Taylor's POV
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The veranda is warm even with the outdoor heating on low, I can feel Jay's hands underneath the table stroking my thigh as we all tuck into the homemade pasta which fortunately has turned out much better than I had anticipated. It would have been frightful should I have messed it up as I'm sure even that would have rendered me in a catatonic state again. Sobbing into Matthew's chest by a means of a hello was not okay or considerate to anybody, and hopefully it shall not be repeated.
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"Have you both booked a venue for the christening" Andrew begins, seated opposite Jay at the end of the table. Henry perched over Claire's shoulder as he falls asleep.
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"We chose the first church we saw it was beautiful" I begin smiling up at Jay who nods.
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"It was, Taylor was sold and so was I" he agrees pulling me into him briefly before he eats again, scooping up the shallots and pasta.
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"I can tell you will have a wonderful party here after too" Claire says softly and I smile. It's next week and there's still a whole load of planning for us to do. What food to serve and how to decorate the home. I plan on using Claire's expertise in decoration, and Matthew and Ross' help in man power to get the furniture assembled in the way I need. Jay will be helping me to cook, I tell him this and he only smiles kissing my lips.
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"We will get it all together" he smiles.
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"I am thinking Italian food; pasta puttanesca, brushetta and a selection of fish. Some gelato and lemon cakes. I would like to also bake a devils food cake too. Of course I'll have fruit and salad, the grapes and peaches here are simply amazing" I surmise imagining the dining experience before my eyes. I'll need to set up the large table out here by the pool, looking over the grounds. White table cloths and a table display with candles which will glow at dusk. I'm anticipating it to be a five course meal; I intend to impress all be it I'm a new mom who only just recovered from her mental breakdown.
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"This baby is going to enjoy his food when he finally eats, with a mamma like you. It's all my own son goes on about, Taylor baked this...". Claire laughs gazing down at Henry. Jay chortles kissing me again before he finishes his pasta.
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"We're very spoilt" he smirk's watching me.
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"I'll purchase some champagne to toast. Beers and brandy for the guys and we can use the wine from the cellar" Jay explains and Claire nods rising with Henry and taking him in for a nap. She stops by me and smiles as I kiss Henry's head, she strokes my own hair back like my mother would and tells me to relax and enjoy my evening.
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"So Chinatown is interesting" Ross begins as Andrew clears the plates away and I smile up at him thanking him. Andrew has shown himself to be a very hands on grandfather; every time Henry so much as makes a sound he is up attending to him. It makes me wonder whether he had been like that with Jay when he was very young. Both Claire and Andrew yearned to have another child, however after a string of miscarriages that ended up in heartache each time they stopped trying.
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"It's pretty different, architecture wise" Matthew comments looking up from his food.
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"It is also not a place that goes to sleep" Ross laughs and I smile over at him.
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"You would enjoy the different cuisines" Matthew says watching me. Jay pulls me into his chest and kisses my forehead.
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"They're pubs with typical English food alongside Asian street food" Matthew explains pulling his sketch book out and flipping a few pages over to a sketch of a large gold archway set in a British street.
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"That's amazing" I gasp taking the book from him and marvelling at how his skill is so accurate and precise. Just by gazing upon the drawing you feel as though you are standing underneath the crimson lanterns. I flick through the pages deciding to start from the very beginning. My eyes set upon a print that is clearly of LAX, it's the beginning of their journey. Turning the page, I glance up at Ross and compare him to his portrait smiling.
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"This is pretty good" I smirk at Ross and he chuckles.
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"I love how you captured his smile" I grin and Jay chuckles as I rest onto him. His hands casually holding onto my lower waist. Cupping my belly, a gesture that Matthew eyes wonderingly before he focuses back on my face. The night sky behind him an inky blue colour with scattered glistening stars. Jay sips his beer and stands with Ross, stretching and looking out over the grounds which are decorated by the outdoor lighting. Jay engages him in a conversation about grapes and wine as I rest back looking through the art. It's gives me an insight into Matthew's head, it's how he see's things.
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The next shot is beautiful, a small dog being walked by a woman down a fancy street in soho. It's wonderful from the colours to the accuracy and the detail. Matthew eyes me as I smirk up at him seeing the resemblance in the female he has drawn to myself.
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I flick the page and the following pieces seem to tell a story, the London eye which is scattered with people. A busker on the promenade at the south bank. A close up image of a man's wrist wearing a suit and a Rolex. I marvel at them trying to connect the dots as Matthew moves up to the seat next to me.
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"We went to the Southbank it was Ross' idea" he whispers resting the book on his knee, one arm behind my shoulders.
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"Ross begged me to go on the London eye with him we were listening to this guy sing he was pretty good but not as good as you" he says and I laugh. It's like he's telling me a story as he gazes down at me.
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"I got us on the London eye and Ross couldn't have sounded more American and touristy. Exclaiming that Big Ben was just over the other side of the river. There was a couple sharing our pod and I started setting up shots on the camera" he begins looking down at me and my growing smile, I love it when he gets lost in thought.
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"The guy asked me to take a few shots of him and his date and of course I agreed. Focusing on the details and making the shots perfect" he explains as I watch Jay pointing out at the land.
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"It was only after this the guy introduced himself and invited me to an interview" Matthew laughs as I stare up into his eyes. Pride practically bursting out from me.
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"An interview!?" I say stroking his hand just once as he rests it on the page. He grasps my hand in his own and faces me on his chair.
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"For a multi media news company" he nods glancing up at the guys and how they are busy discussing farming. Planning out the land before them and sipping beer.
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"Please tell me you went for it" I ask him as his eyes sweep over the picture containing the Rolex, it's curious snd intimate a facet of the man's personality that he's picked up on. Excitement glistening in Matthew's eyes as he holds onto my hands.
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"I'm a photographic journalist." He smiles down at me as I pull him into my embrace hugging him.
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"That's amazing Matthew, I'm so happy for you" I whisper in his ear before I pull away from him.
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"So I can work remotely on location, it's flexible and it's pretty well paid too" he laughs as I giggle along with him. Holding my eye contact he rubs his hands down my arms before giving me some space.
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Jay smiles beginning to toast Matthew and his new job. As Ross turns around slowly eyeing me and smiling before he extends his beer and joins in on the toast. I had imagined that he would no longer look upon me in that way, Ross I assume has his rose tinted glasses on as he eyes me before quickly looking at Matthew.
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I take one full sip of my wine, holding it in my mouth before I walk slowly to the kitchen and spit it in the sink breathing slowly and making sure I wash my mouth out with san Pellegrino.
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"You're..." Matthew begins and I hadn't even realised he was behind me. I jump turning to look up at him.
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"Again, you're..." he stutters watching me slowly.
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"Jesus you should not sneak up on me whilst I'm in this state I might club you with the bottle" I laugh as Ross and Jay waltz into the kitchen. The glow of the chandeliers illuminating the room as I turn to face the sink again and unfortunately cough up most of my dinner. We're unsure whether the sickness is due to the near drowning experience or the typical nausea and sickness of pregnancy.
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"We're only a couple of weeks" Jay explains softly crossing the distance of the kitchen and rubbing my back. Matthew watches me, his eyes not even moving a millimetre from my face. Ross cottons on looking at me with concern.
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"We took a test, and we're you know pregnant again" I say almost slightly numb. It was an altogether different experience to our first positive pregnancy test. Jay and I had sat waiting for the test to indicate it’s result only this morning. I had perched on the window seat in our bedroom gazing out at the grapevine as he stroked my hair back. It was clear to me that I was pregnant again; from the heightened emotions I am experiencing and my irrational thoughts. I had begged Jay to fill me with babies, he had delivered. We are positively pregnant with our second child.
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Of course though, the risks are pretty high, something which neither of us rather irresponsibly considered until we researched the concerns of falling pregnant just over a month after birth. To say the words, premature and placenta eruption makes me fear for the life of my unborn child would be an understatement.
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"Jay this is" Matthew begins softly as I grasp the san pellegrino again after washing my mouth out.
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"It is soon" Jay surmises watching me carefully and rubbing my tummy and back.
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"Okay but there are risks" Matthew begins, concern shadowing his voice, he pushes his brunette hair back and I can see his frustration. His green eyes watching over me as he speaks.
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"You don't think I know that" Jay raises his voice just slightly as Ross approaches, I assume he's ready to jump in should they escalate. However that will not be happening, not anymore. Matthew’s eyes flick up to meet Jay’s eyes and they are full of accusation and annoyance.
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"I'm pregnant, it's early stages. We will see how it all goes" I interject pulling Matthew physically to look at me, calming him down.
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“I wanted another baby, we both did. Jay and I hadn’t realised the risks but…” I begin softly, my voice breaking slightly. Once we read up on the complications that we may experience, I had cried and Jay had panicked. Frustrated with himself; his head in his hands as he sat down next to me on the cushioned window seat. We had discussed our options; deciding that neither of us could actively go through abortion. Above all else I will see it through, should we face complications I will do everything in my power to make things work for my family and my baby.
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"I know Taylor I'm just worried" Matthew whispers.
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“We’re worried too, I’m worried okay. But I will do anything for it to work.” I whisper softly as he looks away. Matthew is worried about me experiencing another miscarriage, it's the first thought that entered my mind once I realised I was pregnant again. The anxiety had been worse this time around, knowing that the risks are very real only makes it all more of a worry. Jay pulls me into him again and guides me over to the oak table, sitting me down with a glass of water.
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"We will monitor it all Mon amour, above all else you will be safe and sound" Jay reassures me as the guys take up two seats at the table.
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"I will make sure of that" he whispers, giving Matthew a warning glare and pleading with him not to say anymore. I pull my cami dress up and sip my water.
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"Also congratulations both of you" Ross interjects softly to lighten the mood, his ruddy cheeks and his small smile covering his lips.
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"Thanks Ross" I say softly to him as he begins a toast for the pregnancy, standing up and clapping Jay on the back before Matthew can protest another word.
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“To new beginnings” Jay repeats after Ross, watching me with a sparkle in his eyes.
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“And double the amount of sleepless nights” Ross quips as Jay laughs slightly, pushing his blonde hair back and holding his beer up.
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“To making things work” I add sensibly as I hold my glass of water and chuckle slightly. I cheers Matthew and he smiles over at me weakly holding my stare before standing up and congratulating Jay.
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