The luckiest

Chapter 16

We're on the deck at the Stage Neck Inn restaurant and Charlie looks delectable in a Chambray button-down.  He sips on a draught beer, sucking the remnants of his last bit off his top lip.  He adjusts his wayfarers with his middle finger and shoots me a smile, "What?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing doesn't warrant staring. "

"You look good."

"I try." He teases.

"I hope you have some energy left for this evening."

"Oh, I always do."

"Why don't we book a room for the afternoon and tell your parents we'll be a bit late?"  I try to look at him as suggestively as possible while I run an index finger over the rim of my cocktail glass.

"You don't have to ask me twice." And with that, he motions the server over to request our check I presume.

We're lying on the king-sized bed in our hotel room, Charlie still completely clothed, his jeans around his thighs.  I smooth my hands over the short white and peach floral dress I knew would be a good idea.  Charlie sighs, "Ginny, this was a great idea."

"I know."

"We still have a couple of hours before we need to head home."

"I know." I can't formulate more than a few words.  My brain is mush thanks to my husband.

"Are you thinking what I am?"

"Shower and a nap?"

"Yes!" He says, rolling over and kissing me on the lips before getting up and beginning to strip.

We're exhausted.  I knew that having baby Charlie was going to do this, but I'd forgotten about the sleep deprivation and craving for alone time.  However, we didn't mind it all.  With the promise of at least an hour's uninterrupted sleep, I rethink my promise to visit David and Holly after and proceed to join my husband in the shower.

"I'm sad we didn't get to see you." I'm on the phone with Holly when we get home as I feel slightly guilty about skipping our visit.

"I am too, but we'll see you for lunch at Mom's next weekend, right?"

"Yeah, we'll be there.  I'm craving your mom's fish cakes and strangely, non-alcoholic beer."

I laugh, "I know she's mentioned she's making them for you.  How are you feeling?"

"Very pregnant!  I'm just happy there's no morning sickness since last month.  I get the odd bout of nausea, but only when I smell anything cheesy."

"I'm glad Holly.  How's everyone else?"

"We're good.  Little Ginny is so attached to David.  She toddles everywhere he goes.  Liam, is well, Liam.  We're so ready for full-time nursery."

Soon Holly and David will have three under-five's in the house and I can sympathise.  Only difference is, Our girls are a cake-walk in comparison to Liam.  It doesn't help either that he is doted on by my parents and Holly's mom.

"OK, let's chat some more this week."

"Let me know if you need help with the twins' party."

We were having the twins' party at the pub on the first Saturday in August and since they were only turning three, we were keeping it low-key since they didn't have school-friends or such.  Mrs C had made some acquaintances in the park and I met a few parents at the baby-yoga classes, but not enough to warrant a torrent of invitations going out.

"Yes, please.  I'm ordering food from the pub, so we just need to do set up, if you're keen to help with that."

"Sure.  We also need to chat nursery school prep when you have a moment."

The twins and Liam were starting  half-day nursery in September.  The girls would only be going three days a week.  Mrs C would be home with baby Charlie each day for those three days and collect the twins from nursery for us.  I would be going back to work in October.  Hopefully Mrs C would be settled into the new routine by then, as well as the kids and she'd then be back on board for the full five days.

After hanging up with Holly, I head downstairs to help Charlie with the quick clean.

"When is Mrs C back?" Charlie asks, as he tosses plush toys into toy boxes in the playroom.

I try not to laugh, especially since he wasn't too keen on having help. "I was actually just thinking about her.  She is enjoying her well-deserved break.  Besides, I think the first couple of months with all three kids has scarred her."

"Doubt it.  That woman is made of steel!"

I scoop up a handful of Diplo's from underneath the small table in the centre of the room and chuck them into a box containing all the others, "You're right. Well, she's probably off strolling the fields of Galway right now."

"Speaking of trips.  We need to think about a break before September."

"Vermont?"  I loved that lake house with all my heart and wished we had more time for it.  We loved sharing it with our extended family of course.  David and Holly were planning to enjoy some time there before the new arrival and Charlie's parents went up just a month ago.

"Yeah.  Was thinking we could go with the kids?"

Before, I would have panicked at the thought, but feeling like a pro, I agree whole-heartedly, "I'm in."

With something else to look forward to, I settle in at the breakfast nook to go over the party plans.  I've hired a bouncy castle much to Charlie's chagrin as now he has to station one of the employees out there as we've decided to let customers use it too.

"Party planning?"  He asks, putting a glass of water in front of me.

"Thanks.  Yeah.  I'm just going to finish up and then I'll be up to wake the little guy for his feed."

"Sure.  I'll run you a bath?"

"You're the best!"

"That's why you've kept me around, I know.  Your dad thinks I spoil you and your brothers agree by the way!"  He says this as he heads out the kitchen.  Too much breakables to toss a shoe at him.

"None for you tonight, Mr King!"

As I head upstairs, I hear the giggling before I turn into our bedroom.  There is shuffling under the covers and more giggles.  Charlie is sitting on his side of the bed in just his black drawstring shorts.  He looks positively guilty.

"That had better not be who I think it is."

"It's me, Momma!" Caitlin's strawberry blonde curls pop out from under the covers.  Her grin is infectious.

"Why aren't you in bed?"

She crawls out and reaches out for Charlie, who cradles her in his lap and to his chest.  The kid clearly knows how to play him.  "I got scared.  Daddy said I could sleep here."

He looks shocked, "Caity!  I did not say that."

"You did, Daddy!" She laughs as she confirms.

"I said just for a bit."

"But I'll still be scared in a bit."

I'm too tired for hostage negotiations and leave it in my capable husband's hands and head to the bathroom to my delightfully warm and lime and charcoal-scented water.

"Ginny?  A little help?"  He calls after me.

"Try The Gruffalo or the Gruffalo's Child and some warm milk."  I call from behind the shut door.

"Thanks." Is all I hear, but I'm sure there's more.

He's back by the time I'm out of the bath, sans his Caity.  I smirk at him knowingly, "How did you get into that bind?"

"I just went to check on them while you were feeding Junior and those little eyes were staring at me from her bed.  She said she heard a sound from the closet and under the bed.  I did the checks.  Didn't convince her."

"She make the face at you?" I teased him.

"I don't fall for that face."

 "Uh, yeah you do."

"Fine.  I got suckered tonight."

"Uh-huh."

I get into bed, my k****e in my hand.  He looks at it.  I look at it. "What?"

"You're reading?"

I try not to smile, "Yup."

"Uh, OK.  What ya reading?"

"The Hunted series."

"OK."

"Something you wanted?"

He takes the k****e out of my hands and gently takes my face between his thumb and forefinger, "More of a need." His voice is hoarse with lust and my traitorous body responds immediately.  Without a moment's hesitation, my mouth is on his and my book can wait yet another night as I completely surrender myself to my husband.

Satiated and having worked up a thirst, I head downstairs to get some water.  Charlie is having a shower.  I don't switch on the kitchen light, since the hallway lights brighten up the room enough.  As I'm filling my glass, I hear the familiar ping of his phone and notice the light of the screen on the kitchen island.

Before it locks again, the name of the sender shows along with the first part of the message.

Lily

Looks like I can come to the pub this Tuesday.  Let me know if you're free.

There is no other way to describe the feeling than a punch to the gut as many other people will tell you.  I try to gather my thoughts and control my reaction as I pick up the offensive device from the island and make my way upstairs.  

As I enter the bedroom, I'm still unsure of what to say or do.  I wait on the edge of the bed, the phone still in my hands.  I hear the shower door open and shut.  I make the last minute decision to quickly put the phone on his bedside table amongst his keys and wallet, and I head over to my side and crawl under the covers.

He crawls in and I feel him kiss me on top of my head before he settles in himself.  My nature is to confront him head on and claw at the facts, analysing, discussing, but something in me is urging me to refrain from an outburst.

Once the lights are out, the white, hot anger I'd felt earlier turns into something else and I feel the unfamiliar heat of tears falling and soaking my pillow.