"Come here." I pulled her into me, pressing a kiss to her red-lipped mouth. "Silly."
"Not silly," she protested, pressing kisses back. "Just happy."
The white hell house had sold on Valentine's Day, and we'd moved into a rental while searching for a replacement. I'dresigned the week following our bedroom planning session, my parents having a conniption.
I'd finished in mid-February, then taken March off, Emily and I backpacking through Peru on our long overdue vacation. We'd returned home to search for a house while I started work at the marina. Em had decided that she would be going back to work as a music teacher whenever she found a position. In the meantime, she'd made it her full-time job to find us a house. Pity for her we'd found it after viewing only three.
We'd pulled up at the average beach cottage, the ramshackle weatherboard rough and worn, the garden overgrown. I'd heard her sharp intake of breath, then her hand had found mine, squeezing it tight.
As soon as we'd walked through the door, the sun streaming through the windows and glinting off the wooden floorboards, she'd turned to me, hands raised to her mouth.
"This is it," she'd said, her heart in her eyes. "This is our happy home."
It needed work. The roof needed replacing, and the damned garden had grown into the eaves in some places, but I'd agreed. It felt like ours.
The agent handed over the key. "Enjoy your new home, and don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
We took it and drove to the house, loaded with essentials. At the cottage, Emily leapt from the car and raced to the door, bouncing in place while she waited for me to come with the key. I slid it in, then turned, gesturing at her to do the honours.
She did, turning the key and throwing it open. Just as she was about to step inside, I grabbed her arm, pulling her back, then bent, catching her under the knees and tipping her back to carry her over the threshold.
"Ugh," I pretended to groan. "You're so heavy."
"Calvin!" she squealed, laughing and throwing her arms around my neck.
"Welcome home, wife."
I stopped in the doorway, kissing her and enjoying the taste of happiness on her lips.
"Cal," she whispered, pressing her forehead against mine. "Thank you for giving me this moment."
"Thank you, Pretty Eyes, for making life sweeter."
I let her slide down my body until her feet touched the floor. "Honey and Tristan are on their way. Collins and Nick, and Willodean will be by later. I asked them to bring pizza."
She sent me a smile. "With extra pepperoni? That's Honey's favourite.”
Emily was trying to develop a relationship with my family, determined to repair old wounds and forge new bonds. I knew she'd achieve it because she had already won me over.
"I'll text them," I promised, letting her go.
Later that night, after we'd bid farewell to our family and friends, Em and I lay on the mattress in our bedroom, staring out the big double windows to the sea in the distance.
"Will you play for me, Pretty Eyes?" I asked, running my fingers over her back.
She pushed up, raising an eyebrow. "Now?"
I nodded, settling into the bed, folding my arms behind my head to watch her.
"Okay," she rolled out of bed, scrambling lazily to her feet and moving naked to the far side of the room and picking up her violin and bow.
I watched, enjoying the movement of her body as she got into place.
"Any requests?" she asked, bow poised.
"Surprise me."
She began to play, the notes pitch-perfect. I recognised the song immediately,Time After Time.My gut clenched as she closed her eyes, giving in to the music, tears falling gently down her cheeks as she played.
