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The sun was setting when Allie unlocked the front door.
Since they'd returned from Sydney, work had been full on. Nick had pulled a case with a serial killer who had suddenly gone on a killing spree and she too had had her hands full. Part of her was thrilled at being kept at work as this meant she didn't need to face her mother just yet, but on the downside, she hadn't seen much of Mia this week either.
At least they'd had each other.
She'd first balked at the idea of her mother taking her daughter to school and then picking her up after, but the way this week had gone, she would have been calling in favours left, right and centre to get someone to watch Mia when after school care closed at 6. Plus it didn't look like it her mother's influence hadn't been too bad. Yet, her traitorous mind added.
She was in a good mood, the weekend stretching out before her.
Shutting the door behind her, she headed for the kitchen where she could hear voices. Stopping in the doorway, she took an undisguised moment to look at the scene before her. Mia sat, still in her school uniform, chatting merrily away at the dining table as she coloured in a book. Desiree was seated next to her colouring in a picture of her own.
Allie marvelled at the change. Her mother almost looked, well, motherly.
Stepping into the room, Allie pressed a kiss to her daughter's head, backing up just in time to avoid being hit in the chin. The drawing child abandoned her task turned with an excited expression on her face. "You're home Mummy!" With flexibility and speed, the six year old scrambled up onto her chair and flung herself forward into her mother's arms. Legs wrapped around Allie's hips, Mia was talking at a mile a minute.
"Guess what?" she said breathlessly. "Nanna"- the name grandmother and granddaughter had decided upon - "is taking me to the movies tonight. Cos you're going to Stella's going away party."
"Oh is she really?" hedged Allie, sparing a glance to her mother to confirm her daughter's story. Her mother must have been expecting her to explode as she looked apprehensive for a second and then nodded her head slightly.
Shuffling to where she'd dumped her bag, Allie felt a little light headed as she reached for her wallet. Balancing Mia on her hip, the sensation faded as she reached pulled free enough money to cover the movie tickets and snacks. Holding it out to her mother, she frowned when the older woman shook her head. "I will be paying for tonight's outing."
"Mum," said Allie in a warning tone.
"No," said Desiree emphatically. "It's my treat. Just think of it as a grandmother spoiling her granddaughter." Defeated, Allie withdrew her hand. She would look the idiot if she pushed it.
Desiree turned to Mia next. "Now let's get a move on Mia as we'll need to get going soon."
Mia wriggled down from her mother's arms and dashed out of the kitchen. Allie was putting the money back in her wallet when the speedy child popped back into the room. "And guess what?" crowed Mia. "Nanna's coming to Little Athletics tomorrow morning."
Allie froze, childhood memories long suppressed now rushing back with a vengeance.
When Nick rushed through the door two hours later, he spared the barest of glances toward his stony wife as he began to tug off his shirt. "I know I'm late," he called as he headed for the bedroom. "Gimme a moment to have a shower and then we'll get going."
He stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist to find his wife glaring at him. "My mother is going to ruin Mia's life, just like she did to mine," said Allie in a biting tone. "She is the mother from hell."
"She doesn't seem that bad," replied Nick mildly as he headed for the chest of drawers and pulled free clothing.
"She's taking her to the movies tonight," said Allie.
"So?" shrugged Nick, a little confused. "We get a free babysitter."
"She said she wanted to watch Mia do Little Athletics."
Fed up and not understanding Allie's comments, he zipped up his jeans and turned to face his wife. "So?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"So?" exploded Allie. "So? My mother's pushing me into Little Athletics is the whole reason I ran away and joined the police force. Her hothousing is the reason I hadn't spoken to her in seven years."
Allie began pacing as she ranted. "Mum was determined to have an Olympic champion in the family and guess what?" She gestured to herself as she laughed bitterly. "Only kid, so that fell on me. Oh the disappointment when I stopped running."
Allie stopped and her blazing eyes burning into Nick's. "This is not going to happen to Mia. My mother is not going to make her hate me." She nodded her head fiercely. "Mia is going to hate Mum going."
"How do we know that?" offered Nick with a small laugh. "She just wants to spend time with her granddaughter, Al."
"You're never home, so what would you know?" shouted Allie.
"We're not going there," gritted Nick, his face tightening. "You of all people know about cop hours." Nick moved away and Allie threw up her hands. "That's right," she said exasperatedly. "Just walk away."
"What do you want me to say?" an exasperated Nick asked of Allie as he turned back to her. "Tell her she can't see her grandchild?"
Allie refused to respond, her face angry still. "Look Allie," suggested Nick as he reached for a shirt. "Just talk to her about it."
"Easy for you to say," retorted Allie. "You don't have to do it."
Nick stepped forward and prepared to respond but Allie turned away from him and stormed from the room. "Let's just go to the party."
It was awkward as they walked in the door. Both greeted Stella and Phil stiffly before heading off in different directions, Allie still simmering and Nick snagging a beer.
An hour and a half later – having avoided each other for the majority of it – Nick listened with half an ear to the conversation between Phil and his mate. Raising his drink to his lips, he scanned the crowd. He knew exactly where she was standing and his eyes found her form instantly. Her not so tense-and-ready-explode-any-minute-now form it must be said.
His gaze was trained on her for a full two seconds before she turned her head and their gazes locked. He raised an eyebrow and she offered a tiny rueful smile. He pointed his beer in her direction and she nodded her head. She nudged her head to the side, pointing in a direction toward the side of the house. Nick excused himself, sculled the little left in his bottle, binned it and made his move.
Allie was already there and he pulled her form toward him without warning, his arm around her neck. "Come here silly."
"Don't call me silly," protested Allie half-heartedly against his lips.
Nick quashed any further complaints when he covered her lips with his and kissed her thoroughly.
Departing less than half an hour later, Nick had his arm wrapped firmly around Allie's shoulders, her hand sliding comfortably into his back pocket as they faced the friends that were about to set off on a six month holiday overseas.
Allie wished Stella and Phil good luck before she turned to Georgie who would stay at home to look after the place and study at TAFE. "And if you need anything," she added, "call Nick." She emphasised her statement by patting her husband's chest.
"Ha ha," said Nick drolly, kissing Allie briefly on the lips before turning to their neighbours. "Seriously though, give a shout if you need anything."
"Thanks Nick, Allie," said Stella warmly.
"Walk home safe," said Phil as he shook hands with them both.
Unable to keep their hands off each other, Nick and Allie left the house and made their way down the path, laughing uproariously when they stumbled over a branch, clasping at each other. They both attempt to silence the other with kisses and soft words as they reach their door.
Getting the key into the door took a lot longer than it should have. Feeling like teenagers breaking curfew sneaking in, Allie slipped off her heels and tugged at Nick's shirt collar as she pulled him in for a kiss. Her man didn't resist, pressing her up against a wall as he continued to kiss her. Shirts were rapidly unbuttoned and Allie's leg wrapped around Nick's as she reached for the zipper of his jeans.
Hearing movement at the back of the house, both froze. Allie stifled giggles in her husband's chest as they waited, his lips on her neck. "Oh God," gasped Allie. "Imagine if my mother walked in on us now."
Nick shuddered as he lifted his head. "I'd really rather not." With this declaration, he tugged her toward their bedroom. "Let's get back to business."
"Bossy aren't we?" said Allie coyly, walking her fingers up his chest.
Nick captured the digits and pressed them to his lips, his eyes intense as he looked into hers. "And don't you love it."
Next chapter:
The next day: more revelations.