Meant to be

The Fireworks - Mason

After a year and a half of avoiding this place, it was time to return and like I anticipated it was full of ghosts and unwelcome memories. When I look at the fireplace I see Evie and I naked writhing about on the green tea coloured rug, our skin warm from the flames. When I look at the marble counter I can see Evie sitting on it, munching away on crackers, tapping away at her laptop, occasionally lifting her head to smile at me. The sofa where we'd be intertwined underneath a blanking, talking or watching movies. The dining table where we'd had so many dinners together, all made by me, Callie in a high chair between us, more times than not covered in her dinner. As I walked up the stairs, I feel the ghost of her running along the hallway covered only by a bed sheet dragging on floor behind her as I chase her. My bedroom, the place where we'd first had sex with each other, the night I knew that sex with someone you really care about trumped any other encounter. Callie's room, where we'd both sit on the carpet reading her to sleep, doing our best impression of animals in the book, turns out we're not that good at impersonations but we always had fun. Walking back downstairs I see myself sitting on the bottom step, crushed and heartbroken, looking at the engagement ring I'd journeyed for, deciding I couldn't stay here anymore.

Now I'm back, well I've been back for two weeks, I'd already seen the Tresslers and they'd offered to help me unpack more of my things. It was nice having familiar faces around but the temptation to ask about Evie was constantly on the tip of my tongue and Callie didn't make it easier. Seeing the Tresslers she automatically assumed her Aunty Evie would be around and it was difficult and a little awkward explaining to her that she wouldn't. The why question came up again and I could visibly see both Libby and Piper wince as they looked to me to answer. Distracting her with the promise of the junk food was not my finest moment, but it did the job and stopped her asking a question I didn't know the answer to. Evie's now so much closer, so close that bumping into her is now actually plausible and I can't stop thinking about that possibility, the thought of seeing those doe shaped hazel eyes again has me panicking. Every time I leave the cottage to get to Megan's I have to double check my routes to ensure I don't pass places she could possibly go. Which I admit is strange and extremely paranoid but what else can you do in this situation?

Stake out the D'Silver house till she came home?

Call her and suggest we meet?

No. None of those are a choice.

Well I've already been to the house, to visit Beverly and Lynne, they were warm and welcoming, like I never left, the nostalgia of being back had me wanting to rock up December first and be part of the clan again.

Except there's one thing stopping me.

I can't sit around the table, passing the stuffing to Dominic, as if he isn't with the one woman I want to be with. But there's little point rehashing this emotion again, let me get back to washing up the dishes, I double check Callie's occupied with her colouring, narrating what she's doing it. A knock on the front door distracts me, removing my rubber marigolds I frown trying to recall if I invited anyone over.

"Who's that Daddy?" Callie asks, her frown mirroring mine. As she's been growing, which is alarmingly rapid, I've been watching for any telltale hereditary signs that she's biologically mine. I still can't really tell, but I want to know that there's not going to be a day some guy comes knocking trying to claim her, trying to take her from me.

I wouldn't have been able to get through this year and a half without her.

"Let's find out" I kiss the top of her head and check the peephole.

Yeah I'm definitely confused.

"Is it Evie's week already?" I ask Jodie when I open the door, she's dressed up, long fur coat open showing off her pecan coloured lycra body suit, short black spandex skirt and thigh high boots. She's actually gotten rid of her trademark braids, replacing them with her natural hair straightened to past her shoulders, clad in make up, there's a type of metallic like shine on her cheekbones, mocha coloured lipstick and long fluttery lashes. Jodie's not my favourite person but I can't deny she looks smoking hot, clearly she's going all out for someone.