by Sam Crescent
The last bedroom at the end of the hall was open, and the window was unlocked.
“Will you help me decorate this room? I know it’s small, but I don’t like that I’ve left it. I don’t need it or anything, but it seems wrong for one place of the house to be deserted.”
Pulling her against him, he kissed her neck. “I’ll help.”
“Good.” She handed him a wallpaper scraper.
“You don’t want me to paint over the walls?”
“No, I want the paper down. I don’t like it. I’ve got an idea I want for the room.”
“Okay, then.” He took the scraper from her hand and started getting the old wallpaper off.
Meredith grabbed his hand, turning him toward her. Before he could say or do anything else, she kissed him. Cupping his face, she meshed her lips against his. Holding the back of her head, he kept her in place as he took the kiss.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“For being you and for helping me, and I don’t know, for just being everything.”
He smiled, stroking her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “It’s always a pleasure to help you.”
****
Meredith walked around the DIY department store, looking at different colors of paints. She had opted for a pale, yellow color, but that didn’t seem good enough at the moment. She didn’t want baby boy blue or baby girl pink. White just screamed bland, so she was opting for the yellow.
“What about some furniture?” he asked.
“No, not yet.”
She was having really weird thoughts and feelings right now.
“What is it?” Brett asked.
Ace was working today, so Brett had taken his place in helping her get the room right. For the past couple of nights, she’d been dreaming about that room. Not in any way a nightmare, more like what she knew it had to be. The way it had to look.
She wasn’t about to tell Ace and Brett that she intended to fill it for a nursery. It was crazy, completely so. Stupid even, but she felt it had to be ready for a child, for a baby, for something.
While she was thinking this way, she was kind of freaking out.
Who prepared for a baby she wasn’t even close to having?
She couldn’t get it out of her head, and rather than freak out her two current boyfriends, she’d ordered the furniture online and it should be delivered on one of the days that they were both working.
“It’s nothing. I don’t want to buy something that is going to sit around for some time.”
“Ace told me about his visit with Will. Your manager seems happier with what you’re creating.”
“I’m happier with what I’m drawing. It does make all the difference, even if at times it makes me nervous.”
“Why?”
“You and Ace may not be around forever, and I guess that worries me right now. You’re helping me, and I don’t want you to stop doing that.”
“We’re not going anywhere.” He cupped her hips and kissed her neck. “Why would we want to leave you?”
She sighed, melting against him and closing her eyes. Ace and Brett both had this power over her. It helped her to forget and to relax, and to feel calm.
Opening her eyes, she looked across the center and saw a couple of women from their street watching them. They had probably seen her kissing Ace just last week.
“Oh, no, I have this horrible feeling I’m going to be the talk of the town,” she said.
“Let them. If Ace catches wind of it, he’ll give them something to talk about.”
She chuckled, and she saw a rug with dog prints on it. “I want this.” She picked it up off the shelf.
“Do you have a dog?”
“Nope, but it is needed.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re strange?” Brett asked.
“All the time.”
She chuckled.
They paid for their goodies and headed out to Brett’s truck. He unloaded all the paint and her purchases into the back seat as she climbed into the passenger side. Turning over the ignition, she put the AC on, and a blast of cold air hit her in the face.
It was too hot outside but the perfect weather for decorating the house, especially this small bedroom, which was in the cool side of the house.
Brett climbed inside after returning the trolley to the bay, and they pulled out, heading back to her place.
She tapped her thigh as she watched the houses go by. Everything was so perfect in the street, each home looking exactly the same. A single car in the driveway at the end of the day. One or two of the houses had a basketball hoop.
Sometimes she hated the conformity of something like this, but today, it felt right. The street seemed like the best place to be.
“Did you do any more research on our homes?” she asked.
“There were a lot of myths and legends online,” he said, pulling up onto the driveway.
“Tell me about them.”
“The one that really stuck out is what this land was prior to the houses being built,” he said. “There’s a tale that there were two lovers that came from different worlds. I’m guessing the rich and poor.”
“Okay.”
“The girl was poor, and the guy was rich. The land was owned by his family, and she worked there from the time she was a little girl. They grew close, and it wasn’t long before that closeness turned into love. The problem was, he was destined to marry a woman with money, who would help them grow stronger.”
“Oh no, this is sounding tragic.”
“So anyway, they decide to run off, to marry anyway, and to have a life together. He always loved the simple life with the sweet things, and she never wanted anything more than him.”
“This story is not getting a happy ending. Is it?”
“Nope. According to sources when they were running away, they were caught, but for whatever reason, he ended up shot, and was dying. Completely swamped with grief with her love dying in her arms, she took his gun, pressed it against her temple, and shot herself. He didn’t die straight away. The tale is that they were found together. He was still alive when she shot herself in the head, and he’d pulled her into his arms, holding her, and before he passed away, he wrapped her arms around his so everyone would know that he loved her.”
“Wow, that story sucks, but that is incredibly detailed. How does that have any relevance to us though?”
“They died in this exact spot where our houses join. We’re the only houses in the street that are joined together as a terrace house. I even checked the planning of this. Our houses are not built the way they were meant to be designed. No one can explain what happened. Clearly a builder or contractor read it wrong, which is why they have the trees and why it’s at the end of the street, so it doesn’t look odd.”
“What a sad tale. Do you really believe this?” she asked.
“Think about all those couples before us, Meredith. You tell me.”
“I wonder if we’re going to be the three to break the cycle.”
****
“What do you think about the future?” Brett asked Ace a couple of weeks later.
They’d been with Meredith for a couple of months now, sharing her and enjoying her together. They still hadn’t taken the chance and made love to her at the same time, but it was close. Whenever he was inside her, he felt that need building within Meredith, how she’d either look at him or Ace, and it was in her thoughts.
“Is this about the house again? I checked your computer, and you’ve been going crazy with this whole thing.”
He wasn’t about to tell him that he reached out to Wynter and to Cassie, who had lived here before them. They believed in the magic of the houses.
“It’s not about the houses.”
“Then what is it?”
“Meredith.”
Ace stopped his press-ups and sat on the mat. They’d been teaching a class, which was a new thing the owners of the gym wanted to try. Some people didn’t like one-on-one treatmen
t, but they needed guidance on how to work out themselves. He and Ace had opted to teach the class together. They knew what they were capable of, and as such, their class had been a huge success, so much so they were now doing two classes a week and the owner wished to up that to three within the next month.
“What do you feel for her?” Brett asked.
It was the only thing they hadn’t talked about when it came to Meredith. Sharing her felt natural to the both of them. They’d shared girls in the past but never to this degree. Not only that, he actually looked forward to seeing and hearing about their dates. He wasn’t jealous of Ace or the way she was with either of them.
Meredith didn’t choose favorites. She adored them both.
Ace stared at him, and he knew he wasn’t going to like what was about to be said.
“I love her,” Ace said. “I know she’s different and she has this fire and shit like those creative sorts do, but I love her and I don’t want to live in a world that doesn’t have her in it.”
“How long have you known?” Brett asked.
“Hey, before we get into the whole, ‘how long have you known,’ why don’t we figure out your feelings as well? I’m not stupid, buddy. I know you ask this shit for a reason. Let’s have it out.”
They had never fought over a girl.
“I love her as well.”
“So we both love her. We’re both having fun. What’s the big deal?”
“I want the whole thing. Kids, family, a wife.”
“Wow, so you want me out of the picture?” Ace asked.
“No, I don’t.”
“This is kind of confusing me here. You want me to leave or what?”
“No, I don’t want you to leave. I’m telling you exactly what I’m hoping to get. That I love her and that I want to one day start a family.”
“But?”
“I see you as part of that family. Don’t you think about it? The three of us together. Having a family, being fucking happy.”
Brett couldn’t deny that it was something he thought about a whole lot, no matter the time or day. He’d watch Meredith and Ace playing around in the yard, and he always saw a couple of kids dancing around their feet, laughing, joking, having fun.
“I haven’t really thought about that, you know.”
“I know. I just thought you should be aware of what I want is all.” He slapped his friend on the back.
“You’re going to have to tell her.”
Brett sighed. “Do you really see her as the settling down kind of girl?”
“I see Meredith as the kind of girl that doesn’t get told what to do. She does what she wants, and no one will be telling her any differently. It’s the way she has always been. Neither you or I will change that.”
They’d never spoken about family or what they’d do for one, or how it would be.
Rubbing the back of his head, he left the gym and made his way toward the shower in the private men’s changing room.
Removing his clothes, he stepped under the cool spray, closing his eyes, and trying to think of something, anything that could possibly take his mind off what was going on in his world.
Everything was so fucked up right now, and he was not in a good place.
A family. A future. He’d never wanted anything like that. In fact, he would normally ditch anyone who started talking about that shit. What was it about Meredith that made him even consider something that he normally hated?
His cock hardened as he imagined her in the bikini she loved to wear, her red hair bound up, curves on display, only this time her stomach was full, rounded with their child. He didn’t even care if it was his or Ace’s, just that it was one of theirs. Her ink, which she still hadn’t finished because it had to be right. So much to adore and to love. There wasn’t a single part of her didn’t enjoy. Her laughter always made him smile.
Listening to her tell the worst jokes always made him laugh. Sitting and watching chick flicks even though he hated them, he did so just to be close to her. She’d either rest against him or Ace, with her feet across the other.
They were the inspiration for her art.
He even liked Will, as he’d met him a couple of times now.
“Get a grip, Brett. Don’t ruin this.”
Either way, he’d have to tell her soon. The only problem he had then was how she’d take the news once he did.
Chapter Eight
The following Saturday
“Are you on a diet?” Meredith asked.
“No, why not?”
“You’re twirling your pasta and not eating it. It’s kind of rude not to eat the food they served you. Just a little hint there.”
“Right, of course.” Ace continued to twirl the pasta.
It was their date night, and since Brett’s revelation, Ace couldn’t get the idea of them all living as a happy family out of his head. Thanks, Brett.
Meredith, as usual, looked stunning. Tonight, she’d gone more formal than he was used to. Her red hair fell in ringlets around her body, and she wore a simple black dress. Red, shiny heels finished off the outfit. There was not much in the way of a splash of color.
He loved to take her out for their dates rather than stay in. There wasn’t a single decent movie playing in the theater, so he’d opted to come here, to the Italian restaurant as he was getting a little tired of Chinese food.
“Ace, something is going on. Please tell me.”
“How was your day today?” he asked.
She took a deep breath, her lips pressing together. He knew she hated when he kept things from her, but right now wasn’t the time to start spilling his guts, not yet anyway.
“It was good. I’ve got a few more paintings to complete, and once they’re done, Will thinks we can start to pull in some prospective buyers.”
“What about another show?”
“I’ve been talking with him about that, and we’re in agreement to keep holding back. I’ve done two, which is amazing, and they’ve been sellout as well. Leave them wanting more, he said. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m working on individual work and building up my collection. When I’m ready I’ll go back to doing commissioned work. It’s happening. I’m so relieved to say that it is. I’m getting it back, and it feels so amazing to be back.”
“That’s great news. I’m really happy for you.”
“Yeah, it’s great, but I don’t know what’s going on right now, Ace. You’re different, and I thought we were all friends here. Have you and Brett got something to tell me?” she asked.
He ate the mouthful of pasta, not really tasting it.
“Do you ever think about the future?”
“You mean like what we’re all going to become and planning for the worst-case scenario?”
“Something like that.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to. Simple as that. I hate to think or to plan about a future that may never happen. Do you do that?”
“I’ve always got a plan in place. I know not many thirty-five-year-old men spend all their time with their best friend. Brett and I have been with each other forever, and it’s almost hard to think of a time without him.”
“I understand that.”
“You’re one of the few women that do.”
“But?”
“Have you ever thought about kids? Family? Something other than just living life by the moment.”
“Oh,” she said, pushing some hair off her face.
Ace watched her reaction and saw that she was a little uncomfortable. “What is it? I didn’t mean to ruin this date.”
“Erm, kids was, were, are, I’m not really sure. They were in my plans. Erm, I … when I was eighteen I had a serious boyfriend. We’d been together forever, to be honest. From the time we were kids we were the friends that somehow came together and were in love.” She took a deep breath, and he saw her hand shake as she reached for her wine. “Before I went to college I discovered I was pre
gnant. About two months.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had any kids.”
“I don’t.” She tilted her head to the side. “Erm, I thought we were in love, and then one morning before I decided to quit college, I went back to our apartment without telling him, and there I found him sleeping with who I thought was my best girlfriend.”
“Ouch.” He winced.
“Needless to say, the hormones, everything, it … I ran. We were in an apartment block that had no elevator. The stairs were a nightmare. I didn’t watch where I was going, and then, I woke up in the hospital. I had fallen down the stairs, and in doing so I had lost my baby,” she said.
He saw the tears in her eyes, and he was in shock. What the hell was he supposed to do?
“I was going to marry this guy. My best friend and my best girlfriend had been cheating on me. They were going to tell me on the same night that I found out I was pregnant. I had fallen in love with my baby though. I didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, and I was devastated. You could say that I flung myself into my art, and since that moment, I don’t plan. I allow things to happen. I planned for a family. I planned to be in love, for a husband, and look what happened.” She put down her fork. “The greatest pain I ever felt was touching my stomach and realizing it wasn’t there.”
Ace moved. He went on one knee and cupped her face, pressing his head to hers. “I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t care if they were drawing attention. All that mattered was that she knew she wasn’t alone. He wanted her to know that he was there, and that he cared for her, and would always care.
“It’s not your fault. I love kids so much. Family means a lot to me, even if mine sucks at times. I do like a family, but please don’t ask me to plan anything, Ace. I can’t do that.”
“I won’t ask you to plan. I promise you.” He kissed her lips, knowing this story was for her to tell Brett.
****
Ace and Brett both knew the truth, and Meredith had seen the shock on their faces. It wasn’t exactly easy to hide. She had been on the verge of motherhood. To think that was nearly twelve years ago. Her son or daughter could be screaming the house down right about now.