“I’m going to express later so no. Maybe after that, but thank you.”
There was silence. Probably a little huff because he wasn’t getting his way.
Wouldn’t hurt him.
I checked my decorated belly, giving it a little rub knowing there was another ducky growing inside, making sure the sequins didn’t knock off. In fact, they felt so secure I was worried they’d be on permanently.
In less than the ten minutes I’d promised, I was downstairs, Jude behind the kitchen island and Maia being entertained in her play area, a few sparkling lights making her giggle. She wasn’t normally this awake at this time, so I suspected she hadn’t eaten enough which meant her schedule was going to be screwed.
We’d manage. Jude was about to get some news that was going to change a lot of schedules, so in the scheme of things, all was good.
“You’ve made the burgers from scratch?”
He nodded, then talked me through the ingredients.
“I’ve done the bread too this afternoon while you were out. Go and sit down and I’ll bring it over. Everything will be ready in about twenty minutes.”
I grinned, fishing a bottle of juice for myself out of the fridge and headed to the sofa, lounging back on it with an eye on Maia, who was looking like she was going to start wailing the song of the ignored baby.
Drink down, I picked her up and settled back down with her on the sofa, doing a bit of shifting round with clothing to see if she would latch on and top up. It worked, Maia settling into me and starting to feed happily, the whole closeness a comfort for both of us.
And Jude, who was perving over.
“Can I get a photo?” He produced his phone and held it up. “Just for me.”
I nodded, smiling up and him and then Maia. “I think she’ll have a good sleep after this. We can veg out in front of whatever’s on TV.”
“Our usual New Year’s Eve.” He went back to the kitchen counter and picked up two brown bags, both of them decorated with cartoons that looked like they’d been drawn by him.
I held mine up with one hand, inspecting it. “Are these pictures of us?”
“They are.”
I laughed, loving the gesture. “It’s pictures from us, from things we did – the McDonalds take outs, at the chateau in France – this is really cute. I love it.”
Maia gave a little murmur which meant she’d finished, thank you very much.
Jude held his hands out to take her. “I’ll wind her. Have a look at what’s in there.”
I pulled out a cardboard burger box,Jude Loves Nevawritten on it inside a big heart. It was cheesy and corny, but I loved it all the same. He sat on the coffee table – which was thankfully a solid wooden thing – watching me, looking entertained and slightly smug, Maia in the burp position against his shoulder.
The burger inside the box was made up exactly like my usual order, even with a pickle and burger sauce. There were also fries inside the bag, a napkin and what looked like a box with a toy inside. I left that in the bag, emptying the fries into the other half of the burger box, my mouth watering because Jude had done an amazing job of this.
“You recreated our first meal together,” I said, watching him put Maia down after a rather lady-like burp. “From scratch.”
“Thought you’d like it.” He opened his bag and began to eat. “How was Carlotta’s with Genny?”
“Good. What was weird though was that Genny completely avoided telling me anything about who she was spending New Year’s with. I’m convinced it’s Guy.” My heart was beating a little faster at the news I was going to give – no, show – Jude shortly.
He shrugged. “She hates him. Why would she be spending New Year's with him?”
“I think they’re having hate sex.”
He laughed, polishing off his burger, chomping on that before answering. “Is that a thing?”
“Totally. We have it when I’m annoyed with you.”
“You’re never annoyed with me. Have you seen your happy meal toy?”
