part0033

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon the following March as Mia and Steph wandered the streets of Malaga. Steph had surprised her during the week, saying she’d booked them into their favourite hotel for the weekend. Mia was initially slightly irritated and had questioned why, they had planned to begin their packing, their wedding, honeymoon and return to the UK was approaching fast. Still she knew it was a favourite place of theirs and that this might be their last opportunity given all they had to do. She had decided to just enjoy it, reassured by Steph that they still had enough time to do what was required.

Wandering around their favourite area, the theatre district, Steph suddenly led her down a small side street stopping halfway down the street at a wooden door, its original blue paint scarcely visible. It was a traditional Spanish 3 floored terrace house. Mia watched as Steph took a key from her pocket and opened the door.

“Okay.” They looked around the house, with its small tiled outside courtyard, kitchen, utility room, living room, bathroom, 3 bedrooms, small study/bedroom and roof terrace.

“Honestly? I love the location and I like the bones of it, it needs a lot of work though, a new kitchen bathroom, tiled floors, probably rewiring and goodness knows what the roof is like?”

“Steph what’s going on? Have you been offered more work here or something? Have you changed your mind about us going home?”

“No babe, we’re going home, it’s what we both want. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a little bolt hole here, given how much we love it? Flights are incredibly cheap, and as you said its location is great.”

Steph walked towards her, pulling her close, her arms around her waist. “What we’d make it become, if you’d like to.”

“It’s a wedding present to us Mia. A colleague mentioned it, his family were selling, and when I was here on business 2 weeks ago, I took the opportunity to view it...” Steph hesitated she knew she should have discussed something so significant with her wife to be, but time was of the essence and she wanted to surprise her. “It’s ours babe.”

“It’s a bit daunting but I have every faith in us, we can do it gradually. It’s not a small job.” Mia looked at her for a moment. “Steph please tell me that this isn’t about any fear that you and Falkirk won’t be enough for me? We’re getting married next month, I don’t know what else I can do to prove that you’re where my home is.”

“No babe it’s not, I promise, I just wanted us to have something, a bolthole in the sun, honestly. Plus, it’s where we got engaged. I got quotes for the major works, rewiring, windows, bathroom, kitchen, tiling and took that off the asking price. To be honest I didn’t think I’d get it, it was already going for a song as far as I was concerned, but I did, so the money is there for the basics. It just needs your magical touch to make it ours.”

Mia was grinning from ear to ear. “I can’t wait to get started. This is amazing baby, are you sure we can afford it.” Mia knew they had planned to buy a flat at home too.

“Yes, don’t worry it won’t affect the flat, my end of contract bonus was greater than I expected, it was a cash buy. I know I can rely on you to make it our home.”

“Well once we agree on the fittings and tiles, they can get started it will take a few months though. Come on we’ve just about got time for lunch before we meet the contractor.”

“Lead on, hopefully there’s a paella with our name on it. I may also require a cold beer to calm me down. They’re both are on me, looks like you’ve spent enough.”

Mia kissed her passionately. “It was going to be sad to say goodbye to Spain, now I don’t have to. And you never fail to surprise me my darling wife to be.”