Thinking Out Loud

Chapter 12

"It's moving weekkkk!" Dianne shouted as she came down the stairs that morning. Joe had been up for a while sorting everything out, putting things into boxes, taking things out he decided they wouldn't need in the new house or would need whilst they were still in the apartment. By the end of the week, they planned to be in, keys of the apartment handed back, and keys to the new house in their hands instead. Joe was convinced it was a bit ambitious but like Dianne always said, he gets too paranoid and overthinks everything under the sun. Joe stood up from where he had been bent over a box, neatly packing away some kitchenware and turned to Dianne, wiping a hand over his sweaty brow. The end of July wasn't really the best time to move, especially as the Uk had been particularly warm for the whole month, and was only meant to be getting hotter. His top had been discarded hours ago, leaving him in just his slouchy shorts.
"Having fun?" Dianne asked as she wandered through the kitchen and sat herself on one of the stools.
"Oh so much," Joe quipped. "I'm not, it's boring without you." He shrugged and bent down to reposition a metal spoon that was sticking out at an odd angle. Dianne pouted. She really wanted to be getting stuck in and helping but at 15 weeks, she was finding it increasingly more difficult. Sliding off the barstool, Dianne pottered over to Joe and placed a hand on his back.
"Let me help?"
"No," Joe said as he straightened up, "I don't want anything to happen."
"Joe, if there was a chance to be dancing right now I'd still be doing it. Helping you pack things into boxes isn't going to do anything, or affect anything. I mean, some people do like two hour sessions in the gym at full term!"
"Fine, but only if you're careful. And if you feel too tired, stop and have a break. Okay?"
"Thank you." Dianne reached up slightly and pecked Joe's lips before wandering over to the stack of boxes in the corner. She picked up one and sauntered over to a kitchen cupboard, opening it and trying to take the things on the bottom shelf out, before they all fell out, clattering onto the counter and the floor. Joe looked up quickly, and rushed to Dianne, who was giggling.
"Seriously?" Joe asked, laughing slightly, "Are you joking me?!"
"Oops," Dianne giggled, "that wasn't my plan."
"Hmm, I reckon you're just tryna give me a heart attack," Joe said, "you're just tryna make me think you're hurt because I get over protective and you think it's cute."
"It is cute!"
"Whatever, just please be careful?"
"Fineeee."

•••

"Good morning to you." Joe placed his lips against Dianne's bump, "and-" he kissed Dianne gently, "good morning to you."
"Shouldn't you be saying good morning to me first?" Dianne asked with a glint in her eye. Joe raised an eyebrow before he rolled onto his back with a sigh.
"I'm only joking," she said, reaching out her hand to play with Joe's mousey locks, "I'm not being difficult."
"Good," Joe shuffled closer to Dianne and wrapped an arm round her forcing her to turn onto her side. "We get the keys today."
"Do we actually?!" Dianne gasped, "I didn't realise it was today. What?!"
"Yes," Joe laughed, "it's today. We can go in today."
"Woahhhh, that's cool."
"It is, but we need to get up. Stuff to pack, keys to hand back-"
"That rhymed," Dianne interrupted.
"-and keys to collect. So, get your arse out of bed."

Joe had left Dianne at home. She had wanted to come but it was obvious she was exhausted after helping Joe pack things away for a few hours; he made her stay and have a nap. The last thing he wanted was for anything to happen so he left her tucked up into bed with Americano the Sloth. Handing him a white envelope, the owner of the house smiled at Joe and they shared a quick conversation before Joe said, "my fiancé is pregnant, and I need to get back to her."
"Aw, congratulations. Well, I'll let you get off. Enjoy the new house, bye!" Joe thanked her, said goodbye and left, jumping into his waiting Uber to take him back to their apartment. As he sat in the back of the car, Joe's mind began to tell him he needed an actual car, a permanent family car so he wasn't constantly getting Uber's when he could drive himself.
"Next job," he thought.

Not knowing if Dianne would be awake or not, Joe opened the door and listened for any noises. Nothing. No tv, no music, no tuneless singing. Silence. Joe slipped his shoes off, left the keys on the kitchen counter and tiptoed upstairs into their bedroom, where he had left her to have a nap. The room was dark, the curtains having been pulled across, and the only thing Joe could hear was Dianne's soft and gentle breaths as she slept. Joe pulled back the covers quietly and slipped in next to her. In her sleep, Dianne reached out and cuddled into his side, like always.

"Did you get the keys?" Dianne asked. She had been awake for a few minutes but they were still cuddled up in bed.
"Yep, they're downstairs."
"So we can start moving stuff into the house?"
"Yes, if we wanted to. But the removal man comes tomorrow for the bigger and heavier things. We could start moving the smaller boxes in today."
"In chippy?"
"Yep."

An hour later, Chippy was packed up as much as possible with boxes upon boxes upon boxes. Joe had tried to cram as much in as possible- he didn't fancy multiple journeys.
"I reckon we can get everything else in the removal van tomorrow. Chippy is full, which is most of the boxes. I reckon we could do it," Joe said as he climbed into the front seat.
"I don't see why not," Dianne said. "This moving business is tiring."
"I told you to take a nap."
"I didn't want to, I want to do something to help you," she sighed, "I feel bad sitting back and watching you move it all on your own. I'm moving house with you, so it's wrong to let you do all the work."
"You're carrying a baby, Dianne. I don't expect you to do anything," he said sternly. "You're the one who's growing an extra human right now, not me. So, take the back seat a bit okay?"

•••

Joe handed the apartment keys into concierge, took ahold of Dianne's hand, and walked out of their building for one last time. Everything was out the old house, and in the new one. They climbed into Chippy and Joe started the engine. With a smile, he turned to Dianne, "let's go home."