"Well I genuinely think a rich orange would go beautifully on this wall, because of the stain that's on the wood fireplace. It would really make the place cosy. It's not the most relaxing colour in the world though, it's up to you. What kind of living room were you looking for?" I asked looking over at my client.
"Orange might be a bit too wild for us. We'd like something relaxing but at the same time a bit different. We're quirky in our own way!" she said and I smiled.
"Of course, don't worry. We'll find the perfect colours and themes and you'll have your dream house soon enough." I said, taking another long gaze at the wall. I was an interior designer and lucky for me, it had really started booming the last year or so. I was constantly booked and working on new things for new clients. This particular woman was extremely pleasant but one of the more difficult ones. She didn't seem to know what she wanted. Her husband was looking after their son back in Philadelphia and she was overlooking the decoration of their fabulous town house. It was a gorgeous house, old and somewhat regal looking.
"What about the nursery? Have you had any ideas with regards that?" she asked next and I lit up.
"Well that one, I've had some luck! You mentioned that Thomas loves animals." I said, flicking through my folder and pulling out the nursery sheets, handing them to her. She looked through them and then stared at me, I felt my smile falter; perhaps my brilliant idea wasn't so brilliant.
"This looks perfect!" she said and I beamed, relief flooding through me. I had done a rough sketch of a huge tree painted in one corner, with giraffes, lions, elephants, hippos, zebras and monkeys all around the walls.
"Really? I'm so glad you think so! I think Thomas will love it." I said and she nodded.
"He's only nine months old but he definitely will. Thank you! How did you ever come up with the idea?"
"Well, you've got this little one to thank for this idea." I said, rubbing my stomach and she smiled hugely.
"You're pregnant! Oh congratulations!" she squealed making me laugh.
"Thanks. I just kind of thought what would I put in my sons nursery? And that's what I came up with." I shrugged and she nodded along to more of the ideas I listed.
"So is that what you're having, a boy?" she asked.
"No no, I was just thinking what if. I'm going to leave it a surprise!" I replied and she nodded, rubbing my arm excitedly. It was the first time I'd told someone and had them react with genuine happiness and excitement, and it felt really good.
00000
"Hey, what's up?" I asked, I hadn't heard from Billy since the day of the scan so I decided to call him.
"Nothin', just business. Why, is everything okay?" his voice asked.
"Yeah everything is fine. Listen I'm sorry about the other day, I know you didn't want to come in but they insisted."
"It's fine." He replied, sounding bored and distracted; I sighed angrily.
"Alright then. Bye." I said, feeling frustrated at his lack of people skills. I hung up and flopped down on the sofa. An hour into a Sex and the City marathon I was still feeling pissed so I decided it was time to relax for the baby's sake. I turned off my phone, left the landline off the hook, lit candles, ran the bath, turned on some Stevie Nicks and sank into a hot bubble bath.
"This is the life." I said softly, sinking down further. The hot water was relaxing all my muscles as it washed over me and I felt the outside world slip away along with all the troubles that came with it.
"Just me and you kiddo. I'm jealous of you all tucked up in there, not a care in the world." I murmured and leaned back, closing my eyes. Next thing I knew there was a loud bang and I felt myself jump, water sloshing around the place as I screamed, a scream that grew in intensity and pitch when I saw a figure standing in my bathroom door.
"Fuck!" Billy shouted, jumping a little himself.
"Oh my god Billy get out!" I shrieked, barely able to comprehend what was going on. He left and I caught my breath, grabbing my bath robe from the shelf beside me and getting out. I stormed out of the bathroom breathing like a bull and found him standing in my living room.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Jesus! You scared the shit out of me!" I raged.
"You weren't picking up so I came to see if everything was alright!" he shouted back. I took another few deep breaths, my heart still pounding from the shock.
"I turned it off, I was trying to relax! Which I was pretty successful at doing until you barged into my bathroom." I snapped.
"Well what was I supposed to think? You weren't answering your phone or your door!" he yelled. Then I realised; I had locked my door.
"Wait a second, how did you even get in here? I locked that door!" I shouted.
"I picked the lock." He shrugged and I glared at him furiously, making a mental note to use the chain the next time.
"You can't just pick the lock to my apartment! Jesus just because I'm having your baby doesn't give you the right to invade my privacy!" I raged.
"Well next time maybe you should keep your fucking phone on and I won't come over here expecting to find you collapsed somewhere!" he retorted angrily and I sat down, huffing.
"I get it, sorry. Next time I'll keep my phone on. Just... knock on the bathroom door next time or something." I mumbled, my hand on my chest. My heart was still hammering. "Now that you're here and ruined my relaxation, make yourself useful and get me a cup of tea. Small bit of milk, no sugar." I added. He looked at me for a few seconds as though he was going to argue but his head kind of twitched and he stalked off to the kitchen making me grin.
"Fine, but I'm having one too. Fucking hell that scream of yours would wake the dead." He called out and I huffed with laughter, turning Sex and the City back on.
