Chapter 16
…
Kate was still sitting on the couch, as Sharon leaned on her shoulder, her hand in Kate's as her eyes closed.
"I could stay like this all day?" Sharon smiled.
"Me too, though I ought to think about moving. Gareth will have my head if he thought I was slacking."
"I don't think he'll mind."
"Oh…why do you say that?"
"Okay I wasn't going to say anything but…he stopped by this morning."
"Too talk about me?"
"He was worried about you; he wanted me to get a more accurate picture of who you were. He cares about you; he wants to see you happy."
Kate smiled, finding it hard to be angry under the circumstances.
"Don't be mad with him."
"I'm not, you came back."
Sharon looked down at her, smiling before kissing her.
"Now come on, I really do have to get back to work."
"Fine…I suppose I ought to make a move too anyway."
Sharon was up and heading to the door, turning back before she left.
"One thing?"
"Yes."
"Gareth still needs to have an ultrasound, I performed a quick one when we first discovered he was pregnant but there really wasn't much to see or tell. I've been trying to convince him to come in for one. He's torn between you and me, on who should treat him so I suggested that we do it together."
"Oh…well that's fine with me. To be fair, you have more experience in this than I do anyway."
"Great, well I'll arrange with you a date and he and James can come in…how's that?"
"That's fine with me."
"We'll discuss it in more detail over dinner…tonight…my place, seven?"
"I'll see you then."
…
James and Mallory arrived home, James carrying a bag of takeaway in to the kitchen.
"I'll get us some drinks." Mallory smiled.
James grabbed the plates from the cupboard and started dishing out the noodles and sweet and sour.
"Damn it." Mallory muttered.
"What is it?"
"Oh nothing."
James came up beside him, his hand on his back.
"Hey what's wrong?"
"I keep forgetting."
James looked down to see Mallory had poured two glasses of whiskey in to the glasses.
"Wait here, I'll get another glass."
Mallory leaned on the counter, closing his eyes for a moment before James came back over to join him.
"She moving again?"
"Mmmmm, no sorry."
"It's okay…hey, it was a simple mistake…it's not as though you drank any."
"How could I forget?"
"It's easily done…don't worry about it. Let's get rid of these huh."
"James you don't have to go without."
"If you can't drink, then I won't either…beside, maybe a few months without alcohol might do me some good."
"You really don't have too."
"I want too." He smiled, kissing him. "Come on, let's eat. You must be starving."
"I am a little."
They sat at the counter in silence as they ate, James eyes turning to Mallory every now and again, watching as the older man ran his hand over his stomach. James smiled when he looked up at him for the hundredth time, Mallory eyeing his suspiciously.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing it's just…I never thought I'd have this."
"Us?"
"Yeah, you…a baby…a family. I'm not going to pretend I wasn't a little freaked out when you told me about the baby but…seeing you like this right now…I wouldn't have it any other way."
"If you think I'm ever going through this ever again you're mistake…"
James gave him a curious look before taking his hand.
"What do you mean?"
"I love this baby I do and I would never have gone through with the termination but…as much as I'm looking forward to this…I don't think I could go through it again. I spend so much time worrying something will go wrong."
"Because of your age?"
"My age…my job…the fact that I'm male and this really shouldn't have happened."
"You can't help a medical cond…"
"I know, I do but…this is just so nerve wracking for me. I know you're there…and Kate and the others but I can't stop the feelings of fear I have."
James moved in his seat, leaning over and bringing Mallory in to his arms. Mallory wrapped his arms around James as he felt James press a kiss to his neck.
"I know how terrifying all of this is on you, I really do. That's why I need you to believe me when I say I'll never walk away from this…us. I love you so much; you two are everything to me now."
"I needed to hear that…thank you."
"I mean every word, love you."
"Love you too."
…
Sharon was just turning the heat up on the stove when the front door went. She made her way to the door, checking herself in the mirror as she went. Opening the door, she smiled when she saw Kate on the other side.
"Hi."
"Hello dearie."
Sharon took her arm, leading her inside as she closed the door behind her, before wrapping her arms around Kate's waist and kissing her.
"Oh…"
"Sorry…I didn't mean too…"
"No it's fine, just a surprise…it's been a long time since I've been kissed quite like that."
"Well get used lady, you hungry?"
"Very."
"Great, well I have spinach and mushroom risotto and crème brulee for dessert."
"Sounds wonderful."
"I hope it tastes as good as it sounds, come on through."
After dinner Kate and Sharon went out to the back garden, Sharon had tea lights scattered around, the cool night air welcoming as they sat down on the swing on the patio.
Sharon took Kate's hand as she had earlier in the day, a gesture Kate didn't seem to mind as the older woman squeezed Sharon's hand as she leaned in to her body. The warmth radiating from her.
"Thank you for dinner…it was delicious."
"Well you're alive so that's a plus."
"You're a good cook."
"Oh really, I don't think my mother would agree with you there." She laughed.
Kate's smile disappeared at the mention of Sharon's mother, something Sharon noticed right away.
"What's wrong Kate?"
"Nothing."
Sharon wasn't buying Kate's nothing for a second, turning sideways forcing Kate to do the same.
"Kate…talk to me."
"How old is she?"
"Who? My mother…in her seventies…why?"
"A little older than me then."
"Oh my god….no, Kate stop…don't start with that again, you promised."
"I'm sorry, I just can't help thinking that it keeps coming up."
"That's because you keep bringing it up, Kate I'm going to say something that will probably take you by surprise and it's probably too soon and I'm more than likely going to panic you but it's not intended to do that."
"What is it?"
Sharon smiled before leaning in and kissing Kate, holding her face in her hands as Kate relaxed in her arms. Sharon pulled back, her forehead resting against Kate's.
"I love you." She whispered.
Kate closed her eyes briefly before pulling back to really look at Sharon and the sincerity in her eyes….her voice.
"We barely know each other dearie."
"I think I know a lot more than you probably ever intended for me to know…and I'm still here. I don't expect you to say it back, I just wanted you to know how I feel."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, all in good time…now, let's finish this wine and we'll discuss Gareth's ultrasound. Back in a second."
Kate watched Sharon go back inside, sighing to herself as she leaned back on the swing, cursing herself for not saying the words back to her.
…
To Be Continued…