Page 60 of Deep Down
Chapter 22
Craig
Ten months after the incident—Craig called it that because he wasn’t sure how else to talk about it—the routine he had when he was with Darren was not in full effect any longer. Some of it was, but some wasn’t. It was progress as far as Amanda was concerned. However, Craig was impatient, wishing he would get over them immediately.
Craig was able to leave the dishes in the sink without having a panic attack and had grown used to cooking what he wanted when he wanted. As for logging on and off his computer, he had found out it was beneficial to keep that going. It gave him an idea of how long each project was taking, and it was easier to bill the clients. He also finished work at five o’clock now instead of four and cooked dinner afterwards.
He struggled with sitting in Darren’s chair at the table or with sleeping in bed sometimes. He was used to being scrunched up to one side, and now, he could stretch out. Every night, he would make a conscious effort to stretch across the bed to fall asleep, but every morning, he would wake to find himself curled in a ball on the edge of his side of the bed. He knew it would take time, especially as it was more of a subconscious decision than a conscious one.
Amanda had brought up the glass paperweights in Thursday’s session. She had asked what he liked about them and the reason they were a part of his life. Initially, he’d expressed Darren had bought them as an apology, but after talking about them, he remembered having some before he had started the relationship with Darren.
His mother had bought his first glass paperweight when he was around fourteen years old. It was a Caithness Glass one in a teardrop shape with a tornado of rainbow colours filtering through the centre. He had been fascinated with how they were made. Every year, on his birthday and for Christmas, he would receive another one to add to his collection.
They were all gone now, but Amanda had suggested he visit a shop or factory where they made them and find out whether he liked them or if bad memories had attached to them.
Being a Saturday, Craig didn’t have to work—although he would later—therefore, he had time to stroll around the town to see what he could see. He had researched and found one shop which stocked some glass items, but nothing that caught his eye, though he was going to visit it anyway.
Entering a shop he hadn’t noticed during his research, The Glass Dome, he was amazed to see a wide variety of objects, all of which were made from glass, hence the name he assumed. He moseyed around the cabinets and shelves, fascinated by the diversity he could see.
“Can I help you?”
Craig turned towards the shop assistant and smiled. “These are amazing!” he gushed. “Are they made here?”
“Thank you. They are not made at this shop, no. Our factory is on the outskirts of Cambridge.” She smiled.
“Do you know if the public is able to tour the factory? I would love to see how these things are made.” His gaze caught on a display case of paperweights, and his feet danced him in their direction before he acknowledged it. He saw every colour of the rainbow and beyond, different shapes, different designs. They were fantastic.
“They’re spellbinding, aren’t they?” The shop assistant beamed as she inspected the case alongside Craig. “These have always been my favourite.”
“I had hundreds of these bought over the years. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy anymore after—” Craig halted, licked his lips and continued, “they were broken, but I love studying them.”
“Maybe it’s time to start another collection?” Craig knew it was the shop assistant’s job to bring in sales, and Craig smiled inwardly, knowing he’d walked right into the sales pitch.
“I think you’re right. But which one…”
“I’ll leave you to shop around, but give me a shout if you need any assistance.”
“Thanks. I will.” Craig’s gaze didn’t leave the case as he spoke, briefly noting he’d been left alone.
The colours were vibrant and eye-catching, resulting in something as fragile as it was hard. It was a complete contradiction. He spent about an hour studying the various designs, speaking with the assistant about if they had any meanings and settling on one with a riot of rainbow sashes, a reminder of his first collection.
Craig paid for the paperweight and left with it carefully boxed up for transporting home. As he continued, he considered where to put it but realised he had nowhere to display his new ornament. He detoured to a furniture shop and bought a glass cabinet, which would be delivered the following day.
Arriving home, he decided the safest place for the paperweight would be in his office on the shelves his brothers had built for him. He’d keep it wrapped up until the display cabinet had been delivered, then would proudly put it in place.
He strode into the living room, surveying the space available and determined a move around was in order. The TV being on the wall meant he could move the sofa to a better position, leaving more wall space open. The new cabinet would have plenty of space on the far wall. When Craig had moved the furniture to where he wanted it and removed the rug he hated, he stood and studied the room, panting with exertion and wiping sweat from his forehead. He’d not moved mountains, but it made the room appear altogether a different room.
Heading to the kitchen for water, he swallowed half a bottle in one go. He needed to hit a gym more often. The thought curdled in his mind immediately, and he shook it away, altering the idea. He needed to find something he could do from home instead.
Craig cooked his dinner and ate in front of the TV. The room had a new feel to it now that it had been rearranged.
Craig understood he was slowly reclaiming his house. First his office, now the living room. There wasn’t anything he could do about the kitchen, apart from giving it a lick of paint, but he could redecorate the bedroom. An idea for another day.
Spending another hour working wiped him out, and he went to bed for ten o’clock, unheard of time for him before.
****
Alex’s mouth descended his body, nipping, licking, tasting as he went. He stopped at Craig’s nipple, focusing attention on it until it stood proudly out from his body, leaving a wet trail across his sternum to the other nipple to continue his torture.
