Taylor's POV
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White buildings in Italy amongst the countryside that are complemented by the backdrop of an azure blue sky look pristine. Peaceful buildings that hark back to a more simple time, where nobody rushes around pushing past you. But instead locals greet you with a smile and a passing greeting.
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"The church of Saint Mary Consolation" Jay whispers as I hold Henry into my chest, in the baby carrier. A small pale blue hat over his head to shield him from the sunlight.
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Todi, the hilltop town in Italy is just full to the brim with natural beauty and architecture, an other worldly feel to it which is a far cry from the suburban Palm Springs that we are used to. However on the ride to the church I had fallen in love with the curved trees lining the roads, a pale shade of green colouring them which gives off a sense of tranquility.
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My white dress flowing as we stand in awe of the sweeping marble arches and the curved stone walls. The sun beating down on us as we stride over to the arched doors and enter the prestigious building. I hold my breath looking up at the grandeur of the curved ceilings and painted walls, the ornate statues.
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"This is the one" I whisper to Jay even though it's the first place we have visited for the christening of our baby.
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"Oh yeah" he whispers as we stride through the aisle past the wooden benches either side of us.
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"When we renew our vows" he whispers smiling, and taking me utterly by surprise. His hands wrapped around my own as we walk through the quiet building.
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"We will renew our vows here" he explains and I smile broadly.
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As a family unit we speak with the priest, an older man of devout faith who welcomes us into the church and the area. We nod along, I'm sure that I had been christened as a baby, and that Jay was too, yet neither of us regularly attends church.
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Gleefully we arrange a date for our babies christening before the priest suggests we enjoy the view out over the marble arches of the tall domed building. He leaves us the time to explore the renaissance architecture and to walk around in peace.
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The balcony over the building allows us to see out into the Italian countryside, lush green hills and trees scattered around the centre of this place of worship. A benefit of the baby carrier is that I am able to feed Henry discreetly and hands free, as we tour the building, he has his lunch before we head back out into the warm air and stride over to the car.
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"Perhaps, we need to purchase a christening gown too" I smile over at Jay as he places Henry into his car seat and I watch him switch on Henry's lullaby mobile. Henry's eyes closing slowly as he gazes up at us.
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"We can have the after party at the farmhouse, I'll bake a christening cake with lemons" I smirk as Jay holds the door open for me and I climb in before he heads over to the drivers side and starts up the Lamborghini.
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"I couldn't agree more Mon amour" he says once we are cruising back towards the farmhouse, our home. Deep in the depths of the Italian countryside, I begin dreaming about the vineyards and the sweeping hills. My mind relaxing entirely as Henry sleeps soundly in his car seat, the lull of the longer journey keeping him happy. As he suckles on his pacifier and sleeps soundly in the car.
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Jay and I have spent days acclimatising to our new life, woken only by the sunshine and the birdsong. The large windows providing us with glorious views of our future as we look upon the vineyards and the farmland that we now own. We've spent some time collecting grapes and harvesting them. Soaking up the sun as we tour the land and plan our farming enterprise, before dipping into our crystal clear pool. We've sampled our own wine, curled up together on our veranda watching sunsets. Most importantly we have indulged in one another's time entirely, I'm wrapped around him most of the day and all of the night.
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"A christening gown for you or for Henry" he laughs as we lose satellite navigation, lush fields either side of us and not another car on the road. Unfettered by the lack of directions Jay continues to find our way home, and I mentally note that I will need to start paying attention to landmarks and signs should I ever wish to drive around by myself.
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"Henry" I smile over at him as he grins and explains that he will be buying me my very own gown for the occasion too.
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The Lamborghini makes short work of getting us home and as I close the door of our car and Jay retrieves Henry from the back seat, I pull the baby bag out of the back and the carrier before we walk up the marble steps to our home.
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The kitchen is the heart of any home, and instantly I head into our large pantry. A seperate room with racks and cupboards all in a rustic style. Wooden beams line the ceiling, we've spent a fair bit of time sourcing food and ingredients that are locally grown. I have decided to cook Italian, and not just pasta, although we are both learning how to make it from scratch. Today I've set my heart upon bruschetta and chicken piccata.
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I assemble the dry ingredients from the pantry; flour, Italian olive oil, our own Lemons, seasoning and shallots before heading back out into the large kitchen and placing it all on the oak countertop. Jay eyes me after he places Henry down in the snoo. Approaching me slowly before he whispers in my ear, his hands stroking my bare thighs before he rests them around my waist.
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"Are you going to invite your mom and dad, and Matthew and Ross" I ask him softly as he kisses my neck whilst I'm dicing up the chicken.
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"Mhmmm, and you can deal with Rachel" he chuckles and I laugh.
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"She will be very happy with her ring" I admit imagining her parading it around to anybody who will listen.
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"What are you cooking mon amour" he asks softly in my ear.
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"It's a surprise you will love it" I smirk dredging the chicken in flour and seasoning before placing it in my wok pan to fry up.
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"Glass of wine?" He asks seductively as I pause before washing my hands throughly and he walks over to the wine cellar, about to descend the wooden steps to find another bottle. I haven't had a menstrual cycle that is normal since the baby and honestly I'm lost counting the days from when I last had one. I stare up at him and he watches me curiously.
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"Taylor?" He whispers heading back over to me and rubbing my lower back before he pulls me into him.
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"I'm not sure" I say looking up into his eyes.
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"Not sure but you might be" he whispers and I smile reassuringly.
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"Okay" he says slowly before kissing me, an intense kiss that possesses all of my senses before I hear the pan spit and we disengage from our embrace. Decisively striding over to the sizzling pan before his arms wrap around my waist once more.
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"It's possible" he whispers in my ear as I sauté garlic and shallots before adding butter and stock to make the sauce.
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"That we might just be expecting another baby" he whispers his hands cupping my belly.
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"I haven't you know had a monthly cycle, but then I'm not sure what's normal after birth, Henry's only one month and who knows what my body is supposed to be doing." I admit as he rubs my waist and kisses my neck, images flooding through my mind of pregnancy. Romantic notions of a second baby. A little girl that I can dress in matching outfits and braid her hair.
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"We can take a test? If you like? An early detector." He whispers and I nod satisfied with the sauce I have made and allowing it to simmer.
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Before I set on preparing the bruschetta he turns me in his capable arms and pulls me into him. His hand raking through his blonde hair as he grins.
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"Whatever the outcome, pregnant or not. I love you Taylor" he whispers sensing my anxiety, I hadn't said a thing about it through the fear of raising his hopes only to dash them if I'm not.
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"I love you" I smile up at him as the sun sets behind him through the window. An ambient orange glow of light filtering through the kitchen as Henry stirs and he smiles heading over to the crib to retrieve him.
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As he changes and feeds Henry a bottle of breast milk I mix onions, tomatoes, garlic and basil in a small wooden bowl. The visions fill my head of Henry crawling around and beginning to walk whilst we have another newborn to look after. I'll become one of those mamas who continually wears her newborn in a carrier whilst she chases around her toddler. Henry will be eating solid food by then and I will still be breastfeeding another little baby.
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Squirting balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the mixture before I place some cling film over the bowl and grasp the baguette we purchased from a local bakery, cutting it into long diagonal slices ready to be toasted.
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"They're in London aren't they?" He asks me as I plate up the food and he settles Henry back down. Matthew has messaged me a fair bit, I have engaged in the conversation with him. Sending pictures of his time away, sites of London and the food he has been eating. I reflect on the closeness we will always share with one another, and feel bad about it. Pushing him out only results in misery for both of us, worry on my behalf that he might do something rash or spiral into drugs and alcohol. However keeping him close reassures me that he is okay and well, I have not mentioned the contact I’ve been having with him to Jay. It’s not something I can openly discuss with him or something I wish to make an issue around.
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"They're in London, Matthew told me they've been exploring the sights. He even sent me a picture of Ross outside a sex shop in soho" I laugh as Jay chortles pulling his phone out as I set down the food on the table with a beer for him.
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"Should do Ross some good, a sex shop" he laughs and I shake my head taking a seat next to him at our large table and grasping a slice of bruschetta.
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"Ross is an innocent" I say and he laughs openly.
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“He is not” he scoffs, humour behind his eyes.
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"I've messaged him, Matthew I mean" he says placing his phone down on the side before looking up at me and thanking me for our meal. He sips his beer and I smile as he eats one handed with Henry in his arms.
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“So godparents” I venture and he smirks.
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“I suppose Matthew” he admits softly looking into his food as I finish off my bruschetta. They are childhood friends that also have a complicated history of fighting, but so far we have all set aside are dramas in the pursuit of creating a wholesome loving environment for Henry. Essentially Jay has been the bigger man, setting aside his differences and focusing on what matters; us. Our life and our baby.
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“Matthew and Ross? How many can we have?” I say as he looks up at me.
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“Is there a limit? I didn’t know that” he smirks forking up some chicken and telling me it’s delicious.
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“Something to think about” I admit smiling, glad that he’s enjoying the food.
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We finish off our meal as Henry falls back asleep in Jay’s arms. Leaving the dishes for the morning, we place Henry upstairs in his crib. It’s like continually being on holiday, going to bed with the knowledge that there will be sunshine tomorrow and that there will be a pool to dip in. Climbing into our sheets wearing nothing but my wedding rings I feel Jay’s arms surround me, one hand rested on my tummy as we fall into a deep sleep together.
