Matthew's POV
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I pick out something for Henry that Taylor will appreciate and I dress him in long socks and shorts. Teamed with a burgundy polo top that has a bear on the breast and a hooded cardigan. He eyes me curiously wondering most likely why I'm fussing so much over his clothes. Talking to him I change him and he coos back at me in response as I chuckle before picking him up and kissing his forehead.
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"We're seeing your auntie Rachel today" I tell him as he wiggles in my arms and I pat his back.
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"Auntie Rachel is going to be pretty loud and talkative" I warn him smiling and turning around to see Taylor watching me smirking leaning against the bathroom door.
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"Nice shower?" I ask her as she slips into the walk in wardrobe.
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"Really relaxing" she calls out.
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"You know Henry, we will have to give you a little bath soon" I tell him as she appears in a pale blue skirt, a white top and a long cardigan. Her hair swept back into a high ponytail, curls trailing down her side. I stare at her and she blushes before I look away.
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"I think a bath is a good idea" she smiles as I stand up from the massage chair.
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"Hey wait" she smiles aiming her camera at me. I giggle self consciously but let her snap a few pictures of me holding Henry.
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"I'll take one of you two" I tell her and she practically claps her hands.
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Holding onto Henry her hair draped down her sides as she smiles down at him, I take several pictures reminding myself of the portrait I need to draw, one of her and the baby. I'm just sure that I can perfect it, I know Taylor inside out and I've been making sure that I can begin to capture the lines that make up Henry. Babies can be tricky, they change over night. It's imperative that I begin this print before he grows up over the next couple of months. I gaze at the two of them before we have to leave our little bubble where only us three exist and smile at her.
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"It's beautiful" I smirk showing her the picture.
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"Look at yours" she whispers, her eyes just glowing as I scroll to the snap she took of me with Henry. Staring at it I smile and she chuckles.
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"Yours is cuter" I say self consciously passing her the phone back. She raises the camera for a selfie of the three of us. I place my arm around her shoulders as she grins for the camera and takes the picture.
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***
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We have all had several pictures taken of us today, by both Taylor and Rachel. Rachel is fully on board with Taylor's plan to make photo albums and so the phones have been out and the flashes have been on.
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Christopher George Brown I've learnt has a rather nice property near big bear lake, a sizeable home that cannot be afforded by merely the job of a barista. The lake at the back is a nice addition, I think to myself as I sit out on the deck next to Taylor in an armchair with outdoor heaters surrounding us. Taylor holds onto Henry as he sleeps in her arms, she’s smiling over at Ross as he’s going through some of Rachel’s most memorable drunken moments and they’re all having a glass of wine. Henry has two bottles left and Taylor hasn’t a care in the world, as she sips her glass steadily and I watch her, as if she is mine.
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“Rachel it’s been eventful finding you your forever man” Taylor laughs as Rachel catches my eye, curiously watching me as I rest my arm over Taylor’s shoulder. Henry has been swaddled in a baby blanket and so far is very happy to be in his mother’s arms for so long, who wouldn’t be?
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“Lord hasn’t it just” she smiles over at Taylor.
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“Now though we just need to find a forever woman for Matthew and one for Ross too” Rachel sighs eyeing me pointedly.
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Christopher excuses himself to get another bucket of ice, presumably with a second bottle in it. And I’m quite sure that Rachel has found her match in him. He seems to cater for her every need, and if you ask me that’s the only way of keeping a woman like Rachel happy.
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“Good luck with that” I laugh as Ross clears his throat.
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“Oh come on boys” Rachel exclaims.
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“Ross shall we make you a dating profile?! Matthew !?” She laughs and I shake my head, I’ve never thought that one can find love over the internet. Sure it works for some people, but for me, a man who never seems to be over his ex it’s not the best idea.
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“God no” Ross says and I second his opinion.
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“I don’t know, I think things happen for a reason and going out and seeking dates won’t lead to love” Taylor says and Rachel scoffs swiping away at her phone.
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“Jesus can you imagine the amount of swipe rights a picture of either of them would get” Rachel squeals and I notice the rock on her engagement finger. Good for her I think to myself I never would have put a rock like that on her clumsy hands.
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“Swipe right ?” Ross questions and she practically howls. Henry complains whining and I don’t blame him at all after her noise. I scramble into the changing bag that we packed and retrieve the bottle for him.
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“Thank you” Taylor smiles up at me, taking the bottle as she holds it to his little mouth. He looks up at her confused wondering most likely why she’s giving him a bottle instead of her breast, I giggle and she laughs placing her hand on my thigh.
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“He’s like mom why are you giving me this !?” She laughs and I smile placing my hand on hers.
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“Swipe right” Rachel says looking at Taylor apologetically.
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“Means like, swipe left is no” she says fumbling over her words as Christopher returns with a bucket of ice. He pops the cork for her and pours her another glass.
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“Oh darling you’re not leaving me already are you ?” He jokes seeing her flicking through dating profile’s, she chuckles kissing him.
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“No I’m trying to get Ross on a dating site” she explains casually as Ross rolls his eyes.
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“Oh lord no, you don’t want to do that man.” Christopher begins and Ross nods along.
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“You’ll end up on a date with a woman whose picture was of her but ten years ago” he guffaws and I laugh agreeing with him. Taylor glances up at me and I melt. If I went on a date with a woman online or any woman for that matter, I know that I would continually compare her to Taylor and that is exactly why it’s not a good idea for me.
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“Not entirely true” Rachel laughs.
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“Don’t put him off babe” she exclaims and Ross smirks watching the two of them.
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“Look do it by all means just make sure you tell us all about the dates you go on for a laugh” he smiles.
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“I think that I’ll give it a hard pass” Ross laughs and I smirk over at him.
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Taylor passes Henry to me and I place him over my shoulder patting his back as she lounges back crossing her legs and sipping her wine again.
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“How’s the christening coming along and the Italy plans” Rachel asks changing the conversation as a boat goes past in the distance.
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“Well I believe we will go out there first, for a week or so, sort everything out together before the christening takes place. I’m thinking you will love Italy no pressure either to run off back to the airport we have space if you want to stay for a while” Taylor explains.
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“Italy is nice, the wine is incredible. And I can bake you a lemon cake” Taylor explains and Rachel smiles.
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“Whereabouts in Italy is your place?” Christopher asks and I smile looking down at Henry as I rock him.
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“Umbria, Tuscany” Taylor says and he nods instantly.
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“Rural. Nice.” He comments as Rachel looks utterly clueless.
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“No neighbours, it’s the only place for miles. It’s surrounded by acres of countryside. Period type of property, it’s a farmhouse technically. But large” she laughs and Ross smiles over at her.
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“It’s special then” Rachel smiles.
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“It is” Taylor says softly and I detect her tone, unsure whether anybody else does I refuse to bring it up in front of everybody, but I cannot help but to think of her outburst the other day about fearing being alone. Imagining her roaming the vineyards for something to do without anybody around.
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“Italy isn’t an awful journey unlike like Dubai or Australia.” She comments and I understand her thought process; it’s easy to fly back to the states. To me, to her friends and her family.
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“They have a place in Australia too” Rachel clarifies to Christopher.
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“Got ya” he replies easily and she smiles.
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Of course, Christopher offers to take us out on the boat but we politely decline explaining that we need to get Henry home. He apologises, never wanting to offend anybody. Taylor objects to his apology smiling and hugging him briefly as I buckle Henry into the car seat having changed him into a fresh diaper and the pyjamas that we packed. Taylor makes sure to pick everything up and pack it into the changing bag, babies don’t travel light and there’s a lot to remember after a glass of wine. I look up at her as she pulls her shawl back over herself and wonder what I’m going to do when she’s away. My purpose has centred around her and the baby solely and even though it’s been but days I’m totally consumed by them both.
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Rachel pulls me into her as I’m contemplating my life standing by the baby and I congratulate her personally on her engagement. She thanks me genuinely.
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“You’ll be just fine” she whispers when she pulls me in again just before she moves onto Ross to say her goodbyes to him. I know exactly what she means of course, she’s been watching me stare at Taylor all night long and it’s all a dead giveaway. I will miss Taylor terribly and the baby and they all know it.
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Finally we leave and I climb into the drivers seat, sober to drive them all back to Palm Springs. Henry sleeps soundly with Ross seated next to him as we all chat openly about Rachel and how her life has turned out. None of us expected her to be engaged so soon, it’s a sign I tell myself that we’re all getting older. I glance in the interior mirror at Henry sleeping and sigh, imagining that I had my own baby and wife. Taylor strokes my thigh as if she’s reading my mind and I concentrate back on the road, dedicated to getting them home safely.
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