I continued to drive recognising every block feeling the toll of Freya hit me all of a sudden about an hour into the journey, pulling into a small off-street café I ran in grabbing two take-away coffees exactly how Matt and I liked them heading back to the car to see Freya wide awake and smiling at me as she saw me approaching. I placed the coffees in the cup holders and turned my attention the Freya passing her both her monkey and blanket cooing at her, smiling as she wrinkled her noise at me as I teased her lightly with her monkey playing peek-a-boo. I drank my coffee then started to drive again as I turned the radio on singing along to any song that came on hoping to cause Freya to sleep but of course she didn’t, she just giggled and took in her surroundings as I drove through the streets of Van City.
Pulling up outside Matt’s house sent warmth through my body as I took in all the pretty pink balloons and many other decorations our families must have spent ages preparing, I climbed out the car to Matt’s side opening the door lightly kissing his cheek, “wake up Matty we’re here,” I whispered lightly as his eyes fluttered open slowly as his mouth spread into smile. “Hey there handsome, where’s my gorgeous girl?” Matt said as he lightly stretched making my smile grow. I walked to the passenger door pulling it open and unclipping Freya, picking her straight away into my arms closely to my chest as she clung to my shirt until I knew she was safe in Matt’s arms I let her go grabbing the diaper bag, placing my arm round Matt’s waist to be careful of Freya starting to wriggle in his arms realising where we were as we walked to the front door. I rang the doorbell with it soon to be pulled open to show Amanda, Matt’s sister as she pulled us in already cooing at a beaming Freya at the new found attention, “Hey losers dump your stuff and come through as everyone is waiting for our little princess!” She told us as I dumped the bag and I saw Matt pass Freya to Amanda as we took off our coats and shoes, passing Amanda Freya’s pink frilly cardigan in case she was cold. “Nice to see you soon sis,” Matt joked as we followed her through to the lounge.
“Is that my beautiful granddaughter I see?” I heard my mum say as everyone turned to see us enter, everyone rushing over to Freya her giggling still at the attention she adored. She was passed around to all family members even though I know my family only saw her yesterday. In the crowd, I saw Mike, Meghan and Ian within the crowd and the decorations were amazing with a pile of presents in the corner wrapped all in princess paper or something very girly. “Hey bros,” Ange came over to Matt and I hugging us both as she was the only one to take acknowledgement of us being there until Freya was passed back to Matt grabbing on to her daddy’s shirt suddenly turning all shy as the attention still lingered on her. I smiled as I heard Matt singing to her softly knowing it would calm her down, “Josh where’s her monkey,” I heard Ian ask as I pulled it out of my jumper pocket passing it to Matt knowing it would satisfy Ian’s curiosity. I sighed, don’t get me wrong I love everyone here but sometimes I liked just the three of us at home with Bennie snuggled up watching a film or some annoying kids show that made Freya stop and stare. I pulled Matt to a vacant two setter against the wall opposite the TV putting my arm round him as I felt him rest his head on my shoulder as Freya climbed between us and snuggle down, sucking her thumb (a habitat she had recently started). “You two look knackered, rough night?” Matt’s dad asked amused at how we always said she was good as gold. I groaned lightly as Freya smiled at him clapping her hands in delight. I rolled my eyes at my clueless daughter sitting there taking in her surroundings even though she was here so much, Matt kissed my neck lightly as he placed his arm protectively round Freya in case she tried to jump of the sofa and it wouldn’t be the first time. “Josh, feel free to take a nap in Matt’s old room if you want to and Matt can as well. I’m pretty sure you both need it!” Matt’s mum said sweetly to us as I felt Freya being lifted away from us to show my mum cooing at her and taking her over to my sisters playing with her already. I nodded, grabbing a half asleep Matt up from the sofa taking him towards upstairs, “see you later, look after our princess she’s a little madam if she doesn’t get what she wants!” I called before we reached the top of the stairs as we grew closer to Matt’s old room that just mirrored the high school boy I met in band practice all those years ago, not changed one bit since he moved out into an apartment we brought together. I pushed open the door now basically dragging Matt behind me and collapsing on to his bed, our heads hit the pillow and Matt’s eyes fluttered shut, I kissed his lips before letting the tiredness over take me.
