Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
The one he
’
ll be making in the flesh in a few hours
when he visits
her
.
Vi and Kevin
2 Square du Trocadero, 75016. Paris. France.
She paid the taxi driver and looked up at the old
brownstone classic building. There was something to be said about French
architecture
…
She smiled. She was home.
((~~!~~))
She entered the apartment, listening for any noise.
Kevin had told her he would try to be back
from Lyon to welcome her on the evening of her arrival, but if the complete
darkness and silence of the apartment were any indication, no one was there.
She flicked on the light of the hallway
and examined the wall. Nothing had changed. The black and white pictures were
still hanging on the white wall, except additional lightening had been added,
and a fluffy white rug was on the hardwood floors.
She carted her two suitcases in, closed
the door, and inhaled. She could smell his cologne.
“
Kev?
”
she called, thinking he was there after
all.
As no response came, she took the corridor
leading to her bedroom
She opened the door and was stunned.
She looked at her room.
It was still her room, her king canopy bed
still majestic in the middle, but the rest of the furniture has been changed
from renaissance, to white classic shabby chic, a few candles were lit on all
corners, and whites orchids and roses bouquets were strategically placed. An
envelope was resting on one of the pillow on the bed, and almost on automatic
pilot, she advanced into the room, picked it up and opened it.
“
Welcome home baby girl.
I
’
m not far, but I want you to enjoy the quiet
for your first night. So, rest and I
’
ll see you in the morning
This will always be your home.
Kevin.
”
She felt the tears prickle at the corner
of her eyes.
He always knew her so well. She hated
goodbyes, and she hated reunions; most of all, the ceremony that seems to
always surround them.
She went to her bathroom, and noticed, it
’
s been redone in black and white marble
and, she now had double showerheads behind a large glass panel and a sparkling
Jacuzzi bathtub instead of her old regular one.
A smile crept to her face as she started
to disrobe.
Before entering the shower stall, she
examined herself in the full-length mirror, and caressed the little round belly
that was now visible.
She saw a full grin returned by her
reflection, and let herself laugh out loud.
She
’
s made the right decision.
She was home.
((~~!~~))
“
Good morning sunshine!
”
he said lowly caressing her curls.
He had silently snuck into her room at 9
a.m. He was taking her out for breakfast, and it was only served until 10 a.m.
There was no more time to waste if they
were we going to make it to their favourite hangout: the Plaza
Athenée
hotel.
“
Hmm.
”
she responded, opening her eyes and
meeting the ones of her best friend.
“
How are you feeling?
”
he asked.
“
Kev
…
what time is it?
”
she mumbled, turning her head back
onto the pillow.
He chuckled, retorting,
“
Baby, it
’
s 9 a.m., so you had a good 11 hours sleep
…”
“
Go away
…”
she rumbled, her eyes closed.
He laughed,
“
I see, you still hate mornings
…
.
”
“
Huh, huh,
“
was the indistinguishable sound that came
as a reply.
“
Well, will Belgian waffles, African hot
chocolate, and a healthy serving of your favourite herbs omelette entice you
enough to get up?
”
he asked with a grin plastered on his
face.
She reopened her eyes, looking at him
suspiciously, eyebrow arched.
“
Yes.
”
he said to the silent question, adding,
“
but we now have 53 minutes left to make it
there, and order it before they tell us, breakfast servings are closed for the
day
…”
he
sighed,
“
unless, you prefer we do this tomorrow?
”
he asked, already knowing, she would not
let her favourite breakfast go to waste now that she was awake
…
“
10 minutes, get out.
”
she said, sitting herself on her bed.
His laugh followed him as he exited her
room.
((~~!~~))
“
Talk to me.
”
he said, as he observed her moan in
delight at the sip of hot chocolate.
“
Well, what more is there to say?
”
she replied with a smile, as she took a
bite of her omelette.
“
Lily rang this morning, and Julian is on
his way here
…”
he
pursued.
She shrugged and said nonchalantly,
”
So what? Let him be on his way
…”
“
What are you going to say to him, when he
shows up at our door?
”
he persisted, cutting a brioche in two.
“
Nothing Kev. Julian and I are going to be
parents, but that
’
s all. I simply don
’
t trust him that much, in fact I barely
know him
…”
she
replied, taking a sip of water, as her best friend
’
s eyes rested on hers, unwavering.
“
Vi
…”
he started.
“
No Kev,
“
she interrupted him,
“
This is going to take time. Trust is
something that is earned, and right now, I still have the very vivid image of
him being in Frances Palmers, so
…”
“
But, you were with Ethan
…”
he countered with a knowing smile. He
knew the pull, - incomprehensible if you asked him! -, that existed between the
two in spite or because of their history
…
“
So?
”
she enquired, puzzled.
“
Are you telling me, that you two finally
said goodbye to each other, and that that
’
s it?
”
he asked, doubtful.
“
Yes. Ethan and I are exes. We are friends
…
sort of
…”
she replied, feeling her throat go dry,
under his gaze.
“
Friends?
”
he laughed heartily.
“
I don
’
t think Ethan will ever be your friend
…”
“
Well, you are wrong Kev. Ethan and I are
good. We
’
re friends.
”
she punctuated with finality.
“
Fine,
”
he relented, sensing they were headed into
an argument if he kept talking about her ex-husband, so he changed the subject,
asking,
“
Should I prepare myself for Julian?
”
“
Don
’
t worry about him. I
’
ll handle him. As I said, we are going to
be parents, so I can
’
t cut him loose
…
I actually don
’
t want to, but us being together is an
entirely different story
…”
He looked at her and remained silent.
“
What?
”
she asked after a few minutes.
“
Nothing, I
’
m just surprised by your calmness.
”
he stated, still staring at her.
It was her turn to chuckle.
“
Kev. I
’
m home! Of course, I
’
m calm! You worry too much! Let us enjoy
ourselves! Things will resolve themselves with Julian
…”
“
If you say so
…”
he replied in a doubtful tone, but
finally grinned as he watched drink up the last her chocolate and a moan of
sheer contentment escaped her lips.
((~~!~~))
“
Do you want me to come?
”
he shyly asks, as she
’
s putting on a coat.
“
Would you?
”
she replies, meeting his eyes in the
mirror, as she now, puts her curls in a bun.
“
Sure. I
’
d love to!
”
he answers, enthused.
“
Are you sure?
”
she wants to make sure this isn
’
t going to be too awkward for him to
attend a gynaecologist appointment with her and discussing the baby she is
carrying.
“
Yes. I better get used to these
…
I really will be there for you, for this
baby
…”
he says his voice thick
with emotion.
“
All right then! Let
’
s go! I
’
ve been here five days, and I need to make
sure everything is fine, after all the excitement of last week!
”
she asserts thinking of Julian
’
s birthday party, her abrupt departure
from LA and her subsequent travels. She has spent way too much time in the air
for her own taste!
((~~!~~))
They
’
re giggling like children, both carrying shopping
bags, as they enter their home.
“
Remind me to never take you rue du
Faubourg
St.
Honoré
without a chauffeured
car!
”
he exclaims, as he puts down the dozen
bags he
’
s been carrying, and takes the half dozen
she has in her arms.
She can
’
t help but laugh, as she recalls the taxi
driver and Kevin struggling to fit all the product of her shopping in the small
car
’
s booth, and back seats.
“
Well, it
’
s been a while Kev, and I
’
m happy! And you know how I get when I
’
m happy
…”
she says, sorting the bags according to
contents.
“
Oh, yes, I know how you get
…”
he sighs with a small smile.
“
Besides, I
’
m pregnant, and I
’
m back
…
. I just needed a few things
…”
she pursues, pouting.
“
Hmm, don
’
t get me started on your definition of a
few things
…”
he grins,
as they walk into the living room, and he
’
s pouring them much deserved glasses of
water.
They drink in silence until she says,
“
I
’
m just glad the baby is fine!
”
“
Yes. I am thrilled! So far, so good. I
hope there won
’
t be any complications ahead this time
…”
he clears his throat, and adds in a
serious tone,
“
Vi? I
’
ll be there for you the coming months.
Starting next week, I
’
m cutting down my hours, I
’
m going to be one of these 9-5 people
until this baby is born
…”