melody_complex-relationships-2

COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS by Melody <<< part 1

PART 2

On arrival at her apartment Denise showed him where she had made room for his clothes. His c.d's and dvd's were on top of the cabinet she used to store her own. They would definitely need a lot more storage when they moved.

“Is it ok if I have a bath?” enquired Nicky, standing uncomfortably by the door jamb.
“You don't have to ask,” Denise smiled. “This is your home as well.”
“It's going to take some getting used to. Where do you keep the towels?”
Nicky had only been to her apartment a couple of times, both of them after he'd taken her home. He hadn't actually been inside.

She got up off the sofa, putting the magazine she'd been reading on the coffee table. “I'll show you.”
“Fancy sharing a bath with me? You could wash my back.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”

“Shall we order some food in?” asked Nicky getting dressed after they had made love.
“Hmm lets. You ring and order and I'll open some wine.”
“Indian or Chinese?”
“You decide,” she answered with a smile. “You know what I like.”

Nicky was giving the address when Denise entered with two glasses of red wine. “Mmm nice,” he muttered appreciatively.
“Pass the phone love, I need to call Martin. Can you imagine how hurt Rachel will be if he calls her?”
“I'll do it if you want,” he offered, kissing her lips softly.
“Thanks but I think this is a call I need to make.” Denise hit the relevant memory key to access Martin's number, and waited for it to be answered. It didn't take long. “Hi ya Martin, I erm, I need to tell you something.”

“Hang on a sec Martin, I'm going to put you on speaker phone.” Quickly she pressed a button and placed the phone between herself and Nicky.
“Who's with you?”
“Nicky.”
“Nicky?”
“Yeah he's erm, he left Rachel and moved in with me.”

“I'm sure that he won't be with you for too long so don't worry. On the brightside though it will be nice for you to have someone to do the housework.”
“Martin, he's moved in with me. We're living together. He and Rachel are divorcing.”
“What the bloody hell do you think you're playing at? How long has this been going on for? I was sodding convinced that you two were good friends and no more. You've never favoured him when decisions have been made.”

“That's because when I'm working I have my business head on. My impartiality has not been compromised, nor will it be. I love him Martin, it isn't a quick fling. We've been avoiding it for years.”
“And you should have continued to do so! Nicky, you're married, what the fuck happened to your principles?”
“Being in love got the better of me Martin. I'm sorry, I know that this is the last thing you need but it won't be long before the press start asking questions.”
“Do Irene and Allen know?”
Nicky coughed. “Oh yeah, we got thrown out.”

“I can't say that I'm surprised, it will have come as one hell of a shock. Who else knows?”
“Aside from you, Rachel and my folks? No one.”
“When will you tell Denise's parents?”
“Tomorrow I guess They won't be that surprised, they've always suspected something.”
“Do you want me to tell the others or will you two do that?”
“We haven't discussed it,” said Nicky. “Though it will probably be better coming from us.”
“Right, well I'll call Terri and Liz and we can do some damage limitation. Fuck, I really hope that you know what you're doing.”

“We haven't done this lightly,” said Nicky desperately trying to contain his rising temper. “This is the right thing for us to do.”
“I bloody hope so because you are going to stir up quite a storm. At least you've had the guts to tell Rachel the truth, however unpalatable.”
“We've both been lying and hiding for long enough,” explained Nicky.
“Shame it took you so long. What's more of a shame is that its happened and needed to be told.”

“You don't approve do you?”
“Did you think I would Denise? Oh I may accept it in time but I am very disappointed. And you Nick, you always professed to adore Rachel and married life saying that you'd never be interested in another woman. Not the truth was it? And all those proclamations that you made Den about never getting involved with a married man, not the truth either was it?”

“We'll be ok Nick,” said Denise, embracing Nicky when the call was terminated.
“I know. It will be worth it when we don't have to hide, its the explaining everything so many times. Talk about tedious.”
Gently she stroked his chin, smiling warmly to him. “I know, only a few more times and its out of the way. Then we can leave people to take in the news, but they can wait, first we'll eat.”

They didn't have long to wait for the food to arrive.

“Leave the pots to dry on the drainer,” whispered Nicky standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “I fancy having a cuddle on the sofa for ten minutes.”
“Hmm, drying the pots or cuddling the man I love? That is one heck of a tough choice.”
“Is it?” Gently he nibbled at the sensitive flesh beneath her ears, Denise lolled her head back. “Mmm this is good. Why don't we take the rest of the wine to the bedroom?”
“Because gorgeous, we have business to attend to first.”
“That can wait until tomorrow.”
“I could argue that our lovemaking could as well, we've made love twice today,” Denise smirked. “Although when its that good, twice is nowhere near enough.”
“If you want sex twice a day, at least, I'll be knackered in a few days.”

“You managed it while we were away, very impressive! Especially when you consider the amount of time we spent out of the hotel.”
“Erm that was an exception,” he chuckled against her neck. “I had two weeks of celibacy to make up for.”
“You still have some making up to do,” she laughed.
Nicky shook his head at her. “You can stop that right now!” Denise whooped in surprise when Nicky lifted her up and put her over his shoulder. “Come on, make those calls and then you can take advantage of my tired feeble body.”

James and Sean were both out so Denise left messages for them to call her. Then it was Nicky's turn to call Patrick. He turned out to be the only one to be glad that it was out in the open, offering both of them his support.

“If you need to get away for a while you can come and stay here.”
“Thanks Pat. We may need to take you up on that offer,” said Nicky. “We've pissed a lot of people off. Mum and dad threw us out.”
“Do you want me to talk with them?”
“I'm not sure that would be a good thing. They'll want to know why you never told them about it. You'll be in for a right bollocking.”
“Perhaps, then again it may make them realise how much you love Denise.”
“Play it by ear Pat. I trust your judgement”
“Me too,” added Denise.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'll call them tomorrow, see if I can't smooth the waters.”
“We both appreciate this Pat.”
“At the end of the day Mum and dad may not approve but they have to get used to it. You two will be a couple forever.”
“They all said that about me and Rachel.”
“All except for me as I recall,” said Pat. “Nothing I could put my finger on but it was there.”
“I should have heeded your advice years ago.”

“Don't dwell on it Nicky. What matters is that you are doing something about it. You are with Denise now, you're happy and that's all that matters.”
“Right now I'm more relieved than happy.” Nicky caught the glare that Denise was flashing him. “Once we've told everyone and dealt with the fallout, then we can be happy.”
“Just one thing Nick,” added Pat with a titter. “Don't leave it too long before you make me an uncle!”
“Erm I think I have something to do with that,” Denise chortled, shocked at Pat's forthrightness.

“You love kids and you'll be a great mum, just bloody hurry up. My brother is no spring chicken and it won't be long before he seizes up completely.”
“It's a good thing you're on the phone Pat or I'd clock you one!”
“Nah you wouldn't Nick. I know how much you both want a family.”
“We need to get the divorce out of the way first.”
“But then you start trying, no excuses! Anyway I'll let you go. I erm, I dare say that you want to christen the bedroom if you haven't already.” Pat heard the giggle that Nicky desperately tried to stifle. “I should have known! I'll talk with you tomorrow after I've spoke with mum and dad.”

When the call was finished Denise switched on the answering machine. “Bed,” she whispered seductively to Nicky.
“Sorry honey, I'm too tired for anything but sleep,” he teased, faking a yawn. “I'm pooped out after the day we've had.”
“Is that right?”

Denise straddled Nicky's thighs, deftly opening the button and zip of his pants. A few gentle strokes of her fingers over his briefs brought his dick to life. She pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. “You appear to be waking up.”
He took her by surprise. Before she knew it their clothes were scattered over the floor. Nicky pried her legs apart with his right knee, smiling at the expression of undeniable rapture on her delicate features.

Being able to make love in their own environment and not a hotel was a new experience for them both. Nicky especially was enjoying the freedom that privacy brought. He had always been reluctant to make love with Denise in her apartment until now. If Rachel had found out about the affair prior to him disclosing the
truth to her, he wanted to protect Denise as much as possible from any repercussions, though why making love in a hotel made it any better he wasn't sure.

“This is bloody great,” he said, stroking Denise's breasts. “Doing what we want, when we want in the privacy of our own place.”
Denise beamed back to him. “It's good to hear you call it that. It'd be even better when we pick a place as a couple. That will be our first real home.”
“We'll get in touch with some estate agents tomorrow and organise some viewings.”
“It's ridiculous how excited I am, I've never lived with a partner before.”
“Hmm, I recall you mentioning that. I'm privileged, it means a lot to know that you want to take such a big step.”

“All I know is that it's the right thing for me to do. Being a part of your life is what I want, for the good times and the not so good.”
His azure eyes shone with pleasure. “I'll make you happy Denise. You'll never regret this.”
“Neither will you. You're sacrificing so much Nicky.”
“No, I'm gaining so much.”

When Nicky awoke the following morning he turned over to cuddle Denise, she wasn't there. Catching a glimpse of the clock he understood why, it was practically 11am! He allowed himself a wry grin and lay back recalling the nights' events. They had been late getting to sleep due to their love making. From somewhere he had found an energy reserve and woken her up to make love once more. The sex was certainly good, not that that shocked him, they had always had an adventurous love life.. What astounded him was his stamina and seemingly non-stop randiness. The more sex he got, the more he wanted.

Still grinning madly he went to the bathroom. When he emerged he put on some boxers and a pair of jeans. Until they went out, or had visitors, they would suffice.

“Hey lazy bones,” called Denise on catching sight of the bare chested Nicky approaching her. “Rested up after all those athletic exertions I trust?”
“You bet,” he chuckled, kissing her. “Renewed, refreshed and invigorated. I'm ready to go again.”
“Keep walking like that and I will have great difficulty in refraining from abusing your body.”
“Am I complaining?”
“Not yet,” she giggled, stroking his arse. “D'ya fancy a cuppa?”
“You stay here, I'll make it,” he said. “Have Sean or James called back yet?”
“Sean has. Actually he was really good about it. Said he'd seen it brewing and it was only a matter of time.”

“Really?” Nicky was genuinely shocked. “I thought he'd go apoplectic.”
“He said that we could have handled it better and you came in for a fair whack of criticism. Sean thinks that you ought to have told Rachel that you were leaving her first, and then embarked on a relationship with me.”
“He has a point.”
“That's what I said. I also reminded him that I was at fault too. He listened to me, I mean really listened. He did warn me that things could be very different when he told Rhian.”
“That's to be expected, Rhian and Rachel are great mates. Actually I'm kinda surprised that Rhian doesn't already know.”

“Hmm. I called James again, still no answer so I left another message. After some rummaging around I found his mobile number.”
“Don't tell me...voicemail?”
“Yep! My conclusion is that he's either spent the night shagging some bird stupid or he's pissed as a newt.”
“With Jamesy either is a distinct possibility.” Chuckling like hell to himself, Nicky walked through to the kitchen with a definite spring in his step.

They were perusing the property guide, marking out the houses that they wanted to go and view, when the intercom buzzer disturbed them.
“Hi.”
“It's James, you've been calling me. I erm, I was in the neighbourhood, kinda thing, so I thought I'd drop by.”
“Come on up.” Denise stared blankly at Nicky after pressing the button to open the main door.
“How does he know that you live here?” The insecurity was evident by Nick's tone.
“He helped me move in. He's also stayed over a couple of times.”
“Is that so?”
“Don't start getting all jealous on me Nicholas Jones,” she said brightly. “Nothing happened, I promise. There were times when he needed to talk about Richey and didn't want to invade your marital bliss.”
“If only he knew.”

Denise opened the door to her apartment and James appeared seconds later.
“So what's the urgency? Must be something good if you called me at home and on my mobile.”
“It's a good thing that you rang home to check your messages,” Denise answered walking with him into the lounge. “I know you rarely answer your voicemail messages.”
“That's because I'm still not sure how to! It was a sheer fluke that I managed it. So what...” James stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of the half naked Nicky shuffling nervously in front of him. “Wire, what are you doing here?”

“I left Rachel,” mumbled Nicky in response.
James immediately gave Nicky a large bear hug. “Don't you worry. What ever it is you'll sort it out. Two or three days at the most you'll have made up and...” he turned to Denise, “and he'll be out of your way.”

When Nicky took a step back James instantly knew that there was more to come.

“I left Rachel to be with Denise. I'm in love with her James and, for some unfathomable reason, she is in love with me.”
James glared at them both. Denise almost felt sorry for him, there was pain in his eyes. Pain, hurt and betrayal.

The shock news reverberated around the room, James not sure what to say or do.

Nicky left Rachel?

Nicky is in love with Denise?

Denise loves Nicky?

Oh James had known that there was a spark between them but had never suspected, not even for a nanosecond that anything would come of it. For one thing, James had always been convinced of Nicky's love, adoration and commitment to Rachel. For another, he was convinced that Nicky was too much of a coward to act on it. This was going to take some digesting and getting used to.

With the lame excuse of making drinks, Nicky and Denise escaped to the kitchen. What they actually wanted was to give James a chance to calm down. That infamous Bradfield temper was on the verge of erupting.

With his drink on the coffee table in front of him, James stared blankly ahead, lost in his own little world.
“I'd offer you a stronger tipple but it's a little early in the day.”
“Just as well. I'm having difficulty getting my head around this without the added fuzziness of alcohol,” James sighed, still appearing mighty angry. “What the fuck possessed you both? You don't leave your wife and set up with another woman on a whim. Are you both totally insane?”
“No we're not. This is what we want James,” proclaimed Nicky adamantly.

“How can you know that Nick? How can you decide to walk out on your marriage and into something with Denise when you don't know if you are actually compatible? You are not the easiest person to live with Nick.”

Nick was about to say something but Denise got there first.
“That's the thing James, we did know. This hasn't just started.”
“Jesus, this gets better! An affair? You hypocritical gits, both of you!”
“Yeah, you're right,” responded Denise, catching James off guard. “How we have done this may be wrong...”
“It IS wrong! He's a fucking married man.”
“I fell in love with him.”

“James, you have no idea how many times I asked her to be with me,” stressed Nicky, desperate to make his friend understand. “Eventually she agreed to go out with me as a friend, nothing more. We got closer and closer until...”
“Until you could no longer keep your dick in your pants!”
“NO! Until we both admitted what we wanted. This wasn't easy for us James, though I seriously doubt that you'll believe that.”

“Why would I Nick huh? Was it good having twice as much sex as usual? Did it give you a kick to have a lurid sex life that no one knew about?”
“This hasn't been easy, any of it,” Nicky bellowed at the top of his voice. “I've been churned up about deceiving Rachel and gutted that I couldn't be with Denise. This was purgatory!”
“Of your own making! If it was that serious why not tell Rachel before the affair?”

In unison Nicky and Denise held their hands up. The criticisms being hurled at them would be hurled at them many times. What they had done, in having an affair was wrong, both knew that. They also knew that however this happened Rachel and others would be hurt and disappointed. Would doing things differently
have altered the impact? There was no way of knowing.

Fortunately it took a couple of months for the press to get hold of the story. At that point in time Nicky and Denise were preparing to move into a house that they had bought and the divorce was well under way. Rachel and Nicky were only communicating through their solicitors. The divorce was proving to be very
acrimonious.

At least Irene and Allen were now talking to the new couple. However, they had urged Nicky on several separate occasions to reconsider his decision. The fact that Denise was present did nothing to deter their honesty.

Patrick had paved the way for a reconciliation, explaining to his parents the quandary that Nick had been in. Whilst he had been able to make Irene and Allen accept that Nick and Denise were in love, he could not alter their dismay or disgust at the divorce. In their eyes marriage was for life.

James had somewhat reluctantly embraced the couple once he had reflected on the situation. He conceded that it was evident they loved one another and that Nick no longer wanted to be with Rachel. He also accepted that pain now would save yet more in the long term If Nicky hadn't done this, three peoples lives would have been miserable. His relationship with Denise was still awkward in spite of his best efforts.

Rhian was devastated and utterly heartbroken for Rachel. When Sean had told her that he suspected Nicky and Denise had fancied each other for ages, Rhian lost her temper with him. When he dared to suggest that the Jones' marriage had been in trouble for some time and that Rhian was as blind to the fact as Rachel, he
received a slap on his face for his troubles.

The consequence to this was the biggest bust up that they had had. Accusations and counter accusations were made. Issues supposedly long since dealt with reared their heads once more. Their veridicality did though make them both think. Three days of sniping later Rhian admitted that Sean was right. She and Rachel had discussed how strained the marriage had become quite a few times. What Rhian despised the most was Nicky's double cross. If his feelings for Rachel had waned, he ought to have had the courage to tell her rather than be duplicitous. He had merely compounded the suffering by postponing things. Rhian though was stunned that it was Nicky and Denise, she had always believed it was James and Denise.

On the morning of the move Nicky helped Denise pact the last few things.
“Are you sure that you don't wanna move your stuff from Martin's storage today Nick? I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you changed your mind and brought it forward.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough. It's going to take a few days to sort this lot out without adding to it.”
“And we know how you hate clutter!” she grinned cheekily, hoping to disguise the wave of sickly heat washing over her. Her stomach began to lurch. “Oh fuck!”

“What the...” Nicky stared with concern as Denise ran to the bathroom. He could hear her retching. “Oh honey, it's the stress of the move getting to you.”
“I'm not so sure,” she panted back. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she left the bathroom.
“My period is two weeks late.”
“Oh...”

Denise tried to gauge whether he was upset or merely surprised. His expression was giving nothing away.
“You could give me a clue as to what's going on in that head of yours.”
“Oh yeah, right,” he murmured, breaking into a huge grin. “I think that we need to confirm it with a test,” he said, “then we can start work on the nursery.”
“So you're not mad?”
He wrapped his long arms around her, giving her a slow languorous kiss. When their lips parted he rubbed his nose against Denise's. “Mad? Darling if you are pregnant I'll be thrilled. Having a family will put the icing on the cake. I wanna be sure though before I get too carried away.”

“I'll get a test today if I have the chance.”
“You were sick a couple of times yesterday as well weren't you? I thought I heard you being sick but you had the bath taps running so I wasn't certain.”
“It's happened a lot. Quite frankly I was surprised that you hadn't noticed.”
“Why didn't you say anything?” He ran his fingers through his hair, gazing at her with total love and adoration.
“I was scared it would freak you out. It's all happened rather suddenly.”

“It's wonderful news.”
“This will rub salt into the wound as far as your mum and dad are concerned, you do realise that?”
Nicky grimaced. “At the end of the day, if you are pregnant, you will be carrying their grandchild.”
“They'll think I've done it on purpose to stop you going back to Rachel. Your mum has told me quite unequivocally that whilst they like me they want you to go back to Rachel and stop the divorce.”
“And I keep telling them that I won't. I love you too much to walk away; baby or no baby.”
“Not even the slightest of doubts?”
“Nope. I'll have to make an honest woman of you now though.”

Denise laughed. “Who said I want to get married? Being with you is enough for me. Any way, marriage is only a piece of paper and a very expensive day to say 'I love you' in front of family and friends.”
“I want to marry you.” Nicky was sad and downcast.
“Oh.”
“What does that mean?”
“That I hadn't considered it.”
“So that isn't a no then?”
“Well now you mention it...”
“That's a no!”

“If you let me finish,” Denise giggled, kissing the tip of his nose. “I want to spend my life with you so why not? Something quiet and intimate though. We could go abroad and do it.”
“That wouldn't go down too well with my folks though.”
“Really? I can't envision them wanting to come. Besides, it's OUR day.”
“Can I tempt you in to a church wedding?”
“Nope, I'm not THAT much of a hypocrite.”
“Great! What happens when our baby needs christening?”
“Why will our baby NEED christening? What difference will it make? You're not a churchgoer and neither am I.”
“I know but it's what you do.”

“No Nicky, it's what some people do. I never thought we'd fall out over this stuff.” She moved away from Nicky's embrace.
“I've upset my parents enough.”
“But it is ok to upset me is it? Fucking great!”
“That's not what I meant.”
“Look, your parents are never going to accept me. Oh they may like me, but I've wrecked your marriage and
your life. I'm not suitable as a wife or the mother of your child either so get used to it and stand up for yourself or fuck off out of my life!”

Nicky was stunned. In all the time he had known her, she had never shouted at him like that. “There must be a compromise.”
“You know what they want Nick.”
“They'll be fine about the baby, I've told you that already.”
“They may adore and love their grandchild but that doesn't mean that they'll accept the mother.”
“Stop being so dramatic. You're judging them before they have the facts. You can't presume to know their reaction.”
“We'll see.”
“I never knew you could be like this!”

“Well fuck off back to your wife then if you don't like it! I have every right to be angry, I love you Nick but you're more concerned about what your parents want than what we want.”
“Because I've already turned their world upside down, I've disappointed them.”
“And if you don't support me in this I'll be disappointed in you,” cried Denise. “If your parents had been ok about us, would you be happy to get married abroad, just the two of us, and not having our baby christened?”
“Yes I would.”
“Fine then. We can have a wedding party when we get back home and have a naming party for the baby. How does that sound?”
He shuffled uneasily. “I don't know. We'd always planned to have a big christening when I had a family.”

“You can change your mind Nick, this is your life, not theirs.”
“You don't understand how hard this is for me. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.”
“Actually it's really simple. Do you know what?” she spat at him, “I'm really surprised that you had the guts to leave Rachel.”
“Right now I'm wondering why I did!” he yelled in retort.
“Fine, go back to her, go on. Go back to your wife and give your parents what they want.”
“Fine!” He stormed off, glowing red with anger.

Sitting on the floor, Denise sobbed. How the hell had it come to this? Upstairs she could hear Nicky banging and clattering about.
A few minutes he later he thundered down the stairs. “Can't fucking pack when it's all already packed can I?” he huffed.
Taking a deep breath, Denise composed herself. “Go and talk to Rachel. I'll sort you some stuff out. I'll do the rest when I unpack it at the other end.” She deliberately avoided calling it 'our new home,' it was far too painful for her. “You can come round tonight and pick some of it up, I'll have the rest ready in a few days.”
“Good. Right, I'll erm, I'll be going then.”

“You've forgotten something,” she sniffed.
“What?”
“Keys. You don't need the keys to this place or the other one do you?”
“No, you're right.” He fished around in his pockets, eventually dropping two sets of keys on the floor. “There you go.”
The next thing Denise heard was the door slamming shut. She sniffed, wiping her tears away with her fingers. Did she really want to move into that house without Nicky?

A day that had started off with so much happiness, anticipation and promise had swiftly disintegrated into a complex mess. If only Nicky could be more of a man and stand up to his parents. If only he hadn't been so eager to run back into Rachel's arms. Perhaps he had been having doubts for a while and hadn't known how to tell her. It would go someway to explaining his reaction. Denise couldn't help but wonder how Rachel would react when her errant husband turned up. Would she welcome him with open arms or tell him to sling his hook? One thing that Denise was fairly certain of, was Nicky's parents rubbing their hands with glee, after all, their son had come back to his senses hadn't he?

part 3 >>>

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