Page 45 of Because of Them

“I’m sorry I wasted your whole evening,” she says as she steps into the house. Her hand rests on the door, as though ready to close it behind her after she says her goodbyes.

I step across the threshold before she has the chance. I take the door from her hands to close it, then twist the shutters to the entry window. The homey habit comes naturally, even for me, even here in a place that isn’t my house but feels like home. Because Audrey is here. Because the babies will be too.

“It wasn’t wasted.”

She scoffs in disagreement behind me, pushing past me, towards the open layout of her kitchen and living spaces.

I follow her into the house. “I’m serious, I meant what I said about always being here for you.”

Audrey pivots to face me and pulls her cardigan tight around her body. A flush creeps along her cheeks. “Well, thank you. I appreciate that you took me to the hospital. And I’m still sorry that it was all for nothing. I don’t remember having Braxton Hicks contractions with Maisie.” She pauses to take a long breath, leaning some of her weight against the island benchtop. Her head drops to look at her belly and a small piece of hair falls across her face. “Was Callum really okay with having her for the night?”

“He said he will drop her at kindergarten in the morning, you can pick her up like usual in the afternoon.”

Closing her eyes, Audrey sighs. “I feel so bad for her. As if she hasn’t gone through enough changes, now this? Now I can’t even pick her up when I’m supposed to.”

She runs her hands through her hair, tucking it behind her ears.

“Maisie is a bright kid, a caring one, too. She is already so excited for those babies, and there will be plenty of changes when they come, but for now I’m sure she was pretty excited to spend another night at her dad’s, running up and down those stairs.”

With her eyes closed, Audrey fights against the gentle smile on her lips. Her hands drop, pulling at the corners of her cardigan again.

“I feel like I should know what I’m doing this time, but this whole pregnancy has been so different.”

“Well there are two in there, remember. I’m no doctor but surely that’s going to make everything at least a little harder and more intense.”

I step towards her, closing her in as I wipe my thumb over the tear that trickles down her cheek. I coast my fingers down her arm, settling my hand against her waist. The pink in her cheeks turns a brighter shade of crimson.

“Audrey?” I whisper, aware of the electricity that fizzles between us and the hesitation in her stance.

She pushes me back, moving to the side to turn the kettle on. Reaching above her, she pulls one mug from the cupboard.

“You don’t have to stay. My stomach feels fine now.”

In two short strides, I’m back in her space, reaching above her to take out a second mug. I place it on the counter beside hers and pop a tea bag from the canister in each.

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” I say the word with a shrug, trying—and failing—to keep my tone light-hearted and carefree.

“The babies are fine, Michael.”

“I know.”

“So, you can go. Isn’t that why you’re here? Because we thought something was wrong with them? But there’s not. I’m just some idiot who can’t drink enough water and worries over a little Braxton Hicks contractions.”

Placing my hands on her shoulders, I turn her to face me. She keeps her gaze on the ground, so I use my fingers to guide her chin up. Her blue eyes sparkle, the wetness reflecting the light shining from the pendants hanging over the bench.

“You’re not an idiot.” I shake my head, pressing my thumb over her lips when she tries to rebut. “Is that really what you think? That I’m here because of them?”

She nods against my hand, blinking the tears out of her eyes. I wipe my thumb across her cheek.

“I’m here for you. And sure, because I am their father and I already love them too, but I came becauseyouneeded me. I’m staying because you had a rough day, and I don’t want to leaveyou.” I don’t miss the way her eyes scrunch together when I say I love the babies. I hate the way the word ‘too’ slipped out after I declared my love for the babies, I wonder if she knows what I meant. I wish there was a way I could show her that wouldn’t feel like jumping off a cliff.

“You don’t need to stay, Michael. I’m literally going to have a hot drink, order a roast chicken and hot chips to be delivered, curl up on the couch, and binge watch repeats of Bondi Rescue.”

“I love that show.”

“Michael.” She glares up at me. Her eyes are still scrunched, her arms still wrapped around herself, hands balled into fists holding her cardigan tight.

“Okay, I’ve never watched it. But I’m serious. I like spending time with you. Iwantto spend time with you. So, even if it is some reality TV show, I still want to stay. I meant what I said, every time I said I cared about you. That started long before I found out about the babies, and it will carry on long after they are born. And I know you want to fight it because you think it’s just casual flirting and it’s just hormones, but I know you feel something too.”

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