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In silence, we listen to David Gray on his car stereo and when we get to my manor, Jared and I, after greeting my mum and Esther, go into the library.
My mum and Sean have been very busy. The draughty manor we first walked in all those months ago is starting to look more and more like a manor should look like. A fire is burning in the fireplace in the library, and my mum has packed out all the books they shipped over in the vast bookshelves along the one wall. There are not enough books to fill all the spaces allocated for books, but she has placed photos in their frames decoratively in some of the spaces. The huge fireplace is the focus, with the armchairs placed in front of it, creating a warm, pleasant and welcoming feel to the room.
Jared and I sit on the floor in front of the fire, by the coffee table, and we take out our books. I am not sure how much homework I will be doing sitting in such close proximity to him, but a serious attempt needs to be made to keep Sean happy and off my back. I have a lot of catching up to do in some subjects and obviously Irish in particular. When my mum and Sean enrolled me, the principal informed them it would not be necessary for me to take Irish and that it is not compulsory for foreigners to learn Irish at school. However, I chose to be included in the Irish classes, although I would not have to write any examinations when it comes to writing my Leaving Certificate. Jared helps me and the way the Irish words roll off his lips, makes me want to grab him, cave woman style.
Scandalous!
He looks up and sees the look in my eyes. He smiles his usual smile and my heart skips a few beats.
My mum brings us each a mug of hot chocolate and when he takes it, he gives her an appreciative look, saying thank you. She only smiles and walks out of the room again.
I hear Esther insisting she needs to sit with us, but my mum patiently explains to her that Jared is helping me with some subjects I am behind in now and I must concentrate. I know Esther is sulking and I anticipate it is going to take some convincing to get her around to my side again.
I laugh loudly when I hear her tell my mum that Jared is very handsome, and I see Jared’s cheeks turn red.
“Didn't know you can blush,” I say jokingly.
“It’s the heat from the fire,” he explains.
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Get back to your books, young lady.”
“Yes, sir.”
We continue in silence for a while and when I look up, he is staring at the huge, twinkling Christmas tree in the corner.
He asks pensively, “What are you doing for Christmas break?”
“My mum and Sean have been discussing going to Cape Town in South Africa for a week. Wouldn’t it be great if you could come with us?”
“I couldn’t.” He smiles apologetically.
“Sure, why not?”
“It’s complicated.”
I feel dejected, and as usual not willing to expose too much of me, or let him see my disappointment, I look down and carry on with my homework.
He reaches across to me, putting his hand over mine and I stop writing. “Elizabeth, you are going to have to realize that there is absolutely nothing you can hide from me.”
My defences are up and I ask, “So now I am an open book?”
He smiles gently. “To me, yes. I don’t know what it is, but I can feel your every emotion as if it is my own, and I wish you would stop trying to protect yourself against me.”
I sigh softly. “I’m sorry, a lifetime of programming.”
“I would love to go with you to Cape Town, but then I would have to leave Aaron home alone for Christmas.”
“Why alone? Where will your parents be?”
He looks at me and I see the sadness in his eyes. “They are not much into family, unless it promotes their own goals. They have planned to go skiing over the Christmas period, so Aaron and I were just going to hang out at home.”
I catch my breath shocked and move closer to him.
He laughs casually. “I hope you are not feeling sorry for me, and this kiss I see coming is not a sympathy kiss.”
“Not funny,” I say seriously, before I kiss him.
He wraps his arms around me and holds onto me tightly, even after the kiss has ended, as if he is trying to anchor himself. “What would I ever do without you?” he whispers as he lets me go.
“There will never be a without me, silly. I have an idea, why don’t we go away somewhere fun, you and me, Aaron, Jane, John, Siobhan, Connell – and Sarah.”
He chuckles. “I heard that pause.”
I look at him with fake astonishment. “Do you blame me?”
“Suppose not. I would do the same if that guy from South Africa you were so in love with was here.”
“Not the same,” I say indignant. “It was only a crush. The feeling wasn’t even mutual.” Excited I ask, “So what do you think of my idea?”
“I don’t think your parents would let you go.”
I know he is right, but I insist, “There is no harm in trying.”
“You would only get your hopes up.” He looks at me forlornly. “And mine, unnecessarily.”
“What if you all go to Cape Town as well, book into the same hotel, the same flight and then although I will be with my parents technically, we can still spend all our time together?”
“It’s Christmas,” he emphasizes. “Nobody is going to let their children go off on a holiday, especially on Christmas day.” He adds sarcastically, “It is, after all, a family occasion.”
“So, you and Aaron could go with us, instead of being at home by yourself.” I smile at him sweetly. “I’m begging here.”
He leans over to me and kisses my lips briefly. “I'll talk to Aaron.”
“What’s there to talk about?”
He chuckles. “You are so insistent. I bet you were spoiled as a child.”
“I’m still spoiled.”
“I see that. Now. What else do I have to teach you?”
“I can think of a few things that does not involve homework.”
He clears his throat. “Get your Science books, young lady.”
We carry on working and I seriously hope he will go with us to Cape Town. I suddenly feel more excited about the holiday and the promise of spending it with Jared.
The time for him to go home comes too soon and he politely declines my mum’s offer of having dinner with us again.
I walk him to his car and after he carefully inspects the windows of my manor, looking for prying eyes, he bends down, holds me tight to him and kisses me. When he lets me go, I sigh a sad sound.
“I'll see you tomorrow,” he says. “And tell your mum I'll drive you home again.”
I lean into him. Holding onto the front of his jacket, I pull him down toward me, while I reach up. “Jared, I am so glad I found you, even if it was on the other side of the world.”
“I am glad too.”
I kiss him lingeringly and when I let him go, he says, “You make it harder and harder each time for me to leave.”
“Is that offer of running away together still open?” I ask jokingly.
“You tempt me. I better go, before I throw you in the back of my Jeep and only take you out once you swear to be mine forever.”
I still want to say I am already his, but he is in his car, the door closed, the window up and he seems to be concentrating intently on starting his Jeep. He looks up, smiles bashfully, and lifts his hand in a timid wave before he drives off.
