Something new just for you:
Have fun and please R+R.
Thanks:
Once more I have to thank you, Isi. The world greatest betareader ever.
Beside of that I want to thank you, girl with the unpronounceable surname ;). I hope you used the link and read it.
Disclaimer:
Not mine.
3. Ice-Cream And Milk
Claire couldn't find sleep although she was tired as hell. "I think, you need some ice-cream to fall asleep." She talked to her belly. "So let's go downstairs to the kitchen. We have plenty there."
Claire got up, put her morning gown on and went to the kitchen. She got the ice-cream out of the fridge, a spoon out of the drawer and started to eat. "That's good, isn't it?" She asked herself again. Although there was nothing to see or feel yet, she already told her baby much about farming, horses, family and everything else important to herself. It felt right to be pregnant, even if she would never know about her real dad. Claire wasn't sure yet what she would tell her baby. "At least you still have got enough time to think about that." Claire thought That gave her the subject for this latenight talk to her baby. "I will tell you the story how your auntie Tess saved me and helped me out of my crisis." She started and told her unborn baby the story of her parents, Claire and Peter, and how she survived Peter. Peter, the man she had loved so much and who had given her the hardest time of her life.
Alex was nearly asleep when he heard that Claire got downstairs again. "I hope she's alright." He thought and was already completely awake. He heard her open the fridge and the drawer. "Claire already acts pregnant." Alex smiled at this thought. "I need a glass of milk, right now. So I have a reason to join her." Alex got up from the couch and was halfway to the kitchen when he heard Claire talking. He didn't miss a word. She was talking about Peter again. "Screw him Claire, he isn't worth one thought" popped into his mind immediatly. "Can't you see who is right in front of you, every day?" He wanted to scream out loud but instead he just waited and listened to what Claire said. When she finished her story he knew she was over Peter. She just told her baby the truth, hopefully only this time and never again.
She just ate some more ice-cream when Alex went into the kitchen.
"Still up? Weren't you tired?"
"Desperate to get some ice-cream. You?" she mumbled with ice-cream in her mouth.
"Milk." Alex answered and went to get a glass out of the cupboard and the milk out of the fridge.
"Healthy living?"
"Pregnancy habits?"
They mocked each other like mates do. They were used to this behaviour when they were together. Friends.
"No. Little baby here wanted ice-cream. She told me so I couldn't sleep because she wouldn't sleep without ice-cream."
"So you feel him already?"
"No, that's too early. But I will tell you as soon as I feel her." She said.
Alex sat there and watched Claire for a while eating ice-cream until he had the courage to talk to her about the thing he really wanted to talk about.
"Sorry Claire, I don't know how to start this conversation. We agreed to talk about this tomorrow but I think it can't wait." Alex said seriously. "Or more to say: I can't wait."
By the sound of his voice Claire looked up from her ice-cream. "Yeah sure. About the living arrangement you have to understand that I have to stay here? After all it's my farm. But you could move in if you want to."
"In which room should I stay?"
"The storeroom upstairs was for guests when I was little. You can have that one. There will be some work to be done, some painting and new furniture. Won't take long. Is that ok for you?"
"Sounds fine to me." After that comment Alex went silent. An odd silence arose between them. Alex didn't know how to ask his next question. The answer he would love wasn't realistic. "Uhm Claire, what will be my part in this whole story? We both know he's not mine."
"Claire give me something. Just a hint that you want me to be his real dad."
"You're right Alex, you are not her biological father. I haven't decided yet what I am going to tell her or not. But you will be a role model to her. Peter is out of the picture. That's for sure."
"Good news, Claire. So I think everything is sorted out." He said yawning. "I will go back to the couch now. I'm really tired. It was a long day." When he finished the sentence he already was up on his feet, went over to Claire and flattered her a kiss on her head. "Good night little baby boy and your beautiful mom." He said to her belly and went to the living room. "Ryan, what came into your mind, doing that? It was too much. I hope she won't take it wrong or maybe she will finally take it right."
Dazzled by his peck on her head and his words she just managed a short "Good night, Alex." and went upstairs to her room. "What was that about? He thinks I'm beautiful. He never said that before to me. Mates don't say things like that, do they? Calm down Claire, you misinterpret him probably again." She thought while she once more tried to find sleep.
To be continued ...