Unsuitable

“Anything else you need?”

She nodded. “I’d like to try that hug thing again. I know it’s not politically correct but I’ve just had some very good news.”

He laughed and opened his arms again and this time they hugged like two people who liked each other. On her way out the door he called her name and she turned back to face him.

“Don’t screw up any accounts either, okay?”

She laughed and pulled the door closed behind her. She knew without Chris saying it she needed to sit on this news until it was official. She could leak it to Les, but more importantly she wanted to share it with Reece. And she knew exactly how.

She arrived home to the sound of laughter. Mia’s and Reece’s voices mingling. As soon as she set foot in the hallway proper they’d hear her. She hovered on the front step listening to a happy child. Reece was folding washing, teaching Mia how to match and roll socks. In about an hour Mia would slip out of angel mode straight into demon child with no suitable explanation and no interim stops in between, but for now her giggles as Reece tried to get her to fold one of his t-shirts that would swamp her like a bed-sheet were the cherry on the cake of the day.

Having her career didn’t automatically make her a bad mother. It meant she could provide the best for Mia. It meant she could keep Reece. It meant she had time to work out what she felt for him, untangle all the threads that defined them: boss, employee, carer, cared for, lovers.

She stepped into the hallway.

“Mum.” Mia’s running feet. She appeared wearing Reece’s shirt over her clothes. “Look, I’m Reece.” The man himself appeared behind her. He leant against the wall, barefoot, arms folded. They locked eyes until Mia stood on her toes, opened her legs and arms starfish style, making herself as big as she knew how. “Hello Audrey,” she tucked her chin into her neck and made her voice low, “did you have a good day at work?”

Audrey dumped keys and bag and went forward to sweep Mia up before she tripped herself. She settled Mia on her hip. “I had a great day at work.” She looked to Reece. “I got a promotion.”

He grinned. “For real?”

She spun around, dancing in a circle with Mia. “For real, for real, for real.” Mia squealed, Reece laughed. She stopped and looked at him. She couldn’t conceive of this house without him in it. Or her life without him in it. She’d almost lost the chance to have this, laughter and hope and success and family. Tears burned the back of her eyes.

Mia put her hands on Audrey’s face. “Mum, are you sad?”

“No, I’m happy.”

Mia frowned. “Oh. I don’t understand.”

Audrey laughed, she blinked the tears away. “Happy and sad are sometimes very close together.”

“I was sad when you were sick, but now I’m happy, and there are no more monsters,” said Mia.

Audrey looked to Reece. No more monsters, only the monstrous opportunity to be happier than she’d ever thought possible.

19: Secrets

Mia melted down right before dinner. Reece should’ve predicted it. Overtired, hungry, unsettled by seeing Audrey in her work clothes again—who knows. She sulked. She pouted. She cried. She wanted to eat in front of the TV, which she knew she wasn’t allowed to do.

Audrey’s work clothes did something to him too. He’d gotten used to seeing her in casual gear with her hair loose or tied back simply, and no make-up. The suit was navy with fine pinstripes, a narrow skirt, a jacket that should’ve fitted better. He wanted to run his hands over her legs while she wore those stilt heels, open her jacket to see what was under it other than the hint of white above the top button. But for the stunning tantrum that sucked all the air out of the room and stole the best of his attention, that’s what he’d be doing. Touching Audrey.

He had to make do with listening to her through Mia’s grizzles as he tried to get her to eat anything. In the middle of telling him about her meeting with Chris, Audrey clapped her hands. “Mia, what is wrong?”

“I don’t like—”

“You like it perfectly every other time. If you eat in front of the TV this one time will you stop crying?”

The Miapocalypse ceased.

Instantly.

Reece looked at the ceiling. One time wouldn’t hurt. He turned back to the salmon salad he was preparing for later for the grown-ups. Audrey took Mia’s plate and cup and a triumphant Mia into the other room. It was blissfully quiet if you forgave the sound of Peppa Pig.

“Anyway, it goes like this.” Audrey was back.

He sighed. He’d get a few moments with her. Maybe even enough time to get his hands on her. He smelled of fish, she smelled floral and sweet. Mia had tried his patience today. All he wanted was Audrey in his arms.

“Hi.” He threw a tea towel on the bench and opened his arms.