CHAPTER TWO

Blake empties his entire suitcase into a washing basket, then steps over the piles of clothes I have sprawled across the bedroom floor. My mouth drops open and I shake my head.

"I wish I could throw all my things into the wash like you." I sigh.

"You could, because washing instructions are just guides." He shrugs.

"Yeah, guides to not shrinking your clothes and keeping them in good conditions."

"My washing technique hasn't failed me yet." Blake grins.

"Yet is the keyword in that sentence. How about we leave the washing to me?"

He places the basket on the floor and raises his hands.

"Since I can't do the washing, I'll be useful and prep dinner unless-"

"Don't be like that!" I pout. "You can prepare dinner however you want because our father's won't appreciate my burger making skills, that's for sure."

"At least I can do something." He smirks.

"If you're going to be like this, then you can do your own washing." I sigh.

"Hell no, I hate washing and I was just teasing you." He laughs. "I'm also happy you can follow washing instructions because I love the new underwear and I would hate for it to be ruined."

I hurl a black lacy thong at his face, but Blake catches it with the end of his finger and swirls it around. A smirk crosses his lips, then he flicks it back.

"Next time, I want to see it on you." He winks.

Blake wanders down the hallway, while I pout.

The front door opens and my heart quickens.

"I haven't had time, but I hear our team lost the game," Dad says.

"You didn't miss much," Thomas grumbles.

I grab a load of clothes from the suitcase and toss them over the pile of underwear.

"Hurry up, I want to see my daughter."

Dad and Thomas shuffle down the hallway and Mum enters the bedroom with a smile. Angela tries to sneak past with her pile of shopping bags but our eyes meet and a cheeky smile appears.

"I told her not to bring anything." I sigh.

"Are we talking about the same Angela?" Mum laughs. "Even I wouldn't have bothered."

"This is a thank you dinner, though." I frown.

"Don't worry about it!" She shrugs.

She hops over the clothes and plonks onto the bed. Mum frowns and I nibble on my lower lip as she picks up the thong and tosses it onto a pile. Laughter escapes her lips, and I roll onto my back and cover my face with my hands.

You'd think I wouldn't be embarrassed considering I'm married and have birth a child, but no, I'll always be weird.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, you're an adult and married."

"I'd rather we forget you saw it."

"Okay, we can also do that." She chuckles.

"We can move onto presents! I was in charge of yours and Angela's, so I hope you like it."

I take the present from the suitcase and hand it to her. She opens the cardboard box and smiles at the metal jewelry box.

"There's another present inside it."

"You didn't have to get me two presents."

"After everything you've done for me, of course I did, now open it and tell me."

"Okay, okay!" She smiles.

Mum opens the box and smiles.

"I love it, thank you so much."

"Thank goodness because I hate buying presents."

"This is perfect."

She holds the white gold chain between her fingers and admires it. A heart pendant hangs at the bottom of the chain and sparkles in the light. On one side, there's stones and on the other, 'family' is engraved in cursive font.

Mum puts the gift back in the box and we go down the other end.

As we arrive in the kitchen, Angela is only just closing the fridge.

"I knew you said not to bring anything, so I stuck to the essentials. I've grabbed kebabs, a small garden salad, two dressings, mashed potatoes, pasta salad, beer and wine."

"Angela." I gasp. "That's a family meal."

"You two just got back and-"

"Don't worry, we appreciate it but this is supposed to be a thank you dinner."

"You don't have to thank us, we're family."

"Still." I shake my head. "Thank you for the food."

I tug her into a hug and move to the living room. Since our lounge room doesn't accommodate that many people, I sit on Blake's lap. He happily wraps his arms around my waist.

"How was Paris? Magical? Wonderful? I've been begging Thomas to take me there." Angela looks at Thomas and he glances away.

"Absolutely beautiful." I smile.

"We went everywhere and ate all the food possible."

"Mm, yes, the food was delicious." I nod.

"Seriously, we should go." Angela pats Thomas's knee.

"We can put some lights in the backyard and pretend it's Paris."

"Are you going to cook?" 

"Do you remember last time I tried?" He laughs. "And I can't afford to get sick because you're costing me a fortune."

"I can't believe you." She gasps.

"Have you met with the lawyer? I want to know if my two hundred and fifty dollars is being spent well," Thomas grumbles.

Blake groans and I kiss his cheek.

"Yes, we talked through what will happen. Blake is prepared for the DNA test and he's confident that I'll at least be able to gain custody."

Blake presses his face into my back.

"That's the result I want. London will always be my granddaughter and I'll do whatever I need to protect her from the fruit loop."

Angela smiles and snuggles into Thomas's side.

"Of course you'll always have our support." Mum smiles.

"Regardless of what happens, we'll get her back and life will continue," I say.

Blake kisses my shoulder and sighs.

"Speaking about life going on, there's food and drinks that were promised." He grabs my waist and lifts me into the air.

I detour into the kitchen to collect the meat while Blake fires up the barbie. When I get outside, Blake puts the meat on, then wraps his arm around my waist. He kisses my shoulder and nuzzles closer.

Dad cracks a beer open and places it on the side of the barbie.

"Ava speaks so highly about these burgers, I'm excited."

"Just you wait!" I chuckle.

"I better do a good job then." Blake kisses my shoulder and smiles.

Dad wanders inside and I stay beside him.

"I lied when I said I wanted things to go back to normal, I want more than that," Blake comments.

His hand slides under my shirt and he strokes my stomach.

"Welp, I'm glad you've picked up because anything involving Tori is never easy."

Blake kisses my cheek and sighs.

"I'm so glad I have you in my life."

I turn my head to the side and kiss his cheek.

She doesn't know who she's messing with.