Bandit was riding his car in comfortable silence meanwhile Bluey was absorbed in the city landscape at the window, in a dream of her own, and Bingo was with her snout deep into some neurology paper.
... After all these years, he still got Daddys drop-off duty. For him it was a privilege, besides it was far easier than it had been when they were little. They were all going to Queensland University; Bingo to medical school, Bluey to arts and communication, and he to his own archaeology students.
Yes, he loved to give a ride to his girls, even if in time they had outgrown some of their old habits, and he didn't need to wind-up Bingo any more...
"Daaad?"
"Yes Bluey?"
"How did you know you wanted to start a family with Mum?"
Yet, the habit of asking somewhat difficult questions hasn't been outgrown at all, that or Journalism had only sharpened Bluey natural inquisitiveness.
"Why? Are you trying to figure out if Mackenzie is good enough for it?"
"DAAAAD!" Exclaimed Bluey, very much embarrassed. Bingo laughed without leaving her reading.
"Ooss! I haven't lost my touch!", he thought.
"What? You started asking questions!", he said with feigned innocence.
Bingo closed her paper. "Well, it's her work!", she said.
"Not yet", he chuckled.
"Yes, it still is her job as a daughter, and yours is to answer, big daddy man".
Bandit laughed. "You sure you don't want to trade medicine for law, Bingo?"
"Eeeewww! No!"
"Bingo is right, now can you tell us?"
"I don't know... were pretty close to arrive..."
"Pleeeease!"
Yeah, old habits die hard.
Bandit rolled his eyes. "Ok. First thing first. We were both full grown independent adults, we had both finished study and had work..."
"Yeah, we know...", the girls interrupted him. "You and mum always make the same warnings whenever you tell something about your youth!"
"Oh! That's our job!", he grinned. "Well, it was pretty early in our relationship... But in your case, when you meet someone special, young ladies, make sure to take aaaaaall the time you need to think about beginning a family".
"Do you repent to have made your mind so early?"
Bandit snorted. "Of course not! But I'm aware that I might had rushed somewhat, so, you don't do it".
"Ok, ok, now story please".
Bandit sighed. "Ok".
THIS EPISODE OF THE HEELERS ITS CALLED, DECISION AT FIRST SCARE.
We were at our... fifth month of dating, after my return from London.
It was spring, and we had decided to go on holiday to New Zealand for a week.
Ahh! Good old times, when our lives were free and easy!...
--
Bluey and Bingo rolled their eyes at that . "Yeah, yeah...keep on the story telling magic claw!"
Bandit chuckled.
--
We were young and in love...
Your mum is a beauty, yet you should had seen her back then! And I wasn't that bad either.
We were staying at a Beach house in Tautuku, The Catlins...
"What were you doing there?"
"Well...erhm... resting and sightseeing, of course!"
--
"Oh My!!! Bandit, that was...Wow!!!!", said Chilli still panting, with a very satisfied smile, while he gently rolled from atop of her.
He chuckled cheekily. "That's because you. Are. A. Goddess!", he said, breathing heavily.
She embraced him and began to play with the fur of his chest. "Oh, don't be silly!", she giggled.
"You like when I'm silly!", he said to her; his words muffled for a lazy kiss.
She caressed his shoulders and back with gusto while he began to kiss her, more hungrily this time.
She freed herself from the kiss and nibbled his ear while chuckling seductively. He growled deeply in response, so she kissed him again, openly needy.
"Again", he pleaded with his voice muffled for her kiss.
"You sure?"
"Test me"
"Oh my!!!", she chuckled seductively. "Hell yeah, you are sure!" ...
Forty minutes or so later, they were cuddling, just revelling into each other presence.
"That was the last one for today, Bandit..."
"Awww babe!", he complained.
"We must get up early if we want to go exploring further!"
"Ok, anything my beloved wants..."
"I'm looking forward to be into the wild with you..."
Bandit chuckled. "Well, we have been let's say...into the wild, for almost fifteen days".
Chilli looked dumbfounded. "We have been doing it for fifteen days in a row?". She quirked a brow at him. "Really?"
--
Well...it was our third day in New Zealand and were uhm... relaxing, when your Mum suddenly realised something that freaked her out.
--
"Yep. Frisky went to stay with her parents for a week and a half; that very night I went to make you company so you wouldn't be alone while Frisky was away..."
Chilli chuckled, "Because you are such a gentleman..."
"Yes, I am. Since then, I had been staying in your apartment, then we began our holiday, so ... yes, fifteen days of uninterrupted bliss!", said he, with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Chilli?", he called when he didn't hear any comment from her.
She was aghast. Her eyes wide open, and her skin white under her fur. "Oh, no good!", she said.
--
Then, your Mum sprang up suddenly and said...
--
"I need a calendar!!"
--
"Ohhhh!". Both girls exclaimed.
"No good", added Bingo. "No good at all".
--
She ran to the side table at the entrance, where there was one. I followed her.
To be honest, I had not any idea of what was happening.
--
"What happened, babe? Did you miss a work appointment?"
"No", she said curtly while frantically counting the days in the calendar.
"Did you miss something important?"
She finished counting for the third time and started to breathe heavily.
"Yes", she said, looking at me. "I have missed a whole week!"
"What?"
"Bandit!", she harrumphed. "My period is one week late and counting!"
"Uh?"
Chilli looked at me in the eyes. "I might be pregnant!"
--
Oh girls, it was good we had been just in front of the sofa, so I could sit.
I was absolutely dumbfounded, looking into the void.
"Oh, Bandit it's too early for us!!! ...I... I'm not ready yet!"
"I know, me neither ...", so I opened my arms to her and said, "come here".
She sighed heavily while cuddling to my side. "All will be ok, babe... There's no use for us to be nervous before you take a test, after all".
--
"Hey, good one dad, that was a very reasonable thing to say!"
"Oh, but I was a mess on the inside, mate. I'm pretty sure I was more nervous than your mother!"
--
"Yeah, I think you are right... it's just...my cycle has worked as precisely as a clock till now..."
"Ah biscuits!!", I thought.
"Well, love... what about a walk to the local drugstore?", she said, while offering me her hand to stand. I needed it.
I bet she realised that I was trembling inside with fear, yet she smiled to me... that's how your Mum has always been, she just knows it all...
"Righto! Surely, we can find one at Papatowai, if we use the bikes, we can get there in 20 minutes or so", I suggested.
She looked doubtful for a pair of seconds, then she sighed lightly, as reaching a decision about something.
"Ok, but we take it slowly".
"Oh, sure thing!"
"And you bring your camera"
"Which one?"
"You take the best photos darling, take the big one, the one you use for work; I'll take the Polaroid. We should take our water bottles, torches, batteries, the Swiss knife...are our phones fully charged?"
--
"Mum was being mum even before becoming a mum!".
Bluey laughed hard.
"Yeah Bingo, that she was ", acknowledge Bandit.
--
"Chilli, we are going to the pharmacy, not to a hiking tour to the mountains!"
"We are going to cycling through a scenic route and will probably come back by night!"
"Ok. Righto!"
We began our ride in silence. I was just focused on finding the test quickly.
"Bandit, look there. It's so beautiful!!"
I was so preoccupied in to getting to Papatowai that I was missing the trip... Girls, the sight of the beach there! It was like a mirage!
"We need a photo here!"
I chuckled. "Chilli, let's get the test first..."
"It's just a quick stop". She said while getting off the bicycle. "Besides, whatever it happens, I want to remember this day forever".
--
Man... that hit me hard! She was right... I had this gut feeling; something was about to change forever, so I tried to relax and enjoy the ride.
Your mother was looking so beautiful... her smile was bright, and her eyes were shining. For one second, I thought "Man, she is truly pregnant!" and my knees became bobbly, but then I think it was a mix of the picturesque scenery, the light over the sea and my own heart, that made me perceive your mother as glowing from the inside out.
She was nervous too; I could tell from her smile that she was somewhat afraid, yet she was being brave, as she has always been.
After almost half an hour, and many, many photos, we arrived at the centre of Papatowai...
--
"Hey, this drugstore looks very well supplied!", she said pointing at a commerce called "Alibabas cave", I still remember it...
"Sorry...", said the attendant. "We have run out of pregnancy tests".
"Uhm. Ok Do you know where we could find one?"
"Try at the 24 hours Gas station, they surely have there!"
"Oh, thank you!"
--
"And?", asked Bluey.
"They didn't have any", said Bandit with a chuckle. "Later, we tried in other two little stores, but no commerce had tests! So, our only option left was to get one in some pharmacy at Owaka...
--
"Owaka?!", said your mother somewhat discouraged.
"Yeah... I know... Well have to wait till the hiking tour in two days' time to get there".
"Uhm...ok... Its not like the results would change till then... It will be in the way its mean to be, whatever that it is".
I sighed. "We should rest a little before returning to the beach house... What about a quick dinner over there?", I suggested, signalling to a quite charming food patio.
Once there, we were promptly attended. We ordered some food and...
--
"Would you have a drink? We have a very nice selection!"
"Oh... uhm...", your mother hesitated, while looking at the drinks chart. "A virgin berries mojito, please".
"A beer for me, thank you".
"Are you feeling ok, babe?... Virgin drinks are not your favourites..."
She smiled almost timidly... "What if the test is positive, Bandit?...".
"Well... there is a high chance that it's not..."
"Yet it might happen... and if so, I don't want to have that extra drink in my conscience".
--
"Don't know why girls, but that made my heart flutter in a strange new way...so I called the waitress over"...
--
"Can I change my order please?"
"Of course, what will you want?"
"A virgin classic mojito, please".
--
"Your mother smiled in a way I will never forget".