Page 30 of Grand Love
It’s nearlyan hour later when Nina gets home. She rushes through the door looking a hot mess. Emphasis on the hot. She has her own clothes on now. Something I’ve missed. Her yoga pants hug her round hips, and her vest showcases more of her tits than I can stand to look at right now. I meet her eyes and see she has caught me staring.
“Hi,” I tell her, turning and placing the last of Ellis’s baby vests on the airer.
“What are you doing?” she asks, placing her bag on the kitchen island.
I walk to the lounge, bending and picking up Ellis. I feel like an ass for using my son as a shield, but right now I need him.
“You had some washing. I had time.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Well, I did.”
She nods her head, as if she doesn’t know what to say. “Sorry, I was later back than planned.”
“It’s fine. Did you want—” I move forward holding Ellis out for her to take him, but he grips hold of my shirt and starts to fuss.
“Ellis, baby, come here,” she coos.
“Say goodbye to Mummy, mate.” I turn him and place him into her arms, but he continues to fuss, leaning his little body towards me.
“I’m going to go get his things, give us a minute.” She takes off down the hall, Ellis crying for me the whole time.
All I want to do is reach out and take him.
I tell myself to give it a minute, let her calm him down. She won’t see him for the whole of tomorrow and then the best part of Sunday. They need a second alone.
It goes quiet, and then the sound of laughter floats from the hall.
My feet follow the sound.
“Do you? Does Ellis need Mummy snuffles?” I round the corner and stand in the doorway, watching as Nina runs her nose up Ellis’s belly and neck. He tries to wriggle away, but the sound of his gasping laugh tells me he loves it.
“You give Mummy kisses, you little monster.”
He laughs again, holding her face when she hovers above him.
“Da Da Da Da.”
“Yeah, I know.” She leans in and brushes her nose with his.
Ellis keeps her face held in his small hands as if he’s studying her face, a happy smile stretching his cheeks and exposing his dimples. He pulls her in and gives her a kiss with his mouth wide open.
“I love you, baby boy. So much.”
She watches him, her hair thrown over her shoulder as she rests her arms around his body. “I’ll miss you this weekend. Super snuggles in Mummy’s bed on Sunday, okay?” She kisses his head one last time and stands, lifting him from the bed.
She freezes when she spots me in the doorway. “Mason. Sorry, I was coming, I just—”
“It’s fine,” I cut her off. “I’m in no rush.” I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat.
She gives me a tight smile then passes Ellis off to me. “I’ll grab his things.”
I leave her to pack his bag and wait in the kitchen. Seeing her with Ellis makes something inside of me burn.
My son and his mother.
Nina and her son. The way she is with him—it makes me proud. She’s everything I knew she would be as a mother.
