Living Alone Together - Chapter Two
Two separate lives are lived side by side.
Chapter Two.
"Aislinn, maybe you should get out more."
"Pa, I don't need to. I'm busy with work anyway."
"You're not getting any younger, dear."
"I know."
"You know, I heard children of fifteen years old these days are having babies like there's no tomorrow."
"Good for them," she rolled her eyes.
"Ok... fine. I'll leave you alone. I'm going out to visit a few friends at the mall. Be back for dinner."
"OK, Pa."
"Cara's bringing James over tomorrow. I have to babysit for your sister every week now."
"She is? Maybe you can bring him with you to the mall. I'll be willing to take him off your hands when I get home from work."
"Good plan, Aislinn."
Stewing over what to make for dinner Aislinn thought about what her Grandfather. It was his dream to watch his daughter's little girls grow up to be mothers, too.
As much as she wanted to be a mother, she refused to go on blind dates or dates in general.
Wasn't William always on blind dates? If it didn't work for him, why should she bother?
Meanwhile, William sat over a candle lit dinner with Lacey's last attempt at fixing him up - or so she claimed.
This one, as expected, didn't measure up.
To what? He didn't know. All he knew was that he felt nothing for her.
The next morning happened just the same as the previous.
He went into work to get some more proposals done. Took a five-hour nap on his office sofa, got cleaned up and Aislinn walked in to give him his morning cup of coffee and updates on the pending proposals.
He sighed.
"So how was last night?"
"Like any other blind date."
"That's too bad. Maybe next time, William."
He sat there staring at her back as she turned to go, he blurted out the words, "Marry me."
"I beg your pardon?" She asked as she turned to face him; confusion knit her eyebrows together with a hint of irritation.
"I just wanted to see your reaction."
"Please do your experiments on others, William. Not me."
"Sorry," he apologized, feeling like a reprimanded five-year old.
"Now, was there anything else you need?"
"No," he answered and went back to gathering his folders.
"Your first appointment is here. Maybe you'd want to shave that one patch of scruff you missed on your jaw," she suggested as she turned to leave his office.
He flinched and rushed to the washroom to get rid of the missed spot. He was sure... Looking into the mirror he saw no scruff.
She got him.
Serves him right, he thought.
He didn't know why he blurted those two words. They words just flew out. Maybe he had a mild case of turrets whenever she was concerned.
Not allowing himself to dilly-dally anymore, he rushed out to greet the group of five who stood outside in the lobby.
Looking over his shoulder as he herded the little group to the conference room, he wagged his index finger at Aislinn. They both snickered silently until he disappeared behind the closed doors.
When he got back from his meeting he found lunch prepared on his desk. Grabbing his coat, he rushed out and stood in front of Aislinn's desk.
Staring intently at her, as if it would hurry whoever was on the other end of the phone call she was on. Getting a bit antsy, he motioned for her to hang up and take his hand.
Never one to get flustered, she ended her call professionally and gave a frustrated sigh when she looked up at him.
"What is it?" She asked looking from his proffered hand to his face. Damn that heartwarming smile.
"Let's go!"
She arched her brow, "Where?"
"Out. Lunch."
"Your lunch is on your desk, William."
And she went back pretending to busy herself.
She couldn't get herself to look him in the eye. As much as she wanted to take his offer, she knew she shouldn't.
He still stood there looking down at the crown of her head.
"Where's your lunch?" He asked.
"I'll get something later."
He disappeared through his door and came back plopping his lunch in the middle of her desk.
"Here," he said curtly and walked back into his office and shut the door between them.
Something in her chest tore a bit.
He was only being nice, she scolded herself. Next time, she promised, if there is a next time - she should just go.
The rest of the day proved to be awkward every time they crossed paths. She couldn't get his stupid marriage proposal out of her head and he wouldn't look her in the face.
Thank heavens they didn't need to conference on Fridays.
Not wanting to stray from her four-year routine, she gave a soft knock on his open door. She could see he was busy on the phone.
So, she bade him a, "Goodnight, William". Whether he heard her or not, she told herself it didn't matter.
William waved a goodbye at Aislinn but when he looked over his shoulder, she was gone.
"Nope. Done, Lacey. No more."
"But-"
"No."
"Not even-"
He laughed incredulously.
"Not even if she were the last woman who crossed your path."
"You're no fu-" she cut herself off with a gasp of panic.
Worried, William asked, "Lace, what's wrong?"
"My water just broke!"
"Is Warren there?"
He heard her pant.
"Lace! Get Warr-"
But before he could finish his sentence, she was screaming out her husband's name and forgot about her brother on the phone.
He gently hung up and shook his head.
It seemed like the world was moving quickly around him, but he stood still and couldn't catch up.
Getting home a half hour later than usual, Aislinn was greeted with a squeal of delight.
Her twin sister, Cara, had a son named James. Her sister had called her earlier that week to tell her that the daycare was hiking up their prices and how she could barely afford it as it was.
Since Pa was retired in great shape, Cara hoped he would be willing to watch him for the working hours of the weekdays.
Just until she could find an alternative.
"James!"
"Auntie! Guess what!"
"I don't know... What?!"
"I'm gonna sleep over!!"
"You are?" She asked making sure her face glowed with pleasant surprise.
"Yup!" He nodded happily.
"Where's Pa?"
The little boy gingerly turned and pointed towards the living room.
"You ate already?"
"Yup!"
Getting out of her outdoor clothes and settling her bag on the hook, she walked into the kitchen and found a pot of home-made noodle soup. She loved her Grandfather's recipe. She could never make it right each time she tried.
"Auntie..." James called to her.
"Yes, James?" She called from the kitchen.
"Will you take me to the park if I'm good?"
Endeared by the child's request, she motioned for him to come and give her a hug. After, she chucked him under the chin and said, "Of course. It's still early out. You wanna go after I eat?"
He nodded happily.
"Well then, go let Pa know."
"OK!" He said running towards the living room.
Walking down the street she listened intently to her nephew jabbering about his week at school. She replied appropriately with enthusiasm matching that of James' storytelling.
Looking up as they approached a cross-walk, she caught the driver's eye. Her smile spread from one cheek to the other.
The man behind the wheel waved to her and looked down toward the little boy she held hands with. His smile slightly dimmed and the lights changed and he sped off.
"Aislinn, maybe you should get out more."
"Pa, I don't need to. I'm busy with work anyway."
"You're not getting any younger, dear."
"I know."
"You know, I heard children of fifteen years old these days are having babies like there's no tomorrow."
"Good for them," she rolled her eyes.
"Ok... fine. I'll leave you alone. I'm going out to visit a few friends at the mall. Be back for dinner."
"OK, Pa."
"Cara's bringing James over tomorrow. I have to babysit for your sister every week now."
"She is? Maybe you can bring him with you to the mall. I'll be willing to take him off your hands when I get home from work."
"Good plan, Aislinn."
Stewing over what to make for dinner Aislinn thought about what her Grandfather. It was his dream to watch his daughter's little girls grow up to be mothers, too.
As much as she wanted to be a mother, she refused to go on blind dates or dates in general.
Wasn't William always on blind dates? If it didn't work for him, why should she bother?
Meanwhile, William sat over a candle lit dinner with Lacey's last attempt at fixing him up - or so she claimed.
This one, as expected, didn't measure up.
To what? He didn't know. All he knew was that he felt nothing for her.
The next morning happened just the same as the previous.
He went into work to get some more proposals done. Took a five-hour nap on his office sofa, got cleaned up and Aislinn walked in to give him his morning cup of coffee and updates on the pending proposals.
He sighed.
"So how was last night?"
"Like any other blind date."
"That's too bad. Maybe next time, William."
He sat there staring at her back as she turned to go, he blurted out the words, "Marry me."
"I beg your pardon?" She asked as she turned to face him; confusion knit her eyebrows together with a hint of irritation.
"I just wanted to see your reaction."
"Please do your experiments on others, William. Not me."
"Sorry," he apologized, feeling like a reprimanded five-year old.
"Now, was there anything else you need?"
"No," he answered and went back to gathering his folders.
"Your first appointment is here. Maybe you'd want to shave that one patch of scruff you missed on your jaw," she suggested as she turned to leave his office.
He flinched and rushed to the washroom to get rid of the missed spot. He was sure... Looking into the mirror he saw no scruff.
She got him.
Serves him right, he thought.
He didn't know why he blurted those two words. They words just flew out. Maybe he had a mild case of turrets whenever she was concerned.
Not allowing himself to dilly-dally anymore, he rushed out to greet the group of five who stood outside in the lobby.
Looking over his shoulder as he herded the little group to the conference room, he wagged his index finger at Aislinn. They both snickered silently until he disappeared behind the closed doors.
When he got back from his meeting he found lunch prepared on his desk. Grabbing his coat, he rushed out and stood in front of Aislinn's desk.
Staring intently at her, as if it would hurry whoever was on the other end of the phone call she was on. Getting a bit antsy, he motioned for her to hang up and take his hand.
Never one to get flustered, she ended her call professionally and gave a frustrated sigh when she looked up at him.
"What is it?" She asked looking from his proffered hand to his face. Damn that heartwarming smile.
"Let's go!"
She arched her brow, "Where?"
"Out. Lunch."
"Your lunch is on your desk, William."
And she went back pretending to busy herself.
She couldn't get herself to look him in the eye. As much as she wanted to take his offer, she knew she shouldn't.
He still stood there looking down at the crown of her head.
"Where's your lunch?" He asked.
"I'll get something later."
He disappeared through his door and came back plopping his lunch in the middle of her desk.
"Here," he said curtly and walked back into his office and shut the door between them.
Something in her chest tore a bit.
He was only being nice, she scolded herself. Next time, she promised, if there is a next time - she should just go.
The rest of the day proved to be awkward every time they crossed paths. She couldn't get his stupid marriage proposal out of her head and he wouldn't look her in the face.
Thank heavens they didn't need to conference on Fridays.
Not wanting to stray from her four-year routine, she gave a soft knock on his open door. She could see he was busy on the phone.
So, she bade him a, "Goodnight, William". Whether he heard her or not, she told herself it didn't matter.
William waved a goodbye at Aislinn but when he looked over his shoulder, she was gone.
"Nope. Done, Lacey. No more."
"But-"
"No."
"Not even-"
He laughed incredulously.
"Not even if she were the last woman who crossed your path."
"You're no fu-" she cut herself off with a gasp of panic.
Worried, William asked, "Lace, what's wrong?"
"My water just broke!"
"Is Warren there?"
He heard her pant.
"Lace! Get Warr-"
But before he could finish his sentence, she was screaming out her husband's name and forgot about her brother on the phone.
He gently hung up and shook his head.
It seemed like the world was moving quickly around him, but he stood still and couldn't catch up.
Getting home a half hour later than usual, Aislinn was greeted with a squeal of delight.
Her twin sister, Cara, had a son named James. Her sister had called her earlier that week to tell her that the daycare was hiking up their prices and how she could barely afford it as it was.
Since Pa was retired in great shape, Cara hoped he would be willing to watch him for the working hours of the weekdays.
Just until she could find an alternative.
"James!"
"Auntie! Guess what!"
"I don't know... What?!"
"I'm gonna sleep over!!"
"You are?" She asked making sure her face glowed with pleasant surprise.
"Yup!" He nodded happily.
"Where's Pa?"
The little boy gingerly turned and pointed towards the living room.
"You ate already?"
"Yup!"
Getting out of her outdoor clothes and settling her bag on the hook, she walked into the kitchen and found a pot of home-made noodle soup. She loved her Grandfather's recipe. She could never make it right each time she tried.
"Auntie..." James called to her.
"Yes, James?" She called from the kitchen.
"Will you take me to the park if I'm good?"
Endeared by the child's request, she motioned for him to come and give her a hug. After, she chucked him under the chin and said, "Of course. It's still early out. You wanna go after I eat?"
He nodded happily.
"Well then, go let Pa know."
"OK!" He said running towards the living room.
Walking down the street she listened intently to her nephew jabbering about his week at school. She replied appropriately with enthusiasm matching that of James' storytelling.
Looking up as they approached a cross-walk, she caught the driver's eye. Her smile spread from one cheek to the other.
The man behind the wheel waved to her and looked down toward the little boy she held hands with. His smile slightly dimmed and the lights changed and he sped off.
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