“So, when’s he coming back to the UK again?”
“He says next month. He reckons he can work freelance and spend a couple months in Australia and a couple months here.”
“I don’t envy the bloke. He’s somewhere between a rock and a hard place.”
“Ayers Rock.” I giggle, sucking up my fizzy water with a straw.
After the meal, Mark drops me off at home around midnight.
“Thanks for everything. I’ve had a great night.” I lean over to kiss his cheek, and Mark kisses me back on the forehead.
“Take care of yourself. I’ll call you next time I’m free, and we can do it again.”
I walk into the living room to see Cal watching reruns of Game of Thrones. “I thought you would have been asleep by now.”
He looks at the clock and turns the TV off. “I was getting worried about you. It’s fucking late.”
“Are you kidding? It’s midnight.”
“Yeah, and your son wanted feeding two hours ago.”
“You know there’s milk in the fridge that I pumped earlier. Did you feed him?”
“Of course I did, but he wouldn’t settle. He wanted you and your tit. You could have texted me back.”
“I didn’t even get a text.”
“Too busy being a slut, were you?”
“Screw you.”
“No thanks, I don’t do sloppy seconds.”
“Cal, why are you being such a dick?”
He walks over to me and stands close, calmly saying, “If you wanted to get fucked, you only had to ask.”
“I think you’ve fucked me over enough, don’t you?” I spin around, and stomp up the stairs, unclipping my dress, ready to get my boob out for the night time feed.
The night light in Caleb’s room gives off a beautiful glow, bathing his tiny body in a soft light as if an angel is watching over him. His little hand holds his dummy tight as he sleeps peacefully.
I tip toe from the room and freeze when the floor creaks, hoping I don’t wake him as I creep to my room. Once changed into my fluffy pyjamas, I curl up on my bed and hug the spare pillow. The pillow that would be his if he shared a bed with me.‘Only have to ask,’do I? He’s changed his tune. Well, he can piss off. I’m not giving him the satisfaction.
* * *
Cal walksinto the house with a bag of groceries in one hand and Caleb in the other, along with his backpack hanging from his shoulder. “They didn’t have much blended baby food to choose from, and I wasn’t getting him any more of that cauliflower cheese.” He places the bags on the worktop.
“Hello sweetheart, have you had a nice day?” I take Caleb from Cal. He suckles on his dummy, and I lay him on his playmat on the living room floor where I can see him through the doorway.
“He’s probably hungry. I haven’t fed him since lunch.” Cal empties the groceries he’s picked up for me.
I run the iron over my blouse, ready for work again tomorrow. “I’ll just finish this, and then I’ll feed him.”
“Leave the ironing board out when you’ve done. I need to iron a few things.”
“I’ll do it for you.”
“It’s cool. I can iron, you know? I’m a man of many talents.” He smirks.