Page 73 of Lost Soul

I take it from her and inspect it carefully, the outer casing is a lot larger than the ones that are made these days. It’s old, but would plug into my laptop the same way any modern one would.

“I was hoping there might be some more pictures on this stick thing,” Carly says, closing the trunk back up and pushing it to the other end of the table.

“Yeah sure. Looks like the guys are gonna be busy today, this will keep us entertained.”

“Cool, I’ll make us a salad for lunch.” Carly hops back up from the table, and I slip the USB into my pocket.

“I’ll grab my laptop after we’ve eaten.” I smile, Carly moves around the kitchen boiling eggs and slicing up ham, while I chop up lettuce and grate some carrots before we sit out on the deck and eat.

“So, what photos you looking for?” I ask.

“I just want some of Skid when he was younger, thought it would be nice to get some photos up around here,” Carly says, placing down her fork.

“I can’t imagine Skid ever being a child,” I laugh. “He’s so manly. I’ll bet he was born with a beard and clutching a spanner,” I tease, making Carly giggle.

“Let’s hope not, or this little one’s baby photos won’t be winning any baby competitions.” She strokes her hand across her stomach with a proud smile on her face.

“What?” I look down to her hand, my eyes growing wider, and my mouth forming a huge smile. “You mean...”

“Uh-huh,” she nods. “I’ve been desperate to tell someone since I found out. You can’t tell anyone, Skid doesn’t know yet and I really wanna make it special.”

“Oh wow.” I reach over the table and squeeze her, Carly is gonna be a fantastic Mom, her natural instinct to care and love has shown since the day I arrived here.

“We’ve been trying a while, I was starting to worry, but turns out I had nothing to panic about,” she beams.

“This is the best news, Carly, just what everyone needs. Have you told your family?”

“No, you’re the only one who knows. I just can’t keep it in any longer, and I need you to help me with a few things... I want to tell them in person but they’re so far away, and I only visited a few weeks ago before I found out. Has your laptop got that Skype thing my mom keeps telling me I need to get?”

“Yes, I have.” I clap with excitement. “I’ll hook you up, show you how to use it.”

“I want to see their faces rather than tell them over the phone.”

“So when you gonna tell Skid?” I ask. “He’s gonna be so happy.”

“Well I did have this idea, I saw it in a movie and thought it was kinda cute,” she tells me, suddenly looking embarrassed.

“Go on?” I urge, this was just the distraction I need.

“So this woman, cooks up her guy’s favourite meal, gets his favourite movie, lights some candles, and when they sit down to watch it, she’s replaced the DVD with a DVD of herself telling him he’s gonna be a Daddy… it's ridiculous right?” She rolls her eyes. “But it made me cry.”

“Carly that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard, and we can use my laptop to do it. There’s a recording function.”

“Really…? Then let’s do it,” she says, her voice full of excitement.

We finish lunch and I nip back to Jessie’s cabin to grab my laptop. Carly makes more ice tea, and we set to work. I set her up a Skype account and show her how to use the movie maker app, before she drives into town to buy some recordable DVD’s while I clear up the lunch plates. Carly already has all the ingredients out for the pot roast she’s making for Skid, she’d even offered to make one for me and Jessie too. So, I figure I’ll save her some time and start taking care of her for a change. I make two separate pots, then carry them both round to Jessie’s and place them in his oven so I can keep an eye on them while I clear the kitchen up from breakfast.

I’m putting out the trash when Carly’s car pulls up.

“You get what you need?” I call across the yard, and she hold up the bags smiling.

“I’ll return your laptop soon as I’m done making the DVD,” she says.

“Keep it for tonight, you can Skype your mom together after.” I check around me to make sure no one is around to hear me. “I’ve made the pot roasts, I’ll bring yours round when it’s done,” I tell her.

“Really?” Carly looks back at me stunned.

“Thought I’d save you the time. Get used to it, I’ll be taking care of you from now on.” I wink.

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