“I said, ‘I’ll marry you if that's what it'll take.’”
She covers her mouth either in horror or amusement. It’s hard to tell. “Cal, you’re the worst at proposals. You need to stop. The next time you feel the urge to mention marriage, please consult someone first. And by someone, I mean me.”
I lift my feet on the coffee table and wave my hand. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Cal, I know being married resembles abuse and control for you. It's understandable that you wouldn't want that, but you’re not your father.”
“That's what Steph would say.”
“I think we’d get along.”
“You would.”
* * *
Priya settlesthe girls in their beds before she leaves. The house is still and resting. I sit on the porch with a can, enjoying the coolness the night air brings, listening to the crickets chirp.
Everything seems peaceful at this late hour, but my mind is restless. It’s in the still of the night when my brain is most active; when nothing butherfills my thoughts. I lean back against the wooden frame of the porch and swig my beer, closing my eyes to imagine her here.
The breeze brushes the hair from my face like her fingers have swept down from the heavens to brush my skin like she always does. Is she thinking of me now? Is she imagining my touch as I am hers? As nice as I’ve made this place. It’ll never be home without my Steph.
* * *
STEPH
“Steph.”Justin’s voice makes me jump and the ladder wobbles. His large hands grip my waist, and he helps me down the two steps. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I thought I’d make a start with the decorating.”
“I told you I’d sort it. You shouldn’t be up a ladder in your condition. Good job I came round when I did.”
“I’m fine. Are the kids here?” I look behind him but don’t see them.
“Your mum’s taken them out for lunch. They picked out some paint, though, for their new bedrooms.” He points to two tins on the floor. One a bright green and the other a purple glitter.
“No prizes for guessing who’s picked what.” I giggle. “At least it isn’t bright red after his favourite football team.”
Justin looks around. “What shall I start on first, your living room or the bedrooms?”
“How about you help me with the living room, seeing as I’ve already started? I’ll paint the bottom, and you do the top.”
He picks a paintbrush up and dips it in the cream paint. “I don’t know why you wanted to move so quickly. You could have stayed at the house while we decorated this place for you.”
“It’s already been long enough. I’m grateful for all you’ve done. Your team has transformed this place already with the new bathroom and new kitchen. I didn’t want to leave it any longer. We both needed our space.”
“I still wish you’d bought the bigger place I showed you.
“I didn’t want the extra expense of that other house.”
“Where’s the baby gonna sleep?”
“She can have the box room. It’s big enough for a cot and when she’s older, she can share with Cassie.”
“She?” He raises an eyebrow.
I shrug. I don’t know why I keep thinking she’s a girl. My hand glides over my stomach. I’m not really showing yet and just look fat, but I can feel her in there. “I was thinking if it’s a girl, I’d call her Caitlin. You know, keep with the ‘C’ theme, if you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind?”