The Longing

By Marie S.

Ashley settled herself onto the porch swing. She had the phone to her ear.

“Hello, Baby. I love you. Where are you?”

She was breathless from hurrying over to Bud and Marie’s house from their picnic area. They’d been having a fun day of barbecue and chatter. Excluding Lachlan who was off on a flying assignment. The highlight of her day when he was gone was talking to him on the phone.

“Hello, love. I’m in Melbourne. Why are you out of breath, Ash? Are you alright?” The concern in his voice was evident. Lachlan hated being so far away from her now.

“No worries, Lach.” She giggled out loud and sighed inside. Melbourne was so far away. “See I’m becoming a proper Aussie. I’m out of breath because I’m getting as big as a house so when I run I get winded. I was trying to give us some privacy.”

Lachlan chuckled. She was still tiny except her growing belly and bigger breasts. Lachlan rather liked those. In fact he loved how she looked pregnant. He wished he could wrap his arms around her.

“Then it’s time to stop running. You’re knocking my baby around.”

“The baby loves it, silly boy. She’s kicking me all excited. She wants to run some more.”

“She? My son is now my daughter? When did that happen, Gorgeous?” Lachlan teased her. They’d decided not to find out the sex of the baby. They wanted it to be a surprise when the baby was born. So Ashley kept referring to the baby differently each time he talked to her. Today a she, tomorrow a he; sometimes a different sex in the same conversation.

“Hmm, we shall see. I love the mystery.” She trailed off rather…mysteriously.

Lachlan chuckled again. She really did love a mystery. He imagined how she looked swaying back and forth on the swing. He could hear the squeak as it moved. He bet she had one hand on her belly to better feel the baby kick.

“Let me talk to her. I have something to tell our daughter.” He heard Ashley sing out a ‘ready’ when the phone was in place at her belly.

“Young lady, it’s a little early for me to be reprimanding you. But, you’ve got to learn to not kick your Mum so hard. Now calm down a bit. After all, you’re my little princess. I love you.” Lachlan finished by blowing her a loud kiss.

Ashley giggled happily as she brought the phone back to her ear. “If that’s how you’re going to discipline our daughter, you’re going to be an awful disciplinarian, Lachlan Curry. She’ll have you wrapped around her little finger by the time she’s two. When she’s a teenager we’ll really be in trouble.”

“Humph. I do have some time to practice yet. And when the boys come to call I’ll borrow one of Bud’s guns and just stand at the door.” Lachlan dissolved into a giggling fit.

“Great, that sounds very effective. You’ll be in prison when the boys run home to their parents and complain that Aurora’s father was threatening them with a gun.” She put a sound of mock outrage in her voice.

“Aurora? Where’d you get that name? I sort of like it.”

“Sort of? Is that like me being sort of pregnant?” She giggled and rubbed her belly gently. “Your childhood education was sadly lacking, Lachlan. You called her princess, didn’t you? Didn’t you ever see Sleeping Beauty? Her name was Princess Aurora.”

“Sleeping Beauty? When I was a lad I was playing footie, not watching Sleeping Beauty.”

She sighed loudly. “Your loss, Lachlan. Our daughter will not be so deprived. You can teach her footie, but she will also see Sleeping Beauty.”

“Okay, deal Ash.” He imagined a little girl with long red curls dressed up just like her Mum. Minus the high heels his bride loved to wear. His thoughts became a lot more prurient in nature.

“So what are you wearing, Love.” His voice came out low and husky.

Ashley glanced over at Bud and Marie. They were far out of ear shot. And having their own private conversation with Marie perched on Bud’s lap as he nuzzled into her hair. Ashley’s light and teasing mood won over her initial thoughts.

“Why I’m naked. No clothes on at all.” She paused for effect for a moment to give him a chance to conjure her up in his brain and then turned it around.

“Didn’t I tell you that it was a naked barbecue? We’re all naked eating barbecue and playing croquet on the lawn. You should see Bud with his club.” Ashley really tried to stay serious, but the hiccup at the end of her sentence about Bud betrayed her.

Lachlan groaned loudly. “Love, you really had me going for a moment. I was imagining you naked and then of course your cousin, Marie. The two of you with barbecue sauce smeared on you. Then you had to go ahead and ruin it. Bud naked and playing croquet?” Lach was laughing so hard he could hardly talk. “Like Bud White would ever play croquet, much less naked.” He snorted.

Ashley laughed so hard there were tears in her eyes. “I knew where your thoughts would go if I said we were all naked. And I knew it wouldn’t be Bud.” She dissolved into more giggles.

“Bud is actually very good at horseshoes. His aim is terrific. He might be able to beat you. Hmm, that’s a match I’d like to see.”

“Ashley, ye of little faith! Nobody is going to beat me at quoits. You tell Bud that I challenge him to a match at the next barbecue. I’ll be there. That’s a promise.”

Lachlan meant that too. He’d make sure he was there with Ashley for the next barbie. Maybe they could have it at their house and have Bud and Marie over. He owed them a lot for looking after his little sheilas.

“I’ll tell him, Lachlan.”

Ashley smiled. Lachlan was very competitive. She knew that would get him all riled up at the thought of a challenge to his sporting abilities. Bud was even more so from what she’d seen. It would be a match of epic proportions. She trusted Lachlan to make good on his promise. She simply wanted him home. There was a noise in the background and Lachlan calling to someone.

“Sorry, love. I have to go. The next leg of our flight. Time to do our preflight checks. I love you, Ash. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Take care of both of my princesses.” He blew her a kiss.

“I will. Bye, Lach. I love you. See you tomorrow.” She blew him a kiss back.

“Got it.” Lachlan caught the kiss from her as he switched off the phone. He’d hold it by his heart until he saw her tomorrow. The separation was getting worse as her pregnancy progressed. He hurried off toward his plane.

Ashley swung back and forth on the porch swing. She needed a moment alone before going back to join Bud and Marie. She swiped a stray tear off her cheek. She had an appointment to talk to Richie Roberts tomorrow. Would Lachlan accept a loan with her money as collateral to start a flying business? She hoped so with all her heart. It was obviously getting harder for each of them to be separated. She whispered to the breeze.

“I love you, Lachlan. Be safe, my prince.” She eased herself carefully off the swing. Ashley remembered something about cherry pie ala mode.