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Chapter 21
Morning must have broken because I could feel the sun on my face setting the seal on the most spectacular night of my life and leaving my mind still reeling with images of Jennifer.
Still half asleep, I lay there not daring to open my eyes in case she had gone or it had all been a dream.
"Be brave," I told myself, unconvincingly. "You can't lie here all day."
But the soft images were still strong and the memories of tangled limbs, sweet kisses and loving sighs were so sweet that I was afraid to open my eyes.
Could it be that I was not sleeping in my own new apartment with its wonderful large garden and south facing patio. Perhaps I had dreamt that Ron had made me his chief web designer and a central part of his new plan for Smokey's and the Internet.
More than anything else, maybe Jennifer had not agreed to stay with me last night. Perhaps we had not kissed and made love into the night until her softness had overwhelmed me and I had fallen into a deep timeless sleep.
And was Jennifer's son, Tommy, the greatest little footballer that the world had yet to discover, still sleeping on the couch next door and really part of my life.
I struggled for the smallest indication that I'd not dreamed it all. The sun, warm on my face, was a clue. My old room at Smokey's had always been dark. It had never seen the sun. But here was the sun warmed me and begged me to open my eyes and be brave. But I was still not convinced.
I stretched out a leg. My bed at Smokey's had been a tiny single one. This felt larger. My foot touched something soft. I flinched. Still my eyes wouldn't open; to sleep and dream was still potentially more attractive than facing a possibly harsh reality.
I stretched my leg again and felt my foot press against something that yielded and was warm.
My hand reached out under the bedclothes and the tips of my fingers tingled as they encountered softness and warmth. It was someone but was it Jennifer?
I drew my hand gently upwards along the softness. It was smooth and the skin was not covered with nightclothes. I heard a low moan that sounded more beautiful than the dawn chorus.
At last reassured, my eyes shot open and blinked with the brightness of the sun. I levering myself up on to one elbow and gazed in ecstasy at the shower of light oatmeal hair that scattered across the pillow beside me. Hidden in the luxurious tangled forest was Jennifer, a tiny smile playing on her lips as she dreamt. High cheekbones and a sculptured face told the world of her beauty proudly despite the mottling of the bruises.
I lowered my lips to her forehead, picking a spot that didn't look too painful. I wanted to kiss her and for her to know I was kissing her but I also wanted her to sleep. Could I face the possibility of her waking and wanting to go? Was it not better to let her sleep and for me to dream of a future together for a little longer?
I kissed her again, this time in the corner of her mouth. She twitched her lips, perhaps my kiss tickled but she still slept on.
I checked my watch that was lying on the floor beside the bed; it was only 6.30 in the morning so I decided to let her sleep knowing there would be time later.
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