Joseph met Lucy and her future husband, Oliver, when they all began studying drama together at LAMDA. They were the best of friends and an unbreakable trio from day one. Joseph has never told his best friend however that he's been in love with his w...
I was having another day when I wasn't doing so great. Today was my little boys 1st birthday. Billy was 1. Another milestone in our family that Ollie wasn't here for. The gang knew this was going to be rough on me so they'd rallied around me. I was still seeing Sean, my therapist, and with his help along with the help of my friends I was not going to sink back in to that awful pit of depression again. I refused to. I owed it to Billy and I owed it to Ollie to be the best damn mother I could be. But today still hurt. What should have been such an exciting and merry occasion had a dark cloud hanging over it. Along with all the emotional support from both Sean and my friends, I was seeing a personal trainer three days a week to whip myself back in to shape. I was enjoying the hard workouts and I was determined to get back to my pre-baby body.
I was determined, for Billys sake to make today fun. I'd decided on a pool party at Richard and Sarah's. We'd been here a couple of days already enjoying being out of the city. The rest of the gang would join us here today for Billy's party.
As I dressed Billy in his swimming nappy and his little swim trunks he kept saying "Mama!" His first word was Mama, which was closely followed by Doe. His word for Joe. He couldn't quite make his little mouth say the letter J yet. So Uncle Joe had turned into Doe.
"Mama!" "Yes darling boy!" "Mamaaa!" I giggled at his happy little squeals as he let me dress him. I looked up to see Joe standing in the doorway smiling at us. "There's the birthday boy! Happy birthday buddy!" Before he picked him up and tossed him in the air making him squeal in delight. "DOE!" "No say Joe. Jjjjjjoe." "Doe!" Joe snorted at him and cuddled him close before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You'll get there mate. Keep practising."
Joe turned to me and smiled. "How you doing Luce?" "Ok. Determined to make today a good day. You ok taking him down? I need to change into my swimsuit." "Yeah go ahead I've got him." Joe carried Billy, upside down I might add, out of the room and down the stairs singing "Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to swim we go!" It made my heart flutter. These stupid feelings were getting stronger. And watching him and how caring and playful he was with Billy made it worse.
I sighed to myself. What the hell am I going to do?
JOSEPH POV
As I carried Billy downstairs singing to him and swinging him around upside down he squealed happily. This little boy was honestly the most fun person to be around. I had a blast with him every time I see him. As we walked outside there was a bark from Freddie who trotted towards us making Billy wave towards him. "Fay! Fay!" He couldn't quite manage the name Freddie yet either.
"Yeah buddy it's Freddie! Let's say hello!" I squatted down to Freddie's level, allowing him to lick up the side of Billy's face making him giggle. Sarah came over to miss her grandson and give him a birthday cuddle, freeing up my hands. I heard the sliding door open and turned to see Lucy walk out in her swimsuit and a sarong making me gulp.
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