Taylor's POV
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Ross has been slumped over his notebook for some time. Pages strewn around the collection of sofas as he multitasks and occasionally watches Henry's chest rise and fall. It's an edit I can tell, the printed manuscript of his work sits strewn across his lap and it's eating me up not knowing what it's about. The plot and the language he has used are all things that interest me. It's been perhaps two or three hours since dinner and he's been dedicated to his work. Brushing his blonde hair back as he writes, captivated by telling a story.
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Ross has a brilliant mind and it's a privilege to see him working. The fire crackles and he looks up briefly before smiling down at his page. A scrawl of writing over the typed work as he sighs and sips his bourbon.
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"Taylor had a fair bit of morning sickness" Jay smiles and I nod along looking at the lit candles. Rachel had taken a pregnancy test in the bathroom with me earlier, she declared that she couldn't wait any longer no matter the outcome of the test she had to know. Despite Christopher not even being present she took the test and we hugged it out as she sobbed on the bathroom floor in my arms and I told her that she was pregnant.
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Feeling unequipped for the situation I held her not knowing whether they were happy tears or sheer sadness. Matthew had stumbled upon us shocked, but putting two and two together he nodded and joined us sitting on the floor. I looked up at him smiling as he rubbed Rachel’s back. Eventually we had all got off of the floor, Matthew helping me up as he walked me downstairs to give Rachel a little bit of adjusting time alone. His hands delicately holding my hips before we began dinner.
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"I mean even though it's early on, I still think it will all be just fine" she declares looking up at Christopher who only holds her closer.
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"Will be so nice to know how far along you are so that we can get an idea of how many months our babies will be apart" I smile over at her as she gushes announcing that if she has a boy she will be borrowing clothes. I giggle and wipe my hair back over my shoulders.
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"Well I'm pretty sure this one is a girl" I say slowly looking up at Jay.
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"She is sure, man if we have another boy!? Imagine the shock on her face" Jay laughs over to Christopher as he chortles, they’re close now. Christopher is much like him, both logically minded. Both business owners and now they will both be fathers.
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"Oh Jay this is a girl when am I ever wrong" I giggle standing and retrieving the far Breton that I baked. A sumptuous custard desert that I am serving warm with coffees.
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"Let me help" Jay whispers rubbing my back as he takes over making the coffees with real cream.
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"Mmm okay" I say slicing up the desert as he eyes it hungrily.
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"Lord" he says as I spoon some in his mouth.
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"That's incredible" he grins once he’s finished a slice.
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"You're so spoilt, luckily for you I love you, and I love making you amazing food and baking you deserts" I tease him.
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"I'm so spoilt, you're right" he smiles rubbing my bump.
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"Desert, Shakespeare" Chris calls over to Ross. He looks up from his papers with a wry smile before organising them and placing them down on the oak table.
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"Again congratulations" he says to Rachel before lounging back in one of the dining chairs next to Matthew. Turning to face him, I think briefly of the love padlocks alongside the bridge earlier before serving him his desert. His hand inconspicuously rubs the side of my thigh before I shrink away from him. Pulling up a chair and taking a seat down next him instead.
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“Rachel you’re going to be a brilliant mum” Matthew says and she laughs.
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“Honestly we’re gonna be parents” Christopher laughs sweeping his sandy hair back.
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“It’s all good we’ll raise them all together” I smile imagining joint birthday parties and Italian days by the beach. Jay nods agreeably and I smile over at him.
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“How’s the book” Rachel asks and I smile at Ross dying to hear all about it.
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“It’s this edit, I’ve been looking over the publishing notes and working out what I need to change and it’s a minefield” he smiles and even though I am sure that he is stressed there’s not even a hint of worry in his tone. Ross is the epitome of calm at all times.
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“You’ll get there” Rachel smiles.
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“I can always read and help” I add and he laughs smiling appreciatively at me.
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“I would like that” he says softly.
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“Also Shakespeare was a playwright and not an author” he quips with Christopher who only laughs easily.
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“There’s a difference” Rachel questions as I giggle.
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“Of course” Ross smiles.
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“Kind of like the difference between a baker and a chef. They both cook, but they’re different” he smiles.
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“I’ll read some tonight” I tell him as he nods.
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The desert is polished off, with two pregnant women and four hungry young men there was bound to be none left. Jay carries Henry up to his crib upstairs humming to him to keep him asleep.
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“Here” Ross smiles handing me a leather bound manuscript. My eyes sweep over the words and I smile. It’s untitled as of yet and I cannot wait to get lost in the pages. I hug him and he holds me close before letting me go.
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Christopher assists Rachel up the wooden steps and I smile watching him follow her holding her protectively. My eyes dart down to the pages as Ross heads up to his bed for the night. Feeling the fire warm me and watching the flames lick up the chimney breast.
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“It’s a step up from his sonnets” I smile whispering to Matthew as he watches me.
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“I should hope so” he chuckles and I look into his eyes briefly reminding myself of the poems that I found in Ross’ bedroom which Rachel surmised were about me. Matthew bows his head to me and my heart falters imagining his lips on mine, before I tell myself that I am not allowed to even imagine it. He tucks a few strands of hair behind my ears before lowering his lips to my ear.
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“One day Taylor” he whispers slowly and I close my eyes feeling the warmth of the fire behind me and his lips lingering.
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“No” I whisper slowly as he looks up with a wry smile coming over his lips, brunette curls that fall down his face.
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“No darling, one day I’ll have you in my British Manor House to myself” he says slowly and with conviction as I cast my eyes down to the wooden floor and hide my shock.
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“Walks in that meadow, roasts every Sunday” he giggles and I smirk looking up before placing one finger over his lips and telling him to shh.
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“Good night Taylor” he smiles kissing my fingers away before we retire upstairs, the wooden steps an absolute chore when you’re heavier due to pregnancy. I can only imagine what the journey back to Italy will be like, and for the last evening as I look out of the sash windows I savour the cold and the idyllic blankets of white. The large icicle’s and the moon shining in the distance, flurries of snow scattering down as I say goodbye not only to France but to Matthew and Ross who will be leaving for different countries on our journey back.
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