Page 64 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
Understanding seems to dawn on him. “It’s too soon.”
“Not exactly. I want to be your mate. I just don’t want you to commit yourself to me when there’s still so much work to do..”I shut the box with regret and close my fist around it. “I need to work through my alcoholism, and I need to know that I can be a good mate to you.”
“You are! You’re everything I want.”
“Plus some things you don’t—no one does—but I’m working on that. And I’ll get there because I’ll have this to look forward to.” With a sigh, I hand him back the ring.
He hesitates, but eventually he takes it and tucks it back into his pocket.
He’s quiet for a while and the guilt creeps up my legs with the cold. “I’m sorry I ruined your romantic proposal.”
Jack presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You didn’t ruin it. You just gave me an excuse to do it again, and next time it will be bigger and better.”
I laugh. “Should I be worried?”
“Only if you don’t like public displays of affection and being showered with gifts.”
“Yeah, I hate those things.” I elbow him in the stomach. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
“It’s not a threat. I solemnly swear to completely embarrass you when I next propose.”
“Do your worst, but give me a year to stay off the booze, OK?”
“Deal.”
We go back to the car after that because it’s too cold to stay in the dark, but we sit there for a long time, cuddled up in the back seat and looking up at the stars. I’m getting used to the quiet and the beautiful scenery and the way you might drive around a bend in the road and have to stop for a wombat or an echidna ambling across the tarmac with zero fucks to give; but I’ll never get used to how many stars you can see at night out here.
Absolutely beautiful.
THIRTY TWO
Jack
I finally find a park and squeeze Luke’s truck into the narrow spot between two SUVs. I do a final check that I’ve secured the baby seat to the backseat. Not that I have any idea what I’m doing, but I read the manual twice and watched three YouTube videos so that’s as good as I’m gonna get it.
I grab the bag from the trunk and check my phone. There’s still nothing from Tegan, even though Mia was due to be induced hours ago. Maybe there’s been a delay.
I quickly shoot off a text, knowing Mia didn’t want the whole family in the room while she’s giving birth.
Thirty minutes later, I’m sitting on the back of the Hilux starting to wish I brought a jacket. The wind is getting cold now that Autumn has set in. My phone buzzes.
Tegan: Still no contractions. They told her to rest for a few hours and they’ll reassess. Where r u?
Jack: Out the front in the carpark.
Tegan: k I’m coming out
A few minutes later I spot Tegan at the front entrance to the hospital, shading her eyes and scanning the carpark. I give her a wave until she spots me, then climb out of the back of the truck and go to meet her.
“Hey, how is she?”
Tegan shrugs. “Nervous. I can’t blame her. I’d be shitting myself. I’m dying for a coffee. Want to come with me?”
We sit in limbo in the little hospital café until the sun starts to set and they close up around us, stacking chairs on tables and mopping the floor. Eventually we pick up our stuff and we’re just about to head back to the maternity ward when Tegan gets a phone call.
It’s Luke, so she puts it on speaker. “Hey, Teegs, they want to do a c-section, but Mia refused to go until you’re here. Said something about huge needles and telling the doctor to fuck off and that you were the right lady for the job.”
Tegan laughs. “I’m on it.” She hands her second coffee to me. “See you soon.” She kisses my cheek, and I find an unused waiting area and pull out my phone, looking at nothing in particular as my mind wanders. Is this what it would be like if Tegan and I ever had kids? I can’t imagine how Luke is so calm. I’d be out of my mind with worry if it were Tegan who had spent weeks in hospital.
