Taylor’s POV
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Evelyn, my mother stands in the foyer of the airport clutching a small hold-all bag and a very large suitcase which is no doubt full of gifts. If there’s anything I expect from my mother it is that she never arrives empty handed. And with a new baby in the family she will have purchased a whole host of items from California for Henry. From pacifiers to toys and clothes it will all be in there.
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Instead of traipsing Henry through the busy airport, I informed Jay that airports are a number one hot spot for germs and he had laughed informing me that he would stay in the car with our sleeping baby instead. I left them in the Lamborghini with the gentle sound of lullabies from Henry’s car mobile going off.
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Jay is a fantastic passenger in the car not once did he comment on my driving all be it I drove under the limit by a good 15 mph. He winced slightly when I hit a pot hole, but I laughed it off and turned the music up.
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“My darling” my mother says embracing me instantly before holding me at arms length, eyes raking over my cream camisole dress and sandals.
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“Taylor you look wonderful” she remarks softly before pulling me into a tight hug again.
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“You’re hair is longer” she smiles feeling the curls around her fingers
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“How is that baby boy” she smiles as we begin walking towards the exits, her hold-all wrapped around the wheel along suitcase.
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“Bigger and hungrier than ever, he’s asleep in the car with Jay” I explain as she nods.
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“How is being married to Jay, he’s a very handsome man Taylor” she winks at me and I laugh.
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“Mother!?” I erupt into embarrassed laughter as we approach the car. She looks up at me expectantly and then gasps.
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“This is your car!?” She laughs looking at the Lamborghini just in the distance. From here I can just about make out Jay sitting in the passenger side holding onto Henry.
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“Yes” I smirk and she scoffs.
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“Taylor Elena Harris you can drive that beast” she smiles as Jay stands to greet us, Henry bawling at the sunlight before Jay places a hat over his head.
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“Evelyn” he says smoothly as he kisses her cheek, all charm. Decisively I climb into the drivers side and he winks at me, I’ve found he quite likes me taking charge. As long as later on in the boudoir he is the boss then he doesn’t seem to object. Jay lifts my mother’s bags into the trunk as she settles Henry back into his baby seat switching on the mobile as I declare to her that there is a bottle in the baby bag.
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“Here we go darling now quiet on down so that mummy can get us on the road” Evelyn smiles feeding him as I look at her through my rear view mirror leaning slightly over the car seat.
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Jay rests his hand on my thigh and I smile up at him before putting the car in reverse. He grins and its cheeky, his eyes alight. We are going to mention the pregnancy to my mother over lunch, since our initial shock the news has settled and we both feel excited about becoming a family of four.
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“Don’t judge a place by its airport” I tell my mother as we finally speed through the countryside, olive trees and sunshine all around us. The scent of lemons filling the air from the many lemon groves.
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“Just wonderful I’ve not visited Italy” my mother smiles.
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“He’ll need burping once we arrive” she notes and I smile looking into the baby mirror that Jay affixed to the seat and watching my son drift off.
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“So far he hasn’t been that fussy” I tell her and she nods.
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“I’m taking you all out to eat by the way” I announce and my mom laughs.
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“Mother you’ve cooked Italian all of your life you deserve to try some authentic Italian cuisine” I smile in the mirror as she giggles.
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I had booked reservations at Luce ristorante for her arrival, it’s a fine dining experience and I’m hoping that my mom enjoys the food. I’m sure that Jay will lap up almost anything although he has proved that he enjoys fine dining as when we he goes away for work he always manages to book the fanciest restaurants.
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Managing to park the car far more gracefully than I did at the airport, I’m proud of my driving and my navigation through the Italian countryside as Jay kisses me before he climbs out of the car.
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Jay retrieves the pram from the boot as my mother cradles Henry in her arms. We laugh as she lays him down and he stretches out in his bassinet before we stroll over to the ristorante.
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“He looks so big! You’ll be feeding him solids soon” she laughs when we are seated out on the veranda gazing out at what has now become my favourite view; the hills and the Italian countryside. Large white patio parasols offer shade from the beaming sunshine, the tables decked with pristine white tablecloths.
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“He’s very big I agree” Jay laughs as I smile over at Henry.
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“He’s not supposed to have solids until six months” I laugh looking at my barely two month old baby.
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“All babies are different, your baby will be a hungry little one, I can tell” mom remarks and I smile. We order an obscure wine from the list and the waiter serves it offering the wine for Jay to sample before we accept the bottle.
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“We can also warm up bottles for baby” he nods gazing down at Henry briefly who is enjoying his rest under the shade of the parasol and the pram hood.
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“Thank you that is very kind” Jay says softly before ordering our appetisers. We opted for one of each small dish for variety. I had won poker last night, earning a stack of cash from both Matthew and Ross and I’ve decided to treat my family to a meal with my winnings.
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The waiter saunters off to prepare our appetisers with the bottle of breast milk to warm up. He had assured me that it will be heated in a sterile environment, and I had thanked him profusely. Henry will be awake soon and his bottle shall be waiting for him.
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“Mom” I begin softly as she looks out at the views astounded.
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“Myself and Jay are pregnant again, it’s soon but it kind of just happened. We’re expecting our second child” I explain softly deciding that just coming out with it is the better option than beating around the bush. She has already eyed me for ordering an orange juice earlier instead of sharing the wine.
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“My darling!” She exclaims standing up from her linen chair and wrapping her arms around me.
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“You’re wow…” she says softly so as not to wake up baby number one.
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“Congratulations” she says wiping her eyes before hugging Jay and retuning to her seat.
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“So it’s pretty soon, we hadn’t actually realised that there were potential risks aligned with that. But we’re remaining positive. Of course it’s extremely early days” Jay begins and my mother nods knowingly.
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“Taylor, you will be fine. I believe that you will” my mother announces staring at me briefly before sipping her wine. My mother believes in fate and karma, my mother reads tarot and has a book on gemstones. She’s no scientist or medical professional but usually her instincts are dead right. I smile at her knowingly and she nods earnestly.
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“I had a dream Taylor” she announces as Jay looks over at me amused.
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“My mother has dreams, she’s usually dead on Jay reserve your judgement” I laugh as he rocks his head back in hysterics.
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“Taylor and Jay” she begins and I giggle as the waiter sets down the babies bottle on a saucer, it makes me laugh all the more.
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“I vostri antipasti, signore e signori” the waiter announces setting down several small plates of rich Italian cuisine.
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“Grazie” I say softly before he grins and leaves the table.
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“My dream was about new life, I had assumed it was delineating to Henry. And believe me I was not expecting you to announce that, but I feel a baby girl is on the cards” she smiles over at me as I scoop up some bruschetta.
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“It’s so early days mom” I smirk as Henry stirs and she stands to retrieve him, neatening up his blue baby suit as she admires his blonde locks of hair.
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“Jay he looks just like you” she smiles as Jay nods and I fall in love with his grin all over again.
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“He does look like Jay” I smile as Henry takes his bottle and my mother feeds him.
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“Evelyn, my mother would love to talk to you about your dreams and stuff, she’s really into tarot and fortune telling. She took me to a palm reader just before I met Taylor who predicted that I would fall irrevocably in love with her” Jay explains and my mother nods encouragingly.
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“Oh they’re never wrong when they are the real deal” she exclaims and I snicker as Jay only nods encouragingly.
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“So do you read palms” he asks as my mum burps Henry and I stand to take over. Swaying with him as he belches.
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“I can read your palm Jay” she laughs and I smile taking a seat and cradling my baby. Jay giggles and gives me a look before presenting his palm to my mother.
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“Jay this is a complicated palm” she smiles gazing up at him quickly.
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“A life that is boring is not worth living” she smirks with a wry smile before sipping her wine again.
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“Here it is” she smiles.
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“New life” my mother remarks and he nods.
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“Here” she explains.
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“Some immediate changes. Could perhaps be the new baby and that news. But definitely imminent. If it hasn’t already happened with finding out you’re expecting.” She explains her brow furrowing slightly.
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“An upheaval, a shock which honestly expecting a new baby definitely is” she remarks before smiling at him reassuringly.
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“That’s not just from your palm. I can get a sense of what’s sort of on the horizon. Like vibes and energy I guess” she levels with him and he nods fascinated before searching my eyes.
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“That’s incredible” he sighs genuinely and she nods scooping up some prosciutto before we order our mains.
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“Taylor had a sense just before Ross was involved in the accident. Her sense was correct” he mutters looking over at me.
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“Taylor is my child of course she did” my mother beams.
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“Before you ask I have no idea about tarot or crystals” I laugh as my mom launches into a conversation on her own personal deck of cards. I have visions of us sitting around the dining table tonight having our cards read courtesy of my mother. Her curly brunette locks swaying around her shoulders like a sorceress.
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“I haven’t read this one’s palm for a while” she states as she crooks her head looking at me.
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“She’s always right” I sigh sipping at my orange juice and placing Henry down.
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“Perhaps we can have like a psychic night tonight” I smile over at my mother, I used to be somewhat embarrassed by her abilities but now I see them as gifts.
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“I never thought that we would host a psychic night but I’m all for it” Jay giggles as I look out at the lush green field just wondering what my mother might discover in my palm. For some reason because her predications are usually spot on, the prospect of her discovering something about my future both unnerves me and excites me.
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