Gary and Libby - Take Two

Chapter Forty Seven

Clara has Ethan settled in front of Postman Pat and a bottle of milk when Gary and I step through the door a little after twenty to six. She smiles kindly as she grabs her coat from the hat stand in the hallway.

"I'm sorry for the delay." I shake my head apologetically, "I hope we didn't keep you too long."

"It's no problem at all Mrs Barlow." She chuckles. "He's a pleasure. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll see you out I smile."

When I meander back into the lounge Ethan, of course, is no longer contently ogling at the TV, but instead six feet off the ground as Gary lifts him high into the air. Ethan laughs hysterically as his father persists with his newly perfected aeroplane impression and i stand in the doorway for a while, gazing at the man, who half an hour ago, was a different person.

"Have you had a good day monster?" Gary brings Ethan down, close to his chest and blows a kiss against the toddlers temple. Obediently, Ethan nods with no desire to be freed from the captive arms. Gary gasps, moving Ethan over to one hip and with long fingers, straightening out the Thomas the Tank Engine pyjama top."And what have you being doing?"

My son raises a small hand and scrapes at the side of his face, a trait, ive noticed, that hes picked up from his father. "Jus' fings, 'addy." Wide-eyed, Ethan offers his best explanation and now clearly fed up with the conversation, begins to wriggle uncomfortably in Garys hold.

"Just things?" Gary gasps again, and sensing Ethans resilience, begins to tickle him relentlessly until the small child is squirming, squealing and red in the face.

"Be careful." My voice is quiet, unsure of my right to interrupt the moment between man and son. "Clara said hes just eaten."

Gary stops and instantly his mood slips back into the palpable irked manor that he exampled oh so well during the car ride home. Thankfully, my inquisitive son distracts him momentarily.

"H-have you been sin'ing today 'Addy?" Ethans small hand reaches out to grasp Garys ear as he answers.

"No monster, not to day."

"Not today?!" The toddler gasps, unable to comprehend the statement.

"No." Gary explains, his voice smooth and low, but gentle all the same. "Today ive been shouting."

"Shouting?!" Ethans tiny hand covers his equally small mouth.

"Mm-h." Gary nods, raising an eyebrow and glancing, only for a fragment of a second over at me.

"Oh no!"

"I know!"

My blood boils, my eyes narrowing at the back of Garys head, i turn to leave the room.

"Im going to dinner with Jason tonight." His sudden announcement halts me in my tracks.

"Oh." I make an attempt at sounding mildly interested. "Which one?"

"Donovan. Im going tonight because otherwise i wont get to for another four months."

"Right, and you were going to tell me this when exactly?" I try as hard as i can to avoid exposing the hurt in my tone at the lack of an invitation.

"This morning." Garys explains simply, his attention still majorly focused on Ethan who is dragging his mini fingernails through his over grown stubble. "But then as you know, i had another issue to take care of."

"What the fuck Gary?" I bite back the urge to cry, determined not to let him offend me. "I dont understand? Why kiss me -All that in my office!- And then go back to acting like you hate me?"