Double Lines

A week has gone by since I made the delivery to Pinnacle. From my understanding, they make regular orders to Melina’s bakery to cater their lunches.

Because it is still the holidays, not just for me but for school children, Melina’s bakery is bustling. I’ve been spending my mornings helping out in the front, and Amelia has even begun teaching me how to make their specialised pastries. Let’s just say they’re not suitable for consumption yet.

“Mikaela?” Melina asks, walking into the kitchen. I look up from what I’m doing and smile at my aunt.

“Can you please do the deliveries for me again today?” she asks. That’s another role Melina has asked of me during this break, delivering her products to her customers.

“Sure. Where to?” I ask.

“Pinnacle?”

“Are you sure? I think David would prefer you to deliver the food,” I state, wriggling my eyebrows at her. To Melina’s credit, she blushes.

“I’m sure he would, but I’m busy. He’ll understand,” Melina states.

“Sure, is this for them?” I ask, putting in the last few items and boxing them up.

“Yup. You know where to go?”

I nod. The address is still on my phone. I grab the keys for the van and start loading it with the boxes.

“Okay, I’m off,” I call out into the kitchen.

“See you,” Amelia replies.

“Adios,” Miguel smiles. I wave them goodbye and walk out the door.

The room Willow, Pinnacle’s receptionist, sends me to is the same as before. I deliver all three boxes in two trips, standing back and rubbing my belly as I breathe.

“You again,” David says as he walks into the room.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I smile, turning to look at him.

“You’re pregnant?” he asks, noticing my hand resting on my stomach.

“Sure am,” I reply.

“Well, next week when you make your delivery, call me, and I’ll get the boys to bring the boxes up,” he says, looking through his wallet and handing me a card.

“Thanks,” I say, taking the card, “but I won’t be working for Mel next week,” I state.

“Why not?”

“University starts back next week; I’ll be busy.”

“You’re at university? What are you studying?” David asks.

“I’m doing a double degree, a Bachelor of Education and Special Education,” I say proudly.

“You want to be a teacher?” he asks.

“I want to teach children with special needs,” I explain.

“That’s very noble of you,” David says. I shrug my shoulders.

“They’re just people like you and me. Their brains work differently, that’s all,” I explain. David doesn’t say anything, which I think is a good sign. Instead, he helps me set the food up for his meeting.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t Melina. But you know her shop is open to customers,” I tell him once we’re done.

“Is it now?” he asks, an eyebrow raised. Something about him doing that makes me smile.

“Yeah. I guess… I’ll see you another time?” I ask as I’m ready to leave.

“I guess you will,” he tells me.

I have an appointment with my new doctor on the last day of the school holidays. I walk down to the shop and greet Amelia and Miguel, working in the back.

“Can I have a coffee?” I ask Tamsin when I see her.

“It’s not good for the baby,” Melina teases.

“Only if I drink lots of it and haven’t had coffee in ages!” I pout. Tamsin looks over at Melina, who smiles and nods.

“While you’re at it, can you make me a flat white?” a familiar voice asks. We all turn and see David, who is looking at Melina with his own smile.

“David! What brings you here?” Melina asks.

“Well, a little birdie told me you’d be here,” David says, looking at me. I can’t help but smile as Melina gives me an accusing look.

“Why don’t I make you both a flat white, and you can have a break, Mel?” Tamsin asks, smiling.

“That sounds like a great idea! David, Melina, take a seat, and I’ll bring some food out to you,” I tell them.

David grins at this while Melina huffs beside me.

“Fine,” she mutters, coming out from behind the counter and walking to a table with David.

“And that is how it’s done,” Tamsin laughs.

My coffee is forgotten as I serve David a slice of carrot cake and Melina a volcano cake. Tamsin and I watch as they start talking, and Melina seems quite happy.

“Oh shoot!” I cry when I realise what I’m doing.

“What?” Tamsin asks.

“I have to catch a bus to the doctor, or I’ll be late,” I tell her. Tamsin frowns.

“Take my car,” she says, fishing her keys from her pocket.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Yes. Just don’t crash it,” she advises.

“Thanks, Tamsin, you’re the best,” I tell her.

“Yeah, just remember what I said: you crash it, you pay for it,” Tamsin replies, narrowing her eyes. I nod and run out of the door.

I’ve decided to share my pregnancy care with my doctor and the hospital, so today’s appointment is at the doctor’s.

“Have you decided on baby classes at the hospital?” my new doctor, Doctor Wallace, asks. I shake my head.

“I haven’t heard of that,” I answer.

“Oh! The hospital has classes you can take to prepare you for the baby. They’ll show you the maternity ward and give you practical advice about having a newborn. Would you be interested?”

“I guess… can I go by myself?” I ask. Maybe I could ask Melina to come with me.

“Of course. There might be a few couples there, just to let you know,” Dr Wallace advises. I nod. My doctor is aware that I have no partner in the picture.

“I think I’d like that,” I tell her. My doctor smiles and hands me some information about the classes. I have to call them, but it’s a free service run by one of the midwives.

“How was your appointment?” Melina asks once I walk into the living area. Melina is working in the kitchen, making dinner, and I walk up to the oven to see what she’s cooking.

“She asked if I wanted to do pre-natal classes at the hospital,” I tell Melina as I look into the pot of white creamy soup simmering within.

“Are you going to do it?”

“I was thinking about it. I’m a little nervous. I guess it’s just one of those things I have to do being a single mum,” I explain, pulling out the stirring ladle and taking a sip of the soup.

“Yum, what soup is this?” I ask.

“Leek and Potato. And you can wait for it; the bread is still in the oven,” Melina says, shooing me away. I laugh.

“You’ll have to teach me how to make it,” I tell Melina.

“No, I won’t if you’re going to burn down my kitchen,” Melina states.

“How was your date?” I ask.

“Don’t change the subject. Would you like me to go with you?”

“Go where?” I ask, grabbing soup bowls so I can set the table.

“To your pre-natal classes,” Melina explains.

“I’d like that,” I admit.

Melina brings the soup and then gets the bread out of the oven. My mouth salivates as the smell of freshly baked bread fills my nose.

“Hmm, this is good,” I hum as I sip the soup.

“I know. Making it from fresh takes time, but it’s worth it,” Melina adds.

“Talking about things that are worth it… How was your date with David?” I ask.

“It was not a date!” Melina blushes.

“But?”

“But he did ask me to dinner on Saturday…” she replies.

“Yes!” I squeal.

“I can’t believe you’re so happy about that,”

“Come on, Aunt Melina, someone in the house has to get some,” I grin.

“Aunt,” Melina repeats, rolling her eyes. I just laugh.

“And you getting some is why you’re here, remember?”

I nod my head.

“I know, I know, and it was good!” I say truthfully, emphasising the good part. I blush as I think of Ethan’s lips on my own, how he made my core throb by just holding me. I don’t regret having sex with Ethan, or the result of our intimacy. I just regret that it happened the way that it did.

“I’m sorry,” Melina says, looking at my stomach. I take my hand away from where I was nonchalantly rubbing my belly.

“I don’t regret this. I wanted to be with Ethan. I just regret why it happened,” I admit. Melina nods.

I look at my aunt, who opens her mouth as if to say something before deciding to close it. I’ve lived with Melina for almost two months now, and we’ve got to know each other well.

I’ve told Melina about Noah and shown her pictures of him from my Facebook page. Melina knows about Noah’s proposition and about Ethan. She never said a nasty word about my part in it all. She never made me feel like a slut for what I did.

But I don’t know why she’s estranged from my mum. I don’t know her story, why she ended up in this city and not closer to home. I don’t know if I’ve wanted to know, which is why I've never asked. If she wants to tell me, she will.

“So, where are you going to go to dinner?” I ask, changing the subject.

//\\///\\\//\\

“I am so nervous!” Melina cries, running out of the bedroom with two dresses.

“Which one?” she asks, showing me two more dresses.

“The dark blue one,” I say. Melina furrows her brows and looks at it.

“Are you sure?” she asks. The dark blue one is strapless with a cute diamante belt, whereas the dress in her other hand has a cross-over V-neck top and would make her look older.

“You’re only what, fifty, right?” I tease.

“I’m forty-four, thank you very much,” Melina tells me. I grin. Melina and my mum may be in their mid-forties but still look young. Not my age, young, but young. I hope I look as good as them when I reach their age.

“I don’t know, I don’t know! I don’t want to look like mutton dressed up as lamb, you know?”

“What the heck does that even mean?”

“It means I don’t want to look like I’m trying to look younger than I am! For God’s sake, I’m old enough to be your mother!”

I chuckle at her statement. She’s my mum’s identical twin sister. Sometimes, I mistake her for mum and have almost called her mum a couple of times.

“Fine, I’ll wear the green one,” Melina says.

“No! Wear the blue one, you’ll look hot! Please?” I beg.

“I’ll try it on… but….”

After much convincing, Melina wears the dark blue dress, which sits beautifully on her curves. She insisted on wearing a black shawl, which did make her look old, but I guess I’ll compromise. I’m doing the finishing touches on her makeup when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” I smile. I run down the hallway to the video intercom and see David standing outside with flowers.

“Come upstairs and close the door behind you,” I tell David when I press the intercom button. I then unlock the door and head back to the bathroom.

“How do I look?” Melina asks.

“Like a million dollars. Come on, he’s waiting for you,” I tell her.

“I’m so scared!” Melina states, grabbing my arms.

“You’ll be fine,” I laugh.

We walk down the stairs, where I see David standing, holding a bouquet of roses.

“Hi, David,” I greet with a smile.

“Hello, David,” Melina greets.

“Well, hello, you look beautiful, Mel,” David says, looking at Melina up and down.

“Thanks, you look good yourself,” she replies, and I think I’m going to strain the muscles in my face from smiling so hard. I watch as Melina and David walk towards each other, giving each other a hug.

“These are for you,” he says, passing her the flowers.

“Thank you,” Melina blushes. She looks at me, and I take them from her.

“I’ll put them in water,” I tell them.

“Thanks,” David says before turning and looking at Melina lovingly. This is so weird. It’s like watching my mother date, but not.

“We should go,” David says, not leaving her eyes.

“Okay,” Melina says.

“See you,” David says, looking at me.

“Treat her well, David; I know where you work,” I warn him. He laughs.

“I will, Mikaela, I will,” he assures me. They turn and head for the stairs, and I watch them go.

- edited