A Different Class - 27

Chapter 27

Rebecca woke and she had no idea how long she'd been asleep, with her eyes closed she fought to shut out the events of the last few hours. She couldn't think about them...she refused to use the word family. They were nothing to her, and she wasn't about to be compromised by a few tears.

Finding a t-shirt of Nate's she pulled it over her short pyjamas and made for the lounge. As she opened the door she heard muffled voices, and for a moment she froze, Michael Burford-Mills flashing as a vivid image in her mind. Two faces glanced up from the sofa as she entered the room, and she sighed to see it was Patrick sat next to Nate, his eyes bruised with emotion. He looked physically wrecked, but regardless of that Bec was glad to see him on so many levels.

Nate smiled, "you ok?" He patted the sofa next to him as she crossed the room towards them.

"I'm fine." She gave him a tired, slightly strained smile, then looked at Patrick. "How are you? It was such a beautiful service."

Patrick looked at the ceiling, grief and remorse washing over him in waves throughout the day had made it difficult to talk. Eventually he lowered his eyes and smiled, "thanks Bec, I'm fine,  and you're right it was a great service. Personal yet professional!" He half laughed, "very appropriate, after all that was the motto of Dad's business."

Reaching past Nate she squeezed Patrick's hand, "it gets easier, and you never forget them. I promise!"

Nate grunted reaching for the bottle of whisky and ignoring the harsh glare from Bec. "It's ok love, I'm not speaking ill of the dead! We've both had our fair share of father problems, I know that Jordan here agrees with me that we hoped that at least the hassle would end when they passed away."

Patrick held out his tumbler for more of the amber liquid as he agreed, "he's right. We were both ironically born legitimately to men who are bastards! Now you promise that he'll haunt me from the grave?" Then looking at her with sympathy he offered, "I hear you've had a big day!"

Nate squeezed her hand in support but suddenly she didn't need sympathy, she felt strong and happy, "well. It was difficult to start but, I'm quite rational now. It is what it is!"

She leaned back against the sofa, a protective hand over the belly that seemed to have swollen even more from the morning. Whilst Nate knew that gesture meant she was valuing her family above her father's, he couldn't help but be in awe of her. How beautiful and strong she was, and how pregnancy suited her. When he glanced at Patrick, he could see a similar wonder in his eyes. This woman was SO special.

She smiled graciously, "I'm only sorry that it all came out today Patrick. I really hope it didn't spoil your father's send off."

Patrick smiled, "I didn't even know it had happened until I spoke to Groves here! Wish I'd been there though to see Old Ed get his comeuppance!" 

Sighing she couldn't find the humour that the other two had, "I'm glad it didn't affect the day. Do you want some food? You both seem to be drinking a lot!" She glanced at the clock and saw it was ten o'clock. She'd been asleep for three hours and was suddenly ravenous.

"Do you have anything here?" Nate asked concerned that she didn't put herself out.

"I made lasagna yesterday, it'll take twenty minutes to warm up. Ok?"

The two men nodded enthusiastically. Half an hour later the three sat to a feast of the lasagna as well as salad and garlic bread. 

"So what are you going to do?" Patrick asked. When she raised her eyebrow he added, "about Michael and his family...your family?"

Nate watched for the response so grateful to Patrick for asking the question he'd been too nervous to vocalise himself.

Rebecca chewed her food for a moment before finally responding, "I believe they are coming here in the morning for breakfast, but I'm hoping Nate will put them off. I haven't given my parents the respect they deserve. And to be honest with you I really need to get back to Brighton and speak to my Dad's old boss..." she was quiet for a moment as she was overwhelmed with memories of her life before things went wrong, before her father died. "Then there's their grave...I think I need to close that door before I even think about my father's family."

Nate nodded, "I'll call Mike in a bit. Bea will be devastated, I mean you have to speak to them at some point, and she's particularly desperate to see you, but you have to do what you want first. Be ready to see them when you want."

With a sharp nod of her head she agreed with him, this was her parent's time. There was a chapter to end, a door to close and she wasn't sure she could cope with anything else until after that.

It was before lunchtime the following day that she found herself stood in front of matching headstones. She'd never been to their graves, Peter Burford-Mills and Emma Taylor. A tragedy where two people died far too prematurely. She cleaned the stones with her scarf, scrubbing at the moss and mould that fifteen years without TLC had let accumulate. Then she distributed the fourteen brightly coloured gerberas into the two vases that were embedded into the soft soil in front of the headstones.  When she was happy, she sat cross legged in between the two headstones, a hand on each grave.

Rebecca didn't need words, but she hoped that her parents would forgive her, would understand her anger and her resentment, and also she prayed her mother would understand why she was going to open communications with the Burford-Mills family. 

"The baby deserves it Mum," she looked to her right to the newer of the headstones, "No one should have what I had, what you had...or even what dad had."

If she was hoping for a sign, some inspiration, a hint that her mother was communicating back she was surely disappointed. But standing, she brushed the mud and grass off her jeans and turned to Nate who'd been sat on a nearby bench, trying not to watch the emotional display in front of him. When she came towards him he offered her an embrace and held her until she nodded her head, ready to move on.

The drive to the small farm on the Sussex coast passed in silence, Nate was aware that she was watching every tree they passed. Occasionally she'd glance across and she'd have the hint of recognition on her face and it pained him. He really wished he could do this for her.

Alf Whitby and his wife were both ecstatic to see Rebecca. Nate was an observer as the three shared stories and memories and they chatted for hours. When they left Bec was pale, tired, but there was a calmness, a serenity in her and he hoped that this was the end of her heartache, she'd carried her pain around for so long.

When Nate drove into the underground car park several hours later, she was fast asleep, a content look on her face. Pulling into his designated space, he scooped her up into his arms, she stirred slightly, but no more than that, and he managed to juggle the elevator and the door to the apartment before depositing her gently on the bed.

In the lounge he took a glass and slugged some whisky into it. Knocking it back he groaned, this had been a hard day for him, he couldn't imagine how Rebecca was feeling. 

Bec opened her eyes, it was still dark, but for some reason she was awake. Then with a distinct 'oof' in the lower abdomen, she realised what had woken her. Groves Junior seemed to have found a football.

Stifling a squeal of excitement, she nudged Nate and after three attempts he opened an eye. 

"You ok?" he was suddenly alert.

She took his hand and placed it over her stomach, "it moved...the baby!"

Nate stared at her and the amazement and excitement in her eyes, unmistakable even in the dark, caused a pain to lance his chest. He couldn't believe that he found her...and that she loved him. And then he felt it...her swollen firm abdomen kicked him! Sitting bolt upright he reached for the side lamp and it illuminated the room. Rebecca lay there beaming in such a content manner that he could only shake his head. 

Flicking out the light, he lay back down, shaking his head in bewilderment. 

"Amazing!" he finally breathed, pulling her into his arms. 

Nodding she reached up to plant her lips on his and Nate groaned as she draped her body up against his. As her tongue met his, she wriggled against him in a calculated and determined way, her hands sliding under the waistband of his boxers, the only thing he wore. 

"What are you doing?" he asked in a whisper as his mouth dropped to her neck.

Giggling she pulled her pyjama top over her head, "what do you think?" With that she thrust her body back against his, her hard excited body rubbing against his.

Nate was struggling to feel the same way, after all they were separated by their baby, the baby that they'd both just felt kick. He couldn't imagine...shaking his head, he tried to slip from her grasp.

"Nate?" 

he sighed, "it doesn't feel right...the baby..."

"Am I that repulsive? This humongous belly? Is that it?" She sounded upset and that was the last thing he wanted.

"No, no, no! I don't mean that...Come here!" As she moved back into his arms she chuckled and he realised she'd played him. "Miss Taylor?"

Still chuckling she rolled him onto his back and slid a leg over him to sit astride him, "Mr Groves? I am a hormonally challenged pregnant woman who wants...no NEEDS her lover make love to her. Not what bit of that can you argue with?"

He groaned, then watched in the muted light as she lifted both his hands to first the swell of their baby, then to her engorged breasts. As he took one in each hand she threw her head back moaning in obvious delight. After that the gentleman in Nate disappeared and the carnal animal was all that was left. 

"Let's get married." He moaned against her neck his body struggling to function after his explosive orgasm.

"I thought that's what this meant!" She grinned holding out her hand to admire the huge sparkling diamond.

"As soon as we can, actually do it. Friends only."

She forced his head up so that he looked at her, "how quick can we do it?"

Three weeks later they stood in front of the registrar in Brighton, a beautiful touch to be married so close to her childhood haunts, they smiled through a short service before turning to the congregation as Mr and Mrs Groves. The small crowd cheered as they dashed out into a hail of confetti and rice. 

Nate had booked them a table in the restaurant of the best hotel in the area, Patrick or course, Lyle, Johnny and Tara, and Seb and Emily. A small but infinitely devoted crowd, who all laughed so comfortably as they ate. 

Nate stood as they waited for their dessert and addressed those present, "I can't thank you enough for being here, with us today, when I became the luckiest man on the planet. My wife..." he gulped at the sudden wash of emotion that the words and the realisation of them gave him. He glanced down at Bec and blinked away a few tears. She looked beautiful in her ivory lace dress that clung to her beautiful opulent figure. Lifting his eyes again he continued, "my wife and I are so happy to have you here. Thank you Lyle, Johnny and Tara for loving this woman and caring for her all these years. You've done a great job. Jordan.." he turned to Patrick, "we've been best mates for years and I honestly can't tell you how much I appreciate you. Seb, Em - you accepted us from day one when it was easier to go with the flow. I'll never forget you for that."

Tugging at Rebecca's hand he pulled her to her feet, "thank you, with all my heart, all my being for agreeing to be my wife. I don't know how I'd survive if I hadn't met you. You are my everything." Laying one hand over the baby, wiping a tear from her eye with the other he added, "and thanks for this little bubba, I never knew I wanted him...or her all my life until now."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house as he toasted their future.