In his eyes.

Chapter five

Today, is the day! It's my birthday. Ah, twenty years old.
I cradle my son close to me as I walk downstairs to the wafting smell of fresh lemon pancakes, I smile as I enter the room to see my mother over the stove, slaving away as she dishes up a plate whilst grinning ear to ear. "Happy Birthday Darling, hows my little man?" As she reaches with grasping hands, and I pass him over to her willingly. "Thank you mum, morning Dad" kissing him on the cheek as he smiles wishing me happy birthday.
I demolish three pancakes before leaning back, huffing with satisfaction.
Brr. Brr. My phone beeps at me as I see the constant messages from Isaac, still saying he's sorry and wants to see me again. I turn my phone off and look out the conservatory window. It's a sunny day, light pours through the open windows onto my face.
Maybe I should give him a chance to explain himself? Maybe.. he isn't interested in being with her again?
I sigh.
*
I smile at the sight of my best friend at the door, he belts "happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! My lovely Em, happy birthday to you!" Dragging out the last you. I clap my hands together and laugh. He holds a dozen white roses out for me and kisses my head as he walks through the door to greet my parents. I smile and smell the roses, wow these smell amazing!
I put them in a vase and sit next to Laurence. He puts his arm over the sofa, behind my head and I look at him. Wow he smells amazing.. I'm that close to him, I smell his musk. He's wearing a dark polo shirt and grey jean shorts, his hair all fluffy and pushed back but messily. How I like it.
*
The last bag is squeezed into the boot of Laurence's car, as I strap in Oscar as he's passed out in his car seat. I smile and kiss his head, smoothing his hair. I close the door and get myself sorted within the passenger seat. We set off and I lean out the window, waving to my parents of the side walk, I say
"Love you!" Blowing kisses to them as tears prick my eyes a little as we hit the motorway. I let that go once my excitement takes over, we sing to the radio in the car, singing our hearts out with dramatic expression and gestures to castle on the hill by Ed Sheeran. I'm looking at Laurence's focused face, and can't help but think the possible. I smile to my inside thoughts and daydream out the window during the ride.
We arrive to the small air bnb cottage which ironically is on a hill. We come up and park on the stoney drive, we start with unpacking our bags, we are down the hall from each other and Laurence helps put up the travel cot for Oscar within my room.
"Thanks, we should go to get some fresh air after that drive" I let out a small laugh, he nods as a recognition that he heard me, and smiles up to me as he stands from crouching, from setting up the cot. I hold Oscar on my hip as he rests his head on my shoulder.
We put on our wellies and light coats, as there's a breeze from the sea air. We walk down to the pebble beach just down from the cottage, Laurence holds the hands of my son so he can plod along the pebbles towards the crashing small waves. He crouches down to my son, holding him steady as Oscar giggles hysterically at the water. Laurence picks up seaglass and pretty shells, stones to take back to the cottage, Oscar copying him but eventually just bringing one stone by one to me as I say thank you each time.
Laurence sits next to me, legs sprawled out and leaning back on his hands as his hair floats in the breeze, I smile, holding my knees close to chest. I rest my head on his shoulder and watch my son play with a mixture of stones and sand, sticking in between his fingers. I can't believe he's already nine months and he's beginning to walk with our help, of course.
"This is pretty.." holding up a bluey green piece of seaglass towards the sunlight. Laurence kisses my head and says softly "you can have it, it reminds me of your eyes.." I sit up and look directly into his eyes, my heart is pumping, loud. I think he could hear it. Laurence breaks our eye contact first, looking the opposite direction with a small grin. I smile and look down at the seaglass.