I Unlove You (29 page)

“
We
’
ve got loads to get
from the supermarket, and I
’
m feeling tired. Can
we get this another day?
”

“
Sure,
”
I said, gripping her palm
tight.
“
You still going to try and go for a run?
”

“
I don
’
t
know.
”
She sighed.
“
I want to, but I
’
ve no energy.
It
’
s driving me mad.
”

“
I know. Let
’
s get
home, maybe you
’
ll feel
better.
”

“
Yeah, maybe
…”

We continue to do the same things
and visit the same places, but with a new outlook and spin on
life.

Walking through Sowerby Bridge a few days ago, along the
same piece of road I venture down almost every morning, I stopped
and looked at a
for
sale
sign.

“
We should take a look at this
place,
”
I
said,
B
stood by my side.

“
What do you mean? The
flat?
”

“
It
’
s an ideal location
for us, don
’
t you
think?
”

Hesitating, she shook her head.
“
Not really. Along a
busy road like this
…
and at weekends, when everyone piles out of that
place,
”
she said, pointing to the bar across the road.
“
Plus,
I
’
m not sure I want to bring my son up in a flat. Little
boys need gardens to run around in.
”

“
True,
”
I said, searching the second storey
window, picturing our future home on the other side.
“
But
it
’
d be a start. Maybe in the short term a place like
this will work.
”

She
stroked my upper arm.
“
Maybe. I suppose we can have a
look.
”

“
Yeah?
”

“
Sure.
”

“
Okay, I
’
ll call them in the
morning,
”
I
said.

An
hour later, we sat on a bench by the canal,
B
nestled into my side,
wrapped in her blue and purple jacket. Rubbing my hand up and down
her thigh, I lost myself in the sound of the birds, chirping and
singing as evening drew near. Peeking above the treetops, the sun
crept through the occasional break in the branches and leaves, half
our bench glowed in the still warm light as the other half vanished
into shadows.

A family of five strolled by, the
father pushing a stroller with a sleeping baby inside, and the
mother surrounded by two young boys as they skipped by her
side.

“
That
’
ll be us
soon,
”
I whispered, kissing
B
on the cheek.
“
Taking Little Man for
a walk along the canal.
”

“
Oh, yeah,
”
she said, her tone
relaxed and sleepy.
“
Only one to contend with,
though.
”

I
chuckled.
“
At least for now.
”

“
For now?
”
she said, raising her
head.

“
Who knows how good
I
’
ll be at this
‘
daddy
’
game? We may end up with a whole
team of little boys.
”

“
Is that so?
”
she
laughed.

“
Maybe. Plus, we might need to
even things out with a girl. Can you imagine how cute a
little
B
would be? Who wouldn
’
t want
that?
”

“
Hmm. This girl for a
start.
”

“
We
’
ll see. I bet
you
’
ll beg me to impregnate you again.
”
I smiled and nudged
her.

“
We
’
ll see. Anyway, make
yourself useful and read to me for a bit.
”

“
I can do that. What would you prefer: Hemingway or
Gaiman?

“
Gaiman,
please.
”

Draining the final drops from my
pint glass, I slouch and watch a group of rowdy lads take it in
turns to order drinks. As Harriet tends to each - rolling her eyes
after every exchange - she stares at the doorway and straightens
her shoulders before dashing into the kitchen behind
her.

Following her eyes, I find Joey at
the door as he slips his grey dinner jacket off and reveals two
tattooed forearms; both shirtsleeves rolled tight to his elbows.
Loosening his top button he searches the room and catches me,
breaking into a smile and walking towards our table.

“
My brother, how are
you?
”
he says, scooping up a stool and placing it by my
chair.
“
You ordered yet?
”

“
Not yet. This
one,
”
I say, pointing to
B
.
“
Is starving. I suggest
you choose before she lurches at you.
”

“
You wouldn
’
t lurch
at me, would you?
”
he says, twisting to face her.

“
Don
’
t anger a pregnant
woman, Joseph. It isn
’
t a smart thing to
do.
”

“
Is that so? Well,
there
’
s another reason to never have
kids
…
or a
girlfriend
…
or anything beyond a two-week fling.
”
Taking his pipe from
his jacket
’
s inner pocket, he
taps it on the table.
“
I know what I
’
m having. Shall we
order?
”

“
You two are so
boring,
”
she says, arms crossed against her tummy.

“
Me? Boring? Are you
high,
B
?
”

“
You
’
re just like
him,
”
she says, pointing at me.
“
You order the same
thing every time.
”

“
I know what I
like.
”

“
That
’
s what I
said,
”
I
say.

“
Besides, the food
here
’
s adequate at best.
”

“
I like the food
here,
”
I say, reaching for
B
’
s
menu and stacking it
on top of mine.

“
It
’
s decent,
”
he says.
“
Hardly
mind blowing.
”

“
Either way,
”
B
says, grabbing his menu and handing it to me.
“
You should
both try something new from time to time.
”

Joey shakes his head and sighs.
“
Is this what
it
’
s like?
”

“
Like what is
like?
”
B interrupts.

“
Marriage,
”
he counters, smirk and
all.

“
Oh, I
’
m sorry, I must have
forgotten about my wedding day.
”

He
laughs, standing up and looking towards the bar.
“
As good
as, Mrs Ashford. As good as.
”

“
Shut up and
order.
”

“
I
’
m going. I
’
m
going.
”
He continues to search the bar.
“
Now,
where
’
s my lovely Harriet
…”

“
Just because
we
’
re having a baby together, doesn
’
t mean
we
’
re getting married,
”
B
continues, folding her arms tighter across her
chest.

“
Well, well,
well,
”
Joey says, crouching beside her.
“
Looks like I hit a
nerve. Have you heard this, Aus? Sounds like you
’
re
bringing up a bastard child.
”

“
Leave her
alone,
”
I
say.
“
She
’
s hungry and pregnant and
hasn
’
t gone for a run in ages. It isn
’
t a good
mix, and when you add you into the equation
…”

“
Excuse me?
”
she says, huffing and
puffing.

Settling back on his stool, Joey taps his fingers on the
table.
“
I just love how she
’
s so against
marrying you. I mean, I get it
—“

“
Shut up,
”
I counter.
“
That
isn
’
t what she meant.
”

“
You sure about that,
brother?
”

“
Don
’
t worry,
you
’
ll have your pick of the bridesmaids soon
enough.
”

“
Now, I like the sound of that.
I
’
ve never associated weddings with girls before, but
come to think about it
…”

“
And single malt
whisky
…”

“
And good cake
…”

“
The food in
general
…”

“
Damn, you two should get
married as soon as possible.
”

I laugh, straightening the menus
and rising to my feet.

“
Excuse me,
”
B
stutters, shaking her head.
“
Can we stop talking
about weddings and order food instead?
”

“
Aren
’
t girls supposed to
love wedding talk?
”
says Joey, winking at her.

“
Joseph, I swear
to
—“

“
Okay. Okay. I
’
m going. What are
you having?
”
he asks.