Wags To Riches, page 28
“Yeah let’s do that” I say so after dinner and several glasses of Chianti we head back to the hotel. It’s still quite warm, so I turn up the air conditioning in the hotel room full blast before getting into bed. The room soon feels really nice and cool and it isn’t long before we’re both asleep. A few hours later however, we both wake up absolutely dithering with cold.
“Jesus Christ! It’s cold in here!” Adam shouts, jumping out of bed in just his pants and running over to the wardrobe. He yanks open the door and starts rummaging through the hangers. “Why is it so goddamn cold?”
“I did turn the air conditioning up full before we went to bed” I admit, pulling on one of Adam’s sweaters whilst shivering violently.
“Oh – now that would explain a lot!” Adam says, shaking his head at me and laughing. He pulls a T-shirt and then a sweatshirt over his head. “It does cool down a lot overnight you know!”
“Well I know that now” I say defensively as I go to switch the air conditioning controls back to normal. We both got back into bed, still shivering.
“Bloody hell – I’m going to put the coats on the bed in a minute!” Adam says, his teeth still chattering slightly. “Ooooh - come here!” he says as he puts his arms round me, “Let’s snuggle up together and try and get warm!”
“Adam! Your hands are freezing!” I squeal as he puts his cold hands on my back underneath my jumper.
“Well – whose fault is that?” Adam says. “Now stop moaning and give me a kiss”.
The next morning dawns warm and sunny and we decide to have breakfast on the balcony, Adam rings room service and a nice elderly Italian waiter brings up a tray laden with croissants, coffee and fresh fruit.
“Thanks very much!” Adam says, taking the tray from him and resting it on the table. “This looks lovely!”
“Doesn’t it?” I say, admiring the food before sitting down on the chair opposite him. We sit and eat breakfast and just enjoy the spectacular view from the balcony.
“What did you fancy doing today Gail?” Adam asks me, pouring us both some coffee. “This is your little mini break, so you get to choose!”
“Well,” I say, putting my hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun, “I think I would like to have a look round the Vatican today. I’ve always wanted to see the Sistine Chapel”.
“Okay” Adam says, “Well, once we’ve had breakfast, we’ll walk up there. I think it’s about twenty – twenty five minutes’ walk from here”.
We arrive at the Vatican museum and wonder round for ages, marvelling at all the treasures and the beautifully painted walls and ceilings. There’s so much to see, that I don’t know quite what to look at first. We then join the queue to enter the Sistine chapel, which is down a very narrow corridor. The heat, which has been steadily building all morning, is now really intense. I can feel the sweat trickling down my back. “I tell you something” I whisper to Adam, “I’m glad I wore a dress today and not jeans”. I’d fallen in love with this dress as soon as I saw it – it’s made from white broderie anglaise fabric, it’s knee length and has little spaghetti shoulder straps.
“I’m glad you did” Adam replies, “I’m even gladder you didn’t wear heels as well – don’t want to listen to you moaning about your feet all the way round!” I smack him playfully with the guidebook I’d bought earlier and then fan my face with it in a futile attempt to cool down.
“You all right?” Adam asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, smiling at him. He looks gorgeous today. Not that he doesn’t look gorgeous every day, but today he looks extra gorgeous. He’s wearing baggy jeans, trainers and a loose-fitting, white, lightweight cotton collarless shirt which is shot through with tiny threads of shimmering silver. He’s left the shirt untucked and also partially unbuttoned – so every so often as he moves, I get glimpses of his tanned, muscular torso underneath. Pwhoar! God he’s sexy! Although I shouldn’t really have thoughts like this whilst we are waiting to go into a chapel should I? Feeling guilty, I immediately start reading the guidebook in earnest.
We shuffled down the hot and crowded corridor and eventually enter the Sistine Chapel. It’s absolutely amazing but is even more crowded and hotter than the corridor outside. Adam wanders over to look at a picture, but I stay where I am. I feel a bit odd, a little light-headed. Suddenly, I feel incredibly warm and unspeakably tired. Little sparkly bits of light start to appear at the edge of my vision. I feel really woozy – it seems as though everything is slowing down. “Adam” I call, “I think I’m going to…” I can’t finish the sentence and the last thing I remember is blurrily seeing Adam running towards me. Then suddenly I’m having a dream about being back at work and Delightful has been taken over by an Italian firm and then I start to wake up. I think I’m at home in bed, but then I can hear the sound of concerned Italian voices around me. That’s not right. I slowly open my eyes, half expecting to be in our bedroom at home and instead, high above me, is a beautifully painted ceiling and looking at me are several Italian people, a couple of American tourists and a really worried looking Adam.
“Where the hell am I?” I say bewildered, grabbing Adam’s arm as I try to sit up and suddenly it all comes flooding back. Oh my goodness – I’m in the Sistine Chapel aren’t I? I must have fainted!
“You fainted sweetheart” Adam says, “It must be the heat. Thank goodness you’ve come round!” he says, the relief palpable in his voice.
“Oh it must be the heat for sure – honey it is so hot I’m surprised we all haven’t fainted” one of the American tourists says.
“Her blood sugar might be really low” another American voice says, “Here – try this” and hands Adam a can of Coke, which he opens and passes to me. Gingerly, I take a few sips and it does help me feel a bit better.
“Thank you” I say to the American girl. “That helps a lot”. Adam offers to pay for the can of Coke, but the girl waves her hand dismissively.
“No – it’s no problem – I’m trying not to drink so much soda anyway” she says, smiling.
“Have you been reading Skinny Bitch?” I ask, smiling weakly. It’s an American diet book Gina lent me and the authors do go on about the evils of drinking pop or soda as they call it. I didn’t really like the book – the diet is really hardcore vegan and that isn’t me. Gina said she’d tried the diet and packed it in after 2 days.
The American girl laughs. “Yes!” she replies, “But I can’t stick to it!”
“Do you think you can stand?” Adam asks me.
“I think so” I say and slowly get to my feet.
“Come on you,” Adam says gently to me, “Let’s get you back to the hotel”.
When we arrive back at the hotel, I still felt quite weak and a bit rubbery legged, and end up half walking, half being carried by Adam up to the hotel room. Once inside, I get straight into bed, fully dressed and go to sleep for a while, waking up to find Adam doing sit ups on the floor at the side of the bed.
“Hey, how you feeling?” he says softly, kneeling up to look at me.
“Much better thanks” I reply, yawning and rubbing my eyes.
“Feel like going out for some dinner later?” he asks.
“Yes please” I say. “Actually, I’m hungry now”. I am – I’m starving!
“What would you like?” Adam asked. “I’ll ring room service”.
“I’d like a couple of Danish pastries, some fruit and a cup of tea with sugar in” I reply as Adam gets up and goes over to the phone.
“Consider it done” he replies as I sit up in bed. After ringing room service, Adam comes and sits next to me. “You look hell of a lot better” he says, stroking my hair, “now you’ve got some colour back in your cheeks. You looked bloody grey before!”
“I’m really sorry – I don’t know what happened,” I say. “I just felt really warm and tired and I thought I was at home in bed. Then I opened my eyes and realised where I was!”
“Don’t apologise Gail, it’s not your fault. It was so hot in there, I’m not surprised you fainted” Adam says as there is a knock at the door. “It was a relief to come back to the hotel and crank up the air conditioning,” he adds winking at me and I smile as he goes to answer the door.
Adam returns carrying a tray with a pot of tea on, a plate of delicious looking tiny pastries and a bowl of various pieces of fruit. “Here you go,” he says, carefully putting the tray across my legs. “Now – are you sure you don’t want anything else? You don’t want a sandwich or anything?” he asks, looking at me concerned.
I smile. He is so sweet. “No thanks Adam – I’m fine, really” I reply as he continues to anxiously study my face. “Have you eaten?”
“Yeah – I had a sandwich sent up while you were asleep. Are you sure you don’t need a doctor? I can get one you know if you need one” he adds.
“No – really Adam, I’m fine” I say trying to reassure him.
“I’m going to have a shower now then - okay?” Adam says, going across to the bathroom.
“Of course” I say. I quickly eat some fruit as I am absolutely starving and then click the television on. By the time I’ve had a flick round the channels, drank my tea and polished off most of the pastries, Adam has finished in the shower and is in the process of doing his hair in the mirror.
“What are you watching?” he asks.
“The Italian version of Deal or No Deal,” I say, getting out of bed.
“Oh right. Any good?” Adam asks.
“Yeah it’s okay. The presenter’s a bit mad though” I say and go in to the bathroom. I wondered why I fainted I think to myself as I wash my hair, I’ve never fainted before – it must be the heat, like Adam said. I could always say I was overcome by the artistic genius of Michelangelo I suppose. Now, onto the important decision - what shall I wear tonight?
After choosing a cream strapless dress decorated with gold flowers up the side, I put some make up on and a little Yummy Scrummy Lip Honey and look at myself. I look quite good – even though I say it myself. . The sun has already caught my face, shoulders and hair. I slip on my gold strappy shoes and go out onto the balcony where Adam is sat waiting for me.
“Wow Gail – look at you! You look beautiful!” he says and smiles at me.
“Thank you!” I say. “So do you!” Adam’s wearing the same suit that he wore on our first date and he looks fabulous.
“Can we go and eat now?” he asks plaintively and I smile.
“Let me just grab my pashmina in case it’s cold later and we can go” I say.
Adam chooses a lovely restaurant for us to have dinner at and, as it is such a nice balmy evening we sit at one of the tables outside on the pavement. We both have mussels to start and then wait for the main course to arrive.
“So how are you feeling now?” Adam asks as he takes his jacket off and puts it on the back of his chair. “Since you decided to swoon straight into my arms!”
I laugh and finish my glass of wine. “I know – I’m quite the Mills & Boons heroine aren’t I?” I say. “I’m fine honestly” I reassure him, “although I think more wine might help!”
“Oh definitely” Adam says and refills both our glasses.
After dinner we walk back to the hotel hand in hand, Adam carrying his jacket and my pashmina as it’s still warm. We go upstairs to our suite and after Adam calls room service for another bottle of wine, sit out onto the balcony for a while, drinking wine, just talking and laughing and enjoying the view. It’s great. Sounds of footsteps and laughter filter up from the streets below, along with the occasional blast of loud music as a bar door opens and closes.
“I’m just going to nip and get something,” Adam says presently, getting up and going inside.
“Okay” I say and turn my attention back to the view. I could sit here forever – it’s so beautiful. I don’t want to go home!
Adam steps back onto the balcony but instead of going to sit back down pushes the little table and other chair away slightly and then goes down on bended knee in front of me. I can see a beautiful Princess cut diamond solitaire ring held in his fingers and gasp as I realised what is about to happen. “Gail” Adam says, taking hold of my left hand, “Will you marry me?”
I’m so surprised and overcome, I can’t speak for a few seconds. “Oh God” I say, “I didn’t expect...Oh God!”
“Well – will you?” Adam asks again.
“Yes” I say looking up at him, “A thousand times - yes!”
Adam slips the ring onto my finger and we smile widely at each other. Oh my God! We’re engaged! Right now I’m so happy, I could just burst.
Chapter 26
I keep admiring my engagement ring on the flight home. The diamond is absolutely gorgeous and I just love the way it catches the light! Adam looks over and smiles at me before starting to flip through his car magazine. “Mr Finchley!” a delighted voice says at the side of him and we look up to see one of the cabin crew - a rather effeminate man with short spiky hair, too much fake tan and dazzling white teeth - stood there, beaming at both of us. “Well it’s not every day we get someone like you on the plane!” he gushes, “It’s a pleasure to have you flying with us today!”
“Thanks!” Adam says, smiling while looking slightly embarrassed.
“Can I get you or Miss Auden any drinks or anything?” he asks and then notices me admiring my engagement ring. “Oh my goodness!” he breathes, “Are you – dare I ask, have you got engaged?”
“Yes we have!” I sing happily and hold out my hand to him so he can see the ring.
“Oh isn’t it beautiful?” he says. “I do like a nice ring”.
Adam snorts with laughter, hastily turning it into a cough as I glare at him, whilst trying to hide a smile myself. Adam’s terrible – I wish he’d stop it! Thankfully at that moment, a business woman sat across from us asks if she can have a look at my engagement ring and Adam, still trying not to laugh, pushes himself back into his seat so I can lean over and show it to her.
“Oh - that’s fabulous!” she says admiringly.
“Isn’t it just?” I say, smiling sweetly.
“That diamond is huge – I bet that must have cost a fortune!” she adds, smiling at Adam, who smiles back, but doesn’t reply. I’ve been trying not to think about how much it cost, because then I won’t want to wear it as I’ll be too frightened of losing it.
“Well I think this definitely calls for champagne – no charge of course, Mr Finchley,” the cabin crew member says. “We don’t get enough engagements on here you know” and hurries off before either me or Adam and can say anything. A few moments later an announcement is made:
‘Ladies and gentlemen – congratulations are in order for two very special passengers who are travelling with us today! The super talented footballer Adam Finchley and his good lady the lovely Gail Auden…’
Adam and I look at each other in horror. “Oh fucking hell!” Adam groans, burying his face in his magazine.
‘…Have just announced their engagement, so stand up Adam and Gail and let’s give them a huge round of applause!’
Everybody claps as Adam and I reluctantly get to our feet and smile at everyone as the cabin crew member we were talking to earlier comes bustling back down the aisle, carrying a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“Here you go! Enjoy!” he says, opening the champagne. “Anything else I can get you?”
“No thanks – you’ve done more than enough!” Adam says smiling through clenched teeth and I have to laugh.
“I think that was quite sweet of him, really” I say to Adam after the guy has gone.
“Well you do realise we aren’t going to get a moment’s peace now” he whispers after a couple of people come up to congratulate us.
“I know, but it’s nice that people want to wish us well!” I say, looking first at him and then fondly at my engagement ring. “Don’t you think?”
“You’re only saying that because you like showing off your engagement ring!” Adam says grinning.
“So? Would you rather I took it off?” I ask teasingly.
“Don’t you dare!” Adam says and kisses my hand.
“Can’t wait to show it my mum and dad,” I say, “I can’t believe my mum cried when I phoned to tell her”. Everyone I’ve phoned has reacted slightly differently - Gina did big squeals down the phone and sounded like she was going to cry, Sharon shouted ‘fantastic!’ and then said it was a great excuse to buy another expensive designer dress - not that she needs one mind - and Alex simply said warmly ‘Congratulations Gail – I’m so happy for you!’ I’m still having trouble trying to believe it myself. If someone had told me a year ago that I would now be engaged to you, I think looking at Adam as I take a sip of champagne, I would never have believed it, not in a million years. How lucky am I? And this celebrity lark isn’t so bad. I like the free champagne anyway.
After we have landed, we walk back through arrivals and I can see a couple of photographers prowling around. They’re probably hoping to get a picture of someone famous who has just stepped off a plane and is looking a bit rough after a long flight. Then it dawned on me that they might take a picture of me and Adam. “Oh no!” I hiss, frantically trying to smooth my hair down and then apply more Yummy Scrummy Lip Honey. “Adam! You don’t think those photographers are going to want a picture of us do you?”
“There’s not a lot we can do if they do take a photo is there?” Adam says, shrugging his shoulders. “If there’s one of someone more newsworthy, it might not appear in the newspaper anyway”.
“Oh” I say, feeling slightly put out.
Adam laughs. “Thought you didn’t want them to take your picture?”
“I don’t know - I do and I don’t” I reply defensively. “I’d be flattered if they want to, but I would also glad if they didn’t”.
“Well - come on, we’ve got to go through so let’s get it over with. Just give them a big grin Gail and no, your hair does not look a mess,” he adds and I grin at him. He can read my mind sometimes.
