Resolution (Saviour #2)(70)
I throw my head back in despair and look up at the sky as I unwrap my legs from around his body and stand on the sand. He slides down my body onto his knees and kisses my belly.
“Can you hear your mother? Do not listen to a word that she says; the woman is delusional, now I want you both to grow big and strong and don’t worry about making her belly get bigger, because as far as I’m concerned, the bigger her belly, the more beautiful she will look, just wait till you get to meet her, you will see what I mean, you little blokes are so lucky, you have the strongest, most beautiful Mummy that you could ever wish for, even if she does talk shit sometimes, oh and she talks funny but don’t worry about that, I will make sure that you only ever speak with a true blue, Aussie accent.”
He wraps his arms around my hips and presses his face into my belly as he talks, I run my fingers through his hair, laughing at his words, I grab a handful and pull it so that he has to look up at me. “Blokes? We don’t know yet what they are, there could be a Shazza and a Sheila in there. Imagine, two more, just like Ava. Oh shit Gabe, what are we doing?”
He stands up as he speaks. “Nope, at least one will be a little dude, I just know it, all the twins in this family are one of each.”
“All the twins?”
“Yep. My Mum has a twin brother; you met Uncle Joe at the funeral, my cousin Lisa has twins, boy and a girl and Cooper has Ethan and Talia, boy and a girl. So I think the chances are pretty good that we will have a boy and a girl.”
“Far out.” Is all I can think of to say, it never occurred to me that there were more than one set of twins in his family.
I look at him with a grin and say in my best Aussie accent. “Strewth! Bruce and Sheila it bloody is then mate.”
“What is that accent, are you suddenly from South Africa? And just so we are clear. No f*cking way are our kids being called Bruce and Sheila.”
He holds my hand as we walk back across the road, I grab my bag from the car and we head inside, my mood lifted considerably as we make our way up the stairs; I head straight for the bathroom as I need to wee badly and only just sit down when Gabe comes in with my phone.
“It’s Ryder.”
“Well put him on loudspeaker, I don’t want the phone in here.”
He does exactly that and stands at the toilet door with the phone in his hand.
“What’s up baby boy, how are you?
“I’m good Mum, you?”
“Yeah, I’m good, what you after?”
“Look Mum, Dads just been onto me, he’s been ringing your old number and leaving messages but you haven’t called him back and he’s getting pissed off.”
“Is he now? Well I didn’t even know my old phone was still working, I assumed he would have stopped paying the bill and had it cut off by now. What does he want?”
“He’s accepted a thirty day settlement on the house and wants you to go round and take anything of yours you still have there and to go through some paperwork with him, I know you’re not on the mortgage but the agreement is still in place with the solicitors that states you get half of the profits and he wants to talk to you about that, can you ring him and sort something out because he’s driving me f*cking mad at work, keep asking if I’ve seen you or spoke to you?”
“Language Ryder. Yeah alright, no worries, I’ll give him a call. Are you still coming over tomorrow night?”
“Yeah, yeah I’ll be there. Mum?”
“Yes Ryde.”
“Is it okay if I bring someone with me?”
“Of course baby, what’s her name?”
“How’d you know it’s a her Mum? It could be a bloke; I might want to come out at your gathering and introduce everyone to my new man.”
“Well that’s fine too baby, what’s his name?”
“Her names Layla Mum. And FYI I’m not gay, but I do love you lots, I will see you tomorrow, ring Dad, love you, bye.”
“Back atcha bubby, love you lots like jelly tots.”
Gabe taps to end the call and folds his arm across his chest as he leans in the doorway, shaking his head. “No f*cking way Lauren, you are not going round there.”
I wipe myself. Thinking about how far we’ve come in nine short weeks. I flush the toilet and hold my hands up as I squeeze past him and head to the sink. He lets me past but follows behind me and sits on the edge of the bath.
“Dya hear what I said Lauren, there’s no f*cking way that you are to be alone in that man’s company.”
I dry my hands and sit on the edge of the tub next to him. “I heard you first time, what makes you think I want to be alone in his company? If I go round there, I will go when he’s not home and take Ryder with me.”
“No. If you go round there, you will go when he’s not home and I will go with you. Are we clear on that?”
“I don’t think you going to my old home is a good idea, what if you’re there and he comes home?”
“What if I’m not there and he comes home?”
“He’s much calmer about things now Gabe, you saw how he was at the hospital.” As soon as I say the words I regret them. Shit, why did I mention that?
“I f*cking saw alright, I saw him kiss you, I saw you let him kiss you and do f*ck all to stop him.”