Expectant by Vanda Symon

Author:Vanda Symon
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Orenda Books Ltd
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 32

Despite the fact I lived with the guy, and worked with the guy, I felt like Paul and I hadn’t had any couple time in ages. The rigours and task allocations of the case meant that we weren’t often in the same space at the same time, and if we were it was in the presence of the multitudes. Tonight Maggie was out at the movies with Rudy, so it was just the two of us, well, almost three of us. Four if you counted the cat who was curled up on what was left of my lap. It felt an absolute luxury to be parked on the sofa at home, ensconced in my PJs and fluffy slippers, snuggled up to the man, hot Milo in hand, watching crap TV.

‘Is it odd to feel guilty because this pregnancy is going so well, and everything is straight forward and there’s no drama when not everyone is so lucky, especially, well, you know…?’

He gave me a little squeeze.

‘I wouldn’t say odd. I think I’d say it’s stupid, ya dumb nut.’ Paul was always great with terms of endearment. He was right though, it was silly to feel bad about being happy, and although my head knew this, I still couldn’t help it.

‘How did your visit with the family go today?’ he asked.

It was getting to that time in the evening when Bubs started to get a bit active, usually when I started relaxing. I could feel the first fluttering of her movements. Would she be this predictable when she was on the outside?

‘It was great, actually. It felt such a relief to finally meet them in person. Being deliberately excluded from contact was really hard, and I don’t know if this sounds weird, but seeing them and feeling what they are going through makes it easier, if that’s the right word – to fight for them, to fight for justice for Aleisha. It shouldn’t make any difference. I know that I would put in the same work and strive for them whether I had met them or not, but it feels far more personal now.’

‘I’ve gotten used to your level of weird. Nothing you say surprises me anymore.’ He gave my hair a scriffle with the arm draped around my shoulder.

‘You do realise I’ll take that as a challenge?’

‘That doesn’t surprise me, either.’

‘Touché.’

Torie the cat, or Queen Victoria, as we called her when she was naughty, had been leaning against one side of my belly, and I could feel Bubs giving her a few prods from the inside. Her Royal Highness looked mildly perturbed. She then looked almightily perturbed when Bubs gave a massive kick that I swear jolted the cat off her spot. With an extremely unimpressed look on her face, she moved position around to the other side of my lap and resettled herself, out of the firing line.

‘I did learn something interesting when I visited them – something that hasn’t been noted or recorded earlier as far as I’m aware.

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