Tess

[cottoncandypink]

The door does not open up to the condo, unfortunately. Because Wilford has not been to the condo since the last time he brought someone through the door. It opens up from his office, into an area nebulously defined as a dining room.

At least, there is a table there, which someone has taken a passing effort to keep clear. The stack of mail, hastily picked up toys, and a couple of coats on the table suggest nobody does any eating at the table.

The house is what passes as small in the neighbourhood. Windows look out on the sloping hills and sprawling city in the distance. Inside, brushed steel kitchen, slate grey walls, and leather furniture are betrayed by tiny hand smudges on the windows, peanut butter stains in the carpet, crayon scribbles in places that nobody seems to have the energy to deal with.

The house is also unusually quiet. How interesting.

Comments

[cottoncandypink]

"The second one." Wilford reaches up into the cupboard. Since he's poured the coke into a glass, he might as well splash some whiskey into it too.

"Speaking of, you talk to that baby daddy of yours?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Yes, I'm still sure."

She stands, slowly, keeping hold of the counter.

"Oh, yes, Jim and I had a lovely conversation."

[cottoncandypink]

"I'm sure he was thrilled to hear the news," Wilford says. "Him and that nutcase of his."

He rolls his eyes and takes a drink from his glass. It's tricky, but he finds it a bit easier with a glass. He'll probably have to refresh the black a bit once the doctor buzzes to come up.

[have_no_mercy]

"I've stolen the baby they should have had."

It's still utterly ridiculous as she says it.

"And there may have been threats made."

[cottoncandypink]

"You..."

What.

Wilford shakes his head and finishes getting the table looking like actual human beings live there.

"Threats against you?"

[have_no_mercy]

She takes a step away from the counter and make it to a chair at the table. Success.

"More the baby and Sherlock."

[cottoncandypink]

Wilford doesn't say anything. He just hums deeply. Before he can come to any kind of opinion on the matter, his phone rings, and he answers it.

"Yes, what?" he answers, as if being called is a complete surprise to him. "Oh, yes, yes, yes. Send him up. That's right."

He hangs up, but leaves his phone out.

"Well, it sounds like he deserves anything coming to him, if you ask me."

[have_no_mercy]

"They're both a pain in the ass."

She settles herself in the chair, breathing slowly to get her bearings back.

"Time for the games to begin?"

[cottoncandypink]

"Not quite. You really not eating anything?" he asks.

Even if she's not, he ordered anyway. She can pick at it if she wants, or it can remain as set dressing.

[have_no_mercy]

She waves the question off.

"No, I don't want to be sick when the doctor gets here."

[cottoncandypink]

"Suit yourself."

He uses the camera on his phone to make sure he still looks right, and stuffs it into his pocket as the doorbell rings.

He opens the door to find the delivery guy from down the road, waiting to be paid.

"My word, you scared the dickens out of me," Wilford blusters at the man. "I forgot we called you, and was halfway to falling asleep."

He pays the man as he apologises awkwardly, and takes the box off him.

[have_no_mercy]

She stays where she is and lets Wilford deal with the delivery guy. Thankfully, it doesn't take too long. She makes a face at the smell of the food as he returns.

"What did you order?"

[cottoncandypink]

"Chicken, rice for you," Wilford says, portioning food from containers onto the plates. Tess' plate also gets a small helping of roasted Brussels sprouts.

For himself, something a bit more substantial. Any opportunity to eat something he hasn't cooked is one he'll jump at lately, and he took advantage of it with a steak and baked potato and some kind of veggie medley.

He spends a small moment debating eating at the table, but it's such an uncomfortably foreign thing for him that he takes his plate out to the living room and turns on the TV. Not because he intends on watching it, but to build an atmosphere.

[have_no_mercy]

It all smells awful, but she supposes that will pass. She takes her plate and follows him back into the living room. She's not that interested in eating, but the company helps. Even if it is Wilford.

"I hope this doesn't take much longer. I want this taken care of."

[cottoncandypink]

Wilford checks his watch, having perfected the art of balancing a meal on his knee.

"I wouldn't know," he says. "You didn't look this stuff up before you went through with it?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Look up what? How my alien powers will affect my pregnancy?"

She just gives him a look.

"The doctor said they'd be here in about an hour. How long has it been?"

[cottoncandypink]

"Call him back if you want," Wilford says, handing over his phone. "Might have got held up in traffic."

He makes cutting a steak while balancing it on his knee look easy.

[have_no_mercy]

Taking the phone, she calls the office back and learns they're on their way and should be there soon. Putting her plate on a table she sits back in her chair to relax.

"This is a little more than I was expecting to have to deal with."

[cottoncandypink]

"Thank god I missed that part."

He's spent one afternoon with Tess, and he wants nothing to do with this crap, ever again.

[have_no_mercy]

"You'd better be careful with Celine."

Tess may have made hers happen, but it often happens when you don't want it to.

"Unless Michael wants a pseudo sibling."

[cottoncandypink]

"There's a lot you don't know," Wilford says.

And he leaves it at that.

[have_no_mercy]

"I'm sure there is."

And she doesn't particularly want to know.

[cottoncandypink]

Good. Because Wilford doesn't particularly want to talk about it.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she bails as soon she signs the divorce papers, anyway."

The only reason he can think of why she's put up with him for so long is a complete lack of other options.

[have_no_mercy]

"If that's the case, why wouldn't she just leave now?"

Tess is glad she doesn't have to worry about such situations.

[cottoncandypink]

"The big wall around the property and my bills being paid probably have something to do with it."

Wilford likes having her around, even when she drives him nuts by doing weird things like covering his sofa with blankets. But her moving in was very much an act of desperation.

"Once things calm down and she's able to do her job, she'll have her own money again."

He hasn't had a relationship last longer than a month in his life. Experience has told him this one is only different because the circumstances are.