Curled up on the couch she attempted to read the book in her hands but Charlie seemed to have other ideas for their evening. Placing himself beside her he glances towards the book before once more starting up the conversation again.
"I hope our offer gets accepted…"
"Hmm…" turning the page she nods, not really listening. "I'm sure they will." Refusing to take the hint he continues, turning down the TV as he talks.
"It's such a nice house, the kids would love the garden and it's in the perfect location too."
"Yeah…" Sighing he knew she wasn't listening, nor was she even trying to pretend. Gently poking her he tries once more to get a response out of her.
"Oi. Are you listening?" jumping away from him she glares up at him from the pages she was trying to get lost in.
"Hey! Of course, I am." Settling back into the couch she flicks the page, "Now let me read this book." But it was all falling on deaf ears.
"I hope they get back to us quickly. The sooner we know the sooner we can either keep looking or get moving. Now that this place is sold we are running out of time." Giving up all hope of getting any peace to read, she sighs and places the book on the coffee table.
"Well if someone had been so darn picky in the first place we wouldn't have this worry would we? Stop thinking about it, we only just put the offer in." Glad she'd finally put the book away he smiles as he moves closer to her.
"I know, I know. But if it is accepted I'll need to sort a week or so to move and we're short staffed as it is." Looking over at him she raises her eyebrows, confused.
"You moving on your own, are you? You can think again if you think I'm staying at work." Placing his arm around her shoulders he holds her close.
"Of course not. By time everything is sorted I hope you're on maternity leave." Looking even more confused at him she wasn't following his train of thought at all.
"I'm only 30 weeks Charlie! It's not going to take 7 or 8 weeks to sort it all out." Outrage instantly filled his face and suddenly she understood his thought process and more importantly where they'd crossed wires.
"You are not seriously telling me you plan to work until you're 37 weeks, are you?!" Moving her arms to somewhat cover her bump as she escapes his hold, she keeps her voice soft and calm despite how emotional his had become.
"why wouldn't I?" He wasn't calming down in the slightest, with hope that it would help she adds in "Unless the midwife or my GP decides it's not safe of course." Rubbing his head with one hand he sighs, frustrated with her.
"Too right it's not safe! You don't work in an office Duffy! You're an A&E nurse for god's sake!"
"Calm down Charlie, the kids will hear you if you keep that up. It's not like I'll be working 12 hour shifts until then. I'll go down to part time, do more paperwork and that." He opened his mouth to object once more but before he could utter a word the phone at his side began to ring distracting them both. Letting him grab it she didn't care who the caller was she was just glad they'd rung. She honestly couldn't understand his outrage at what was essentially her decision. The sooner she left work before the baby was born meant the less time she'd have with him or her. It was an obvious choice in her eyes. But she wasn't naïve however, if the pregnancy stopped going so smoothly she would be out the door as soon as possible but right now she hadn't had a single problem. With 10 weeks, still to go she was all too aware everything could change in the blink of an eye but she wasn't going to stay home just in case. Forcing herself up from the couch as Charlie remained in the hall on the phone to whoever, she decides her best bet to avoid him returning and starting up the disagreement was to go check on the kids.
She'd only just made it up the stairs when he called her back down. Sighing the thought crosses her mind to just ignore him but something in his voice told her not to. As she once more walked into the living room, one hand on her aching back, she sighs.
"What is it?" A smile took over his face as he takes her into a hold, a little too roughly. "Ooh don't. What's got into you?" Moving out of his hold she moves her hand to rub her bump as the baby strongly kicks back.
"Sorry, are you alright? We got the house! It's ours!" Still rubbing her bump, she didn't take in what he'd just told her at all.
"Yeah I'm fine it was just…Wait. What did you just say?" Smiling back at her shock he repeats himself.
"You sure? We got the house!" Still not believing him she shakes her head, sure this had to be a wind up. No one hears that quickly about an offer.
"The baby's just kicking. You're joking?" Moving closer to her once more he gently takes her into a hold this time, unable to contain his excitement.
"Do I look like I am?" Still struggling to believe how quickly the other couple moved she smiles at him.
"That was fast!"
"Apparently, they've already bought a new place and are eager to go." Having moved often enough to know until you've got the keys in your hands nothing is certain she places her hands on his shoulders as he places his around her back.
"Don't get too excited just yet, not until we have all the paperwork completed. They might change their mind yet."
"Oh, they won't. They want to move as quickly as we do. Hopefully by this time next month we'll be in."
"Well you better start thinking about holidays and rotas. Not to mention conning people into helping us." Moving back, she looks down at her swollen stomach "I'm hardly going to be much help."
"Don't worry about all that. Everything will be fine." Kissing her as he pulls her closer once more all earlier arguments of maternity leave had been completely forgotten. Well for now anyway.