Taylor's POV
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One weekend away, three to four days, yet it takes over seventeen hours on the plane. It was a particularly difficult occasion to pre-plan for, leaving the hot climate knowing that we will be engulfed in snow when we arrive. Stuffing our on board bags with jumpers and blankets for Henry, I wrapped him up before leaving the plane, a snow suit with a jumper underneath before Jay strapped him to his chest and we booked a car to use for our adventures. It's an off road Land Rover and Christopher has managed to score the same model as we all bundle into the cars out of the snow.
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Minus six degrees is a stark difference to the high twenties we had been used to in California and Jay makes sure he turns the heater up in the top of the range car that will carry us to our lodge. Matthew and the newlyweds in the car behind us as Ross sits in our passenger seat keeping an eye on Henry. Bottles ready and food available should he wake up on the ride. I watch him as he tucks the baby in and strokes his cheek as Jay drives confidently through the snow and dark roads. The automatic headlights on illuminating the foreign roads that I've never seen in my life. All of the road signs in a foreign language, as I stare over at Jay unbelieving at his navigation skills.
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"I've never been here before" I begin quietly.
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"What I mean is I've never been to France" I say and Jay smiles rubbing my thigh.
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"We've yet to cross the border from Switzerland to France" he whispers to me with an undeniable smile.
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"We're in Switzerland!" I say thrilled and he laughs as Ross chortles in the back.
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"Yes, we flew into Geneva. Now we will have to pass the border in Switzerland before we are technically on French soil, or snow if you like" Ross giggles and I nod amazed.
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"How do we know we've crossed into France" I say bemused and absolutely excited.
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"You won't miss it" Ross laughs.
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"I love how much you enjoy travelling" Jay smirks and I wink at him. Lounging back in the heated seat and sipping the hot chocolate that he bought me in the airport.
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"It's exciting and I have hot chocolate" I laugh smiling over at him as he giggles sipping his espresso and looking through the rear view at the others following us.
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"Lord Rachel appears to be singing in that car" he remarks scoffing.
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"I hit the jackpot" Ross smiles at me as I turn around.
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"You lot are far more chill" he smiles looking down at Henry.
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"I can sing if you like Jay baby" I giggle and he laughs, a gorgeous ringing sound to his chuckle.
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"Please that's different- you have an amazing voice" he says slowly watching me just pleading with me to sing to him. I roll my eyes and begin a Johnny cash song that I know he loves. It keeps Henry quiet for much longer and deep in sleep.
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Eventually we pass the border including the controls and checks and it’s exactly as Ross said it would be. I stick my tongue out at Ross and he looks at me as if I'm his favourite person in the world.
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"Bienvenue en France" Jay smirks as I look out at the thick snow. Jay advises me that it may take longer to drive to our destination due to poor light and weather. He suggests I take a nap. Assuring me that we will be there so soon and that he will hold me in our bed by a fire.
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***
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The lodge is lit up like a beacon in the wilderness, snow surrounding the mountains and hills around it. Theres something peaceful about being in the middle of nowhere surrounded by soft white clouds and snow sprinkling down from the night sky.
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Surprisingly, due to a mixture of my singing and the large bottle, Henry managed to sleep through most of our travels. It's only as we pull up at the lodge and Jay kills the engine he stirs opening his eyes in his car seat and gurgling and cooing at Ross.
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"Mon amour" Jay says as I look over at him smiling.
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"We're here" he says softly and I kiss him irresistibly before climbing out of the Land Rover and crunching in the snow. My snow boots absorbing all of the white stuff as I trudge over to the passenger side to retrieve Henry.
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Matthew clambers out and eyes us with a look of chagrin on his face at the annoyance of listening to Rachel's non stop chatter and singing for almost three hours. Jay laughs beginning to unpack the car as I take the car seat out of the back.
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"Hey, go inside with him" he begins watching me bundled up in a jumper and a fleece. A beanie on his head as a few stray locks of his hair fall over his forehead. He kisses me slowly as Ross grasps his case.
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"I've got this no need for you two to get cold" he says reassuringly. Trudging up to the gritted part of the grounds, I walk in through the front door and set down Henry’s car seat by a collection of sofas. The fires are being lit by Christopher who is hauling wood over his shoulders to place in the brick openings. Large mantelpieces stretch over them and art adorns the walls. Prints that involve wildlife in the snow.
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Rachel pulls off her boots and I join her undoing my fleece and removing the many layers until I’m in my cami and Levi’s. I grasp Henry from his seat and proceed to change him by the fire, he looks around eagerly. Pleased at his new warm surroundings.
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Jay lines up the cases at the doorway, next to a large set of wooden steps that leads up to the first floor. And once the door is closed and the fire is roaring everybody slumps on one of the many leather sofas tired and jet lagged from our journey. I feel Jays arm rest on bump as I place Henry on my chest and feed him.
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“We’ll have to chop some wood tomorrow” Jay says thinking ahead and eyeing Christopher.
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“Oh I’d like to watch” Rachel laughs as I snicker placing my free hand underneath Jays shirt, his skin warm and inviting.
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“Yes and who would like to go and have a look at Mont Blanc? We can go up the aerial lift at the aiguille?” Christopher suggests as I look over at Rachel. He glances at his phone before she nods won over by his smile. Wearing a classic white T-shirt and his jeans she ruffles his hair and they begin kissing as Matthew rolls his eyes and I snicker.
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“We have to go to the top!” Chris announces looking at ticket prices on his phone as she giggles and Ross agrees. Jay talks about snowboarding and how he had loved it as an adolescent. I sweep my hands under his black shirt and he looks down at me adoringly, sweeping his hair back and talking to Chris about the altitude and the views from the mountain intrigued.
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“I’m going to stay put on ground, honestly heights and me are not okay” Matthew laughs as I nod agreeing as he pulls off his hoody and sits in his button up shirt with one leg crossed over his knee.
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“I don’t think, what with the pregnancy and Henry it’s a good idea” I murmur.
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“Honestly you go” I say to Jay watching his expression carefully, I know his sense of adventure and that he will want to be in that cable car. He eyes me, concern flitting over his face before I nod reassuring him. He just spent twenty minutes getting excited by going to the top of the mountain and I’m not going to rob him of that experience.
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“We could take some photos, go to the cafes” Matthew suggests and I smile.
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“Sorry I know pregnancy gets in the way” I say to Rachel as she shakes her head.
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“Not at all!” She exclaims as Christopher books day passes for them to head to the top of the mountain, I can only imagine the views as I tell Jay to get me some shots. He agrees playing with my hair before I pass him the baby.
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Rachel and I scout out the bedrooms, she opts for the master suite with Christopher on the first floor and it’s her honeymoon so I smile winking at her. Imagining that Ross and Matthew will opt for bedrooms away from their noise.
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“I’ll take the second floor one with Jay” I smile looking at the large bed that overlooks the views out at the snow. It’s much the same as the master suite with exposed wood walls and beams, the heated wooden floor. An en-suite with a walk in shower and more than enough space to entertain Henry.
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“I’ll go order the boys around” she announces and I laugh as she bounds away excited.
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“Be careful” Matthew assures her as she takes the steps two at a time whilst he ascends to the top, holding his case.
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“There’s a little village we can travel to tomorrow if you like?” He asks softly pausing in front of me. I nod as he falters eyeing me as I stand paralysed watching him, I do not need to stare at him and I look away abruptly. My cheeks heating up as he clears his throat, I count in my head up to twenty eyeing the beam on the ceiling instead of him.
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“I’ll take the room at the end” he whispers as we hear Rachel and Christopher lifting cases up the stairs. Christopher joking with her about falling in the snow tomorrow and her protesting.
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“They’re leaving for the day pass thing at eight, I’ll help you get baby ready and we’ll have breakfast and leave later” he half suggests as I nod slowly imagining having to say goodbye to Jay in the morning. It’s difficult since being slightly heavier in my pregnancy to wake up early, before eight am is very early for me.
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“Course” I squeak as he blushes, his olive skin glowing as he lifts his case again and proceeds to walk with his back to me down the hall.
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