Page 67 of Saving Ren
“My new girlfriend is just that,” I get in before Lena can say any more. “We’re new. You really think I’d bring her on holiday with me when Ava’s never even met her?”
With one hand on her hip, Lena brings the other around to rest on her very pregnant belly. She looks well, I note. Lena’s naturally very slim, to the point where she can sometimes look frail and gaunt, so the weight she gains during her pregnancies always looks good on her. . . at least I think so. Not that she’d give a fuck what I thought.
“I don’t know, Gabe. It’s out of character for you to have a girlfriend, so I wasn’t sure what to think or expect, especially since Ava said she’s moved in with you.”
My daughter has a big mouth, not that I’d ever encourage her to keep secrets from her mother.
“We had an argument, and she couldn’t wait to ram that bit of information down my throat,” Lena enlightens me.
Not wanting to get involved in whatever’s going on between Ava and Lena, I ignore the comment.
“This her case?” I ask, pointing to the bright orange suitcase sitting in the hallway. Not waiting for an answer, I reach around Lena, extend the handle, and drag it to my car. As expected, it weighs a ton and will no doubt mean an excess baggage fee when we get to the airport.
I launch it into the back of my truck, and when I turn around, Ava is standing next to me and the front door’s closed.
I swear, being around my kid brings on a physical change to my body. My heartbeat slows, my blood pressure lowers, and my jaw and shoulders relax. Without a word, I pull her into me and note instantly that she’s grown in the almost four weeks since I last saw her.
“Is there anything you haven’t packed?” I ask.
“I left a couple of pairs of thongs out, and my yellow bikini, my boobs have grown, and they don’t fit in the top anymore.”
She stands up on her toes and gives me a kiss on the cheek before moving around my truck and climbing into the passenger side.
I don’t want to even consider my twelve-year-old daughter having boobs, but I’m grateful that she chose to leave the yellow bikini at home. I’ll ask her to bring it to my place next time she visits so I can burn it in the fire pit.
“It’s okay though, I brought three new ones, and they all have padding. Sophie said I look hot in them and that they give amazing cleavage.”
“Did I not tell you?” I ask as I reverse out of the drive. “The resort has a modesty policy, one-piece bathers only. I’ll pick something out for you at the airport. It’ll be plain, navy blue or black, long-sleeved and will come with matching boardies that must be worn at all times. There’ll also be zero padding involved.”
“Great bantz, Dad. You’re hilarious.”
The kid thinks I’m joking. The three new bikinis will be getting burnt right along with the yellow one.
“How’s Lauren?” she asks after we’ve caught up on what’s happening in her life. We talk and text almost daily, but there are always things she forgets to mention until she sees me.
“She’s good,” I say with a nod. “What were you arguing with your mum about to make you tell her about Lauren?” I ask.
“Jesus, she didn’t waste time telling you, did she?”
“You know your mother, any excuse to get into it with me. She thought I’d be bringing Lauren away with us.”
“You should have. Then I could’ve gotten to know her. Why didn’t you?”
I don’t want to tell my kid that if we had time, I’d turn around right now and go get her. Instead, I say, “I’ve not seen you in almost a month, this holiday is about you and me time. Lauren knows that, and she’s happy for me, for us, but she can’t wait to meet you in a couple of weeks when you come stay.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. You’re different since you met her, Dad.”
I laugh at that. “Different how?”
“I don’t know, you just sound different on the phone, especially when you talk about her. You sound happier, like. . .” I turn and take a quick look at my daughter as she struggles to find the right word.
“Like you have more life in you.”
I look back to the freeway. In an attempt at ignoring the tightness in my chest and throat, I concentrate on the traffic as we take the exit for the airport.
She’s right. My daughter is absolutely spot on. Having Lauren in my life, has given me the kind of purpose I only usually have on the weeks and weekends Ava comes to stay.
“You’ve only hadmefor so long, since forever, so I’m glad. Happy that you’ve found someone, now I won’t have to move in and look after you when you get old, Lauren can do it.”
