Bonnie Sveen Fan, it took a while for Cal to get the DNA results so it will be a bit of a wait for Ethan as well! But he might have other worries soon. The brothers had such a great relationship. I'm sure we aren't the only ones who miss it! Cal and Alicia's date is in this chapter. Thank you for your review.
Tanith Panic, I think the original Alicia was more suited to Ethan than the new, unimproved version, but Alicia likes Cal, and Ethan still loves Taylor. So there won't be any love triangle in this story and it is very likely there will be some unhappiness in Ethan's future. Thank you for your review.
InfinityAndOne, thank you for your review. I know what you mean about the positive side of Ethan's nerves! Cal has become a lot more responsible, but he will still tease and embarrass his brother when the opportunity arises! Ethan really would be crushed if Matilda isn't his - perhaps even more than Cal.
Cal was used to the working day passing slowly. It always did when he had something interesting to do after work. Between the terrifying fact that Connie was in Resus with him and the fact that seconds could seem like hours when you were waiting for a patient to respond, time didn't exactly go by in a flash.
But at last, the day was over and Cal was walking out of Resus, having for once finishing his shift only five minutes late. He was desperate to see Alicia as he'd hardly had a glimpse of her all day, but there was one very important thing he had to do first.
He called his brother.
"Hi, Caleb," said Ethan. "Everything's fine. You go off and enjoy your date."
Cal frowned. "Are you sure everything's fine?"
"Of course I'm sure!" said Ethan. "What else could possibly go wrong? Matilda's been an absolute angel."
"Ethan, the last time you called Matilda an absolute angel was when she was sick all over your best suit."
Ethan laughed – which was a good sign. "No, she hasn't done anything like that. She's been adorable. Very happy. I've mostly just sung to her and pulled faces."
"Poor Matilda!" said Cal. "As if your face isn't ugly enough already… you do know I'm joking, right?"
"It's sometimes difficult to tell with you, Caleb, but I'll let you off this time," said Ethan. "Just go and have a really good time."
"Promise you'll call me if you or Matilda needs me?"
"I promise," said Ethan. "Now go, before anyone thinks you're asking me for dating advice."
Ethan couldn't help smiling as he turned back to his daughter. "Honestly, your uncle. Anyone would think he'd never been on a date before… though he hasn't been on one for a while. He went out with a lady called Honey who made him very sad, but he's much happier now. I don't really know Alicia because I've spent so much time with you, but she doesn't seem the type to hurt him."
Matilda looked up at him, her eyes wide.
"He really seems to like her," said Ethan. "It would be lovely to see Uncle Cal happy. He used to treat women badly, but I really think he's changed now. And it would be good of one of us could be happy."
Matilda made a tiny noise and kicked her legs.
"I'm sorry, Matilda. You're absolutely right," said Ethan. "I am happy. I do miss Mummy and I probably always will, but at the same time, I'm the happiest I've ever been." He stroked her soft cheek. "Because I've got you."
Cal climbed out of the taxi and offered his hand to Alicia.
She blushed as she took it, letting him help her out.
He gazed at her, one hand moving to her cheek as he moved his lips towards hers.
The loud sound of the taxi's horn interrupted them. "Are you going to pay or not?"
"Sh… sugar!" said Cal, feeling very grateful Matilda was in his life and he'd had so much practise in not swearing. He felt in his pocket for his wallet. "Oh no. Where is it?"
"I'll pay," said Alicia quickly.
"No! You can't!" Cal ran his hands through his hair, then checked his pockets again. "It must be here."
Alicia smiled and touched his arm. "I really don't mind."
"No… I can't let you do that!" said Cal desperately.
"Perhaps it fell out in the taxi," suggested Alicia.
Cal opened the door. There was no sign of it on the seat so he bent down, searching the floor. To his great relief, his hands closed on something that felt like his wallet.
At the same time, he heard a tearing sound.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled Daddy Bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," said Mummy Bear.
"Someone's been eating MY porridge," said Baby Bear, "and they ate it all up!"
Ethan was quite getting into doing the voices now. He'd been very embarrassed at first, but Matilda seemed more than happy and it wasn't like Cal was around to tease him.
"This story is so famous, Matilda, astronomers are using the term 'Goldilocks planet' for a planet that could support human life," said Ethan. "It's a planet that's not too hot and not too cold, just like the porridge."
Matilda gave him a look.
"Sorry, Tilly. Daddy will get on with the story," said Ethan meekly. His phone began to ring. "Right after Daddy solves Uncle Cal's latest problem. Hi, Cal. Everything okay?"
"Um, I don't suppose you could bring me a spare pair of trousers?" said Cal.
Cal got changed in Ethan's car while Alicia got acquainted with Matilda. Alicia had been amazing. She hadn't even laughed at him. She'd been very sympathetic and she'd been glad when he'd called Ethan as she said she didn't want to cancel the date.
Even so, it was very embarrassing, and Cal was sure his face was still brick-red when he finally climbed out of the car.
"Ready?" said Ethan. "Then I'll leave you to enjoy your date."
Cal looked over at Alicia, who was staring into Matilda's eyes and making the most adorable noises he'd ever heard. He turned back to Ethan. "Why don't you and Toad stay and have dinner with us? You did come all this way for me."
"I wouldn't dream of it," said Ethan. "And it's the least I can do after all the support you've given me recently." He patted Cal's arm. "Excuse me, Alicia. Can I swap my brother for my daughter?"
Alicia didn't seem to hear, but when Ethan spoke again, she jumped – though her arms remained securely around Matilda. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Ethan! Of course you can. She's adorable. You must be so proud!"
"I am," said Ethan, kissing Matilda's forehead and holding her close to him. "She makes me so happy. She's my reason for getting up in the morning – well, that is partly because she's usually screaming her head off with a very fragrant nappy, but knowing that she's my daughter and she loves me is more than enough reason for me to get up."
"Oh, that's so sweet!" said a damp-eyed Alicia.
Cal tried to redeem himself by handing her a tissue from Matilda's carrier, only to realise it was a wet-wipe with the words 'Botty Wipe' on it. He quickly stuffed it back into Matilda's carrier.
"Come on, Tilly. Say goodbye to Uncle Cal and… can I say Auntie Alicia?" said Ethan.
"Of course you can!" said Alicia. "I've always wanted to be an auntie. Goodbye, sweetheart. It was lovely to meet you properly. I hope to see you again soon."
"Thanks, Ethan," said Cal, giving his brother a quick hug. He waited till Ethan had driven away. "Well, now you know. Ethan's the competent brother. I'm the screw-up. I'm amazed you're still here at all."
Alicia looked shocked. "You're not a screw-up, Cal! What happened wasn't your fault. And I loved the way you asked your brother for help instead of not caring if the whole restaurant saw your boxers. Most guys wouldn't ask their little brothers for help if it killed them. It's good to meet a man who's prepared to admit to his weaknesses."
"It is?" said Cal, staring at Alicia in amazement.
"Of course it is," said Alicia firmly.
Cal was nonplussed, but he wasn't about to argue. He offered his arm to Alicia. "Shall we?"
"We shall," said Alicia, smiling at him. "Let's forget about all of that and have a good… Cal, mind the-"
"Who put that flipping step there?" said Cal.
Cal walked Alicia to her door. "I'm sorry about my wallet and my trousers and the step and… well, everything."
Alicia smiled. "I thought we'd agreed to forget about all of that. And you found your wallet." She reached up and touched his forehead. "But you are sure you feel okay? You will tell Ethan if you start to feel dizzy or nauseous or get any other symptoms?"
"I won't need to tell Ethan," said Cal. "He'll know whether I tell him or not. But I'm sure I'll be fine."
Alicia let her hand trail down Cal's cheek. "I hope so. I had such a lovely time, Cal."
"You had what?" said Cal.
"I had a lovely time with you," said Alicia. "Why can't you believe that?"
Cal sighed. "Because I lost my wallet; split my trousers; tripped over the step; messed up the table reservation (if they hadn't had that cancellation…); tripped over a chair leg; nearly stabbed a waiter when I knocked my fork off my plate…"
"But none of that matters!" said Alicia. "That kind of thing can happen to everyone. I'm sorry if you didn't have a good time, but I honestly did."
"So… you might want to go out with me again?" said Cal.
"Of course I do!" said Alicia.
"Oh," said Cal, trying to regain his equilibrium. "In that case, maybe…" He kissed her.
Alicia responded shyly and sweetly.
Maybe the evening hadn't been a complete disaster after all.
Ethan smiled to himself as he got Matilda settled in her cot. He'd never seen Cal like this before. Usually, when Cal told Ethan about his dates, he didn't mention the date part at all and skipped straight to the parts Ethan really didn't want to hear about. But tonight, Cal had talked about the date, which had ended with a kiss.
Ethan was really happy for Cal. Being with Taylor had been so wonderful until it had all gone wrong.
He got into bed and closed his eyes, wondering how long he would sleep for before Matilda needed him.
But it wasn't Matilda who woke him. It was someone knocking on the door.
Ethan grabbed his dressing gown and put it on as he made his way towards the door. It wasn't unknown for the brothers to have visitors this late at night. One of the problems with being a doctor was that whenever one of his neighbours had a health issue, they came to find see and Cal. Ethan didn't mind too much as long as they didn't ask for anything ridiculously intimate. He knew how difficult it was to get a GP appointment - but the neighbours didn't usually visit in the middle of the night.
He opened the door.
"Ethan!" said Taylor, and threw herself into his arms.