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Ava wanted me to stay longer, she told me her company could find some work for me if I wanted to get out of the city for longer. They were working on a series of children’s books, and she thought I could be client liaison. It was a tempting offer, but I didn’t want to overdo it with my new family here either. I had taken a cab back to the farm and thought that I needed to come up with a plan soon. I was feeling much stronger now, the nausea had passed, and I had some of my former energy back. Perhaps I could go back to work, with a taser in my bag? As my taxi came up the drive, I saw a strange luxury car in front of the house. Perhaps one of John’s clients? I paid my driver, got out and saw a man leaning against the car, clearly waiting. He turned around and my heart skipped a beat.
“Matthew?”
A big grin broke over his face. He gave a few strides, swept me into his arms and kissed me.
“Hello, you!”
“What are you doing here?!” I laughed.
He pulled up his shoulders and laughed too. “I decided it was time for a break. I thought I’d join you up here, sweep you away for a romantic break in the mountains, what do you say?”
It sounded fantastic, of course.
“But what about work?”
A shadow crossed his face. “I’ll tell you all about it later,” he said.
I told him I had to wait for John to get back from work to say a proper goodbye. I also texted Ava, who said she would come by after work.
“You can show me around,” Matthew said, and I couldn’t get over how relaxed he looked. He was dressed casually, in slim fit jeans and a silky sweater. He smiled a lot, kept touching me, pulling me close.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, when he noticed me looking at him. “The city has been lonely without you.”
I wasn’t used to him being this expressive, I didn’t know what to say.
Suddenly, he seemed anxious, “Maybe I shouldn’t have come? Is it too much?”
“No, no! Not at all! I’m happy to see you,” I reassured him.
I was happy to see him. It had been almost two weeks since I’d seen him and so much had happened in my life. But I liked the idea of going somewhere else, with him, before we went back to New York.
“You’re looking well,” he said. “How’re you feeling?”
“I think I’m beginning to show!” I said, patting my little tummy. I was past the three months mark, into my second trimester. I had started wearing looser tops and had found a cowboy-style shirt in a Denver shop that was very comfortable. I packed my things and we waited for John and Ava in the living room. Saying goodbye to them was harder than I thought it would be.
Ava had tears in her eyes and made me promise to email her. John was uncomfortable, pulling me into a big bear hug.
“You bring that little grand baby round to see her granddaddy, all right?”
Then he turned to Matthew. “You look after her, you hear?”
Matthew solemnly promised to do that.
Then we got into the hired car and headed for the mountains.
“I thought we both deserved something special,” Matthew said to me as we drove off the farm. “So, I thought a spa hotel, in the mountains, private, but super luxurious.”
“Sounds fantastic!”
Then I said, “What’s been going on in the city?”
Matthew didn’t answer straight away.
“Please tell me, Matthew, I want to know what’s going on.”
He told me about the fight with his mother, and that he’d moved out. When he gave me the details about the board meeting and how that had gone down, I was horrified.
“So, everyone knows at work? They’re all talking about us?”
