"Race you upstairs."
Georgia smirked then laughed. She sighed. "Mum…"
"Sorry."
It had hit Georgia and Kirsten that there were only two of them leaving the hospital and only two of them arriving home when they got in the taxi. For a moment the two looked around the empty house at all the things they hold dear with memories of their husband or father. It was going to be so uncomfortable without Sandy in the house.
But it was only for a while. That's what they told themselves.
Ding dong. Georgia opened the door and Kirsten manoeuvred her chair round in the centre of the living area.
"Hi Aunt Julie." Georgia said. Julie kissed her head.
"Hey Georgia, Kirsten." She said breezily. She walked over to Kirsten. "I got you your new mobile." She handed Kirsten the phone box. "It flips, it's silver and it's just what you ordered."
Kirsten smiled. "Thanks Julie."
Julie then dropped a parking ticket on Kirsten's lap. Kirsten looked up at Julie.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"I'm not paying for it." Julie said.
"Why should I? I wasn't the one who parked illegally." Kirsten said back.
"Well I only got it cos I was doing a favour for you."
"Alright let me ask you this; if I asked you to pass me a knife and you tossed it at me resulting in major stab wounds and injury, would it be my fault cos you wouldn't have needed to throw it if I hadn't asked you?" Kirsten asked calmly but purposely.
Julie held up her head. "Had I not been running an errand for you I wouldn't have been put in the position where I might cause a parking offence."
Kirsten sighed smiling, not losing her cool with her friend. "You are unbelievable."
Julie grinned "Oh, thank you Kirsten." she said, sincerely.
Julie sighed. "Uh so do you need any help with anything or…?"
"No, Julie we're fine. Thanks." Kirsten said.
"Ok, well then I guess I'll see you later!" She kissed Kirsten's cheek which felt weird having to bend down all the time. And for Kirsten, as well, having to reach up all the time. It was weird for all of them. "Bye Kiki, GG!" Julie shut the door behind her.
Georgia and Kirsten both cringed. "I don't like our nicknames anymore." Georgia said.
"I never liked my nickname." Kirsten said, they both grinned.
"So uh" Georgia felt awkward all of a sudden which had hardly ever happened before between her and Kirsten. "You wanna get popcorn, watch the Valley, you know the third season has been really good so far and we missed it last night."
Kirsten bit her lip. "You know what sweetie, I'm gonna have a shower first, kay?"
Georgia nodded. "Sure."
Kirsten twirled in her wheelchair then paused, as did Georgia, when she saw her mum stop, as she was reaching over the couch to get the remote. "What?" She asked.
"Uh…" Kirsten hesitated deeply thinking and staring into space. "I…can't have a shower…and I don't…"
"I'll help you in the bath." Georgia said.
Kirsten frowned. "No, that's too weird."
"It's fine." Georgia cut her off. "Go put your cozy on."
Kirsten shook her head again. "No, you probably couldn't even lift me."
"Cos you're such a fat ride mum." Georgia said sarcastically. Georgia giggled. "It's fine! I swear, go."
Kirsten sighed and did as she was told.
Georgia drew Kirsten a bath while she got changed. Georgia came out of her mum and dad's bathroom. "Nice bikini." Georgia said.
"Thanks." Kirsten blushed in her black Marc Jacobs bikini she had bought in the summer. It was for Sandy really.
"Ok, let's do this." Georgia wheeled Kirsten into her bathroom and managed to scoop her up in her arms and put her in the bath. She straightened her back and stretched her neck afterwards.
"Warm enough?" Georgia asked.
"Perfect. I love the bubbles."
"You can't have a bath without bubbles." Georgia smiled. She sat down on the ground beside the bath. "So are we going to see dad tomorrow?" Georgia asked.
"Yeah of course we are." Kirsten said. "And the day after that and the day after that…" Kirsten trailed off.
Georgia stroked her fingers through the warm water. "You think it'll take days?"
"I don't know sweetie." Kirsten said, looking down at her little girl. "It's already weird so I hope not." She smirked and frowned.
"Yeah it doesn't feel right without dad here. And we've only been home 30 minutes."
Georgia silenced and looked to the tiles on the floor. "Your dad's tough." Kirsten said softly. "I'm the person who is closest to him and knows him best of all, and I know that he is way too stubborn, to let anything get in the way of seeing his princess again." Georgia half smiled.
"And as his princess, I know that he wouldn't let anything in the world stop him from seeing his honey again." Kirsten smiled.
After the bath, the mother and daughter huddled under one duvet together on the couch watching re-runs of the Valley. It took their mind off the missing members of the family albeit still felt weird not having them walk through at times. But they were both laughing, and throwing popcorn at each other and enjoying the time they were spending together.
Kirsten realised that the situation really was not that bad, no matter how bad it might have felt, because nothing was bad when she was with her daughter.
"This isn't so bad is it?" Georgia asked.
Kirsten smiled. "Nothings bad when I'm with you, sweetie."