An hour later, after giving her mother the censored version of her whirlwind romance, Kelly strolled down the driveway feeling lighter than she had in days.

With her mother’s blessing and Mr Edwards’ help, offered via her mother, they would move Lucy’s furniture after work that night.

Sheltering under a tree, out of the wind, Kelly pulled out her phone and tapped out a quick message to Lucy. “We can store your stuff at Mums. She’s invited us for dinner too, if you’re free?”

Kelly didn’t want to assume Lucy hadn’t made other plans. Perhaps she went to the gym on Monday nights. Although, Kelly doubted it. Lucy kept in shape, but she didn’t have the ripped body of someone who pumped weights. She had a body Kelly couldn’t wait to fall asleep next to every night.

The ping of her phone snapped Kelly out of her musings. “Thanks, that’s a load off my mind. Can’t wait to meet your mum. Cheers to new beginnings.” She ended the message with an icon of glasses clinking and a smiley face.

Grinning like an idiot, Kelly practically floated home. For the first time in longer than she could remember, if ever, she looked forward to spending her days, her nights, her hopes, her fears, her passions, her life, with the woman who’d stolen her heart.

Epilogue

Nine months later…

Kelly awoke to a crisp spring morning, alone in bed. Cracking an eye open, she squinted against the glare of the bedside clock 6:00am. Ugh, far too early to be awake on a Sunday.

The sound of Lucy’s sweet laughter coming from the kitchen, made Kelly break out in a jaw busting grin.

Hell, for the last six months she’d woken with a smile on her face. At times, she pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, because being a proud home owner felt surreal.

The bank owned a big chunk of the two-bedroom villa, but Lucy and Kelly had paid the deposit and their names were on the title.

Considering Lucy contributed significantly more than Kelly, Kelly had insisted on writing up something like a prenup, but Lucy wouldn’t hear of it.

When Kelly had asked, “Aren’t you worried I’ll take you for a ride if, God forbid, we break up?” Lucy had kissed her on the lips and replied, “Nope”

Kelly’s heart had soared knowing the trust Lucy had in her extended beyond the bedroom.

Yawning, Kelly climbed out of bed and slipped her robe on. Until meeting Lucy, Kelly had rarely slept naked, now though, she couldn’t get enough of the feel of Lucy’s body nuzzled against hers. The skin on skin contact, knowing Lucy was by her side, never failed to lull Kelly into a peaceful sleep.