Nova's Universe

Chapter 10 (1996)

Nova

"Okay, okay, let's try this again," I heard Charlie say as I came back from getting our mail.

"You won't give up, will you?" I giggled.

He was kneeling in front of the sofa, helping Aoede to sit. At almost six months old, she was showing some interest in the feat, and Charlie was determined to be the first one to witness her success. He'd missed her first smile, her first giggle, her first independent roll-over, and her first crawl - all thanks to work. Every time he came home and I told him about a new milestone, he'd be filled with a pang of sadness, upset that he was missing so many "firsts."

Knowing we were about to embark on our first trip to England since moving into our new home, Charlie had taken a few extra days off work. He was determined to be the first one to see Aoede sit for the first time.

"Never!" Charlie declared, clapping his hands to encourage Aoede.

"You know you have to help her a little, right?" I said, observing the scene with a hint of amusement.

"I know, but we keep falling to the side, don't we?" he replied, booping Aoede's nose with a mock frown. "But Daddy won't give up on you. No, sir! He believes in his baby girl!" he cooed in a baby voice.

Charlie used to tease me and Mum mercilessly for using baby talk with Aoede. He'd found Bill's attempts at it particularly hilarious during his last visit, even proclaiming he'd never speak to his children in such a silly voice. But who's laughing now?

"Nice voice, Charles," I chuckled, taking a seat at the kitchen table and sorting through the mail.

"Oh, hush! You do it all the time!" Charlie protested, standing up.

"But you said you'd never do it," I teased.

Our conversation tickled Aoede's funny bone, because she burst into giggles, looking up at Charlie with wide, sparkling eyes.

"What are you laughing for, huh?" Charlie knelt back down to her, his face splitting into a wide grin. Aoede's giggles were his favourite sound now.

While Charlie resumed his clapping routine, hoping today would be the day Aoede mastered sitting, I focused on the letters in front of me.

There was one from Mum, positively brimming with excitement about our visit. She'd snagged a whole week off work just to spend time with us. Another was from Molly, practically grilling us on our exact arrival date and assuring us our room was spick and span. Even Ginny had gotten into the act, writing a lengthy missive outlining all the grand adventures she had planned for Aoede. It was hard to tell from the sheer volume of letters who was most eager to see their niece - Charlie's entire family seemed to be bursting at the seams!

The final letter, however, belonged to Bill. I stole a glance at Charlie, currently engrossed in his clapping routine, before cautiously reaching for it. Bill harboured a secret he'd entrusted to me only eight months ago - and only because I'd practically cornered him, sensing something was up. He'd clearly wanted to confide in me, but shyness held him back. We'd settled on a system of coded letters to keep me updated, and I always had to be careful Charlie didn't catch wind of it.

A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, attracting a bewildered look from Charlie.

"What? What is it?" Charlie's voice startled me out of my reverie.

I scanned Bill's letter, the news leaping off the page and sending a jolt of excitement through me. "Oh, nothing," I stammered, quickly folding the letter. "Just... let's say we might have one more stop planned for our trip to England." A wide grin stretched across my face, refusing to be contained.