Cora had searched for a new home and found the perfect place in Embankment.
She and Robert had a viewing today. The reception room with double-height ceilings had spectacular views over the river and its iconic buildings. “Cora look, we can see the Houses of Parliament.” Robert exclaimed.
“It is beautiful! Look at that terrace. This place is really lovely.”
“We will have a bedroom for Oliver, a spare bedroom and we both can have our study. You can have your music room. And did you see the view from our bedroom? Oh darling, I missed this skyline.” Robert said.
Robert made an offer and they were lucky to get it.
+++
“Good morning, birthday boy.” Cora and Robert stepped into his room, singing a birthday song. Oliver sat right up with a big smile on his face. He opened his presents and enjoyed his pancakes that Cora made him.
Cora brushed through his hair. “We have a surprise for you today. Sybbie, George and Marigold are coming over and we are going to ‘Shrek’s Adventure!‘
“Mama, are we really?” One day Oliver had watched Shrek with Robert and since that day he was obsessed.
Cora kissed him on the top of his head. Before she could answer the kitchen was flooded with his sisters and cousins.
Robert pulled Cora close. “We are a lucky couple, look at them.” They looked at Mary, Matthew, Sybil, Tom and Edith interacting with their children and Oliver.
The day had been fun, they had lunch at Sky Garden, but dinner was at home. Oliver had requested Cora would make bangers and mash and Cora had said it was enough excitement for Robert for one day.
“You are exactly like your sister Sybil. That is her favourite meal too.” Robert tickled Oliver.
“Only when mama makes it. I tried it myself, but mama does something special with it.” Sybil said.
“Mama has a special ingredient.” Robert said.
“Dad, when is the move?” Mary asked.
They all sat in the conservatory, while Cora and Edith were in the kitchen making dinner.
“We hope to move in October, we need to put this house on the market soon.”
“I will miss this place.” Sybil said. “This is where we grew up.”
“We didn’t.” Mary answered. “Edith and I were not born here.”
Robert intervened, he didn’t want a fight today. “Both you and Edith were too young to remember the apartment we lived in. This is the home you all grew up in. The place where……. ” His voice trailed off.
Cora had been listening and stepped towards Robert. She brushed his shoulder. “He is coming with us to our new home!” She bent down and kissed his cheek. “Dinner is ready.”
Everybody got up and walked into the dining room. Cora and Robert stayed behind.
“26 years already, he would have had a girlfriend by now, or even be married.” Robert said with a thick voice.
Cora hugged Robert. “I also miss him, but we have four wonderful children, let’s be happy and celebrate. Enjoy our grandchildren and each other. Look at us, 30 years of marriage. Who would have thought that.
+++
Robert started working with Matthew. Mary made it clear she wasn’t interested in taking over the company, but Matthew was eager.
Cora made sure Robert took his rest and did not work full days. It was hard for him, but he was adjusting slowly. Some days he came home looking really pale and that worried Cora.
“Darling?” Cora laid her hand on Robert’s chest. “Are you awake?”
“I am.” He answered, touching her hand.
“Are you really feeling alright? This afternoon you looked so tired.”
“Really, don’t worry about me. It is just everything together, our last night in this house, the move tomorrow. Matthew taking over the company.” His voice trailed off.
Cora got closer to him, she kissed his neck. She didn’t say anything, she just held him close.
+++
“Oliver, can you please stay out of the way!” Cora said annoyed. She almost tripped over him carrying a box to the moving van.
“Oliver, why don’t you come with me, you can play with Sybbie.” Sybil said.
Cora gave her a thankful look. “Robert, that is way too heavy, let the movers do that, please.”
Robert put the box down. “I will go to the office, just call me when the movers are done.” He walked out the door without saying goodbye. Cora let out a deep sigh.
At the end of the day, all three girls were home.
“Where is papa?” Mary asked.
“He is at the office.” Cora answered. “I think I got on his nerves.”
“Mama, sent everybody away today!” Oliver said with a smart face.
Cora brushed his hair and smiled at him. “I am afraid you are right. I will call papa to come home.”
Robert took Matthew and Tom with him. He kissed Cora. “I am sorry for this afternoon.”
“Don’t worry, darling, I was wrong too.”
“I will miss this home.” Edith said and Sybil agreed.
“We will not be able to sleep over anymore.” Mary said.
“We will always have room, for you girls. We will put mattresses in the living room. We had some good years here with all of us.”
They said goodbye to their home and Robert closed the door behind them. Cora took his hand. “Our story will continue in our new home.” She got on her toes to kiss him. With the years she had hoped Robert would shrink, but she shrunk with him and was still shorter.
Robert had ordered dinner, and they ate it in the new dining room. They all enjoyed the stunning views from this apartment. After the girls, left with their husbands and children Cora put Oliver in his bed.
“You sleep well my darling.” She kissed him on his forehead, he was asleep before she left his room.
Back in the living room, Robert had dimmed the lights, lighted candles and turned on romantic music. He was waiting for Cora. He took her hands and started dancing. “We should spend the first night in this home in a good way. We could have some fun.” he said with a cheeky smile.
“As long (as) Oliver is asleep, we can do anything, my darling.” She gave him a passionate kiss.
Robert hands were trying to take of her blouse, he struggled with the buttons. Cora helped him, softly touching his fingers. “Maybe we need to move to the bedroom, I don’t want Oliver to walk in on us.”
Robert’s hands stopped trying to unbutton her blouse. “What a way to kill the mood.” He moaned.
Cora let one shoulder of her blouse down and moved with her hips. “I will be upstairs, if you want more!” And she walked up the stairs.
Robert followed as quickly as he could. Before Cora reached their new bedroom, he stopped her, took her in his arms and carried her over the doorstep. “I didn’t do that when we entered our home today!”
Cora kissed his neck. “Be careful darling.”
Robert froze for a second and Cora realised what she said. She teased him with her tongue. “You are too old to have fun.” She said in a playful manner.
Robert pushed her against the wall, Cora had wrapped her legs around him. He worked on her, by kissing her breast line. He pressed against her, she could feel he was getting hard.
Suddenly he stopped, turned around and laid her on the bed. He finished taking of her blouse and bra. He slowly moved his hands over her body. Her skin started too wrinkle, it aroused him even more. He had loved her young skin, but knowing that she was his for all these years…… He kissed her bellybutton and moved upwards.
Cora moved her hands over Robert’s back, she had taken of his shirt and was working on his pants. Her hand slipped inside. She felt his body react in shock. She worked on him, until he couldn’t stand on his legs. She pulled him on the bed on top of her. Her skirt was halfway down, but she didn’t bother taking it off. She opened her legs so Robert could enter.
“I love you so much.” Robert moaned in her ear when he reached his high.
“I need more!” Cora said with a hot breath. She moved on top of Robert. Her hands roaming over his chest. His chest hair had gotten grey. She kissed his chest and moved down until she touched him. His hands cupping her head. He arched his back.
“Now it is your turn.” He said while turning Cora on her back. His fingers slipped inside her, and he played with her. She didn’t need much before she peaked. Her whole body shuddered, Robert was still a master in finding her pleasure spot. His mouth found hers and she could taste his minty breath. She loved his taste, his warmth inside her.
Robert slid down next to her, his fingers still inside her. He felt she was ready for more, he pulled her on top of him. She moved her hips and he entered again.
Both were breathing heavily when they laid next to each other. Cora’s legs strangled in Roberts, her head on his arm. “Not bad for an old man,” she joked.
“Nothing wrong with my heart.” He joked back “But with a wife as beautiful as you, it is easy to stay young.” He kissed the tip of her nose. He pulled the covers over them, when he felt Cora falling asleep.
No better way to celebrate a new house. He thought.
Verhalen van Traan 