“Maybe we should take this to the bedroom,” Leah mumbled, in between kisses.

“No baby, the kids aren’t here and I don’t want to wait I want you right here”.

*****

After a shower Leah put on her grey joggers and a pink shirt and walked around the living room, picking up the discarded clothes and trying to wipe the smile from her face. Ryan appeared in the doorway wearing only a towel around his waist, watching her.

“Don’t mind me, just admiring the view,” He said, his eyes wandering up and down Leah’s body. Leah blushed and threw his boxer shorts at him. “Maybe you should consider getting some clothes on Casanova.”

“Now what would I want to do that for? There is no work and no kids, and I’m in the company of a beautiful woman, seems the best moment to stay naked.” Leah chuckled, and dropped the rest of the clothes in a pile by the door, and looked up into Ryan's' eyes.

“Thank you,” Leah muttered,

“I didn’t do anything I need thanking for, the pleasure was all mine in seeing all of yours,” Ryan answered, winking at her.

“I don’t mean the sex Ryan, I mean for being here,” Leah chuckled, giving him a gentle shove.

“Leah, Leah, Leah, my sweet, darling Leah, there is nowhere else I would rather be than here with you,” Ryan pulled Leah into his arms, and she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him gently.

“Come on, help me clear up. I’m sure when the kids come back in the morning the last thing they want to see is their parents clothing all over the place and empty wine bottles,”

“True, come on then, let's hurry so I can get that sweet arse of yours back into bed,”

Leah awoke the next morning, with Ryan’s arm around her and the sound of his snoring in her ear, but she couldn’t feel more loved than she did at that moment. Glancing at her hand, she took in the beauty of the ring that sat perfectly on her finger.

Squeezing out of Ryan’s embrace, she grabbed her robe and tiptoed to the kitchen, not wanting the wake him. Once in the kitchen, she made the ritual cup of coffee and sat at the table, taking small sips of the hot liquid.

She knew then that she had been wrong, she was still madly in love with Ryan, and Greg was just a fantasy that she took too far. Once she was home she would let Greg know that things could go no further and although she felt awful with guilt, at least, she knew in her heart that she hadn’t slept with him, and that a few stolen kisses were awful but that things could have been much worse.

Picking up her phone she opened the messages she had from Greg, and gave them a skim read, before highlighting them all and hovering her finger over the delete button and willing herself to delete them. Before she pressed the button, Ryan entered the room in just his boxers, and his hair a mess. She quickly locked the phone and dropped it into her robe pocket, smiling up at him.

“Morning sexy! Want a coffee?”

“I could murder one thank you,” He replied, and sat down in the chair opposite Leah’s. “I guess I’m not as fit as I used to be, I’m exhausted. Remind me I need to hit the gym more,”

Leah stood up from the table chuckling, “You look mighty fine to me,”

“Yes but you’re biased, you’re my wife, it’s your job to praise me,”

It wasn’t long before the news of Ryan’s arrival had made it to the kids, and they ran into the barn and threw their little arms around him.

“Daddy!” Screeched Emma, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Alright Dad,” Said Ben, trying to keep his composure grown up, which made Leah smile, yet sad at the same time that her son was growing up.

“I’ve missed you kiddos! You been having fun?” Ryan asked peeling Emma away from him and the trio sat on the sofa while the kids filled him in on everything that had been going on since they had left home, in fact, Emma went into so much detail Leah wondered if she had been writing it all down.

“So what do you want to do today?” Asked Leah,

“Daniel said we could go and see the tractors and he might even let me drive it, if you agreed.” Said Ben, his head flicking back and forth between his parents.

“That sounds like fun, as long as you won’t be in the way,” replied Ryan,

“I want to go too, but Ben says I can’t go with my arm still in plaster,” Said Emma, her little chin wobbling, as she was trying to hold back the disappointment.

“Let me speak to Daniel and see what the plans are before we make any decisions.”

“Yay, let’s go and speak to him now Dad, he’s just having breakfast,” Emma squealed, grabbing Ryan’s hand with her good one and trying to pull him off the sofa.

“Well we shouldn’t disturb him while he’s eating kids,”

“Go on, go and speak to him, and make sure it’s safe,” Said Leah, wrapping her arms around her waist. “If you don’t go now you won’t catch him as he doesn’t stick around for long.”

“Okay, I won’t be long. Come on kids show me the way,” Ryan bent down and gave Leah and kiss on the cheek, before being guided out by two very excited kids.

*****

Leah leant back on Carrie’s sofa, trying to keep her eyes open. The kids and Ryan had all gone off with Daniel, for a day on the farm, and Leah was glad the kids were having some well needed time with their father.

“Must have been some night, the state of you,” Chuckled Carrie, whilst she typed away on her laptop.

“It was certainly unexpected, although you're not forgiven yet for keeping secrets,”

“Oh shut up, it was a good surprise; it wouldn’t have been so good if I hadn’t. So did you manage to get any talking done?”

Leah laughed, and looked at the ceiling, “What do you think?”

“I would guess that it’s a no! I’m guessing with how tired you are that you didn’t do much talking at all except from maybe just ‘hello’, although I doubt I would have if anyone had given me that sparkler on your finger.”

“It's stunning isn’t it, the boy did good,” Leah chuckled and spun the ring on her finger.

“It’s beautiful and he must have spent a pretty penny on it. You really do need to speak to him still, though.”

“I know, but things are so perfect right now, I don’t want to spoil them,”

“I know what you mean, but don’t put it off for too long.”

“In any case Caz, stop talking and get your work done so we can go out, I’m gonna try and have a nap,” Leah said, laughing and pointing her finger at her friend. Carrie saluted Leah, and rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to her laptop screen,