Chapter Twenty-Eight – NOW

 

Bright and early Saturday morning, we load up Kyle’s truck with our supplies for the weekend at the lake cabin. Thankfully the Columbus Day holiday is Monday, so we’ve both got the day off, meaning we’ll spend two nights at the cabin before driving back late afternoon. 

“Cel, you sit in the front.  Matilda and I can take the back seats,” I say.

“No, no, don’t be silly.  Matilda and I have already discussed it.  We’re sitting together, because we’ve got coloring to do,” she replies.

“Are you sure?” I implore.

“Absolutely,” she assures me.

“We’re gonna color mermaids, Momma,” Matilda tells me, clutching her pencils.

“Okay, ladies, climb in. We’re ready to go.  Did you lock up, babe?” Kyle asks.

“Yep. Let’s go,” I say with a clap.  I’m excited to see his cabin and just get away for the weekend.

It takes about an hour, after we make it through downtown Greenwich, to reach the cabin.  It’s off a beaten track, down a gravel road, and set amongst thick bushland.  Kyle has cleared the immediate area around the cabin and there’s a narrow trail leading through the trees.  Aside from that, there’s nothing but trees, grass, rocks, and the sounds of wildlife.  No car horns honking, screeching brakes, shouting voices, or gas fumes.  Just fresh air and peace.

“The lake’s through there,” Kyle says, pointing to the narrow track I noticed.  “We’ll go for a walk later, but let’s unload first.”

The cabin is not what I had pictured.  I thought it would be basic, run down, falling to bits, planks of rotten wood hanging from the rafters, maybe on a lean.  Essentially a shack.  But it’s actually the complete opposite.  It’s gorgeous.  The outside is made from smooth, rustic planks of timber that Kyle told me he sourced from the surrounding bushland, the porch is spacious and inviting.  A few gas lanterns hang from the railings, and the door is also a solid piece of wood.  Kyle lets us inside and again I’m pleasantly surprised.  It’s larger than what I first imagined too. 

“This is it,” Kyle says, dumping our bags by the door.  Along one wall is the kitchen area – the sink is below a large window, a wooden countertop, and a few cupboards and shelves make up the rest.  The remainder of the area is bare aside from a couple of chairs, a small table, and a few magazines.  “Bathroom is through that door,” he says, pointing to a closed door to our left.  “The other door is a bedroom.  That’s pretty much it.”

“It’s beautiful,” I gush.  The entire space – the cabin, the surrounds – reminds me of a picturesque country scene on a postcard at sunset.  It’s stunning.

“You’ve certainly turned it into something beautiful,” Celia murmurs as she turns, taking it all in.  “I remember the pictures you showed me when you first bought it.  Looked like something out of a horror movie,” she mentions with a laugh.  “Now, it’s the complete opposite.”

“Thanks, Silly,” Kyle says, placing his arm around his aunt’s shoulders and kissing her on top of her head.  He is at least a foot and a half taller than her, so she has to look up to give him the smile on her face – one full of love and pride.

“Can we go exploring, Uncle Kyle?” Matilda asks excitedly.

“Sure, sweet pea.  Give me ten minutes and we’ll go.”

I set up our sleeping bags and then put fresh sheets on the bed for Celia.  I won’t hear of her sleeping on the floor this weekend.  Matilda helps Celia unpack the groceries while Kyle finishes unloading the truck.  Then we pull on our hiking boots and go exploring.

The track leading down to the lake is narrow and thick with overhanging branches, but it’s cleared enough for us to walk down it in single file. 

“Watch your step,” Kyle warns as he holds out his hand for each of to go past him and step down off a log and into an open grassy area at the edge of the lake.  The water is flowing slowly, and not too far away I can see a small waterfall.  I sweep my hand through the water and find it freezing, so with a yelp, I pull it out, causing Matilda to laugh.

“Watch this, Matilda,” Kyle says as he picks up a flat, grey river stone.  He flings it into the lake and Matilda’s eyes go wide as it skips across the water.

“Again, again!” she cheers.  While Kyle teaches her how to throw the rocks, Celia and I slowly walk up toward the waterfall.  It’s small, maybe three feet high, but it’s beautiful nonetheless. 

“It’s so pretty here,” I say.

“Peaceful,” Celia adds wistfully.

The sound of Matilda’s giggles reaches my ears and I turn back in their direction to see Kyle giving her a high-five.  She must have successfully skipped a rock.  We stay by the lake until the sun begins to dip below the trees before we trek back to the cabin.

“Can we go out again tomorrow, Momma?” Matilda asks as we toe off our boots inside.

“I’m sure we can.  Maybe we can try and find some birds or other animals,” I suggest.

“I’ve got some poles, we could try and catch a fish,” Kyle adds.

“Yay!”

Kyle starts the grill and we have pork chops with macaroni cheese for dinner and then we turn in for an early night.

“This place is beautiful.  I can see why you like to decompress here,” I whisper to Kyle in the dark as we snuggle together in our sleeping bag.

“Yeah, I’m glad I have it.  I’ve got permits and I’m going to expand.  Add on another two bedrooms and maybe hook up with electric.”

“It’ll be even more amazing then,” I murmur.

“We won’t have to sleep on the floor, then,” he replies, and even though I can’t see him, I hear the smile in his voice.

“The floor’s not so bad.  Especially when you’re here with me,” I say, snuggling into him deeper.  His hands meet my hips and he squeezes, groaning into my neck.

“Wish it wasn’t that time of the month.”

I reach between us, feeling his hard length.  He hisses and I grin, then I shuffle down in our sleeping bag.

“Liv,” he rasps as my breath skates across the broad head of his cock.

“Mhmm?” I hum, swirling my tongue around him.  The salty tang of his arousal bursts on my taste buds and I lick down his shaft before flicking my tongue across his sack and coming back up again.

“Suck me,” he hisses, completely at my mercy.

I take him in my mouth, sliding down his full length until his head hits the back of my throat and I gag slightly.  His hand goes to my hair and he grips tight as I bob my head up and down, hollowing my cheeks and driving him wild with my mouth.  I cup his balls and he thrusts up with his hips.  I graze my teeth over his sensitive knob and he grunts.  I work him faster and faster, using my hand on the base where I can’t reach with my mouth.  I put pressure with my lips and hum to give him a vibrating feeling.  His fist clenches in my hair and I know he loves it, so I do it again.

“Shit, babe.  Fuck!  I’m gonna blow,” he grunts. 

I keep sucking.  Tighter.  Faster.  Deeper.  Until he thrusts up hard and groans.  His cock jerks against my lips and then the first spurt of him come sprays the back of my throat.  I swallow greedily, taking him all, before licking his shaft clean.

After I grab myself a glass of water and brush my teeth, I climb back inside the sleeping bag and snuggle in beside him.

“Love you,” he whispers.

“Love you.”

“Night, babe.”  His lips find mine effortlessly in the dark and he kisses me soft and sweet.

“Night,” I whisper.

 

The next morning, we wake bright and early, have breakfast, and then decide to go for a walk.  We spend a couple of hours trekking through the dense bushland and sighting some birdlife and lizards.  We make it back to the cabin in time for lunch and then Celia decides to have an afternoon nap while Kyle and I take Matilda fishing.

We choose a spot where the water is calm. Matilda watches along with intense fascination as Kyle threads a worm on her hook.

“Eww,” she says, scrunching her nose.  “What now?”

He tosses her line into the water and says, “Now, we be patient.”

“How long will it take for a fishy to eat my worm?”

He shrugs.  “Hopefully the fish are hungry.”

I sit beside them, opting not to fish, watching them with my heart full of love.  When Kyle has his line in the water, I muster up my courage and decide now is the perfect time to tell Matilda that we are in a relationship.  I feel more nervous than I ever have in my life.  Negative thoughts consume my mind, swirling around and around like a text-only movie on fast forward. 

What if she hates the idea? 

What if she becomes upset? 

What if she doesn’t understand? 

What if she resents me for moving on from her father?

What if she hates me?

A sharp pain shoots up my fingertips and into my wrist, snapping me out of my thoughts.  I look down and see I was gripping a sharp rock so badly, it pierced my skin.

“Shit,” I hiss.

“Everything okay?” Kyle asks over his shoulder to me.

“Uh yeah, sure,” I mumble.

Come on, Liv.  You can do this.  It’s time.

I suck in a deep breath, filling my lungs with crisp oxygen courage. 

“Hey, Matilda,” I call.

“Yes, Momma?”

“Come sit by me for a minute.”

She stands right away, walks the few steps to me, and sits down beside me.  I put my arms around her and hold her tight.

“I love you, kid,” I say.

“I love you, Momma.”

“I need to talk to you about something important, okay?”  God, I’m so nervous.  My hands are trembling.

“Okay,” she chirps.  Always happy, that’s my girl.

I struggle for a moment, trying to find the right words to say.  Words her six-year-old mind will comprehend.

“I want you to know that I love you very much and I always will. That will never change,” I start, my words vehement.  “But, something has changed in my life and I need to tell you.”

“What is it, Momma?”  Her blue eyes gaze up at me.

“Well, I… I have a boyfriend,” I say gently.

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open before splitting into a huge smile.  “You do?” she squeaks.  “Can I meet him?”

“It’s someone you already know. Someone who’s been a big part of our lives for a long time now.  It’s Kyle.”

Her head swings back and forth as she looks between me and Kyle.  Then she jumps up and shakes her little booty.

“I’m doing my happy dance!  I’m doing my happy dance!” she sings, and I can’t help but giggle.  “My wish came true, Momma,” she says.  “When I blew out my birthday candles, I wished you could love Uncle Kyle!  My next birthday, I’m gonna wish for a baby sister!”

“Oh, my god,” I whisper to myself.

“You sure you’re okay with this, sweet pea?” Kyle asks.

“Yes. I’m excited. Are you going to live with us now?”

“Uh, don’t get ahead of yourself, kid,” I mumble through a laugh.

Suddenly, her smile falters and she looks forlorn.  “Momma?”

“Yeah, baby, what is it?”

“If Uncle Kyle is going to be like my new daddy, I can still love my daddy in my heart, can’t I?”

A sob tears from my throat unexpectedly.  My vision blurs instantly with unshed tears.  “Of course, honey,” I say emphatically, swallowing the emotions clogged in my throat.  “Of course.”

“That’s good, then,” she chirps, back to being happy again.  “Can we check if we have a fishy yet?” she asks Kyle, changing the subject like she didn’t just squeeze my heart with her innocent words.

I look over to Kyle and give him a wide-eyed look of disbelief and relief.  He grins in understanding and shakes his head lightly, conveying the same feelings back to me.  Then he runs a hand through Matilda’s hair as they walk across the pebbles to check the fishing poles.

The image of them standing on the lake edge, side by side, Matilda’s head barely reaching the top of Kyle’s thigh, one muscular arm protectively draped over her shoulder, the other propped on his hip as they stare out into the calm water, will forever be ingrained in my mind.

She thinks we’re just fishing, but it’s so much more than that.  It’s spending time together, and innocently crafting moments that will stay with us for life.  It’s me sitting back and letting her have time with Kyle. It’s laughter and jokes, and stories. 

It’s making memories.