Cal finished the sentence he was typing and hit the automatic cues on the keyboard to save the work. He sat back and listened. He was pretty sure Lewis had been crying for over five minutes now. What had been easy to ignore grizzling, was now bawling. He got up, wondering where Gillian was, if she was dealing with the situation, whatever it was. She was in the kitchen. She had Lewis in her arms and was rocking from foot to foot. He was bright red in the face, tears flowing out of his eyes as he screamed. Gillian was murmuring to him quietly, asking what the problem was. Cal saw barely contained anger in her.

"All right luv?" He gave his usual greeting.

Gillian marched over to him and just about threw Lewis into his chest. "Your turn," she told him tightly. "I can't take anymore."

"All right," Cal quickly put his arms around the hot body of his son before he fell to the floor. Gillian stalked out of the room and slammed the kitchen door. Lewis cried harder. "All right, okay," Cal turned Lewis so they were chest to chest. "What's goin' on with you little man?" Lewis started wailing. "You're warm," Cal noted. "Are you sick?" He placed the back of his hand on the boy's forehead. Then pressed it against his cheeks and then slipped a hand under his shirt to feel his abdomen. "Just your cheeks then."

Cal took him over to the kitchen table and stood him on the surface. He checked his diaper, it was clean and dry. Cal checked the time. He was pretty sure Lewis had had a feed an hour ago. He wasn't due for his evening meal. "Are you tired?" Cal asked. He watched his son's features, as if the answer lay in a micro-expression. Lewis looked up at him with pitiful blue eyes. He didn't stop crying, didn't even tone it down a notch. "I think you're tired." Normally Gillian would breastfeed him to sleep. Cal didn't think it would be a good idea to go and disturb her right now.

The phone in Cal's pocket started ringing. Lewis stopped for a second, curious as Cal dug it out. "Who's that now?" Cal asked him, switching the device around one-handed to answer. Lewis took a massive deep breath. Cal checked the caller ID. "It's your sista." Lewis's face screwed up again but he didn't bawl. Not until Cal had answered the call.

"Hey Dad."

Lewis let rip with a long wail.

"What was that?" Emily asked. Her voice sounded faint over the noise of Lewis.

"That's your brutha," Cal told her. He picked Lewis up again with one arm and adopted the rock Gillian had tried a few minutes ago.

"He doesn't sound happy," Emily spoke louder.

"He's really not," Cal noted. The sound of his son crying was hard to hear but he had just walked into the situation with fresh reserves. Gillian was at her wits end. "He's teethin'."

"Oh well that sucks."

"Yeah," Cal went to the kitchen cupboards and eye searched for something to give Lewis for him to gnaw on. "So, what's up?"

"I can call back."

"Nah, I'm good. Talk away, but speak up, I have a screamin' kid in my otha ear."

"Just thought I'd check in," Emily told him lightly.

Cal had a look in the fridge. "So are you good?"
"Yep I'm good. Are you good? Aside from the screaming?"

"Yep I'm good," Cal echoed. He headed for the guest bathroom. "School?"

"Fine. Hard but good. Ajay's helping me study, you'd be so proud."

"Yeah about that..." Cal looked in the cupboards beneath the sink. He dropped the phone and it clattered noisily over the tiles. Lewis quietened down, watching the phone skid across the room. "Uh oh," Cal told Lewis.

Lewis pointed at the phone, "Ah, ah."

Cal went and retrieved it. "Still there?"

"What was that?"

"I dropped the phone sorry."

"At least Lewis stopped crying."

'Don't jinx it!' Cal thought. "What was I sayin'?"

"I don't know, something about Ajay."

"Oh, yeah, that. I was wonderin' if, seein' as you piked out on me for Thanksgivin', you would come for Christmas instead. Unless your mutha has got in first?"

"No she hasn't but what does this have to do with Ajay?"

"Well, I was thinkin' he could come as well." Cal pointed to Lewis's reflection in the bathroom mirror and widened his eyes giving a silent 'who's that!?' Lewis pointed to the mirror.

There was a long silence. "Are you serious?"

"Yep."

Lewis lunged forward to touch his reflection.

Another long pause. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. He's your boyfriend and I thought it might be nice to have a family Christmas all togetha and that way I can get to know him a bit betta."

"Well I think that sounds really nice."

"If you don't mind puttin' up with a screamin' brutha and an ova tired fartha. Plus, Gillian's a little cranky, but I probably shouldn't have told you that."

Emily chuckled. "Maybe we could give you guys the night off or something, so you can go out."

"Now that sounds delightful."

"I'll talk to Ajay about it."

"Great, I'll talk to Gillian."

"So how is Gillian?"

"You wanna talk to her?"

"Not particularly."

"She's good. Tired but good."

Lewis lost interest in himself and started crying again; more like whining. He dropped his head on Cal's shoulder

"Uh oh," Emily noted on the phone. "I'll really go this time Dad."

"Let me know about Christmas. I'd love to have you and Ajay."

"Thanks Dad. Love you."

"You too," Cal hung up. "Come on then," he said to Lewis as he slipped his phone back into his pocket and shifted out of the bathroom again. "What am I gonna do with you huh? It's too early to put you to sleep." Lewis wailed into his shoulder again. "And you are clearly determined to exercise your lungs." Cal went back to the kitchen. He got a clean tea towel out of the drawer and wet the corner of it with cold water under the tap. He wiped Lewis's hot face with it; cleaning away tears and snot. The coldness stunned the little boy for a moment and his cries dampened down to whimpers.

"We're gonna have to load up with supplies for you," Cal told him now he was quieter. "Othawise you're gonna have a terrible time cuttin' your teeth." He raised his eyebrows at his son as if he expected an answer. "What do you think?" Lewis stared at him. "I agree," Cal told him. He rinsed the cloth again, left it a bit damper this time and coaxed it into Lewis's mouth. He sucked on it and then gummed it. "Betta?" Cal asked him as he went quiet. "Betta for Daddy anyway."

Cal went to sit in the armchair in the lounge. He tucked Lewis under his arm so his head was resting against the front of his shoulder and Cal's arm was around his body. Cal put the TV on quietly, some news station. He had no desire to watch it; he just hoped the background noise would quell his son's discomfort. It was probably a combination of the TV, the cloth to chew on, the steady rise and fall of Cal's breath and the fact that Lewis had exhausted himself by screaming his head off; he soon fell asleep. Cal wondered if Gillian would come back now that everything was quiet. When a few minutes had passed he got up awkwardly with Lewis in his arms and took him to his bedroom. He would probably only be out for a short nap but it should be enough time for Cal to now soothe Gillian.

She was in bed, under the covers even though she was still fully dressed. She had her back to the door and Cal quickly traipsed around the bed and jumped on to the mattress in front of her. She wasn't asleep but she gave him an aggravated expression anyway. "Where's Lewis?"

"I smotha-ed him," Cal answered, shifting so he was propped up on his elbow.

"That's not even funny," Gillian struck at his shoulder hard.

"Ow, ow, all right," Cal fended her off. "He's in his room. Asleep. For now." Cal saw a flicker of surprise on her face. "Tired himself out I think." Then he saw shame on her face. "Stop that right now."

Gillian turned away from him annoyed, so she was lying on her back. Cal reached out and cupped her jaw. He turned her head gently back towards him. "What happened?"

"He wouldn't stop crying."

Cal nodded. "And you got frustrated?"

"Yes," Gillian mumbled like a child admitting they deserved to be punished.

"I know it's frustratin' as hell sometimes. Doesn't mean you don't love him any less."

"I know I should be grateful for every minute with him but sometimes..."

"Sometimes you need a break," Cal supplied. "Especially when you spend all day with the little guy."

"I feel guilty."

"Don't be guilty; that's completely normal."

"I'm his mother, I should be able to soothe him right?"

"You do. You do a great job. But you are human too you know."

"I'm not feeling better."

Cal opened up his arms to hold her and when she didn't move to shift into his embrace he shuffled his body against her and smothered her. "He's teethin', he's gonna be miserable no matta what we do. Best to not take it personally. When he gets olda he'll tell you he hates you and he wishes he was neva born and you're ruinin' his life."

"Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?"

"My point is," Cal shifted through her hair with his nose until he came across skin. He kissed it even though he wasn't sure if it was her neck or her shoulder. "We love him no matta what he says or does. We love him when he screams at us for hours and then pick ourselves up and love him some more when he comes back for round two."

"I know."

"You know you can ask for help when you need it. I know I can be a bit blind when I'm workin' on somethin' but just come and holla at me."

"Simple instruction's right?"

"Yep, absolutely," Cal pulled back to look her in the eye. "Make it clear darlin' and I will drop everythin' to be there for you."

Gillian caressed his hair back from his forehead. "You know, when I'm with you, I feel like I can do anything."

Cal gave her a slight smile. He turned his head to kiss her palm. "You can do anythin' without me too."

PJ

"I'll get it!" Cal yelled towards the bedroom as he got up from the couch. He swung Lewis to his hip and made sure his son hadn't lost the hard plastic ring he was rubbing against his aching gums. Cal strode quickly down the hall. "That's your sista," Cal told Lewis. Lewis stared up at him, the orange ring between his lips, held in place by both hands. Cal pulled open the front door. Emily gave him a smile immediately; Ajay, behind her, looked a little unsure.

"Merry Christmas Dad! Merry Christmas Lewis!"

Lewis threw his face into Cal's shoulder to hide from Emily. "Don't take it personally," Cal told her. "He's bein' shy at the moment." He stepped aside so Emily could stand next to him. "Merry Christmas," Cal hugged her with his free arm and kissed her cheek. "All right Ajay?" Cal offered him his hand.

"Mr Lightman," Ajay shook it. "Merry Christmas."

"Cal," he corrected. "This is Lewis," he attempted an introduction. Lewis recognised his name and gave a disgruntled squeal into Cal's shoulder. "Come in, come in," Cal held the door back, ignoring Lewis. "You guys are in Em's room." Ajay brought the bags inside and Emily took him down the hallway. Cal leaned out of the front door to wave to Zoe, who was pulling out of the driveway. She gave him a small wave from the driver's seat of her car. "Merry Christmas!" Cal called before she was too far away. She returned the holiday greeting. Cal waited until she was out of sight before shutting the door.

Cal went back to the living room. There was a average sized Christmas tree in one corner, a barrier around it in case Lewis decided today was the day he was actually going to crawl (sometimes he managed to get quite a distance anyway), and a moderate pile of presents underneath; most of them were for Lewis. Gillian was playing Christmas music, despite Cal's protest. At least it wasn't some pop album, he had to concede, but classic Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. Gillian had red candles burning on the coffee table, which was why Cal had to keep Lewis within eyesight and arm's length. But also, he was keeping Lewis away from Gillian for the agreed upon half hour, so she could get ready and finish lunch and just have some space. Lewis was at the age where his number one preferred person was his mother and he hated to be away from her. Especially when he was miserable with his teeth pushing through his soft gums.

Cal sat in his arm chair, shifting Lewis to his lap. Lewis could sit up on his own now. Crawling around was his latest challenge. And Cal wanted him to master it before the next doctor's check up so he could silence all the critics. Emily came into the room trailing Ajay behind him. They took seats on the couch.

"So what's new Dad?" Emily started conversation.

"Lewis has a few teeth," Cal told her, because everything revolved around him being a father these days.

"Really?"

Cal shifted Lewis around and exposed the lower central incisors. He was cutting his first upper teeth at the moment. There were two white lumps under the gum where the teeth were hanging out, taunting him until they broke through. Lewis squirmed out of Cal's grasp and almost took a nose dive towards the floor. Cal straightened him up and balanced him on his lap again. "But he's not very happy about it so just ignore the screamin' as much as possible."

"Where's Gill?"

"Gettin' dressed." Cal watched as Ajay studied his surroundings. Beyond their first meeting, Ajay had dropped his hard act; now he almost seemed shy. "You have a good flight down?"

"Yeah, was totally smooth," Emily answered.

"When I heard about the snowstorm I wondaed if you'd get out of Boston."

"So did we," Emily turned to Ajay. He gave a nod in confirmation.

"Where's your family then Ajay?" Cal asked.

"My folks are in Oklahoma."

"They don't mind your not goin' home for the holiday?"

Ajay gave a nonchalant shrug. "I went last year and this year I got a better offer."

Cal felt a surge of a need to pry. But he shut it down. Emily would definitely not be impressed if he started grilling her boyfriend. "What about your Mum?" Cal turned to Emily. "What's she doin' for the holiday?"

"She's going up to New York tomorrow until the New Year and then she'll come home to meet us."

Emily and Ajay were going to Zoe's to see in the New Year.

Gillian came into the room next, saving Cal from having to come up with another topic of conversation. She exchanged greetings, hugged and kissed Emily and then Ajay. Lewis, spotting her immediately, started squirming around on Cal's lap and calling out until she turned to pick him up. Cal checked the clock on the mantle surreptitiously. He had lasted forty minutes.

"So how are you?" Gillian asked with genuine interest, moving towards the other armchair and settling Lewis in her lap.

PJ

"I'm so glad Emily came," Gillian told Cal as he brushed his teeth.

"Uh huh," Cal answered in his throat, his mouth full of foaming toothpaste.

"And Ajay," she rubbed a hand between his shoulder blades. "I'm really glad you invited the both of them."

Cal spat. "Me too." He took a mouthful of water to rinse out.

"He's a very sweet young man."

"Mm," Cal answered as he swirled the liquid around his teeth.

"Wanna know what 'Ajay' stands for?"

Cal nodded vigorously and spat out again.

"Alan Jay."

"What does the 'jay' stand for?"

"Nothing. It's just 'Jay'."

"No wonda he shortens it," Cal dried his hands on a small towel and wiped around his lips to dry them too. Gillian moved into the bedroom and Cal followed.

"Wanna know what else I found out?" Gillian asked as she pulled down the blankets on the bed to climb in. Cal hit the overhead lights throwing the room in to warm orange of the bedside lamp and shadows.

"Of course," he told her, rounding the bed. "Do spill."

"His parents are Seventh Day Adventists; lived their whole lives out in Oklahoma, been married for twenty five years."

"Twenty five years?" Cal was surprised. "They must have started young."

Gillian nodded. "He has an older sister who's married, baby number two on the way and an older brother, who served in Iraq."

"Where's the brutha now?"

"He didn't come back."

"Oh," Cal felt a hollow of sadness in his chest. "Poor kid." Gillian settled under the covers and reached out for her light. Cal continued to watch her. "That's it?"

"Yes," Gillian told him closing her eyes. "Give me a break, he's only been here half a day."

"How is it that you're allowed to pry and it means you're showin' an interest, and I pry, and I'm pryin'?"

Gillian gave him an amused shrug.

"That's not an ansa," Cal complained.

PJ

"All right, Daddy's here," Cal leaned down to pick Lewis up out of the crib. Lewis's cries settled into whimpers. Cal put Lewis onto his hip and crossed to the curtains to pull them back. "Shall we change your nappy and get you dressed?" He moved towards the changing table, grabbing something to occupy the boy's hands. Lewis was quiet while Cal changed him and he wondered if his cries had woken his sister. It might be Boxing Day, a holiday for most people, but Lewis didn't observe those rules. Cal pulled Lewis gently up into a sitting position. "How are your teeth today?" He pulled Lewis's upper lip back. "Show Daddy?" Lewis grumbled and shifted his head out of his father's grasp but Cal had seen. They hadn't cut through the gum yet.

Cal took Lewis to the kitchen and put him in his highchair. "Hungry?" Cal asked him. Lewis banged the top of the high chair tray with an open palm. "What do you want for breakfast? Fruit? Cereal? Left ovas?" Cal poured himself a cup of coffee. The kitchen floor was cold against his bare feet.

"Ah!" Lewis called.

"You're right. Your mum wouldn't let me give you left ovas for breakfast." Cal sipped his drink, eyeing up his son from across the room. "And afta the mess you left me to clean up this mornin' I'd say you could do with some roughage."

"Ba, ba ba!" Lewis told him.

"Yeah, it was nasty," Cal agreed. "Probably should have opened the window in your room before we left and closed the door." Cal put his coffee down and reached for a mug to pour for Gillian. She was awake when he left the bedroom. He left a sizable gap for milk and crossed to the fridge. Lewis fell quite behind him and Cal was suddenly aware of rain against the roof.

"Good morning," Ajay greeted.

Cal turned quickly, startled. "Good mornin'." Ajay stuffed is hands in his jeans. "There's coffee ova there," Cal offered.

"Thanks," Ajay crossed to the pot. Cal directed him to mugs and passed over the milk once he had finished with it.

"You're up early. Did Lewis wake you?"

"Yeah and probably cos I'm not used to being here."

"Oh strange house?" Cal asked.

"Yeah."

"Fair enough. Help yourself to whateva you wanna eat. If you can fit anythin' in afta yestaday." Cal eyed up Ajay's slim figure.

"I'll eat with Emily when she gets up," Ajay declined politely.

"Speakin' of which, I betta go deliva this," Cal reached for Gillian's coffee. "I'll be back in a minute," Cal indicated Lewis.

"Take your time, I can look after him."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I have a nephew so I'm good around babies."

Cal watched his face to make sure that was true. "All right then, cheers!"

Gillian had her eyes closed when Cal came into the room. He clicked the door shut behind him with a bare foot and waved her mug of coffee under her nose before setting it on the table beside the bed; if she was still awake, she would smell it. He made space and put his down too as Gillian started to stir. She cracked eyes open at him as he reached for the covers and told her to move over. He slipped in beside her, careful to keep his feet well away from her. She settled against his chest, pressing her cheek against it. "You're cold," she mumbled.

"Yeah," Cal agreed, rubbing his feet against the sheets to try and warm them up.

"Did I hear Lewis awake?"

"You did. I found a babysitta so we can have a few minutes peace to ourselves."

"Mmm," Gilliam hummed her approval. "Emily?"

"Ajay," Cal corrected.

"Mmm," Gillian mumbled her delight again.

"You know, Em volunteered a bit of baby sittin' while she was here."

"Uh huh," Gillian pressed herself tighter against him. "I can smell coffee."

"We could take advantage of that," Cal suggested.

"Coffee," Gillian repeated. She pulled away from him and peered over his torso.

"Maybe go out for dinna or somethin'," Cal continued.

Gillian sat up further and reached across him. The motion shifted Cal on to his back. Gillian leaned on his ribs while she sipped her coffee. "Ah, that's better."

"Are you listenin' to me?"

"Yes, you said Ajay was looking after Lewis."

Cal gave her a deadpan expression. "And what else did I say?"

Gillian's eyes shifted around the roof while she though. "I can't remember."

Cal groaned.

"I was half asleep!" Gillian sipped her coffee again, put the mug back and shifted so she was curled into the crook of his arm. She rested her chin on his shoulder to look into his face. "I'm listening now."

"I was sayin' Em volunteered to babysit for us."

"Oh, that's nice."

"And I was askin' if you wanted to take her up on that?"

Gillian's forehead creased into a small frown. "I don't know. I mean, I'd love to go out alone, but I don't know if we can leave Lewis with her."

"Because?" Cal asked, already guessing the answer.

"Lewis is teething, he's not in a good space right now. And no offence to Emily but she's inexperienced around babies."

"Yeah, fair point."

"Take a rain check though," Gillian suggested. She ran a hand down his t-shirt clad abdomen. "Because we definitely need some time alone."

Cal gave her slightly raised eyebrows. "Oh, so it's not just me then?"

Gillian gave a cautious smile. "No, it's not just you."