I sit on the floor, cross legged and explain, “He isn’t a good man. He’s a very bad man…he hurt me, often. My own dad left, and we met again recently. He has a new family, none of them are blood relatives and yet they have more of a claim to him than I do. It’s hard and I’m not suggesting Leo is a bad stepfather, I’m just saying it’s hard.”
Bethy nods. “I’ve had stepfathers too, but that’s all they ever were,step. We have a dad and he would never have left us.”
She even sounds like Mase now.
“Yeah, Mase said. So, how’s motherhood the second time around?” I feel the need to change topic.
“Good, great.” She beams, making me smile too. “I always wanted a big family, but my husband died.”
“You could have more now.” Her pained expression makes me laugh loudly.
“Honestly? Sex is the last thing on my mind. Byron was about twelve hours old when the midwives were asking me what contraception I was planning to use.”
“And?” I’m unsure if this is a normal conversation to have with my boyfriend’s sister who I barely know.
“I told them the memory of the blood bath that was the delivery room would ensure celibacy.”
My loud laughter turns into more of a cackle at her words and although she seems deadly serious, she joins in.
“That bad?” I genuinely wonder why people ever consider having a second child if having a first one is so awful.
“Worse than that. Ten pounds of baby wedged in your nether regions for twenty-three hours is not conducive to romance never mind sex. There’s a reason you go six weeks sex free afterwards, you know.” She arches a brow then releases a loud and cheeky giggle when she sees my horrified expression.
“Six weeks?” I’m stunned by that nugget of information.
“Mmm, six weeks.”
“Shit!” I really am unsure how the hell Mase and I are ever going to have children if we have to go six weeks sex free after delivery considering we can barely go six hours without sex.
Byron cries in the distance. Getting to her feet, Bethy is still laughing at me.
“Thanks for letting Mia help and for making Mase happy. And for loving him enough to be planning beautiful babies and six weeks sex free.” She grins then leaves as her son’s cries increase in volume, along with the whirring of my mind.
When I wake the following morning, I am slightly disorientated. I have slept a little restlessly and as I open my eyes, I am sure I physically jump at the sight of strange walls, furniture and the lack of Mase.
I moan as I stretch and remember that it’s only a day since he went away. It really is going to be a long week, long and lonely.
Freshly showered and dressed I am already planning how to spend my days as I make my way downstairs where Charlotte is organising breakfast. I take a seat next to Mia and as she tucks into a pile of pancakes, I move some fresh fruit around a bowl wishing the week away and dreaming of being at home with Mase. I briefly wonder if I could get the sun room done quicker than first thought and go home to sleep in my own bed that still smells of my boyfriend but reason that I am unlikely to get away with that, not while Jimmy is checking in with me regularly. If I go home Mase will know about it before I have my key in the front door and I promised I wouldn’t go back home until he returns.
Mia proves to be an asset with her attention to detail and ability to follow instructions. She seems fascinated by my ideas and thoughts about why certain materials and colours work, or not. We are discussing the garish colours that once adorned the walls of the sunroom when a voice interrupts us.
“Where’s the inferno?” Jimmy asks.
“Grandad!” Mia squeals, genuine love and excitement filling her voice as she propels herself towards him.
Jimmy easily scoops his granddaughter up and litters her with kisses before placing her back on her feet as he tells her, “Grandma has some cake waiting.”
“Yes,” she cries with a fist pump that makes me laugh until I see a very serious expression appear on Jimmy’s face.
Mia disappears quickly, leaving me alone with the worried looking man before me.
“Olivia,” he begins warily, pulling me to sit down on a heavy, wooden chest I am considering using in this room.
I know he has news, Dr Mathers and Raymond news when he takes a seat beside me.
“This is likely to hit the news later today or tomorrow at the latest.”
I nod, unsure what else to do aside from trying to control the panic and dread rising in me.
