Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
CALEB
I can’t concentrate. Normally I’d be following the blood in the water and going for the kill at this event, but all I can think about is Ariella. I took her home early from work today and had to leave her throwing up in MsPat’s care just before I left the house. I almost didn’t come, but babies aren’t cheap. As confirmed by the internet. And Tim.
When I call and tell them, Em simply gasps loudly. Tim takes over the conversation.
‘You know her father is going to kill you, right?’ he says happily.
‘Cheers for that, mate. It may not be that bad.’
‘Didn’t he refuse to give you his blessing to marry her?’
‘Only because he thought I wasn’t ready.’
‘Think he’ll change his mind now you’ve done this?’
‘Why do you sound like you’re enjoying this?’
‘Because I am. You’re going to be a dad. It’s great news and is going to be so enjoyable on so many levels. I can’t wait for the day you’re going to try to give useful advice,’ he teases.
‘I can give useful advice!’
‘Really? Okay. Quick test. You’re down to your last twenty quid. Are you going to spend it on hair wax or nappies?’ He roars down the phone. ‘Oh! Can I be the one to tell Jack?’
‘Yes, you can tell Jack.’ I let him have his fun.
‘Mate, start saving now. You’re going to be so poor.’
‘I know!’ We both crack up.
I got a single message from Jack shortly afterwards.
Goodness knows why the universe has let this happen, but congratulations mate. Poor Ariella. She’s in for a treat. Cigars and whisky when you’re next about.
I am aware that I need to be able to support whatever Ariella decides she wants to do. I’m making really good money in Singapore and the bonuses I’m pulling in are fantastic, but I need to start focusing on what I’m going to do when we get out of here. I have no doubt that Ariella will be an exceptional mother and will fill our home with nothing but love, so I am committed to being a good man – providing for and protecting our family.
I’m not doing much ‘providing’ here, so I call it a night. By the time I get home, Ariella is sleeping. She has been busy in the kitchen tonight, playing with the recipes she’s going to make for Dominic’s dinner party. I am not happy about this whole dinner party malarkey, but I’m trying to be an adult about it. She seems genuinely excited, so I let it go. I found out the other morning that MsPat shares my Dominic concerns. She stopped short of demanding that she assist when Ariella goes off to cook with the caterers.
Ariella has been chasing the caterers down for her preparation slot at their industrial kitchens, but no one has managed to get back to her. I know exactly what is going on here. There isn’t going to be a slot. At this point I’m not even sure there are caterers or a party, but I keep my mouth shut. MsPat may be tiny, but she is formidable and, as long as she is there with Ariella, everything will be fine. Besides, I’ve got other things on my mind.
I spend the whole of the next day looking at secluded islands for two nearby. Ariella and I haven’t taken a proper holiday since we got here, and now would be the perfect time to do so. I’m deciding whether I should opt for something in the middle of an ocean, a river or bay when Lydia walks past. I solicit her for help.
‘You’re going to propose, aren’t you?’ She grins.
‘Shhhhh!’ I say, looking around.
‘How far do you want to go?’
‘Pluto is too close.’
‘Just you or do you mind having other properties nearby?’ Lydia snickers.
‘Just us.’
‘Have a look at this one,’ she says before taking over my keyboard.
A house in the middle of the ocean appears, surrounded by white sand and crystal-clear blue water. As Lydia zooms in on the details of the four-bedroom villa, I see that it has a plunge and swimming pool, hammocks, beach cabanas, kayaks and an open beach grill. We read more. It comes with the option to have staff present or just daily check-ins for housekeeping and deliveries. It’s exactly what I am looking for.
‘Lydia, you’re a legend,’ I say, squeezing her hand.
‘Don’t thank me yet!’ She scrolls to the bottom of the page.
‘How much?!’ I gasp loudly when I see the figure.
‘And that’s per night, plus service and taxes.’ Lydia tries to keep her voice down.
‘I could buy a house in the north of England for that!’
‘You probably could.’
‘It’s fine.’ I close my laptop. I thought I was doing well until I saw that.
‘It’s not where you are, Caleb, it’s who you’re with.’ Lydia pats me on my shoulder and goes back to what she was doing.
Two hours later, I reopen the tab for the house and fire off an enquiry, praying that they’ll come back and admit the price was in fact a mistake and they added that additional zero accidentally.
When I get home that night after yet another event, Ariella is nowhere to be found. Just as I pull out my phone to send her a text, she comes bustling through the door with MsPat, both laden with groceries. I help them with their bags before I pull her to me and plant a long, loving kiss on her lips. I’ve missed her today.
‘Hello, Mason. What’s all this?’
‘Dominic’s caterers got caught up in Melissa’s crime sweep and he no longer has any catering on Thursday.’
I feel the anger rise, and push it down.
‘So he’s asking you to do it all?’
‘He asked if I didn’t mind stepping in. I think I can do it. We’ll need to expand the menu to have some local dishes, but, as long as we present on platters for people to help themselves, I should be all right.’
‘That’s a lot, Ariella, especially in your…state.’
The giggle-filled kiss she rewards me with takes every negative feeling out of my body.
‘I’m pregnant, Black, not dying, but I am going to need your help. I have a day and a half to get this right and my tastebuds have gone all weird. So I need yours.’
She’s so excited, I can’t take this away from her. Dominic is up to something; but I don’t have any proof, so I keep my opinions to myself and pull up a stool.
‘Okay. How can I help?’
We actually have a lot of fun that night. MsPat is sent home by Ariella at ten to get some sleep, but I stay up until almost four in the morning with my girlfriend testing, trying, giving my opinion and helping her pull her menu together. She is radiant and excited all night, laughing through her mistakes with food in her hair, and happily jumping and clapping at her successes.
By the time she decides to call it a night, my love for her feels like it’s going to burst through my chest, and I can’t keep my hands off her in the shower. With precautions no longer required, I hold her up as we make love and squeeze her tightly as we climax together. When we curl up to sleep, I start my little belly tickles, hoping that our baby feels the presence of my love through them.