Chapter 2:
"Thanks again." I smile at Michelle, who had been looking after Ella for the afternoon whilst I went to work.
Wheeling a push chair down the cobbles was almost as hard as walking it in heels. So combining the two was something I had to have practice at. I headed for home, sticking to the pavements as much as possible.
"Carla?" I hear Nick's voice and spin around, he was holding up Ella's rabbit teddy and grinning. "Dropped this."
"Ah." I say, once he reaches us. "Thank you. See, if it wasn't for daddy, you'd have lost this." I scold her gently, placing it back into the pushchair. "Were you spying on me?"
"Spying on you?" He laughs. "No, why?"
"It's just awfully convenient you were there at that time." I tell him.
"I just came to give you a kiss." He shrugs. "But if you don't want it then..."
"Mm..." I mumble as I kiss him. "Well that's nice, thank you."
"I'll be back in half an hour, just need to sort a few things." He says.
"Ok, love you." I flash him a smile before heading back down the street and he heads in the opposite direction.
"Hello." Nick calls, entering the flat and putting his keys down on the side table.
"Hi sweetheart." I greet and he goes to tickle Ella under the chin, who is bobbing up and down in her baby bouncer.
"That's very useful." He comes over to me, where I'm chopping vegetables in the kitchen. I never used to cook, but I had made an effort to start after Ella was born. I didn't want to be feeding her ready meals every night when she got a bit older. "What you cooking?"
"Chicken stir fry." I inform him as he kisses my cheek, before going to pour himself a drink.
"Do you want a glass of red?" He asks and I shake my head. "Why?"
"Why?" I raise my eyebrows at him. "You should be thankful I don't want a drink."
"It's just unlike you, that's all." He shrugs.
"Yeah well I don't really wanna be drinking in front of the B.A.B.Y." I prompt him and he puts the bottle down hastily.
"She can't understand what you're D.O. ." He imitates and I give him a look.
"You can have a drink." I tell him, turning back to the vegetables.
"What so... It's ok for me to drink in front of her but not you?" He questions. "Besides you drink all the time around her."
"No I do not!" I scoff, flicking my head round again to look at him and he chuckles slightly.
"Carla..." He sings, excitement in his tone before slipping his arms round my waist. "I think I know why it is..."
"Hm? Go on then try me." I can't help but smile as I continue preparing dinner, his arms secure around me.
"You've poisoned it." He whispers and I spin round to face him, nudging my nose against his.
"Now why would I want to do that?" I ask, looking him in the eyes.
"...You told me you wouldn't take a test without me." He raises his eyebrows.
"I haven't taken a test." I confirm and he kisses me. "Just got a feeling that's all."
"Seriously?" He bites his lip and I nod.
"But don't get our hopes up ok?" I point at him playfully.
"Ok, my lips are sealed." He smiles, kissing me again.
"Choo choo." Nick peeps as he feeds a spoon covered in potato into Ella's mouth.
"Babe?" I pipe up from the sofa and he nods, distracted by feeding his daughter. "You know she doesn't like trains."
"She likes daddy trains." He says, still focusing on spooning potato and broccoli out of her bowl. "Don't you, do you like daddy trains?"
"Please never say that again." I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
"Tr...Tray." Ella mumbles and Nick's face lights up. "Tray tray."
"See she does like trains!" Nick exclaims and I laugh with happiness.
"She said 'tray' not train." I giggle and he picks her up out of her high chair.
"So she likes trays." Nick dances around with her on his hip. "Say train."
"...Dadda." Ella points at him and I can't stop smiling at the scene in front of me.
"No, train." Nick corrects her, kissing her on the nose.
"Tray..." She gurgles and I giggle.
"Well it's something new to add to her vocabulary list." I shrug.
"Say train Ella." He continues. "Tr-ain."
"Who are you Roy Cropper?" I laugh, going over to him and wrapping my arms round his shoulders. "What's the obsession with trains?"
"Tray-n." Ella repeats and Nick starts laughing then.
"She said train!" He exclaims, turning on me. "Haha, daddy one mummy nil."
"Mummy nil?" I raise my eyebrows. "I gave birth to her."
"Ok, mummy can have one point." He grins at me before parading round the room with her, doing a victory dance.
"Can I film this and show it to all your employees?" I ask and he laughs.
"They'd love it." He kisses me and Ella grabs my hair.
"Mamma." She says, pulling it between her fingers.
"Mummy's hair." I link my finger through hers and she looks up at me with big green eyes.
"Bath time." Nick kisses the top of her head.
"Uh, she hasn't finished her tea!" I object, picking up the bowl.
"She's full." He tells me.
"Oh so now we make the decisions for her do we?" I raise my eyebrows, pushing the spoon lightly against her lips but she doesn't budge.
"Ah, that's two points to daddy." Nick winks and I slap him lightly.
"Daddy can go and give Ella a bath then." I prompt him, putting the bowl back down. "I'll put my feet up."
"You can do the washing up." He responds playfully and I give him a look. "Uh, oh, hormones... Come on Ella."
"Nick!" I argue and he emerges from the bathroom, coming over to kiss me.
"Love you." He grins, before going back to our daughter.
