by M A Comley
Kayli’s blood was beginning to boil. She hated being kept in the dark about things. “Jesus, Mark! Talk to me. What does your job involve?”
Refusing to look up, he shook his head. “Leave it, Kayli. The last thing I want to do is fall out with you over this. Most women would be grateful for the money I’m bringing home.”
“Well, you should know me well enough by now that I’m not most women.”
He stood up and glared at her. “Don’t I know it. I’ll be in the living room, watching TV.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she called after him.
He refused to answer. Kayli stood up and looked out the back window at the overgrown lawn, determined not to shed the tears pricking at her eyes. So much for having a fun-filled, stress-free weekend. I have a right to ask the question, don’t I?
The alarm on the oven buzzed, and she felt relieved that she’d set it. Otherwise, she feared she would be serving up burnt offerings, and that would have made Mark’s mood a whole lot worse.
She divided the pizza into thirds and put two on Mark’s plate. When she tried to hand him his plate, he refused to take it, so she left it on the table in front of him. She sat at the other end of the sofa and began nibbling on hers, not that she had any appetite left as her stomach was twisted into knots. She hated confrontations at home.
Mark’s pizza was almost cold before he started eating it. Kayli took her half-eaten dinner into the kitchen and threw it in the bin. Then she poured herself a glass of wine and returned to the lounge.
“No wonder you’re skinny, if that’s all you eat,” he mumbled, his gaze remaining on the TV screen.
Kayli knew there was no point responding to his snarky comment and sipped her wine instead.
They spent the rest of the evening in silence, watching dross on the TV. At nine o’clock, Kayli announced she was going to bed. Mark grunted a goodnight as she left the room. Exhausted from the pressures of her work, she descended into sleep before long. At three, she awoke to find Mark’s side of the bed empty. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She hated falling out with him, but she had no intention of going downstairs to find out where he was and why he hadn’t come to bed. Eventually, she dropped off to sleep again around five. She woke at eight to the sound of the shower running. She sat up in bed, waiting for him to come out of the bathroom.
He entered the bedroom, towelling his hair dry, a small towel draped around his waist. Again, he avoided any form of eye contact with her and neglected to even acknowledge her.
She coughed slightly. “Morning.” He ignored her, so she tried again. “Mark, please don’t ignore me. I said good morning.”
His eyes narrowed when he looked at her. “Morning. Are you going to stay in bed all day?”
She closed her eyes and bit down hard on her tongue. Then she threw back the cover and walked into the bathroom for a shower. When she returned, the room was empty. She strained her ear to hear the kettle boiling in the kitchen. Kayli took her time drying her long hair and decided to leave it loose for the day. After peering out the window to see if the sun was shining, she removed a pretty floral dress from her wardrobe and slipped it over her head. Then she applied the lightest of makeup before going downstairs for round two with Mark. She hoped that the sun shining through the kitchen window had improved his mood.
He turned to look at her when she walked into the room. His eyes widened, and a smile touched his lips. “You look beautiful.”
She twirled, excited by his words. Maybe they were in for a good day after all. “Why thank you, kind sir. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He was wearing his best jeans and the expensive burgundy Ben Sherman shirt she’d bought him for Christmas. She walked towards him and raised her face, expecting a kiss. He pecked her on the cheek instead of the lips and turned to make a mug of coffee. He handed it to her and smiled.
“Look, I’m sorry for interrogating you last night. I have no right to ask how much you earn or what risks you’re taking with your life.”
“You’re right. You don’t. But I acted like a child, and I apologise for that. Can we draw a line under it for today and enjoy the barbeque?”
“I’m all for that. I can’t wait to see Giles. Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s the same as always. Eager to see Annabelle and Bobby.”
Kayli smiled, thinking of the surprise announcement Annabelle intended to make at the barbeque. It was going to blow her brother’s socks off. She pondered telling Mark but decided against it, wanting him to be as surprised as her brother. “She’s missed him, and so has Bobby.”
“Likewise. They were all he talked about while we were away.”
“That’s lovely to hear. They’re so happy together.”
“Is that a dig?” he asked.
At first, Kayli found it difficult to tell if he was joking or not until a smile tugged at his mouth. She slapped his upper arm. “I’m sorry.”
“Enough already, we’re past that. What time do you want to set off?”
“We’ll have this and go if you like. I’m not going to bother with breakfast. I know what kind of spread Mum usually puts on.”
“How much have you lost?”
She hitched up her shoulders. “Around half a stone. I haven’t had much appetite since you’ve been away.”
“You’re going to have to get used to it, Kayli. There’s talk of this job lasting for well over a year.”
“What? You’re having me on, right?”
He shook his head. “No. Just think of the money. You’ve seen what I can earn. This means we’ll be able to have a decent wedding and upsize the house all within twelve months.”
Kayli clenched and unclenched her fists, trying not to let her temper get out of hand. “I was talking to Annabelle the other night and think I want to go down the wedding abroad route, if that’s all right with you?”
“You discussed it with Annabelle before running it past me?”
“You weren’t here,” she said, instantly regretting her words as the smile disappeared from his eyes. Kayli drank most of her coffee and left the table to rinse her mug under the tap.
Mark scraped his chair on the lino floor, and it tipped over in his haste to cross the room towards her. “Since when do you discuss our future plans with other people before running it past me first?” He was inches away from her, towering over her, his hot breath intimidating her.
In the exact situation involving a suspect, she would have had no hesitation in kneeing him in the balls, but this was the man she loved and intended to marry. “We had a conversation. That’s all. I haven’t booked anything. I had every intention of running it past you first. What’s wrong with you? I haven’t been able to say a thing right since you came home. I can do without this shit, Mark.”
He relented, ran a hand through his short hair, and stepped back. “Sorry. I’m on edge for some reason. I’ve been working flat out for two weeks. After so much time unemployed, I guess it has come as a shock to the system.”
“Apology accepted. Please try not to snap when we’re at the barbeque this afternoon. People are bound to ask questions, and you’re going to be expected to answer them without biting someone’s head off.”
“All right. I hear you, Kayli. No need to go on like an old fishwife.”
Her mouth gaped open. He’d never spoken to her like that before in all the years they had been together. He’d changed so much in the past two weeks, and she wasn’t sure she liked the character he’d become. On-the-job pressure or not, there was no way she was about to put up with such shit.
He turned to walk out of the room, and she heard the front door slam. What the hell? Now he’s walked out on me. Kayli ran to the lounge window and saw him get in the car. Instead of starting the engine, he let his head fall forward onto the steering wheel. He looked a broken man. Her heart went out to him even though moments earlier she’d thought he was about to punch the living daylights out of her. She was confused by his ac
tions. No matter what he was going through, he had no right to take his bad mood out on her.
She gathered her handbag and the carrier bag with the wine they’d purchased then locked the front door on her way out. Mark was still sitting in the same position when she opened the passenger door. She placed a hand on his forearm, and he jumped a mile. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Let’s just have some fun today,” he replied, staring at the parked vehicle ahead of them.
“Let’s go. Mum will be expecting me to help prepare the salads.”
Saying nothing more, he pulled out of the parking space and drove to her parents’ in silence. When they arrived, Kayli was relieved to see that Giles’s car was parked in her parents’ drive. If anyone could tell her what was going on with her man, he could.
Mark took the carrier bag from her and hooked her arm through his as they walked across the gravel to the front door. They waited for one of her parents to open the door to greet them. He leaned over and whispered, “I’m sorry. I do love you, Kayli.”
His words brought unexpected tears to her eyes. “I love you too. You know that. It’s why I care so much.”
Her father opened the door. He looked well. His retirement from army life was obviously suiting him.
“Hello, Dad. How are you?”
“Can’t complain, love. Your mother keeps me on my toes better than the army ever did.” He chuckled before kissing her cheek. “Come in. Lovely to see you, Mark. Giles is through there with Annabelle and Bobby. Go out and join them.”
“I’ll nip and say hello and then pop in to help Mum with the salads.”
“It’s all under control, love. Your mother has been at it for hours.”
Kayli tore through the house, shouting a quick hi to her mother as she flew past the kitchen and out the back door. She screeched when she saw Giles then ran at him. Jumping into his arms, the way she always did when she hadn’t laid eyes on him in a while, she nearly knocked him off his feet. They had a strong sibling bond, which Kayli attributed to the fact that their mother had home-schooled them. “Giles. I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed him several times over his face.
He placed her on the floor, laughing at her enthusiasm. “Wow, sis, anyone would think I’ve been away for two years instead of a paltry two weeks.”
“Bloody hell. You got a better reception than I did,” Mark complained.
Kayli turned sharply to look at him. He was smirking, and for a moment, he sounded serious. “That’s crap, and you know it.” She hugged her sister-in-law next. “Hi, Annabelle, how are you? Long time, no see.” They both laughed.
“I’m fine now I’ve caught up on my sleep,” Annabelle said with a mischievous wink.
“Oh yes, what have I missed?” Giles asked.
Kayli smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She reached down and lifted Bobby into her arms, rubbed his cheek, and tried to kiss him, but the little tyke fidgeted to get away from her red-stained lips. “Aww ... go on, sweetie, let Auntie Kayli kiss you.”
Her nephew squeezed his eyes tight and relaxed a little in her arms. She kissed his cheek hard, making sure she left a lipstick mark on his skin, and all the adults laughed as Bobby wriggled to be set free. Kayli set him down, hugged her brother again, then hooked arms with Annabelle and steered her into the house. “I think our presence is needed elsewhere.”
Once they were out of earshot of the others, Kayli asked Annabelle, “Have you told him the good news yet?”
“Nope. I thought I’d announce it after we’ve eaten, not that I fancy much. He’s noticed I’ve lost weight and that I look tired. Thankfully, I wasn’t sick this morning.”
“Ditto. That was the first words out of Mark’s mouth when he saw me. Do they think we’re not going to worry about them while they’re away?”
“Probably. Hopefully, Giles won’t be going away again once I break the news.”
“I wish Mark didn’t have to go back there. He says the money is fantastic but refused to tell me any details about the job, which only makes me more worried about him. We had a fight about it last night, and he spent the night on the sofa.”
“Oh no. That’s the last thing either of you wants. No job is worth falling out over, love.”
“Yeah, my sentiments entirely. He seems in a brighter mood today. Surprised me by announcing he loved me as we were standing on the front doorstep.”
“Aww ... of course he loves you. You can tell that by the way he looks at you, Kayli.”
“I wonder sometimes, that’s all.”
“Hey, we all have doubts like that, even me. I haven’t got a clue how Giles is going to react once I share the news. I’m debating whether to leave it until we get home and tell him privately.”
“He worships the ground you walk on, love. He’ll be fine—no, delighted by the announcement. I guarantee it.”
They reached the kitchen just as Kayli’s mother was instructing her father to start ferrying the meat into the garden.
“Hi, Mum, the troops have arrived.”
Her mother offered her cheek for Kayli to kiss. “Hello, dear. My, what a pretty dress that is. You should wear your hair down more often. It really suits you.”
Kayli felt her cheeks warm under her mother’s admiring glance. “Thanks, Mum. Anything Annabelle and I can do?”
“I could have done with a hand a few hours ago. I think everything is ready to go now. Go on out into the garden and enjoy yourselves with the boys. Make the most of their time at home.”
“If you’re sure. What about the salad dressing? Have you made that yet?”
“Damn, I always forget to make that. Why you lot can’t be satisfied with a squeeze of mayonnaise over your salads, I’ll never know.”
Kayli laughed. “We like both. We’re uncouth, remember?”
“Lord knows where you picked that ghastly habit up from. It certainly wasn’t from either your father or me. You know where all the ingredients are. I’ll help your father take the food outside.”
Kayli and Annabelle gathered all the ingredients and measured them very roughly into a glass bowl. It was up to Kayli to taste it as pouring the oil into the dressing made Annabelle feel a little queasy. “Do you want to go to the toilet before Giles sees how green you look?”
“I think I will. Make my excuses for me. I won’t be long.”
Giles looked beyond Kayli when she walked into the garden, carrying the bowl of dressing. “Don’t look so worried. She hasn’t run out on you. She’s in the loo.”
“I’m not worried ...” He bristled. “Just concerned.”
The next hour or so consisted of them all eating far too much and downing too many glasses of wine, except Annabelle, who stuck to the orange juice, which didn’t go unnoticed by her husband.
“I want to drive home today,” she told him with a grin.
He narrowed his eyes, and Kayli wondered if he suspected she was pregnant.
A few minutes later, after their mother had served up the homemade strawberry cheesecake, Annabelle tapped the side of her glass with her spoon. “Can I have everyone’s attention please?”
They all quietened down and looked her way. She blushed a little, and Kayli thought how nice it was to see some colour back in her cheeks for a change.
“I’d like you all to raise your glasses. We need to celebrate the safe return of Mark and Giles.”
“Hear, hear,” Kayli shouted, looking back at Annabelle to see if she was going to announce anything else. Her sister-in-law seemed to be struggling to form her words. Kayli went to stand beside her as the others drank from their glasses and continued their conversation. “Are you all right, love?”
“I’m scared. Unsure how he’s going to react. Maybe I should tell him when we’re on our own.”
“He won’t react badly. I know him. He adores you and Bobby, and he’s going to cherish the new arrival, as well. Just announce it. I’m here to give you support ... we all are.”
Annabelle took a
couple of large breaths. “Okay, you win. Wish me luck.”
“Luck. Not that you’ll need it.”
Annabelle called for everyone’s attention again. “There’s more, everyone. I’d just like to say how much we’ve missed Giles and Mark. You never realise how much someone means to you until they’re out of your sight and unavailable to speak to for a couple of weeks. I’m sure Kayli won’t mind me divulging how much we’ve both struggled since their departure. She’s kept me going this week when times were particularly tough because of this little one.” Annabelle rubbed her stomach as her gaze locked with Giles’s.
It took a few moments for her words to sink in before Giles rushed towards her and hugged his wife. Annabelle cried with relief, and it wasn’t long before everyone else had cuddled and kissed her, delighted by the news.
“Now I know why you’re not drinking. How pregnant are we?” Giles asked, his hand resting on Annabelle’s flat stomach.
“Enough to cause me morning sickness while you’ve been away. I’m eight weeks. Kayli has been a rock this week, despite her heavy workload.”
“You should have rung me,” Kayli’s mum said, looking slightly put out.
“We only found out at the end of the week, Mum. I forced Annabelle to do a home pregnancy test, and she didn’t have it confirmed by the doctor until Friday,” Kayli explained, throwing an arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Isn’t it exciting?”
“Of course it is, dear.” Her mother gasped, and everyone turned to look at her. “What about your job, Giles?”
Giles’s gaze drifted from his mother to Annabelle then Mark. “I’ll have to give it up. There’s no way I can continue with the baby due.”
Kayli’s heart lifted for Annabelle’s sake as well as her own. It would be great to have Giles around full time again. She turned to face Mark, who looked as though he’d been punched by a professional boxer. She walked towards him and tucked her arm through his. “Isn’t it great news about the baby, hon?”
“Yes.”
“Are you all right?”
“Not really. This could be disastrous for me and my team. Giles is a valued member of our team, one who has a lot of experience that we rely on. I’m pretty ticked off by the timing of this announcement. I’m hoping Giles will give us one last tour before he jacks it in.”
