Charlie settled down on one of the benches outside. It was a viciously cold evening and the cool air served to sober him up from all the alcohol heâd consumed throughout the evening. The sound of ambulance sirens filled the cool air, and to him it was more like a soundtrack to his life. For most it was a sound that meant disaster, or was something for children to be excited at hearing or seeing. For him though, it was normal and almost soothing. It had been such a good idea to have their wedding in the hospital chapel and then back at the pub. It was so them, it was so right. And he was sat now just metres from where theyâd first met â not that heâd had any idea at the time that Duffy would come to mean so much to him.
Today had been the best, and yet the most manic, day of his life. The stag-do, the night in a cell, racing back to Holby and down the aisle to the woman he loved most in the world. Marrying her. Calling her his wife. It was all such a whirlwind, and yet heâd never felt more content or happy in this very moment.
Duffy hovered in the doorway of the pub, watching Charlie clearly engrossed in his own thoughts. Sheâd do just about anything to read his mind right now as he looked so lost in them. Sheâd seen the emotion on his face during the wedding, and during their first dance and wondered how a man that she knew so well could still surprise her. Duffy herself had managed to keep it together after a day where sheâd flung from one emotion to the next. Truth be told, she was so relieved that Charlie was there with her and that they had reached this day that it was relief and an overwhelming sense that this was perfect and exactly right that had been her overriding emotion. Everything just felt perfect, like every moment had been leading to this day. As if everything that had happened and everything that theyâd faced together and separately had led them to this particular moment.
Charlie shifted slightly, rubbing his face with his hands.
âWhat are you doing out here?â Duffy said, quietly into the chilling air.
Charlie turned to look at her, her dress hugging her frame. He felt his breath be taken away for about the hundredth time that day. She really was beautiful. He smiled. âI just needed some air, away from that lot,â he said.
She sat down next to him, crossing her arms infront of her in a bid to keep out the cool air. The thump of the music and party behind them filling the otherwise now quiet hospital car park..
âBusy dayâŚâ she said slipping her hand into his.
âCertainly has been,â he replied, turning to face her and taking her hands in his. âI wouldnât change it though, not for the world.â
Their eyes met and the two of them realised that they needed very few words to communicate how they felt right now. âMe neither,â Duffy whispered, smiling.
Feeling her hands, Charlie realised the chill of the nights air wasnât really compatible with Duffyâs current attire. Removing his jacket he slipped it around her shoulders and she pulled it close to her, sniffing its scent and smiling.
Charlie smiled watching his wife snuggle close into his jacket and put his arm around her, pulling her close and keeping her warm.
âYou know what,â Duffy began staring into the middle distance in the direction of the hospital whilst resting her head on his shoulder. âThis place. You. Itâs always been home for me. Even when I was away and elsewhere thereâs nothing like being here. Thereâs nothing that comes close to the comfort I feel when Iâm in Holby. When Iâm with you.â
Charlie nodded, kissing the top of her head.
âDuffy, I canât imagine my life without you in it,â he replied. âI canât imagine you not being with me, not being the person I share my world with. I canât even imagine you not being my wife.â
Duffy laughed. âI know exactly,â she said as they fell into a comfortable silence. Since sheâd returned from New Zealand sheâd felt herself quickly become a part of Charlie again, like a part of her that sheâd buried. And then sheâd realised that she could no longer work out where she ended and Charlie began. They were one of the same, and having him back in her life was like sheâd found herself again.
âToday has been perfect,â he said. âYou are perfect.â
She felt her eyes sting with threatened tears. Sheâd felt so confused at first, and so far from perfect as a mother, as a perfect wife to Ryan, as a perfect friend to Charlie. Sheâd made so many mistakes and hurt so many people in her life. But instead of allowing her thoughts to catch up with her, as she may have done any other day, she let Charlieâs words fall over her, wrapping her up like a warm blanket, giving her a sense of wonder at the happy place they now found themselves in.
âI donât want today to end,â she whispered quietly, her breath noticeable on the cold air around her.
Charlie smiled, separating slightly from his wife so that he could look directly at her. He brought a hand up to her chin so he could tilt her head and look straight at him, his gaze never leaving her eyes.
âIt wonât,â he said matter-of-factly. âI promise you, it will always be like this with us.â
She smiled and Charlie gently placed a kiss on her nose, before mirroring what she had done earlier to him by pressing his nose against hers in an affectionate nuzzle.
She kissed Charlie gently, hardly bearing to separate from him and immediately feeling the loss of their connection. She took a moment to think back on all theyâd faced together and all the years that theyâd been in each others lives. âIt always has been,â she whispered onto his lips. âItâs always been like this with us.â