‘We should move on. It’s a girl’s night, not an interrogation.’ Said Fiona. Emilia looked at her appreciatively and Fiona nodded at her.

  ‘I have a question for people. What is the one thing you would change about your man, if you had the choice?’ Asked Penelope. It was clear she liked a gossip and to get to the root of people.

  They all refused and said nothing, but she knew they were all lying.

  ‘Fine, I’ll go first. I would change Sean’s love for watching any sport he can find on TV. I don’t mind football or tennis, but he watches like weird foreign sports if he can’t find anything else.’ She admitted. The girls seemed to get into it.

  ‘Alex’s ability to unlock the bathroom door. He always sneaks in. It’s nice some of the time, but it’s all the time. I never get a rest.’ She laughed.

  ‘Duncan always leaves his shoes where I don’t see them, and I trip all the time. He’s got better now I’m pregnant again, but I’m more cautious too.’ The women laughed. Emilia was surprised. They had all been with their men for so long, she had only been with Logan for five weeks.

  ‘Adrian always seems to be really competitive. I’d certainly tone that down.’

  ‘Emilia?’ Asked Penelope.

  ‘I haven’t known Logan long enough for me to notice anything like that. He whines a bit when he isn’t well, but we all do.’

  ‘So, he doesn’t have any annoying habits? Not even in bed.’

  ‘Penelope. You can’t just ask that. You don’t even know if they’ve together yet.’ Said Rachael.

  ‘Of course they have. We’ve all seen Logan.’ Smirked May.

  ‘May!’ Stressed Fiona.

  ‘I’m sorry. It’s all the hormones.’

  ‘It’s fine. I know what that’s like.’ Laughed Emilia. As did Fiona. ‘I tried chatting up a New York policeman when I was pregnant with Robbie. He laughed and took it in his stride.’

  ‘I remember having a really big crush on the guy who mows next door’s lawn. He’s like sixty, bald with a moustache.’ Laughed May.

  ‘I went off Adrian completely. It was so off. I couldn’t bear to look at him. Both times. I mean I was thankful he was away with the Navy. He came on leave and started flirting and I nearly hit him.’

  ‘I’ve heard women do that.’ Laughed Rachael.

  ‘Any children for you in the future, you?’ Asked Fiona.

  ‘Sean and I haven’t discussed it yet. Though I’m perfectly fine with Lucas.’

  ‘Alex says he wants them, but I don’t know how serious we are yet.’

  ‘What about you Emilia? A brother or sister for Robbie?’ Asked Penelope.

  ‘Definitely not yet. I hardly meant to have Robbie, until I know what my plan is, I can’t even consider another child. Robbie is the love of my life, I don’t know if I want more.’

  They chatted more. They talked individually. They were getting a bit tipsy and Fiona made Emilia feel more at ease. They played a game of Never Have I ever. The story of Emilia and prison came out, but the girls were hardly fussed. Each agreeing that Daniel was a total jerk. May had to be convinced not to go and hunt him down.

  Emilia started to feel the buzz of alcohol and let loose a bit more. She shared a laugh with all the women. Amanda and another woman called Laura turned up later in the night. Laura was the life of the party and was really interested in Emilia. They ended up exchanging numbers and then Emilia decided she missed her two men. Three if Roger was included.

  She walked home to clear her head. She was feeling a bit giggly and silly. She walked into the apartment. Roger was lay at the back door, it was cooler there. She stroked him and then went to the bedroom. Logan was tucked up in bed, snoring lightly. She took off her simple dress and climbed in next to him. His bare flesh against hers made he feel good, she put her arm around him and he moved and held her hand. Though it seemed subconscious. He was still sleeping; his features were stress free and she was happy. She had no worries. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time. If ever. She was feeling cheeky but didn’t want to disturb him.

  ‘I want a future with you, Logan. I want you in my life for good.’ It was much easier to say stuff like that when he was asleep. It might have been the alcohol talking but she did want him. She kissed him goodnight and fell asleep.

  Logan rolled over. He was cold. He hadn’t heard Emilia come in, she was lay with her back to him with all the covers on her, he tried to take some for himself, but she was unnaturally strong. He couldn’t even lie close because she had cocooned herself in them.

  ‘Emilia. Wake up, beautiful.’ He whispered softly. She stirred awake.

  ‘Ugh, what is it?’

  ‘I’m freezing. You have been a little madam and taken all the covers.’ He was still whispering.

  ‘So?’

  ‘So, I think you should share.’

  ‘I don’t wanna.’

  ‘Don’t make me do something I will regret.’ He chuckled.

  ‘Go ahead, you baby.’

  The next thing she knew she was being tossed over a shoulder, covers and all. He threw her gently on the couch and she unwrapped from the duvet. He put it over his shoulders and stomped back to the bedroom. She chased him and jumped on his back, which had them topping over onto the bed.

  ‘Woah.’ He chuckled. The covers were between them, but he let her in and they cocooned themselves together. It wasn’t soon before he started tickling her ribs.

  ‘No. Stop! Stop. Logan, I love you. Please, stop.’ He did. He was tense and so was she. Their bodies were trapped together in the covers and neither of them knew what to do.

  ‘You… you love me?’ He asked.

  ‘No. I mean, urm… sort of. Yes. Maybe?’ She didn’t know what to say. Neither did he.

  ‘You love me.’ He said, more assured. ‘Like you, Emilia Ford. You love me?’ His smile was getting wider and wider.

  ‘I didn’t mean to say it. It slipped out.’ She felt him relax on top of her. He was smiling and then kissed her.

  ‘I love you too.’

  She smiled. She had always been so afraid of saying it to him. She never imagined what it would sound like back. What it would sound like coming from him. It was pure and soft and full of promises. Nothing like Daniel’s.

  ‘I love you.’ She tried it again. The words sounded foreign apart from to Robbie, but she liked it. She liked watching Logan’s face light up as she said it. She loved that his deep blue eyes seemed to intensify when he was thinking the same.

  ‘I still love you too.’ He kissed her. ‘I love everything about you. I love Robbie too.’

  ‘He loves you too.’ She smiled. Maybe she really didn’t want to leave him. Not now she had said the words she had feared for so long.

  It was Sunday evening, Logan was making a roast dinner, whilst Emilia was bathing Robbie. He was humming happily in the kitchen, after all Emilia Ford loved him. How could he not be happy? He stirred the gravy and checked on the mash.

  After Robbie had eaten and been put to bed, they sat down and enjoyed their dinner together. The day had been quite busy, Emilia was working for most of it and Robbie was restless, so Logan had been entertaining him all day. His leg was improving, and he managed a short walk with Roger around the streets.

  Ping!

  ‘Was that mine or yours?’ Asked Logan. Their phone were side by side on the coffee table in the front room. They never brought their phones to dinner, that was an Evans family rule.

  ‘It could be that job.’

  ‘At this time?’

  He looked confused as well. It was quite late, but they did say the end of the week.

  ‘I’m too curious.’ He chuckled and went to retrieve his phone. It was his that had pinged. ‘Love! I got it! I got the job!’ He cheered. She got up and gave him a big hug.

  ‘Babe, that’s great. Well done!’ She smiled. She kissed him and hugged him tight. ‘I know you could do it.’

  ‘That means I start in a few weeks.’ He smiled. He was excited to do a bit more with himself, but he was going to miss Emilia and Robbie when he was working. ‘I’ll miss you.’

  ‘You’ll be too busy to miss us.’

  ‘I love you.’ He smirked and kissed her neck.

  ‘And I love you too. Come on, dinner’s going cold.’

  Chapter Ten

  A month passed, and they were now in October and all was going smoothly between the two. They often exchanged ‘I love you’. Logan was enjoying working at the high school and he appreciated his time even more with Emilia and Robbie. Emilia was working between Robbie’s naps and when Logan was home, but they saved time for all of the and still visited places.

  Emilia had gone to a few more girl’s night and was enjoying them more now she got to know them. They realized she was really good for Logan, so stopped giving her a hard time.

  One day in October, Emilia was sorting out the clothes. Washing, ironing, and putting away. Logan was doing some marking and watching Robbie. She was in Logan’s wardrobe, sorting the array of plaid shirts and t-shirts. As she was putting his jeans in his drawer it came off its rails and fell on the floor.

  ‘Damn.’ She sighed. His jeans fell out onto the floor and a box tumbled out of the drawer.

  ‘Love? Is everything alright?’ She heard him call.

  ‘Yeah! Don’t worry!’

  She picked up the drawer and put his jeans back and then she noticed the box. She opened it and inside was a gold, ruby ring. What the hell was this? Was he planning on proposing? They’d only known each other four months.

  ‘What?’ She whispered. Then she got annoyed. How could he do that? How could he propose knowing she hadn’t even made up her mind about leaving? They hadn’t even discussed marriage, or anything that comes with it. She had never even considered marrying him.

  Logan was half way through an essay when Emilia slammed something on the table.

  ‘What the fuck is this, Logan?’ She demanded.

  His eyes widened when he realized what she had found.

  ‘W-where did you get that?’ He sounded nervous.

  ‘In your drawer. It fell out on me, along with this.’ She was angry he could tell.

  ‘Emilia, let me explain.’ He cast aside the essay and stood up.

  ‘You best explain. How could you be so selfish to even consider proposing before I made up my mind? I mean what were you-’

  ‘It’s not for you!’ He shouted. Robbie started to cry. ‘Now look what we’ve done.’ He walked over and picked up the crying baby. ‘Shh, shh. No need to cry. I’m sorry we’re shouting.’

  ‘What do you mean it isn’t for me?’ All this time. Had he been lying to her? Was he with someone else? All her fears hit the roof and her walls went up. ‘Is there someone else?’ She screamed.

  ‘Stop shouting!’ He stressed. Robbie was still crying, and he was trying to calm him.

  ‘Not until you explain what’s going on.’ She was mad. Her blood boiled, and she didn’t know what to do. She loved Logan and hadn’t loved any man more. Was all this about to be over for them because she wasn’t ready?

  ‘There isn’t anyone else, Emilia-’

  ‘Then why do you have a ring-’

  ‘Shut up and let me explain, will you?’ He snapped. She did. ‘There isn’t anyone else, Emilia. Only you. I only want you, Emilia. But there was someone else, a long time ago. Before I knew you.’ He looked as if he didn’t want to talk about it. But it was time.

  ‘And?’

  She was called Sophie. She was quite a bit older than me, though that never bothered me. I was in love. Young, stupid, reckless love. I was crazy about her. I wanted to spend all my time with her. She was smart, attractive, funny, how could I not like her? Anyway, we were together for about two years and even though I was young, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. So, I bought an engagement ring.’ He sighed.

  ‘On the night I was going to propose, I found her crying. Then she explained to me that she had a ten-year-old boy and a husband. I didn’t know what to do. I told her to get out of my sight.’

  ‘Logan… I am so sorry. I don’t know what to say. What happened?’

  ‘She went back to her husband. She never told him about me. A few months later, she died in a car accident.’ He looked as though he were about to burst into tears. He sat down, Robbie still in his arms. Robbie looked at him in a confused matter. ‘The last thing I told her was to go away, and she did. And she never came back. The last thing she saw of me was anger and gate. I couldn’t go to her funeral. I never ever saw her again. She would never take pictures. I don’t have one. Sometimes I lose her face and that destroys me even more.’ He was crying now. She went over to him and wrapped him in her arms. ‘None of the lads know she died. Only Adrian.’ He was sniffling and holding Robbie close.

  ‘Shh, it’s okay. I’m sorry you had to tell me this way. I should have been so forward.’ She felt really guilty. She had reduced him and Robbie to tears.

  ‘It’s not your fault.’

  They sat cuddling in silence after that. None of them knew what to do, so she just let him cry. He calmed down after a while.

  ‘I never knew you would be so offended at a proposal.’ She heard him laugh weakly. ‘So, against marrying me.’

  ‘It’s not the proposal, and it’s not because I don’t want to marry you. It was because I thought you weren’t letting me choose what wanted fairly. Pressure to marry you would make me stay. His head was tucked under hers. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to marry you. I mean, I don’t want to marry you… at least not yet. I need to decide what’s best for Robbie. I do want a future with you, Logan. I really do. I just have to decide how to go about it.’

  ‘I know. I just don’t want to be without you, and if it means coming to America. I will.’ He muttered.

  ‘You can’t. Your family is here.’

  ‘I want you to be a part of my family. You already are. We all love you, but I’m losing a second chance on a good life with someone.’

  ‘We’ll see.’

  Chapter Eleven

  A month later, it was Robbie’s first birthday. Logan and Emilia had got over their argument and their relationship was even better now everything about their pasts had been opened. Emilia was excited to celebrate Robbie’s first birthday with Logan. He insisted that everyone come around to celebrate. A simple party but with everyone they love. Emilia agreed.

  Everyone brought presents to the house. Logan had prepared a buffet for people to enjoy. There was music. Everyone was chatting together. Roger was entertaining the children.

  Emilia and Logan were in the kitchen telling a funny story about Robbie and all the others were laughing. Robbie was on Logan’s hip and clapping but looked curious at the house being so busy.

  ‘This is all for you, and you have no idea.’ He chuckled, nuzzling the baby’s cheek.

  ‘Lowan!’ He giggled, then kept stroking his stubble.

  James came over to Emilia and Robbie when they were on the couch.

  ‘I made this for Robbie in school.’ He smiled. He handed her a photo frame which was decorated with drawn tennis balls and in the fanciest handwriting a ten-year-old could muster was a big ‘Happy Birthday, Robbie!’ The picture was a group selfie of them all on the Wimbledon day.

  ‘James. That’s lovely. And it can go proudly on the windowsill where baby hands and tails can’t reach.’ She laughed, giving him a hug. She then placed it on the window by the TV. More and more photos had found themselves in Logan’s apartment over the last few months.

  It was the evening and all the guests had left. It was just Robbie, Emilia, and Logan. They were all sat on the floor whilst Robbie was playing with some new toys.

  ‘It’s been such a nice day.’ She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘You did most of the organizing.’

  ‘No, thank you. For being on that flight.’ She smiled. He kissed her head and gave her a cuddle.

  ‘Thank you for being on that flight.’ He chuckled.

  They both knew that they couldn’t be separated after everything, but they still had to decided who was going to make the sacrifice.

  Logan stood up to go and get Robbie another toy.

  ‘Logan! Oh my God.’

  He turned around and Robbie was following him on wobbly legs. He was about to fall but Logan caught him.

  ‘Robbie! You’re walking! Well done.’ They were both beaming. Robbie didn’t realise what was so special.

  On January 5th, a few days after New Year, which the family had celebrated in the park with everyone else. Logan and Emilia were snuggled up in the bed on a chilly night in their pajamas and lots of blankets. Robbie was asleep and making them exhausted because he always ran about now he could.

  ‘This is nice.’ He smiled, kissing Emilia’s hair. ‘Don’t you think?’

  ‘Mm, definitely. A bit of peaceful time with my handsome man? What could beat this after a day running around after a toddler.’ She snuggled deeper into his chest.

  Ping! It was Tony. Asking Emilia a question. She typed a quick reply and then snuggled back.

  ‘What was that?’

  ‘Nothing. Now what do you say we warm ourselves up?’ She smirked. He agreed and kissed her slowly.

  Christmas holidays were over, and Logan was back to work. He arrived home and Emilia, Robbie, and Roger were nowhere to be seen. Emilia’s laptop was open on the kitchen counter with a piece of paper saying, ‘What do ya say?’. He was confused. He woke up her laptop and on the screen was an email from Anthony.

  Emilia,

  Due to the success of your column here at the magazine. I would be delighted to offer you a full-time position as our United Kingdom correspondent. It would require you to work eleven months each year in the UK and return every August for work here in New York.

  We scheduled this arrangement around Logan’s timetable as a teacher. We planned on July, but I believe your family enjoy Wimbledon too much for you to miss it.