AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She tried for a recovery, “No one has done anything. I just need more sleep,” and achieved irritation.
“If you say so. If you ask me—”
“I’m not.”
“—You should go home before you snap at someone whose not as fantastically well balanced and robust of ego as me.”
“You, a robust ego. Don’t make me laugh.”
Les rolled her eyes. “A laugh might improve you.”
Audrey stood. She’d get coffee, that would help. “It’s severe Mondayitis.”
But it wasn’t. Coffee didn’t help. She couldn’t face food at lunch. She zoned out entirely during a meeting on building code regulation changes. At 3pm she admitted defeat. She felt terrible. Not sick exactly, but not well enough to last the day out productively either. She was better off going home and getting extra sleep and catching up tomorrow. And that was the plan.
She rang Reece from the car. He answered after some fumbling during which she could hear ambient outdoor sound, birds and Mia giggling.
“Hi,” he said. Just that one word and she felt a little lighter, better. “We’re at the beach.” His voice faded but she heard, speak to Mum, and she got Mia.
“Guess where I am?”
“The beach.”
“Guess again.” Mia didn’t wait. “I’m up way, way high and I can see all over the whole wide world.”
“You must be very high.”
“Birds nearly land on me. I’m on Reece’s shoulders. I’m going to stay here forever. It’s very comfortable.”
Audrey
laughed. Whole sentences. Mia had been slower than some of the other kids to talk and when she’d started it was single words and single sentences for a long time. She was having a conversation with her baby and those were tears that pricked her eyes.
“Reece might get tired.”
“He never will get tired.” Her voice got faint. “Will you get tired?” She was asking him. “No he won’t. I’m holding on his hair.”
She had an overwhelming urge to see Mia atop Reece’s shoulders. She changed lanes. It would be easy to park at the beach at this end of a work day. She could tell Reece her plan in person. “I hope Reece is holding on to you.”
“He won’t drop me. Ever. Never. I had a babycino.”
“Are you on the walkway or the sand?” She’d find them quicker if she knew where they were.
“We’re where a black dog is.”
She snagged a park and got out of the car. “Near where, honey?”
“We’re at the south end near the sandwich shop. Are you somewhere near?” Reece had the phone now.
“I just parked near the playground.” She looked left from where she was standing. It was so bright she squinted despite her sunglasses. She could see them in the distance. “I’ve got you. I’ll walk towards you.” She hung up. She saw Reece turn and start towards her and like Mia, she saw the whole wide world through eyes too sensitive, and a bundle of emotions too raw from exhaustion to be real.
Reece wore knee length surf shorts and runners, a white t-shirt that fitted close to his form, and Mia wore her gumboots, a red t and overall shorts. No fairy dress. She had a handful of Reece’s dark hair. Both of his big hands were over her knees. He had her scooter tucked under his arm and a bag over his shoulder.
Mia was chatting away, looking around. She hadn’t spotted Audrey. But all Audrey could see was her baby girl, her hope, her dream, her life coming towards her, Mia’s dark curls bouncing under the brim of her sun hat, one hand occasionally leaving Reece’s head to point something out to him.
Here was Mia at three and a half, health, happy and learning daily. It was all she’d wanted when she’d brought her home, a strange little alien who could do nothing for herself except demand and poop, who spoke a language Audrey never quite understood. Maybe until right at this moment.
Reece passed as Mia’s father. Their colouring was the same, though he was tanned a golden colour and he’d taken good care to keep Mia well covered from the sun. For a moment Audrey imagined they both belonged to her, without a job description and a salary getting in the way. For the moment she imagined they were a proper family meeting up after time apart. That they’d go home together and tend to Mia and when she slept there’d be time for just the adults. To talk. To touch. To be each other’s ease.
