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.I place my other hand against his cheek, run my thumb across his bottom lip and stare down at his parted lips.I will be brave.I will kiss this man and see once and for all if I can really do this, the moment is just too beautiful to pass by.I lean down, my lips inches from his – “Hello?” Knock, knock, knock.“You have got to be kidding me,” I hiss.“It’s Gladys,” I add gritting my teeth.Tristan nods, understanding that like it or not, she will be coming in.I feel myself deflate like a balloon.I get up from his lap, walk over to the door, pull the curtain across and open the door to Gladys and Malcolm.“Ooh, do I smell Roast Dinner?” She slurs, leaning in to kiss my cheek.Oh great! She’s tipsy we’ll never get rid of her now!“Yes,” I sigh, smiling tentatively at Malcolm.“Hi Malcolm.”“Hello Coral.” He leans down and kisses my cheek as they both walk in.Gladys stops in her tracks as she notices Tristan standing to his feet.“Oh! I didn’t think you’d have company?” Gladys says looking from me to Tristan to Malcolm.“Hello Gladys.” Tristan says, leaning in he kisses her cheek then shakes Malcolm’s hand.I close the door and walk over to the kitchenette.“Would you like a glass of wine or coff’ – “Ooh wine please.” Gladys interrupts me plonking herself down on the sofa.“Malcolm?” I ask as I give Gladys a small glass of wine.“Coffee thank you Coral.How are you feeling?” I smile at Malcolm, how sweet of him to ask.“Much better thank you, I’ve been in very good hands.” I smile shyly at Tristan, he smiles shyly back at me, in-fact I think he looks a little uncomfortable.“That’s good to hear, although your nose still looks very sore,” he adds.“It’s getting better.Did you have a nice time with your daughters?” I hand him his coffee as he sits next to Gladys.Malcolm tells me all about his daughters, their husbands and their children, so he’s a Grandpa too.I pick up my wine and sit next to Gladys.I’m trying not to glare at her, even though I want to have it out with her as to why she didn’t tell me about Malcolm when she told Debs.Tristan comes and sits next to me on the arm of the sofa, I love that he wants to do that, be so close to me.“So, what have you two been doing today?” Gladys slurs.I go to answer but Tristan beats me to it, and goes into an animated story about our day.Gladys is mesmerized, blinking rapidly as she watches Tristan – So it’s not just me…“Tristan, I have to say thank you again for looking after Coral so well,” she says hugging and kissing me.Malcolm narrows his eyes at my uncomfortable reaction, then stands walks over to the patio door, and calls Tristan over.Subtle Malcolm, very subtle!They begin chatting away so I use it as my opportunity to probe Gladys.“So Debs came round today,” I casually say.“Oh, how lovely, you two rarely see each other anymore.”“Kind of difficult when she’s got a kid and a husband to look after,” I bite.“Which reminds me, she let it slip that she already knew about Malcolm.” I add.Gladys’s face falls, I can see she’s trying hard to hide her true feelings, to put a mask on.“So you want to tell me why she knew and I didn’t?” I ask.Gladys is silent.“Mom,” I say using that word feels wrong.“I’m really upset she knew and I didn’t,” I add softly, I don’t want to upset her, but she needs to know what she did was wrong.Gladys takes hold of my hand and squeezes it.“I’m sorry darling…it’s just.well you don’t take too well to change,” she says.“I know that, but just because you started seeing someone doesn’t mean everything has to change,” I answer.A guilty look appears on her face.“And now I know Debs is selling up too, you both are.Is there something else I don’t know about?” I ask just as I did with Debs.“No, no.o-of course not,” she stutters looking totally uncomfortable which just confirms there is.“Please Mom, tell me,” I whisper.“I won’t freak out,” I add.Our eyes meet and I know in that instance I am right.Something big is going down, and I don’t know about it, she’s having the exact same reaction as Debs.“Oh darling it’s lovely hearing you call me that,” she squeaks.“Anyway how about you and Tristan?” she whispers so he can’t hear, totally changing the subject.“He’s a real dish darling, you’ve done very well there.Are you going to start seeing each other?” she asks.I sigh heavily she’s not going to tell me.“Yeah…” I answer glumly.“Oh that’s wonderful dear,” she beams enthusiastically.“Yeah.he’s really.” I can’t think of the right word to describe who he is to me.My anchor, my north, my south.In such a short space of time, he’s become my home
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