I can't believe this! Was this all a ploy to distract me?!

Is he really still hung up over Jim? I mean, I can't say that I blame him, I've done nothing but cause him stress since I've come back into his life. It wasn't supposed to be like this! He's supposed to only love me, want me!

Listen to me, I sound like a desperate loser. Putting the phone back inside his pocket, I rise to my feet watching as now even Anita and Rose are having a blast with the rest of them. Everyone blissfully drunk, forgetting about quarrels and drama. Just a group of friends enjoying each other's company.

"That's enough ignoring me for tonight, darling!," Freddie rushes up to me, my knees buckle as he swoops his arms underneath my legs, lifting and cradling me to his chest.

"Put me down!,"He throws his head back cackling as I try to squirm out of his arms. "You'll ruin my dress! Let me go—no! Freddie, STO-,"

Thinking quickly I shut my mouth from my squealing pleas just in time for him to throw me in the center of the hot tub. The heat of the water fires up my already aggravated feisty feeling. "This isn't funny! Fuck off, the lot of you!,"

Everyone's smiling faces stare back at me, each of them trying to suppress the laughter choking behind their tightly closed lips once I angrily attempt to get myself out of the water.

It's pretty hard to do in a tight dress, but after tearing the side seam I'm able to hop out to the booing of my drunken audience.

"Don't be such a sour puss, get your ass back in here!," Rose shouts out to me before I grab a towel and walk away.

"Hey, wait. I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to make you angry, I was just messing-,"

"What is this? Hmm?," I stop dead in my tracks, curling myself further into the towel when the chattering of my teeth makes me shiver and my subconscious tells me to retreat.

Freddie stares back at me, seemingly perplexed to why I'd be this ticked off at his messing around. "Cherie, you can't really be serious. I'll get you a new dress, darling, a better one-,"

"It's not about the dress!," I hiss harshly, arms flailing in impatience.

"Was this all a joke to you? Did you even mean a thing you said to me tonight?," Freddie's eyes squinted at me, his lips parted and his head tilts as he tries to comprehend my tantrum.

Everyone else has now quieted down, I can see them out of the corner of my eyes. I guess my yells have their attention, too.

"What the fuck are you on about? Of course I meant everything- Cher, what's the matter with you?"

How? How does he use those warm brown eyes to melt my insides, even when in the face of cheating. Okay. So maybe he's not cheating. Maybe. But either way he's hiding something from me, his wife, so he must know he's in the wrong.

"If you have any reservations about me and you at all- you needn't play it up like I'm the only one you see,"

"What the f-,"

"Oh, don't do it to me, Freddie. Don't make me feel stupid or delusional!"

"Are you mad?! We were all just having a good time and now-,"

Now, back at the table with his pile of clothes, I reach down for them at the same time Freddie does. He almost tugs the pair of slacks from my hands, but I'm much quicker than that.

"May I get dressed now, I believe the night is over" His tone is laced with annoyance as he glares at me, mumbling under his breath, absorbing my bad mood.

Reaching into his pant pocket I retrieve his phone at hock it to him, landing it on his bare chest as his fingers fumble to catch it. "Tell Jim I said hello the next time you talk with him," I scoff with a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh, actually you can go right ahead and return his phone calls and messages, I'm leaving!"

I turn to leave when his hand clutches around my shoulder, pulling me backward. I don't budge to turn his way, "You're not going anywhere. This is shit!"

Spinning on my heels, I meet his glowering, frustrated face with a sarcastic smile. "Yes, this is shit! You really played me up and for what?! If you want Jim, then have him! Go on-,"

"For fucks sake, Cherie! Stop that shit! I don't want him, I don't even speak with him. I've no idea why he's picked tonight to try n' contact me.,"

His gentle hands cup my face as his voice trails off, but I refuse to look into his eyes. I know that would be my undoing. That's how it always goes. I can't deny him once I fall into the warmth of his gorgeous eyes. I want to gaze into his eyes and feel the fire in their glow, but my pride is stubborn.

"I don't want anyone but you. No one but you. I wish I could have a look into that pretty little head of yours and understand which way to go with my actions, but I swear to you, Jim and I are through. And have been since the day I called it off with him."

I could study him all day if I ever had the time or chance. The way he looks at me makes me feel like I'm somebody important- that's the charm he's always had. The way his pupils seem to swallow me whole as his eyes grow glossy from not bothering to blink, just staring back at me. His carefully groomed eyebrows furrow and the veins on his temples bulge as he clenches his jaw. The muscles there protruding beneath his sharp jawline.

He runs the pad of his thumb along my lips from top to bottom, circling his desire. "I planned all of this for months, in secret, just for you. Just to see you smile. I wanted tonight to be as special and memorable as I could make it. And there's still one massive surprise I've yet to show you, but if you don't believe me... then..."

He speaks to me in gentle tones, swooping my hair behind my ears, fixing the smears of watered-down makeup, his full concentration on me and me alone. Waiting for me to respond, he wets his lips with the tip of his tongue, moistening the pink hues to a glistening, irresistible offer.

I sigh heavily, though the act doesn't reach my heart. "I believe you. Of course, I do. I'm just being stupid..." Embarrassed by my outburst, I give him a sideways smile, waiting for his reply before grinning fully.

"Yes. Very stupid," He replies while trying to lean in and kiss me.

"Watch it, loverboy. No one's gonna sit on your hot seat of love with that sass," I shove him back by his chest but he's quick to reel me back into him. That mega, heartwarming chuckle vibrating his chest beneath my fingertips.

Turning to see everyone's mood shift thanks to my outburst, they've started packing up and collecting their things as they dry off. I honestly believe him, really I do. It's just the way my mind wanders that's the real trouble...

—————————

As I walk on over and away from the tales of times I can't even remember, I waddle down to the very edge of the dock to sit and wait on the lake.

This has always been home to me, I can't remember a time before living here and making memories with my brother and sister. I place my shoulder bag down beside me, pulling my sketch book out to see if inspiration springs to life.

I want to be a real artist one day. I want to travel the world and make people happy with my artwork. A dream I know once belonged to my father, and he did make his mark on the world with his art. It's everywhere I turn.

Most of the time it's like I get lost in my dreams out here in the peaceful serene of our back yard. It's so tranquil with a kind of magic in the air at this breathtaking scene. Such a truly magnificent view. A view that can make you feel like the world is in the palm of your hands. I think that's why dad chose such a home for us to grow up in.

As my pencil works with the turnings of my mind, there's swans flying over the red gleaming skies. It's all so beautiful, I should surely trade this for a portrait painting one day.

"Well, time for me to head back inside my dears," I smile to myself for stupidly speaking to a family of swans that have kept me company through my serene escape before packing up and returning to the house with the rest of my family.

When I walk indoors, Mum is the only one left in the kitchen. She holds her phone to her ear and motions for me to stay quiet with a single finger raised to her lips. Peering around the corner and into the open sitting room, I see Richie and Charlie sitting together watching something on TV, while Dad is passed out in his chair.

I walk on over to him, my siblings distracted with whatever action-filled movie is playing. I don't remember him being such a small man. All my life he seemed...well...he's always had a larger than life personality, the most caring and compassionate heart I've ever known and he used to just seem to take up all the space and air in every room.

Now as I reach my hand down to gently stroke his cheek, I feel I've outgrown being able to fit into his lap comfortably, not that I'd want to anyway. I'm not a baby.

One things for sure, when I look at him I find that I do really miss his mustache.

"Who was that on the phone, Mum?," Charlie asks as Mum now joins us.

She silently smiles at me before I retract my hand from holding his. "Just Aunt Mary," Mum replies, nestling herself in between my siblings as Richie's face brightens.

"Did you tell her?" He asks impatiently, leaning his head on Mum's shoulder at an awkward bend since he's so much taller than she is. "Did she say she'll come to the wedding?"

"Of course, Rich! She said she wouldn't miss it for all the world"