Mummies & Daddies (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 21

"What! Waves, I'm not letting you throw away your career because of this."

"I really could finish it in Mission."

"We've been through this."

"It's selfish of me to expect you give to up your career for mine."

"Waves, listen to me, I'm beyond ready to move on. The only reason I would have stayed is to get to the bottom of all the disappearing cats. And, by the looks of it, my leaving would have solved that little problem all on its own."

"I have the shits."

"Oh no. Why didn't you say sooner? Do we need to stop somewhere?"

"Wynonna's idea."

"Oh. Okay. Explain."

"The university aren't expecting me back any time soon."

Nicole chuckled, thinking again of the amulet stuck in the Cairo museum, literally. "What's your sister doing?"

"Taking advantage of my apartment. Hoping she'll keep it tidy."

"I've cleaned," Nicole replied, a little too quickly, Waverly glancing over, placing a hand on Nicole's thigh. "I'm also too horny for that."

"I just want normal for a while. I want us. I want to not think about it. I want...what I want..."

"Calamity's missed you. I told her you're coming to stay. You should have seen her face."

"Really?"

Nicole attempted to pull the face Calamity gave on hearing the news, sending Waverly into a fit of laughter. "I've told her she has to sleep in her own bed."

"I don't mind. She can sleep with us if she wants. Do you think they'll catch who did it?"

"The raid? Who knows? Not our problem."

Waverly fell silent, staring out into the darkness as they drove to Mission, her mind elsewhere. Nicole's house was everything she expected it to be, if a little messy, wondering how much cleaning she had done to get it to this state. A townhouse off Cedar Street with three decent sized bedrooms, little touches throughout to say this was definitely Nicole's. Photos of her in climbing gear, books on the outdoors, muddy walking boots in the hall, all saying Nicole lived here making Waverly feel at home immediately.

Calamity made an appearance, still a little put out at having been left with a neighbour while Nicole was away. Waverly made a huge fuss, telling her how much she missed her cute little face, the cat more than happy to be the centre of attention once more. Wine poured, food on the go, Nicole took Waverly's case upstairs, placing it by the window of her bedroom, staring at the double bed in which she had spent so many lonely nights with only Calamity as her bed fellow.

Downstairs Waverly was still indulging her feline friend, Calamity now curled up in her lap purring contentedly. Nicole brought over their glasses of wine, sitting in the armchair, watching her family come together again. Four years and three months, that's how long it had taken to return to the same place before they parted, Nicole wanting nothing more than to make whatever they had work.

Older, wiser, okay older, she thought, a glass of wine in her hand, ready to toast new beginnings she wasn't expecting the call she was about to receive. "You the bitch who rang my wife?" the voice growled.

Nicole's hand shook, placing the glass on the coffee table, waiting for whoever was speaking to continue. The silence between them was deafening, Nicole wanting to say something, knowing she needed to hold her cool. "Well," the voice demanded. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"