first_in_time | New Lives and Mourned Pasts

The trip was long but at least they had jobs to go to and somewhere to live even if it was small. They each had one suitcase half filled with clothes and a life they were leaving behind. Once they were left in the by the side of a dusty road on the outskirts of a small country town Barbara walked with Ian to their new home, unconsciously holding onto his hand as she had done so many times before. Their real estate agent waited at the door of their new home to hand them a set of keys. He wished the newly weds ever lasting happiness then left them to it.

"It seems I've missed my own wedding," Barbara said with a sigh as she put the suitcase down in the middle of the almost empty lounge room and chuckled a little. She was tired and felt dirty from all their traveling.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

splendid_roman

With the students about he bit back the comment he'd been going to make about a perfect day out being her shopping and him in a pub. "We'll work our way through all of them," he promised her, as they reached the entrance and he held the door open for her.

From:

first_in_time

"Thank you," Barbara said as she walked through, "I do hope you won't be trying to get me drunk," she giggled quietly.

From:

splendid_roman

"Why would I want to do that?" he asked, looking innocent.

From:

first_in_time

Barbra looked up at him for a moment before answering; "I'm not sure. You're the one wanting me to get drunk."

From:

splendid_roman

He raised an eyebrow, but his eyes twinkled. "You were the one who mentioned pubs and getting drunk."

From:

first_in_time

"You mentioned taking me to all of your favourite pubs - I was merely asking about your intentions," she said and raised her brow at him.

From:

splendid_roman

"To show you some good pubs." There was a hint of a grin there, though.

From:

first_in_time

"Even the mediocre pubs would be worth seeing if I get to see them with you," she told him sweetly then nudged Ian with her shoulder as he had done to her moments ago.

From:

splendid_roman

He smiled at her and decided they were far enough away from the school that it was safe to take her hand. "We'll have to see what the pubs round here are like sometime. It should help us get to know the locals a little better."

From:

first_in_time

"In a town this small it might be advisable," she said with a smiled and held onto Ian's hand once she'd shifted her things entirely to her other hand. "It's easy to be forgotten in London or Shoreditch."

From:

splendid_roman

"That's why we came to somewhere small, rather than another big city." He was looking forward to living somewhere where everyone knew each other and they were all friendly - which they'd already seen at the general store.

From:

first_in_time

"I know," Barbara squeezed his hand before they turned onto their street, "I also like living so very close to the school. It means we'll be able to take our time getting ready in the mornings."

From:

splendid_roman

"Or just sleep later," he said, grinning.

From:

first_in_time

"If you must," she chuckled, "but we could get up a little earlier and spend a little more time together before school." Barbara smiled shyly at him.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian was going to protest that they had time after school, but then he saw her look and changed his mind. "That would be nice too." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand before dropping it to get his keys out and open their front door.

From:

first_in_time

"Although I suppose that we do have after school for such things if we don't want to get up early." Barbara followed Ian into the house and put her things in the lounge.

From:

splendid_roman

"Let's just see what time we wake up," he suggested. He flopped onto the sofa with a sigh. "I'd forgotten how tiring teaching is."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara watched him for a moment. "I'll make you some tea," she said and went into the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with Ian's tea and a cup for herself.

"A cup of tea will make you feel a lot better."

From:

splendid_roman

"Thank you." He smiled as he took it and leaned up to kiss her. "A cup of tea, a rest and a few lesson plans and I'll be ready for our sunset picnic."