Peace and Love

Chapter five - Welcome home

Abby's POV:

Luke and I came back from our vacation. That was the best one to which I have ever been. I can't believe he took me to Montreal. It was like a dream come true. I had the best anniversary gift. Of course, I liked the necklace as well. I take it off only when I shower. I have no idea how he came up with this, but it was great. My boyfriend already used the present I got him. During the weekend, he played some video games with Jason. I'm glad they understand each other so well. We needed to socialize again. It's not a lie that I miss my old friends. That's where I met Nia. I mean at university. She was so good to me. Sadly, she and her boyfriend moved out of town when the baby was born. Since then, we haven't heard from them. I don't know what is going on. We looked so close. Maybe Luke is right. It wasn't meant to be. I have new friends, but it's not the same. Probably, they feel better without us. I still don't know why they did it, but it's not my business. I am not the one who has a baby. If they are happier that way, I will let them go. There is nothing else I can do. I better focus on myself. Lately, I have been working hard on a project. I changed my team. Let's say that I was bored with the previous task. Things were moving a bit slowly. I did everything I could to speed up the work. Well, it wasn't working. That's why my boss offered me to change my team. My new one doesn't do complicated things, but we finish faster. I am glad to have this job. I like it. I have to say that both Luke and I had luck with our careers. He feels good at the company. It's like yesterday when he went there. Time flies fast, especially when you are with your loved ones. Sometimes, I miss my parents. I hope that one day we'll be able to solve our problems.

Currently, I am at the office. We have to work only until lunchtime. The boss let us all go home in the afternoon. His wife has a birthday today, and he has planned a surprise for her. I guess he is in a good mood. It's almost 11 am. I have a lot of work, but I will try to finish the most important things. Hopefully, I will have enough time. Until 1 pm, I have to be done. I can stay up late, but my boss won't let me. Well, my work won't run away so I can finish some things at home. My job is not top secret. That means I can take it home with me.

The boss was checking on everyone to make sure we were leaving. It's not often when you see him in such a good mood. I decided to start packing my things. Otherwise, he will throw me away. Not for real, but he will make me leave. In one bag, I took everything I wanted to finish at home. Well, I will work only until Luke comes home. I was about to turn off my computer when he came in.

- Can I help you?

- I am waiting for you to leave. - my boss said, chuckling

- I am. Here are my things.

- What is that bag?

- I have some things to finish at home.

- If you don't want to get fired, you will leave it here.

- What? Why?

- Enjoy your life. I would spend all my time with my wife. Well, if I had been as young as you.

- Good for you, but I have nothing to do in the afternoon.

- Go out and have fun. I'm serious now. You don't have to work at home. Take a rest. Abby, I have seen your work. It's impressive. You don't need to prove yourself.

- I'm not doing it.

- Are you sure? For real. Take a rest.

- Ok, fine.

- Good. Let's go now.

I left the bag and walked after him. I know he is not wrong, but I love my job. Also, I don't work at home all the time. I walked out of the building and went home. We have some leftovers from last night's dinner. That's what I will eat. I have to make dinner, but it will be later. Usually, I cook what my boyfriend tells me. He has excellent taste when it comes to food. That's why I leave him to cook more often.

After my small lunch, I went for a shower. When I was ready, I got dressed and dried my hair. I didn't want to go out. I will watch tv. Hopefully, there is something good. I was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Loren and Dean are working. I went to open it and froze at my place. No way.

- Sarah? Sam?

- Hello. I haven't seen you in so long. Hug me.

- Here you go.

- Hey. - Sam said

- Well, hello, daddy. How is life with two kids?

- Fun. Messy.

- Where are they?

- With Sam's parents. - Sarah said

- Come in.

- Is my brother here by any chance?

- No, I'm sorry. He is still working.

- I thought you would be, too. - Sarah said

- Yes, but my boss's wife has her birthday today. He was in a good mood and let us all go home early.

- That's great.

- When did you come to town?

- Let's say that we are here for a week. - Sam said

- What? Why did no one call?

- Because we were busy. We didn't come only to see you.

- Is there a problem?

- No, everything is fine.

- Then what is going on?

- Sam and I want to move back here.

- What? Really?

- Yes, but we need a house. That's why we came.

- You should've done that three months ago.

- Why?

- There was a house in the neighborhood for sale.

- Is there another one?

- I haven't heard about that.

Sarah, Sam, and I were talking about the new house. I don't know if there is a house around us for sale. For now, they will live with Sam's parents. They can stay here if they want. Well, I don't want to deal with kids. Honestly, that might be good practice for Loren. It's better if I don't mention that in front of her. It's like she heard me calling her. There was a knock on the door, and she was here with Jason. I wonder what they want.

- Can I help you?

- You forgot this cake at home last night. - Loren said

- Bestie, we had dinner at home. You just wanted to come, didn't you?

- Yes. Now I will come in.

- I'm sorry. She made me do it. - Jason said

- Wait! Are you pregnant?

- Abby!

- I'm sorry.

- It's ok. I'm not that obsessed anymore.

- Let's go into the kitchen.

- Oh, hey. I am Loren.

- Hi, Loren. I am Sarah, and this is Sam.

- He is your boyfriend, right?

- Well, we passed that stage a couple of years ago.

- That's even better. Do you have kids?

- Loren. Leave the girl alone. - Jason said

- I have two.

- Aww, lucky you. - Loren said

- Hey, do you two know a house for sale around the neighborhood? - I asked

- No, sorry, Abby. I don't know anything.

- It's ok.

- Do you and Luke want to move?

- No, it's for us. We want to move back to town. - Sam said

- I can ask and tell you.

- Thanks. That will help. We checked some houses, but the price was not good for the conditions.

- That's what you think. - I said

All of us talked for a while. Later, Luke came home. He was happy to see his brother. We haven't seen Sam and Sarah for the last five months. They were busy. It's good that phones exist. We decided all of us to have dinner together. My boyfriend wanted to teach his brother and friend how to cook. I don't mind that at all. As I have said before, I love it when he does it. The girls were talking about babies. I was pretending to listen.

- I think someone wants a treat.

- She does. Right, Abby?

- What?

- I said that you want a treat. - Loren said

- What treat?

- You can't stop looking at Luke. - Sarah said, chuckling

- Come on. I don't want to talk about babies.

- It's not bad. Your time will come one day.

- Yeah, no thanks.

- Don't be so sure.

- I have already made my statement about this. Please, leave me alone.

- Ok, we won't bother you.

I decided to help the boys with dinner. They didn't let me. At least I was staying and watching. It's not like that is something good. I feel a bit useless. Well, from time to time, I received a kiss. It's better than nothing. After an hour and a half, the food was ready. I was staying like a princess while my boyfriend was serving me. He has the luck that I love him. Next time, it's my turn.

- Boys, dinner is delicious. Great job. - Sarah said

- Don't expect me to do this all the time. Of all of us, only my brother knows how to cook well. - Sam said

- You can take some lessons from him.

- I work all day. You are the one who stays at home and has more free time.

- True, but I would like it if you do it once.

- Little brother, that is your false.

- The fault that you have a complaining wife is not mine. - Luke said

- Excuse me. I am not complaining. - Sarah said and laughed

- Are you sure?

- Maybe I am a little bit.

- A little bit?

- Luke, stop it. - I said and looked at him

- Ok, ok.

Luke and I were eating peacefully. Sarah and Sam filled our friends' heads with baby stuff. Honestly, I want to go, but the house is mine. I will ignore them if that is even possible. My boyfriend hugged me and kissed the top of my head. I don't mind our friends, but I wish they hadn't been talking to us about that. Everyone knows what we think about this. Sometimes, people want to make us do something we don't like. I feel it. I stayed for a while. That was until my head started exploding. I got up and walked to our room. Soon, my boyfriend followed me. I can't stay there anymore. All of this is too much for me.

- Hey, are you ok?

- No.

- Ignore them.

- How? They keep talking about the same things as if I am not here.

- I know it's bothering you, but I can't tell them to shut up. You know how much Loren wants to get pregnant.

- Yes, I do. It doesn't mean I should listen to this all night.

- If you want, we can go out and leave them alone.

- This is our house. The ones who have to leave are they.

- Hey, that wasn't nice.

- I'm sorry. I'm annoyed.

- I know. We can stay here for a while. The other thing is to tell them to talk about something else.

- They ignored us. Don't you see it?

- It's not forever.

- I don't think so. I expect your brother and Sarah to go for dinner at Loren's house tomorrow night.

- If that means we can be alone, I don't mind.

- We are alone all the time.

- Yes, but we are working. When was the last time we did something for ourselves?

- You took me on vacation. Remember?

- That was another thing. I had a reason to do it.

- By the way, the vlog got famous.

- Really?

- It has three million views.

- That's great.

- You need to do more things for me so I can get profit. - I said, chuckling

- I wonder when you will do something for me.

- I do it all the time.

- Really?

- Ok, fine. What do you want?

- I don't know. You.

- I will gladly do that, but not now. Don't forget about our guests.

- Well, if I tell them my plan, they will leave.

- Don't you dare. - I said, and he laughed

- You are so easy.

- It's not funny.

- It is for me. I like playing with you.

- Because?

- Because I know you will never get mad at me.

- Why are you so sure?

- Abby, I know you. We have never been in a huge fight. Even when we were struggling. That won't happen.

- I know, but still.

- Promise not to get mad at me.

- Why? What did you do?

- Promise.

- Ok, ok. I promise I won't get mad at you. Now tell me what you did.

- Nothing.

- What?

- I wanted to use this in case something happens in the future.

- You are terrible.

- But you love me.

- Sadly, I do.

- I love you too. - he said and kissed me

We decided to go back to our guests. I believe they have listened to us, but I don't care. If that is how they want to understand everything, fine. I don't care. They stayed around midnight. Sarah said she had to check on the kids. I bet they are already sleeping. Our friends get tired as well. Luke and I stayed to clean everything. I was washing the dishes, and he was drying and putting them in their places. That is what I call teamwork. Honestly, we always do this. When we finished, we went to bed. I can't wait to rest. I know the weekend is coming, but I feel tired.

- Are you ok now? They are gone. - Luke said, chuckling

- Finally, I can have some peace.

- You know we can't ignore them. Neither to stop hanging out with them.

- I know, but sometimes it's too much for me. Now you know why I don't want kids. I like it when it's only us. It's quiet.

- As I have said, I will do whatever you say. Also, you have a point here. I don't want a noisy baby to wake me up in the middle of the night because it's hungry.

- That will be for me.

- No kids, no problems.

- Agreed. Let's sleep now. I'm tired.

- Do you want a massage?

- No, thanks. You know what I want.

- You can have your daily dose of cuddles now.

- Thank you.

I love our friends, but sometimes I like it when it's only Luke and me. It's peaceful and quiet. We do things sometimes, but it's not often. I like it, but every time I have to drink a pill. I mean, we should be safe if we don't want some consequences. Some people might be happy, but I won't be. That is not something I want to happen. No, thank you. I'm glad that he thinks the same as me. Before, I was worried he might want a kid. Luckily, he is on the same page as me. Probably that's why we understand each other so well. We think the same. I hope that we'll always have such a good relationship.