“Deans taken them to the park for a bit, to give me a break, he’s good like that, hands on, helps at meal times, baths them, and puts them to bed.”
She simply stands with her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and stares at Gabe, obviously waiting for him to rise to the little dig she has just made about his lack of parenting skills. Gabe’s a great Dad to Ava, given the circumstances, and will be an even better Dad to our babies. There is so much I want to say to her, but I bite my tongue, I will have my moment but not yet, we have agreed to tell no one else about the pregnancy until after we have the CVS test done and the results back, which will be when I’m around twelve or thirteen weeks pregnant. I give Gabe’s hand a squeeze.
“You’re lucky Nina. Must be really nice to have someone so hands on and helpful as the father of your children.” I smile at her sweetly.
She looks at me blankly, then tilts her head back, looking me up and down. “Have you put on weight Lauren?”
Bitch!!!
“I have yeah, I lost so much while I was in the hospital, Gabe has spent the last few days trying to fatten me up.”
I look her long skinny frame up and down. “It goes on easy when you’re happy and content, and I’m both of those things right now so expect a few more kilos the next time you see me.”
I can feel Gabe holding his breath next to me but before there is any fall out, hurricane Ava flies into the room. She flings herself at me.
“Lauren, hi. Did you show her? Did you show her the ring we chose?”
Oh shit. I look at Gabe, who’s looking at Nina, his mouth is moving but nothing is coming out.
“No, not yet Ava.”
We asked Ava not to tell her Mum about our engagement until we could, which Gabe was going to do Monday when he dropped her back off. Oh well, here goes. I look across to Gabe to give him one more chance before I take over explaining; he catches my stare and seems to find his voice.
“Our gathering tonight is to celebrate mine and Lauren’s engagement. The reason we were late getting Ava back on Thursday was because she came with us to choose an engagement ring.”
Ava has taken hold of my hand as she realises she’s put her foot in it, I give it a reassuring squeeze. I hate the way she intimidates my big strong fearless man with her threats to stop him having access to his daughter and I hate even more that right at this moment Ava is well aware of the tension between her parents; I know it’s not really my business but I’m going to suggest that he sees a solicitor in the week and gets something drawn up legally, I actually can’t believe he hasn’t done it before now with the amount of times she has pulled the custody card.
“You are fucking kidding me right? My daughter is attending your engagement party tonight and you took her with you to buy the ring. You bought HER a ring?”
“Mum.”
“Shut up Ava, you lying, deceitful, little girl. Get upstairs to your room, you’re going nowhere with these two.”
My stomach churns with frustration, there is so much I want to say to this nasty, spiteful shrew; I swallow down my words as Ava squeezes my hand tighter and turns towards her Dad. Please don’t let her down Gabe. Please.
“Ava, will you and Sophie get your bags and go and wait in the car please”
I can actually feel the rush of air leave Ava at the same time as I release the breath I was holding.
“Ava, you fucking dare go out to that car.”
“Don’t speak to her like that. Go and get in the car Ava now.”