humour. “If I didn’t know you were pregnant, I’d think you were a virgin.”
Splutter. “I… This is not a normal conversation. Besides, we were all virgins once, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
His hand stops on the zipper midway across the bag and a dark look comes over his features. “Yes. Once.”
“Shall we go? Or would you like me to pack your bag for you?” I’m joking obviously, but I don’t think he knows that because his brow quirks. “I desire nothing more than to randomly start going through your underwear drawers.”
“I was just trying to be nice. Besides, I didn’t actually look. I only glanced.” He sighs and places my bag on his shoulder.
“That’s what they all say.”
“Who?” He doesn’t actually sound interested, more irritated and bored of my teasing.
“Men who’re caught going through your underwear drawer,” I joke and elbow him in the arm.
He sighs again and gives me a gentle nudge towards the stairs. “Quickly before I change my mind and give you a cardboard box and a single nappy to live on.”
“Ouch.” I grin and make my way towards the stairs. “I’ll wait in the car.” He nods and throws me his keys, sighing – yet again – when I don’t catch them. They bounce down the stairs before sliding along the floor a few inches.
“Bad throw,” I comment before he can tell me I’m a bad catcher.
I am, but he doesn’t need to rub it in my face.
He responds with a scoff of disbelief as I scoop them up from the ground and rush out of the house. The air is chilly today, a tell-tale sign that autumn will soon be upon us. I don’t mind autumn so much, it’s winter that I can’t stand. I’m more of a warm day on the beach kind of girl. Or I used to be at least. Not anymore. Now none of it matters because I don’t have my favourite person in the world to spend it with.
Soon I’ll have another person. I climb into the car stroking my belly. I wonder if giving birth to the baby will take away the pain. Maybe it will fill the gaping hole in my heart.
Nathan climbs into the car ten minutes later and we set off for the city. This time it only takes us an hour and a half; the traffic wasn’t too bad on the way.
I’m so excited by the time we get there that I barely let him stop the car before I’m out and around to his side. This will be a great thing to focus on. Plus, what woman doesn’t want to decorate a nursery?
“Which room will be the nursery? We haven’t discussed it,” I ask as I place my hand on his arm and allow him to guide me along the busy street.
“There are two more rooms on your floor. Take your pick.”
“Which room was Caleb’s?”
He looks down at me, his face a blank mask. “He didn’t have a room.”
“He didn’t?” That seems a bit odd. “What about you?”
“Me neither. I’m staying in my grandfather’s room, although I had it remodelled when I first moved in.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek for a moment, wondering whether or not I should push further. Of course I should. It’s in my nature to push. “You two must have been close?”
“That’s one way to put it,” he mutters conspiratorially. “Here.”
“This is a brand store.” I gawp at ‘Baby Dreams’, a pregnant woman’s dream and the expectant father’s nightmare. “This is too much.”
“I can afford it,” he states and pulls me through the automatic doors.
I’m immediately assaulted by a welcome blast of cool air from the fans in the ceiling, but it’s not this that makes me shiver, it’s the store itself. I’m in baby heaven.
“I should have written a list,” I mumble as I take a few cautious steps forward.
“We’ll start with the big things and work our way down.” Releasing his arm, I head into the section where nurseries have been set up with a single wall behind each.
They’re all so cute and homely. I can’t wait to start papering and painting the walls.
“I love this,” I say as my eyes immediately zoom in on a strange green colour wall with white tree patterns reaching to the top. The furniture is dark brown and glossy and I’m in love. “I really love this. It’s neutral and it’s… holy… mother of…” I start to choke when I see the price tag. It’s not extremely expensive