Page 40 of Pelvic Flaws

As he stooped to pick up Charlie, my insides got a little warm. He was everything a woman could want, on first impressions at least. Handsome, charming, and kind, but I couldn’t possibly keep him.

With my son in his arms, snuggled against his broad chest, Dex had only walked a couple of steps when Charlie reared up, his eyes wide open and his chest rose.

“Oh God, Dex, he’s going to be sick!” I cried. “Give him to me.”

“Mummy,” Charlie said and then let out a groan and puked all over Dex.

“Oh shit, no.” I looked around for something to catch the next lot in, my eyes landing on the throw that Charlie had wrapped around him.

“Okay, buddy,” Dex soothed, not moving. “Get it all up.”

I held the throw in front of Charlie as he started to retch again. The smell was awful and I started to gag. Dex, to his credit, held Charlie firm, positioning his head away slightly and sucking in his lips.

“Any more?” he asked on a slightly strangulated moan, as though he’d been holding his breath.

“You finished sweetie?” I asked, cupping Charlie’s vomit splattered cheek.

He nodded his head. “I’m sorry Dex,” he whimpered.

“Hey, you’ve nothing to be sorry for.” He turned to me. “You want me to take him up to the bathroom?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked, looking at his puke covered shirt.

“Not at all. Where am I going?”

“Top of the stairs, right in front of you.”

He nodded, and carrying Charlie left the room. I gingerly carried the throw into the utility room and threw it into the washing machine, before running up the stairs.

“What happened?” Annie appeared in her doorway.

“Charlie’s been sick,” I replied. “Don’t worry, you go back to bed.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I told Dad he should have stayed there.”

“It’s fine sweetheart, I’d rather he be here with us anyway.”

“Okay, but if you need me, give me a shout.” She turned to go back into her room and then suddenly stopped. “Oh, I forgot to ask how the date went with Mr. Hot Old Man.”

I pinched my eyes closed and groaned, pointing to the bathroom. “He’s in there with Charlie.”

Annie giggled. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Tell me about it tomorrow. Night, Mum.”

“Night.”

Dreading looking Dex in the eye, but having no choice, I went into the bathroom. A bath was running and Charlie was sitting on the toilet seat, with Dex kneeling down in front of him.

“When your mom gets here, you need to get out of those pajamas, you feel okay to do that?”

Charlie nodded. “Sorry I barfed on your shirt, Dex.”

Dex waved him away. “No worries. It’ll wash. It might need a couple of washes to get the smell out, but it’ll be fine.”

Charlie giggled. “It does stink.”

“It sure does.” Dex high-fived him. “You feel better though, now that’s all up.”

“Yep, much better. I think it was Sophie’s Shepherd’s pie, it was a bit gross. Not as nice as Mum’s.”

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