'How about the school, I'm sure Michael would make an agreement, it could be a lesser formal one some of the older kids can go like they did for Janeece?' I chirped happily lounging out on the sofa, hands behind her head relaxing. 'Well for someone who wanted to wait you seem to have a good idea of what you want eh.' Nikki replied kissing my temple walking past with the washing basket. 'Nik you don't have to do all this you know!' I kept reminding her sternly. 'Lo its fine I know you're healed but I want you to relax.' Nikki smiled back. I then pulled Nikki on top of her firmly by her shirt wrapping her arms around her neck breathing in her scent. We kept brushing up against each other, cosily embracing kissing each other deeply until Ellie walked in. 'What you doing mummy?' I blushed loosening the grip on Nikki; thank god they hadn't taken it a step further otherwise that could have been trickier to explain. 'You'll learn when you're older sweetheart, anyway what did you want?' I asked. 'Mummy I'm bored can I go in the pool please.' She begged her eyes sparkling at her mum laid out in her lovers comforting arms. 'Alright then, go get dressed and wait for us, we can swim together.' Giving into Ellie's pleas before going back to where she was. Once Ellie had skipped out the room I turned into Nikki 'Now where were we.' winking.
I found myself perched on the edge of the bed stomach churning slightly dismissing the feeling as a post-hospital stay. It had only been a few weeks ago that I had been discharged from hospital with some pain relief and Nikki attending to me bedside at first whilst I rested and didn't do anything except sleep, eat, wash, sleep, sleep some more; it had bored me so much. As a business woman I loved being up and active, seeing to my colleagues and making sure they were all busy, although meetings were boring they kept me occupied but I had to do with emails and telephone calls, everyone knew I was in hospital and resting as Sonya couldn't shut her trap. I sat there with my hand on my stomach, breathing in deeply to keep the sickness away until Nikki came out of the bathroom in checked swimming shorts and a black bikini top, her gorgeous abs on display her curves hidden deep in the shorts. 'Hey beautiful you not changed yet? You ok?' she said nodding towards how I was sat on the bed. I snapped back into reality. 'What….yeah….huh…..I'm going in the bathroom now.' I said clambering of the bed. 'You sure because we can talk!' Nikki said as I slammed the bathroom door quickly falling into tears.
Nikki's point of view:
'Nikki I'm changed….Is mummy ready?' Ellie bounced, how she had so much energy Nikki didn't understand. 'She'll be ready soon gorgeous how about we get started then she can join in.' I suggested and Ellie beamed at me clutching my hand. Ellie slid into my arms splashing me with water laughing as I spat out a mouthful pushing my now sopping wet hair out of my face. 'You can't get me.' She laughed doggy-paddling with her armbands attached trying to get away quickly but not going very far at all. I wanted to laugh at the effort she was putting in, trying so hard waving her little arms and legs flailing in the water making splashes and ripples without moving an inch. 'Ready or not here I come.' She squealed with pleasure when I caught up with her tickling her waist covered by a peppa pig swimming costume. Eventually Ellie begun to question whether Lorraine was actually going to be coming downstairs. 'Nikki where'd mummy go?' she whimpered, probably hurt as she wanted to swim with her. 'I'll go check on her in a second beautiful, come here.' I help my arms open and she jumped willingly into them.
I rubbed her dry quickly leaving the towel wrapped around her small shoulders to prevent her from shivering and leaving puddles on the kitchen floor or slipping over. 'Where's your towel?' she asked as I padded around the kitchen scooping her a little ice cream on a cone, a small wafer bear, one of her favourites so I'd been informed. 'Here you go!' Handing her the ice cream her smaller pudgy hand took hold of it. 'Thank you mummy two.' She giggled. There was an instant warm feeling in my stomach, she had called me mum. Kissing her wet hair that smelled of chlorine I made my way upstairs to see where Lorraine had gotten too.
The room was empty and quiet but there was a sniffling sound behind the bathroom door. 'Lo.' I knocked quietly barely above the sound of silence, the sound of settling. If there was anything settling for Lorraine, the idea and the feeling made me give an absent minded smile. I opened the door to find Lorraine curled up almost foetal position with tears trickling down her red blotchy cheeks. 'You're not ok are you?' I knelt down besides her, relinquishing my hold I had earlier as she buried her head into my chest until her tears ran dry. She shook her head roughly gagging bringing up almost bile as she hadn't eaten for a while. I rubbed her back sliding her hair into a makeshift pony tail. I worried about her so much 'What are you thinking?' I questioned at the same time as helping her to her feet, watching as she brushed her teeth spitting it down the sink, I wish it was that easy to shake the anxiety and pain.
'I'm late.' Lorraine looked up through blurred eyes, this blurred space between us and what had happened, something we'd tried to forget, everything came rushing back. I ran my hands through my hair pulling slightly. 'You don't think?' I instantly regretted asking scared for the answer, she shrugged sobbing. 'Come here.' I waved my finger towards me; she followed like a lost child at school. I pulled her up so her legs were around my hips, arms around my neck. Running my thumb across the unblemished skin. 'I'll get a test…it could be a false alarm?' I suggested never imagining myself to be in this situation ever since I came out as a young girl, false pregnancy alarms and scares on the very back of my radar.
Sometime later I found myself praying to god that a part of this monster wouldn't infect the beautiful body of Lorraine. I couldn't imagine the pain of having to drag up unfinished business from the ground and replant it all building a firm foundation all over again. A plus sign, a little pink dash and something that would change the way we think forever.