Page 24 of Spiralling Skywards: Fading
I wallowed in a kind of mini euphoria for a few long moments, unable to wipe the stupid grin off my face or the tears that leaked from my eyes. I was glad that I did this on my own. I felt quite smug that I was in possession of this knowledge while Liam was totally oblivious.
I stood with my hand on my belly and did what about every woman that just found out she was pregnant did since the invention of mirrors, I turned sideways, pulled up my T-shirt, and looked at my reflection.
Nope, no different.
“That’s because you’re about the size of my little finger nail right now,” I told the baby. “But don’t worry, you’ll soon grow, and then everyone will know that you’re in there.” Actually looking down at my belly as I spoke, I continued with, “Well, at least I’m no longer talking entirely to myself now that I have you.”
Climbing into the shower I thought about how I was gonna go about rocking Liam’s world with this news and then the smiley/laugh/crying started up again.
***
I decided to have a walk down to the local shops before Liam got home from work and grab something that was going to help me with my pregnancy reveal. While I was there, I grabbed something for Luke and Sash, too. I figured that if I was going to make a show of telling Liam, I could do the same for my brother and best friend as well. I was so full of nervous energy that I was fairly convinced I was about implode, explode and dissolve, all at the same time. The feeling stayed with me the entire way home, but I didn’t mind, I enjoyed it. I was buzzing and felt more alive and happy than I had in weeks.
As I turned into my court, I spotted my brother’s car on my drive parked next to Liam’s, and I started to vibrate from my head to my toes in anticipation of being in the company of others and trying to hold on to my secret for just a little bit longer.
The double doors that led into my house were wide open, and I could hear Liam and my brother talking and laughing from my family room. I walked in to find Luke standing on a chair and supporting a Christmas tree that was about touching the ceiling, while Liam attempted to set the base in a large cast iron pot.
“How’s it looking now?” Liam asked my brother.
“Still looks like it’s on the piss to me.”
“How on the piss?”
“About a half bottle of vodka pissed.”
“Shit.”
“You better get a level on this thing, you know my sister, she’ll come straight through those doors and say . . .”
“It’s wonky. You need to move it more to the right, Luke.”
“Yep, exactly that.” My brother looked around at me and smiled.
Liam looked up from the floor, his smile almost dazzling me with its brilliance, and my heart rate revved up a few notches in speed as he stood and strode towards me. We’d made a baby, him and me. I’d created a new life, a new human being with this man. I had to fight with myself not to just blurt it out and tell him. I even had to focus to remain breathing as he stood in front of me.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you, bub.”
I was wrapped in his arms, and his mouth and tongue were assaulting mine with such speed and intensity that my head spun.
“Dude. What the fuck? You can’t just leave me on a chair holding on to your tree while you have sex with my sister. It’s wrong on so many levels. It’s just out and out—”
“Shut the fuck up, Luke,” Liam said against my mouth before pulling away from me.
“Who’s having sex? What am I missing? Why are you up a chair holding a tree?” Sasha asked as she walked through the opened door. “I have wine, shall I just sit on the sofa, pour a drink and watch the show?”
Liam rested his forehead against mine, still smiling.
“You taste of fresh air and mint.”
“You taste like alcohol and mint.”
“Yeah, we had another little tipple, hair of the dog, ya know? We were both feeling a bit shabby this morning.”
“Lucky shabby. I’ve felt nothing since Monday.”
“Are you two for fucking real? I’m stuck standing here on a tree. I don’t need to be hearing this shit.” Luke complained again.
“You’re on a chair.” Sasha corrected him.
