Taylor's POV
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsJyfpkWjY
We closed in on the farmhouse having spent an hour on the phone to Jays dad, Andrew on speakerphone. He advised us, just as Jay had said he would, to go bigger. Jay rolled his eyes smiling listening to him going on about places with double the amount of hectares.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64bQ277ZHu
“So is it still the bugaboo fox that you want” he smiles at me in the pram shop. We’ve travelled to Perugia, a city in Italy for our shopping trip. Something about the cobble stone buildings and the bustling atmosphere steals my heart. Perugia, Jay informed me has immensely nice chocolate and so of course we had to pick some up too.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61fNGao2Vk
Having already moved into the farmhouse, we’re kitting out the nursery. We haven’t needed to decorate as the condition of the home is impeccable. We are setting the nursery up and then flying back to the USA to see my parents whilst I still can fly, safely. And then the plan is to return here and have the baby.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6BJZE5mW8
“The fox is nice, can we have it in the white, ecru colour” I say smiling at him and he smirks pulling me into him and rubbing my back.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N7A0vQxOo
“Desert taupe, or misty white” he asks eyes flicking between the two prams.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCNsxOdrWm
“Desert taupe” I smile and he laughs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFq5bwe5lV
“Mmm I agree” he smirks kissing me.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqlseSYiCC
“I suggest” he begins turning me around to face the cribs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8MLyDOT4X
“We get a snoo for downstairs, and a bedside crib for our bedroom” he smiles rubbing my bump.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrPlx7iCNI
“And a cot for the nursery” he says turning me to face a large wooden cot, with a drape canopy over the top.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYrtKp7oXy
“Some baby clothes” he whispers in my ear and I smile loving him this close to me.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRheKBFMjFi
“Sheets and blankets and towels” he adds holding onto bump.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfcumqsoNh
“Bibs too” he says and I turn to face him intent on kissing him forever.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonup2f38nX
“You really do have this all planned” I smile at him and he kisses me back.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw3gaNZNsS
We order the furniture and pram to be delivered, Jay pays for same day delivery. And our afternoon is shaping up to be a flat pack extravaganza.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLfRxFgKyJ
I carefully select all of the linens and sheets for the cots and cribs. I pick up lots of blankets and sleep sacks. Baby grows and a few little outfits and vests. After all we’re pretty sure we’re having a boy, so I opt for a light blue and white colour scheme whilst Jay finalises the delivery and payment of the furniture.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXfeXIDjfJ
I stumble upon baby bonnets and socks and select a few traditional knitted bonnets, they’re very cute. Some knee high knitted socks in a light grey colour that I’m sure will be totally impractical but will look sweet.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwBUQSFhbW
“Delivery will be here after 5pm” he says softly approaching me from behind. He kisses my ear softly.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdsWXabnB0
“These are adorable” he smirks looking at the bonnets.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bl6j7AcKE
“I thought so too” I smirk.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjt8DrusWu
“We’re gonna have a beautiful baby” he whispers and I smile up at him.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2byKA7MUm
“I couldn’t agree more” I say to him and he rubs my cheek taking the basket from me and adding a few more clothes and blankets in, burb cloths and bibs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IzD6npOGW
He drives us back to the farmhouse, we’re still using the Maserati for now. The backseat full of bags of baby items.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdWtp7ZKbr
“We do need a car” he comments looking over at me.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsctCGk2jE
“To take us too and from the hospital, and to fit a car seat in” he explains and I smile at him.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9uu16mX1K
“A family car” I say looking at him and he laughs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIXsy6lMB9
“A lambo” he says and I full on laugh looking over at him and his smile lines which I’ve grown to absolutely adore.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VfLFT7m5f
“What? I’ll show you when we get in they don’t just do sports cars” he defends himself.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEF3lzJhM3
“Are you mansplaining cars to me again Jay?” I smile at him and he laughs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5ILYUTe7L
“No darlin” he smirks and I rub his thigh and with my hand.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48EZgjJ8y7
“Ohhh” I say holding onto bump with my other hand.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghvje63bjQ
He looks over at me hyper alert. He’s not left my side, not once. He’s cooked me pasta, lasagne, even chicken parmigiana in our new kitchen. He’s sampled the wine cellar and we’ve picked grapes together for me to eat and him to ferment. They’re exquisite, I’ve baked two lemon cakes using the lemons from our harvest. And Jay has remained by my side the entire time.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh7GhdSegB
“Baby is moving about a lot” I tell him slightly uncomfortably.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1XEMrik8V
“Maybe he’s getting ready” he laughs slightly.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2ROYIXAB9
“We still have several weeks” I tell him and he places his hands on bump, other hand on the wheel.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmt4zKiZhC
“Baby you need to hold off a little” he laughs stroking my waist.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbTj2VNCX0
“Mummy wants to fly back first and then fly again; so hold off until you’re due” he laughs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa0gzwZEoZ
Pulling into the lane that leads up the cliff side to our home, I notice the olive trees and the various bushes each side. How the sun beats down on the golden coloured gravel. It takes around fifteen minutes to reach the double wooden gate by car. Our home is set right back away from the road. And even then the road itself is barely used, rarely do you see an oncoming vehicle.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTMDOyloiM
“What can I help with” I ask once we get out of the car. The sun beating down on me, I hold bump.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WSogsSW5D
“Not a chance” he says practically marching me into the house.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEgMlkF8jA
“Jay, I can carry bags” I tell him and he laughs.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY9r4Pb9Do
“No, please” he smiles kissing me and stroking my back once we’re in the cool reception room. The scent of lemons wafting through from the kitchen.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE2kVZ7mNq
“If you must do anything please cut me some of that delicious lemon cake, you know to get me through the assembly of all of the furniture.” He smirks and I nod, kissing him slowly.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq5fo5tglV
“And Taylor” he says as I turn to leave.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4BTZgi9PR
“I am the luckiest man alive” he smiles.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ7p2okyNd
“No I am the luckiest woman alive” I tell him seeing the delivery truck pull up outside by the grapevine.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXZmrtEbBZ
Walking through to the kitchen, I dump my handbag on the oak table and look out at the vineyard through the arched windows. I smile unbelieving that this is just one of my homes. It may just be my favourite, I think smiling to myself.
Pulling my phone out I connect it to the speaker and play some of my playlist, set on making Jay some pasta for lunch with authentic Italian ingredients that we purchased from a local market.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhjz9lMZ9w
Having placed the large pan on my oven and finely chopped basil and tomatoes on my wooden chopping board. I pour the passata and olive oil into the pot and add in my ingredients watching it bubble. I try the sauce on the wooden spoon and add in more pepper and chilli. Baby loves spicy food at the moment. I stir the large pot and smile looking down at my huge gas oven. I empty the cooked roast chicken that we had the previous night into the pot and allow that to marinate with my tomatoes, garlic, onions and pepper sauce.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElHzzGRAFn
Meanwhile carving up a large piece of the homemade lemon cake for Jay and setting it down on a bowl. We opted for traditional Italian cutlery to match our kitchen. The bowls are fancy with designs on them.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufYEzeMHie
I hear the men carrying up furniture boxes over the grand staircase and head back to my pasta. Stirring it and then letting it simmer.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS92vsG0Zhs
Being here with Jay has reminded me of so many things, why I married him, how I fall madly in love with him all the more by the minute. And I will never lose hold of that again. I look at my phone for the first time in weeks, seeing a message pop up from Matthew. And a few from
Rachel. I open up the message from Matthew nevertheless and read.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy7WzFKmqM
Taylor, I know that you’re definitely having a wonderful time in Italy, but I miss you still. I hope bump is okay and more importantly that you are too. I love you, M xxx
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSAgq5GXy0
I sigh, placing the phone down I remove the pan from boil and spoon up the pasta into bowls. retrieving some black pepper and Parmesan I sprinkle them on generously and place them on the oak table. Alongside some san pellegrino for me and a coffee for Jay.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2eLqrZPVU
“You know” he says entering the kitchen through the large oak door which he pretty much fills with his large muscular frame.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeO6T68o52
“I didn’t expect you to cook” he says discarding his shirt. And slam dunking it into the washing basket.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS8gU0qxVl
“Eat please” I tell him and he smiles sitting down at the head of the table.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLntCVLOZvB
I decide that whilst he’s eating I must tell him about Matthew and the message. I keep my tone calm and measured.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92tA2UR9qn
“Matthew messaged me; I haven’t responded. But I need you to know” I tell him and he nods, waiting for me to finish.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLzTm2Mx29
“Here” I tell him a showing him the message, his expression darkens just ever so slightly.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsURAG97ZG
“Thank you for being honest with me” he says softly.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA9esfIhXe
“He does love you” he says simply. A slight chuckle afterwards, a smirk that says but I love you more.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM6T3aUY4n
“I will not be responding to his message” I say simply and he looks up.
I lock my phone and leave it on the side, I don’t want to lead Matthew on further, and I must make it clear to Jay, that this is it for me.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsOABi1wBm
“I love you” I say to him simply and clearly. He strokes my hair back and looks at me seriously putting his fork down into the empty bowl.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqffi976VJ
“I love you, Jay and I will happily stay here for the rest of my life” I tell him looking into his eyes, my face cupped in my hands as I look at him over the table.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9XVwOZVUI
“I love you too, Taylor” he says seriously.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8WzTslcox
He stands up slowly, not breaking my eye contact.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLuPTIplX6
“I would love to keep you here forever” he whispers reaching for my hand and helping me to stand.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwghsbkq3D
He strokes bump with his palm and I smile up at him.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch7lZPP20u
“Just us and our babies” I say to him and he smiles.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufdZy2jQV3
“Just us” he agrees and I hold onto him; content and sure of my choices.
ns3.14.153.55da2
