by J. Dorothy
“Okay.”
Tanning smiles big and cups my face in his hands, then kisses my forehead. “Thanks, Jen. Thanks so much.”
It should be me thanking him, but I'll let that slide, he obviously knows how my mind ticks, and has worked the right angle with me. That could be a constant problem, but for now, as I look around at this beautiful house, I put all those thoughts at the back of my mind and grin really big, right alongside Tanning.
SiXTeeN
_________________________
It’s moving day. Tanning managed to get the house within a week of accepting the contract, with me signing as his fake partner. Still not quite sure how I feel about all that, but I’ve decided I can’t keep living with Cam and his mum. I’ve been here for over five months and I don’t want to outstay my welcome. It was always supposed to be temporary until I got my own place, or that’s what I wanted them to believe. I actually had other motives and hoped to be more than Cam’s friend by now. Weird how things can change so quick. It’s almost like I don’t recognize that desperate, stupid girl from a couple of weeks ago.
Everything has changed. Changed because of one hot, gorgeous guy who still takes my breath away every time I see him. I try not to let my feelings show, though. I can’t afford to scare him away. And he’s made it perfectly clear, I’m nothing more than a friend, and he wants no part in any kind of relationship right now.
I actually discovered through Bailey and Cam that the hot supermodel is his cousin. Hot genes obviously run in the family. I can’t tell you how relieved I was. Took away a whole world of angst. Not that there won’t be other good looking girls hitting on him, but with me as his fake girlfriend, they won’t have the chance to sink their claws into him, I’ll make sure of that. Nothing like a pregnant, raging lunatic as his girlfriend to ward off potential mates. I smile at that thought, happy to take on the pshyco role.
There is also that little voice niggling in my ear, reminding me, this is only for a year. Tanning and I signed the contract on the house for twelve months. At the end of that time, Tanning thinks I should have enough time to find my own place and he might go back to live on campus. He’s decided to double his work load, and get most of his studies out of the way in the first year, so he’s going to be super busy.
Sigh. I don’t really want to think too far down the track. For now I’m so happy. I’ve got somewhere to live when I bring Treasure Pot into this world, and he or she, will have a nice home for the first few months at least. I’ll worry about the rest later.
I hug my pillow tight to my chest, thinking about living with Tanning. To see his gorgeous face and body every morning and every night, will be like a year long pleasure cruise. Squee ... I really can’t believe how he dropped back in my life, and how its changed everything in such a short time. I was on the quick road to nowhere, and now I feel like I’m back on the highway to somewhere.
I hear a knock on my door and I look up to see Cam standing there. I give him a big grin and he grins back. I really love him, he’s been the absolute best friend. I shudder to think about what might have happened, if he hadn’t looked after me.
“You all set?” he asks.
“Yep. I think so. Not like I had a lot of stuff anyway.” I look across to my meagre suitcase and three small boxes.
Cam grins wider. “You know, if someone told me in High School that you'd move in with Tanning, I would have rolled on the floor laughing and told them they were on crack.”
I twist my lips. “He really hated me, huh?”
“Um ... well, not like he had a dart board with your picture on it, but he pretty much swore and cursed every time he saw you, or whenever someone mentioned you.”
“Yeah, well can’t say as I blame him. I was a complete bitch.”
“Nah, you were just misguided.”
I throw my pillow at him and he catches it chuckling. “I’m not going to miss you one bit.”
“Me either.”
He walks in and throws his arm around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head. Once upon a time, I would have tried to snuggle in closer or smell his scent, using that to fuel my fantasises for the rest of the week. Not now. I just take it for the comforting hug it is. Like he’s my big protective brother.
I hear someone clear their throat and look up to see Tanning standing in the doorway. Now there is a sight to fulfil all my fantasies. God he’s beyond glorious. He’s dressed in a white t-shirt and denim jeans. My absolute favorite. He looks like he’s just stepped from the set of a Calvin Kline billboard. I give him a small smile and lean away from Cam, who turns to give Tanning a nod.
“Hey, man.”
“Hey,” Tanning replies and looks to my stuff. He frowns. “Is that it?”
I shrug. “What can I say, I’m low maintenance.”
Cam and Tanning burst out laughing.
I slap Cam on the shoulder and stand up with my hands on my hips. “What? I am.”
Tanning finally stops laughing and shakes his head. “Yeah, okay, if you say so. I kind of expected it might take a couple of trips, but hell, I could have done yours and my stuff in one load.”
Cam laughs again. “When you get there, you could put her in the cupboard under the stairs, she’d fit perfectly.”
I shove him this time. “Okay, enough. I got rid of a heap of stuff when I moved here. And being pregnant I couldn’t fit into all those stupid designer clothes, so I got rid of them.”
“Yeah, but Jen, you won’t be pregnant forever, what are you going to wear, when the baby’s born? You gonna keep wearing those tent dresses,” Tanning says and gives me a smug, hot grin.
I throw up my hands, “I don’t know. I’ll buy new stuff, now just move your ass and let’s get going.”
Cam smirks at me. “I’m going to miss your bossy ass. You better watch out Tanning. You sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?”
Tanning starts to gather the boxes into his strong arms, his voice is muffled, but I hear him. “Sure hope so. But you’re not renting your spare room just yet. I get thirty days money back guarantee, right?”
”Hey, no backsies,” Cam says as he slaps Tanning’s shoulder.
What the hell! These guys are so dead. I punch Cam hard and he flinches. “Hey, that hurt.”
Tanning doesn’t hang around long enough for me to catch him and high tails it out of the room juggling the boxes. Cam rubs his arm then grabs my suitcase following behind at a steady jog.
Haven’t lost my touch. They’re still scared of me.
I chuckle and then stop to take one last look around the room I’ve called home for the past few months. It’s been my safe place, and I know I’ll miss it. But it’s not mine. It never was. It was an interim, a place for me to get my shit together. And slowly, but surely that is starting to happen.
Closing the door, I sigh big. Ready to make this work, ready to face my future and ready to accept whatever comes.
Or so I hope.
I step through the front door, and my mouth drops. Holy shit, this is so beautiful.
I look back to Tanning. “Oh, my god, when did you do all this?”
The living rooms that were completely empty the last time I was here, are now decorated with furnishings. And they are gorgeous. White couches sit cosily in the living room, placed nicely around a large beige shaggy rug, a huge flat screen tv mounted on the wall, with all the other av equipment. There is a dining room suite to seat six people all made from white washed wood with white leather chairs. The windows have light fabric curtains to dress them, and the whole effect is freshness and light. I love it. A few bunches of colorful flowers is all it needs to give it that finishing touch.
“You like it.” Tanning grins.
“I love it. It’s beautiful.”
“My, um, cousin is an interior designer and she helped me. My uncle wanted it fully furnished, probably to give my cousin some practice, he indulges her. So he rented all this lot.”
I nod. Ah, the spoilt supermo
del. That still stings for a minute, until I shake it off, realising there is nothing for me to be annoyed about.
“Wow, she has great taste.”
“I ah, got you a bed too.”
I turn from admiring the room and tilt my head at Tanning, who has a slight blush to his cheeks. “You did, huh?”
“Um ... yeah, well I figured you wouldn’t want to sleep on the couch.”
“That was real nice of you. I was going to borrow one for a few weeks. Bailey said they had a spare mattress.”
“You and Bailey getting on better,” he asks with raised eyes.
“Yeah. I mean, we won’t ever be besties or anything, but we get on.”
“Good.”
I nod. And look up at the stairs.
Tanning chuckles. “Go on up, I’ll bring your boxes.”
I smile and don’t wait for another invitation. Tanning has given me the bedroom with the adjoining bathroom. He insisted, said I needed it more than him. And with the way my bladder is at the moment he could be right. Treasure Pot sure knows how to kick in just that spot that makes me want to pee. Particularly at night time, and I don’t want to keep waking Tanning up every time I race to the bathroom. Mind you that might not be so bad. Hmmm…
Mind slap! I really have to stop thinking like that.
Friends. We’re friends. Cool. I can be cool with that.
I rush up the stairs and open the first door on the left and gasp. The bed is frigging huge. It’s gigantic size. I’ve never had a bed like this, not even in good times with my parents. And it’s all made up with a gorgeous lemon colored bedspread and huge big fluffy pillows, I just want to dive into it. Then I look across and see a tv mounted on the wall with a small dressing table underneath. Oh, this is so perfect. I feel tears sting my eyes.
I rub my belly and hear Tanning breathe behind me. I don’t think in that moment, I just spin and launch myself at him, giving him a massive hug. “Thank you. Thanks for everything Tanning.”
I bite my tongue to stop any tears flowing. Tanning gives me a quick squeeze then releases me. I suck in a breath and turn from him. Shit, I have to stop doing things like that. It must make him uncomfortable.
“So you like it, then?” he asks softly.
“Oh, I love it. I can’t wait to dive into bed tonight.”
I think I hear Tanning gag on something and turn to see him looking down at the floor with a frown. Then he goes out into the hall and drags my suitcase in, followed by the other boxes of my stuff.
He shifts back to the doorway and scratches his head. “I’ll ah, leave you to it. I’ve got to go to my parents and get a few more things, but I can grab dinner if you like.”
I smile. “Yeah, that sounds great.” I reach for my purse, to give him some money, when he waves me off.
“Nah. I’ll get it this time. We’ll sort out all the money stuff later.” And he disappears out the door, before I can argue.
We still haven’t talked about my contribution to paying the rent and bills. Every time I bring it up Tanning waves it off and changes the topic. There’s no way I’m sponging off of him. I know he's got a full scholarship from his uncle's company to pay for his degree, and to help him with rent and stuff, and he said he's saved a heap of money while he was doing his building apprenticeship. But, he’s done too much for me already. I intend to open a bank account for the first time and put my share into it, or the share I can afford, then when the twelve months is up, I can give him a big fat check.
Us Jaimesons have always paid our own way, one way or another. That’s why we lost everything. My dad insisted on paying back every penny he owed, even if it meant leaving his family homeless. At the time I thought it was so stupid, but I kind of get it now. Now I know what it’s like to take on responsibility and look after yourself. And I don’t want debt, ever. Or to be indebted to someone. I couldn’t handle losing everything again. I would never put Treasure Pot through that kind of heartache.
Still, right now, looking at my gorgeous bed all I can think is, I’m here now. Here in this beautiful house with Tanning, and it might be a dream, but it’s a dream I’m not ready to wake up from just yet.
I let out a squeal and jump onto the bed and fall back on the soft mattress and squirm around in the pillows. Life does not get much better than this moment. My life that is, and I intend to love and live every second of it.
SeVeNTeeN
_________________________
I’ve got my next doctor’s appointment today, and I’m nearly jumping out of my skin. It’s my six month check up and I get to see Treasure Pot for the first time. I’m having an ultra sound. I haven’t been able to afford it until now, but my dad sent some money without my mum finding out, and he said to use it for the baby, so I’m splurging on this. I can’t wait to finally see him, or her. I still don’t want to know. I want it to be a surprise. The best surprise. I just want to count his fingers and toes and look into his gorgeous blue eyes. I assume he’s going to have my bright blue eyes and not Travis’s ice cold dark ones. I shiver at the thought.
I’m waiting in the doctors’ rooms in Forest. I decided to come here, as its closer to where I’m now living. That’s another advantage of moving, I’m closer to better hospital facilities which makes me feel more secure. Who knows what could happen and I’m not one for taking chances with Treasure Pot, I want medical assistance if I need it. He’s the most important thing and there is no way I’d jeopardise his safety because I want to go all natural. I could never live with myself.
I look around at the other three pregnant ladies in the waiting room, one looks like she’s about to pop any second and the guy sitting next to her, has stress lines all over his face. Poor thing. He’s jiggling his legs and holding her hand. Man, he sure looks like he needs a chill pill. Must be hard for the guy in that situation. Not like he can do anything, he just has to stand by helpless. She looks across to him and smiles, and he leans over and kisses her forehead. Aw ... so sweet.
Boy these pregnancy hormones are making me all mushy. Normally I wouldn’t give a fig about anyone else. I let out a big breath, and flick through another magazine. I hope it isn’t much longer. Finally the nurse comes out and calls my name. Thank goodness. I give the cute couple a small smile as I walk past into the doctor’s room. I haven’t met this lady doctor yet, and I’m hoping she’s nice.
The nurse lady dressed in navy pants and a crisp white shirt, asks me to take off my clothes and put on a gown, then tells me to sit on the bed and wait. I do as she asks, and sit on the edge of the bed, biting my lip. This is it. I rub over Treasure Pot and smile down at my enormous stomach.
I hear the shuffle of feet and the door opens. A tall, middle aged lady with a huge smile and warm brown eyes enters the room, and I know I’m going to like her. Thank god. Going through this alone, is not going to be easy, and I’ll need all the support I can get.
“Well hello there, Jennifer,” she says, and I smile back.
“Hi.”
“Big day. Have you had one of these before?”
“Um … no I haven’t.”
“Okay.” She frowns a little and checks over her notes. “So, you’ve never been to our clinic before?”
“No. I ah ... just moved closer to Forest, and thought I’d come here to have the baby.”
She nods, and a few stray locks of her pinned brown hair fall down around her face. “Okay, well let's take a look at you.”
She continues to ask questions about my general health and if I’ve had any problems, then prods around to feel the baby and checks all my vitals.
“Everything, seems to be going well. Now, are you ready to see bub?”
I nod, and swallow. I can feel a few tears threatening, and I grip the sides of the bed.
“This won’t hurt at all, you will just feel a little bit of pressure is all, and then when it’s over you can go to the bathroom if you need to.”
I give her a nod. I'm guessing I will, I don't have very good control over
my bladder since hitting six months.
“She preps the equipment and places a blanket over my nether regions, while she lifts up the gown to expose my stomach, then rubs a cold gel all over the lower part. She pulls a monitor close and begins to push down on my belly with a warm medical instrument. It’s more uncomfortable than painful, but I’m not concerned about that any more, as she shows me a blurry image.
Treasure Pot.
He's there on the screen. I can see his little toes and fingers and his heart is pumping and I can’t hold back the tears now. They stream down my face as I watch in awe as he kicks out his little leg, and I feel a flutter in my stomach at the same time. Lord, he is so beautiful. And he’s all mine. Oh god, I love him so much.
“Do you want to know the sex of the baby,” I hear her ask.
“Um ... ,” in this moment, I’m unsure. I said I wouldn’t, and as tempting as it is, I decide to stick to my decision.
“No. I want it to be a surprise.”
The doctor smiles wide again. “Okay, well that sure is unusual these days, most folks want to know. Good for you.”
I don’t look at her. I can’t take my eyes off the screen. I want to take this equipment home with me, so I can look at Treasure Pot every day. Then the screen goes blank and Treasure Pot is gone.
No! I want to scream. Turn it back on.
She moves around to the back of the equipment and I hear a whirring sound, then she gives me a small piece of paper. “Your first picture.”
I look up at her with watery eyes. “You took a picture?”
“Yes. First one for the album.”
I don’t slip it into my purse. I hold it close to my chest and the doctor leaves telling me I can go to the bathroom and get dressed.
It takes me a minute to gain some sense of reality. Wow, that was some rush. I stare at the black and white scanned image of Treasure Pot. I can’t believe I have a photo of him. I give the photo a kiss and hug, before getting off the bed and heading for the bathroom.
