13 June 2012
I picked up the Louis Vuitton suitcase that was by the foot of Tiffany's bed. I'd been to her house earlier that day to pick up her vacation clothes and mine and I'd packed them in the trunk that was now waiting to depart.
After being hugged by all the nurses, and saying goodbye to all the other patients and relatives that had kept me sane for my brief stay at the hospital, we walked out of the hospital doors. It was the first time Tiffany had seen sunlight since the accident, and her squinting eyes could easily tell you that. I offered her a pair of sunglasses, which she took with great enthusiasm, and as she slipped them on I reached for her hand and wrapped my fingers round it. I looked across at my beautiful girlfriend, and I was lost for words. This experience had brought us closer together than we ever had been, and somehow there was a feeling that all of the drama was behind us, and that no one could ever get between us.
The next surprise for Tiffany was just approaching, as my parents had bought me a car for my 18th birthday, which had been a week or so ago, during her coma. She knew she'd missed it, as she hadn't stopped apologising. She kept telling me she'd make it up to me as soon as we were on vacation, but just her presence beside me again was the best birthday present a man could wish for.
The silver Aston Martin edged its way slowly round the corner, it's engine giving our a glorious roar. Her jaw dropped and a smile spread across her lips as she realised it was mine, and I kissed her on the forehead.
Tiffany's driver got out, and after calling him a cab and thanking him, him and I loaded the suitcases into the back of the car and I opened the door for Tiffany.
She looked incredible: her large sunglasses pushed up her nose, her teeth gleaming white against the dark car interior, and a beautiful navy and white striped maxi dress on, which showed off how skinny she was after not eating properly for weeks.
I thanked the driver again, and got into the driver's seat, looking across at Tiffany and not quite believing that she was here. It felt like an incredible dream that I had never woken up from. She'd pulled her hair out of the ponytail she had it in, and it sprung out, wavy and long, trailing well below her shoulder blades as she shook it out.
"Are you going to drive or just look at me?" she said, pulling my hand onto the steering wheel. "We're going to have to hurry up if we're going to make it for sundown" she said, throwing my keys into my lap.
"Alright ma'am" I mocked in my best British accent. "Where to?"
"The Hamptons, and fast" she said, leaning to kiss me on the cheek. I pulled her head gently back for a better kiss but she refused.
"Not until we get there, chauffeur!" she said, pouting at me and laughing.
"Well I'll have to drive fast then, won't I?" I replied, rubbing my hand along her arm.
I took a deep breath and put the key in the ignition, turning it and feeling the engine come to life with a glorious roar that awoke the spirit within me. Tiffany began to smile, and bit her lip.
"Fancy setting off now?" she said, winking at me.
So I did. We cruised out of the parking lot, but as soon as we hit the highway, I unleashed the beast inside this car and I may have hit above the speed limit a couple of times, enjoying the feel of having this power in my control, and the giggles that came from the passenger seat.
When I slowed, knowing we were half way through the journey, I held the wheel with one hand, and put the other on Tiffany's leg, feeling the soft jersey material of her dress under my fingers. My hand remained planted there and was only removed when I needed a burst of speed or I needed to indicate.
We soon sped down the road with the sign that welcomed us to Southampton, and I headed down the familiar road that Tiffany and I called our own. On the other side or our lawn stood a tall mansion, it was made up of three different wings, which held a total of 48 different rooms, ranging from living rooms to dining rooms, to bedrooms to bathrooms, with a spa and an indoor and outdoor pool. I knew this as this was Tiffany's mansion, where I knew her family were recuperating after a stressful week of visiting their daughter once.
She gazed up at this white palace, her eyes full of sadness.
"What's wrong baby?" I asked, dropping the suitcase to put an arm around her.
"They didn't come out to see us..." she said, sounding distant.
"Maybe they didn't know we would be here this early? We'll go over later sweetie, I promise" I said, kissing her on the top of her head, being careful to avoid the scar which was still a little painful for her.
I took the bags inside as she stood on the driveway, still looking up at her house. I came out again, and kissed just below her ear and told her to come inside. As we reached the top of the grand staircase leading up to the front door, I stopped, turned around and picked her up, cradling her like a baby.
"Now we're moving in together, I want this to be done properly" I said, grinning and kissing her. I pushed the door open, and inside was Tiffany's family, just as I'd arranged. "I told you they hadn't forgotten about you" I said, putting her gently down on the floor.
Her whole family had congregated here with all her friends too. There was her direct family: her mother and father, her brother who was fresh out of Yale University, her half sister Ellie and my brother. Then there were her grandparents, just one set, as the others were off on a cruise around the Caribbean. Then there were her friends: Mollie and Charlie, then all her childhood friends who always met in the Hamptons every summer. She went over to Mollie first and hugged her, and then all of her friends in turn, even Charlie (who was stuck like glue to Mollie's side). She then kissed every family member on each cheek, and she hugged her brother. I knew how much she loved him, and it was nice to see him back for the summer.
After a single glass of pink champagne, everyone made their excuses and left, noticing that Tiffany wanted some time alone with her brother. Most of the congregation went to stay at the mansion next door, but Mollie and Charlie went back to Mollie's beach house, and the other friends went to their respective houses.
I went upstairs to pack, as I could hear laughter from downstairs. It made me smile to know she was happy, but I couldn't help but feel selfish and wish she was upstairs with me right now, instead of her brother.
Many say Will looks like me; he's got the same style of hair but his is the same shade of chestnut as Tiffany's, his skin is the same colour as mine and he's of a similar build. Everyone knew about his reputation as the lacrosse captain of the Yale team: he had many of the cleverest and most beautiful women in New Haven flocking around him, dying to date him. But they all knew he only had room in his heart for one woman: his little sister Tiffany. They had always been close growing up, and that was what made me happy: seeing them together after a whole year apart.
Just as I had my head buried in the closet trying to find another coat hanger, I felt fingers walking up my spine from my hips to my neck, and then warm breath tickling around my shoulders and neck until a kiss was planted on the side of my neck.
"Will? What are you doing up here? What happens if Tiffany finds out about us?!" I said hearing a familiar female laugh from behind me.
"Did you miss me whilst you were up here?" she whispered seductively
"Mmm yes I did" I said, wanting this girl more and more with every sentence we spoke.
"Well maybe you should come and show me" she whispered, backing onto the bed and lying herself down. I stood over her for a second, before pulling off my shirt and kneeling over her and leaning down to kiss her soft lips.
We were lucky we had nowhere to go, as we spent the whole night together, making the most of our new house and enjoying being together again finally.
"I've missed this" I said, in between kisses on her neck.
"I've missed you" she said, over and over "I love you"
Love You Too: PART FOUR • Opuss № I