Chapter Thirty-Four
“Hi, Deana,” I say as she answers the phone to me.
“Charlie. Have you got an answer for me yet?” Typical Deana, straight to the point.
“Yes, I have.”
“And?”
“I have decided to decline your offer of returning to work early.”
“I see.” She doesn’t sound impressed in the slightest.
“I’m sorry. It’s a great offer, but I just don’t feel ready to leave Oliver for three days a week yet.” I feel the need to explain this to her, even though I shouldn’t have to.
“Is there nothing that I can do to change your mind?” Yes, you can tell me what the fuck is actually going on, and you can also tell me why it is so urgent for me to return. Obviously, I don’t say these things, but I desperately want to.
“I don’t think so. I love working for you, but I need to be with my son right now.” I don’t want to leave Oliver yet, so I don’t see why I should. Oliver comes before anything.
“I understand.”
“This won’t affect me returning once my maternity leave has ended, will it?” This thought has been bugging me since I decided not to take her up on her offer.
“Of course not, Charlie. But if there is anything in the meantime that would help change your mind, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Thank you, Deana.”
“No problem. For God’s sake, Lorna, what are you doing?” I frown momentarily before I realise that she is shouting at someone who is obviously in the room with her. “Sorry, Charlie, I’m going to have to go.”
“Oh, sure. Bye, Deana, and thanks again.” She doesn’t answer me, but instead I hear her shouting some more before the phone call is cut off. I feel sorry for whoever Lorna is. She is clearly going to face Deana’s wrath, which is something that I have witnessed, and it isn’t exactly pretty.
I place my phone on the coffee table and flick through the television channels. Oliver is led on his play mat and is making all sorts of baby noises at the animals dangling above him. I smile and realise that watching my son is far more entertaining than any television programme. Luke was so excited when he brought the play mat home the other day. He spent hours getting Oliver to look at the different animals above him…
“Why doesn’t he seem to like the elephant?” Luke says. I am unsure whether he is speaking to me or whether he is just voicing his opinion out loud, but I answer him anyway.
“He doesn’t necessarily not like the elephant.”
“But the elephant is the best one,” he insists. I laugh at Luke’s comment.
“Why is the elephant the best?” I have to ask.
“Because it’s the biggest.”
“So?” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“So, bigger is better,” Luke informs me. I can’t stop the tears in my eyes from laughing so much.
“And what is so funny?” Luke asks, finally looking away from the bloody elephant.
“You.”
“Is that right?” he says as he crawls his way over to me. I am sat with my back resting against the sofa. I know the look that he is giving me right now, and I know that he is in a playful mood. He pounces on me and starts to tickle me. I desperately try to get away from him as I struggle to catch my breath.
“Luke!” I squeal. “Get off of me.” Luke has a thing about tickling me. He says my laugh is cute when he does this. I have no idea how a laugh can be cute, but Luke really does seem to like it.
“Not until you tell me that you love me.” I smile as I am transported back to all those months ago to when I first moved in here. He said those words to me back then. I shake my head at him, re-enacting our first moments as a couple that were living together.
“Say it,” he urges.
