"Oh wow, how long more do you have?" an old lady asked me as I walked down the street. Though admittedly, my walk was rapidly turning into a waddle.
"Just under four weeks." I replied with a grin, it was Halloween and I was going to the store to get some candy for trick-or-treat kids and some horror movies for myself.
"You look fantastic! My youngest is thirty seven now!" she said and I smiled politely.
"That's great." I said.
"Yes. Time flies. First they're just these tiny little things who wouldn't survive without you and then before you know it they have families of their own." She said, looking nostalgic. "Be sure to make the most of it!" she added.
"I will, thank you." I said and walked on. I loaded up on candy and movies and headed back to the sanctuary of my apartment.
"I brought you some chilli.", I jumped a mile and screamed upon hearing the voice and saw Billy peak out of my kitchen.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I asked, traumatised. I had given him a key in case of emergencies.
"I brought you dinner. Thought you'd be in." He shrugged.
"Don't sneak in here! That key is for emergencies." I frowned, carrying the bags in and attempting to catch my breath. My heart was hammering from the fright.
"What's the plan for tonight?" he asked.
"Watch some horror movies in the dark is my plan. What's yours?" I asked smartly and he laughed.
"Oh it's like that? Well I thought I'd join you. Halloween is a scary night, can't have you afraid in here on your own!"
"I'll manage." I replied.
"I'm stickin' around anyway." He stated with a shrug and I rolled my eyes. He was impossible. "So what movies are on the agenda?" he called, walking in and throwing himself on the sofa as I closed my curtains and lit some candles.
"Halloween obviously, then I've got Friday the 13original, The Hills Have Eyes remake, Cabin Fever and Psycho." I smiled.
"Planning on scaring the baby out of you?" he asked.
"This is how I always do Halloween. If you're too chicken, you can leave." I grinned and sat down.
"You tryin' to impress me?" he asked with a smirk, motioning toward the candles.
"This is how I watch horrors. Now shh." I grinned and he looked back to the TV. An hour in we were both munching on the candy that was supposed to be for the kids and I couldn't help but giggle.
"What exactly are you finding funny about this?" he asked, looking a bit disgusted at Cabin Fever.
"Not the movie, just us. Sitting here and eating the candy that's supposed to be for children."
"Not a good indication as to the type of parents we'll be." He agreed, laughing."Watching a horror movie with candles, chocolate and candy... If I had orchestrated this situation as a teenager I would have been one smooth little fucker." He added.
"Yeah you wish you were as smooth as me." I joked and felt his arm tighten around my shoulder. "When did that get there?" I asked, surprised.
"See? I'm smoother than you think." He replied, popping an M&M into his mouth. We sat there for hours watching all the horror movies, I didn't move his arm and it was nice. We really had become great friends and I was happy about it, I hated being at loggerheads with people and it would have been particularly annoying to be arguing constantly with my baby's father. I really had gotten quite lucky with him, not every guy that came from Stokely Hall would be thrilled about having a kid with some chick they only met a few times, but he had really risen to the occasion. Even his boys were surprised, and that much was evident by their demeanour alone when I was around. I could tell they weren't used to being friendly to anyone but each other, and the stories that had followed them around over the years were definitely not tales for the faint of heart; but I just tried not to think about it. Something in Billy had changed, and the way he was with me and our baby was all I was concerned about. I knew he was still dealing and in all likelihood still ruling downtown with an iron fist – but to me; he was a doting father to be, and that's all that mattered.
0000
"I don't know Leah, it's fucked." Billy said, his voice muffled as he wrestled with the pipes under my sink.
"Ugh don't say that." I groaned. For some reason no water had been coming through any of my taps, even though the shower and toilet were still working.
"Well I'm no plumber, why did you even call me?" he asked.
"Because you're a guy, I thought you all knew about this kind of thing." I smirked.
"No we just like to think we do. Thanks for pointin' that out." He said looking over his shoulder and grinning. Just then there was a huge clink.
"What did you just do?!" I asked, afraid of the answer.
"Nothing! Nothing. It's fine." He replied quickly and stood back up closing the cupboard. As soon as he walked away, water sprayed straight up out of the tap he had unscrewed and I screamed, pointing at it.
"Shit!" he swore and put his hand over it, but it stayed spraying out through his fingers.
"What the fuck did you do?" I screamed, grabbing a towel to stick over the hole, the water was still going everywhere and we were both getting soaked.
"I don't know I told you, I haven't a damn clue about this stuff." He shouted back, the water was making a huge racket.
"Switch the water off or something!" I instructed but he just looked blankly at me so I left him holding the towel that was now soaked through and went to the cupboard myself, turning the big knob as far as it would go. Upon hearing the water stop Billy helped me up and I stared in shock. My kitchen was destroyed, there was water all over the floor, all over the counter top and there was even some splashed on the cupboards. I looked at Billy and couldn't help but laugh; he was dripping wet and still looked shell shocked.
"You should have just called a plumber." He said with a sulk, wiping his face. I just kept giggling and threw him a towel as I walked to the phone. A few minutes later, it was sorted.
"The plumber can come tomorrow at three to fix it." I grinned, still amused by the whole situation.
"Alright well we'll clean this up and then you can pack a bag and stay with me for the night. I have runnin' water, and it's the least I can do for destroyin' your kitchen." He said, trying to soothe his wounded alpha-male ego by coming to my rescue in another way.
"Throw in a large cheese and mushroom pizza and you got yourself a date baby." I winked and he chuckled.
"Deal." And after using about five large towels, the water was gone so I packed my bag and we set off for his place.
