**For authors notes, summary etc see chapter 1**
Changes
Chapter 21 – A Question of Space
"Sandra we need to talk." Huh? Where did that come from one minute we're watching TV and relaxing on a normal Sunday night then the next thing he's getting all serious on me!
"If you are going to tell me you are actually having an affair you better be prepared for the consequences I have enough experience to kill you and get away with it." Humour is the way to go here isn't it? It is surely, but he's rolling his eyes at me. "Ok what do we need to talk about."
"The house, this house it's not going to be big enough." Ah well we had to talk about it eventually I love this house though it's ours it's the first place that was just ours.
"I know Gerry but we spent so long finding this place it's ours. It's the first place that wasn't yours or mine every memory in this house is ours." I know I sound sulky but I'm sorry if he really wants us to think about moving before the bumps arrive he's going to have to convince me. "I just think it would be hard to say goodbye to this place."
"I know honey but let's think about it logically when we bought this house we bought it as somewhere for us to live, we only bothered looking for somewhere with two bedrooms in case your mother or Gerry junior came to stay. Everything you say about this house and the memories in it is true but now instead of a home for a couple we need a home for a family." I hate it when I want to be stubborn but he is being sensible why can't he just say "ok you're right darling" even if he doesn't mean it? "Think about it for a second Sandra we were already wondering if this house would be big enough for us and one baby but two babies then two toddlers then two children, two teenagers in this house can you see it?"
"No ok I can't but do we really need to think about moving before they are born? I mean it's a year before they move into their own room." Ok, ok I know I'm being silly it's much easier to move four of us when two of us are still contained in my tummy but shoot me for wanting to delay a little longer!
"Sandra think about it sweetheart, think about this house with toys, prams, and high chairs. Nappy bags and the 3000 thousand things that come with one baby never mind two. We need a family home you know that don't you? One with a bedroom for each of them as they get older and a garden and a big kitchen for family meals and a hall that's big enough for a double pram and a living room big enough for toy boxes and crawling and….."
"Ok I get it! You're right we need to move I get it but we need to stay in the area I'm not doing a two hour commute to and from work every day." I have every intention of going back to work but I want my time away from the babies to be spent working I don't want to travel for an hour or two then work a bit and travel for an hour or two home again! "And speaking of work if we are going to do this let's make it the last move we make. I want a home office somewhere I can have a computer and a desk and where I can take the babies when they're sleeping and still be part of the team. Just because I'm going to be on maternity leave doesn't mean I can't be here to consult on cases and give my opinion. If I can avoid it I don't want Strickland bringing anyone in to cover my leave in our office so if I can convince him I can still work from home and keep an eye on you lot I think he'll go for it."
I can see him thinking about all of that pretending he's contemplating it when I already know he's going to agree but you have to humour him when he's in this sort of mood you really do. I know he doesn't want Strickland to replace me even for a little while and neither do Jack and Brian so if he thinks I can convince him to let me supervise from home he'll be happy.
"Ok that sounds reasonable I don't want to move too far away either. I mean we're handy here for everything." I know he doesn't just mean work he means his girls and Gerry junior and I agree. The bumps will need their family around. "So tomorrow when they open we contact the estate agent and put this place on the market then start looking for somewhere bigger?"
"Yes but we're not rushing into anything we have time to look and find the right place just like we did with this place." He's agreeing again I could get used to this.
"It'll be perfect we'll make sure of it just like this place was perfect and the beginning of our lives together the new place will be all about our lives as a family."
When he puts it like that how could I say no? I'm getting used to the idea that everything is changing and I'm starting to get a little excited about the new chapter of our lives and of course our new home!