It all started with Freshers.....

Part Thirteen - Moving in

"Ciara, I've set that box of cutlery and plates. That shite on the counter. It's the only one. Don't kill yourself unpacking," Stephen chided gently.

I nodded and took myself off to wash my hands then unpack the few cups and plates that we had. I'd gotten whatever had been on offer and they were cute in their way. Money was an object but I'd tried to make our home as nice as possible.

Anna washed the plates and everything which had been wrapped in newspaper while Laura dried and I put away.

"Ciara, you really suit pregnancy," Anna remarked as I stood on a chair to reach into the top cupboard. I was putting the four wine glasses that I owned up there. The cupboards were a pale brown, most likely pine with silver handles. They were lovely but I'd have preferred something more modern.

"I wish. I feel like a whale," I joked.

"No you're lovely and neat," Anna added.

I smiled, just a small, gentle smile. "Thank you." In an effort to repair relations with Laura who'd stopped speaking to me I decided to ask all about uni.

"How's uni going?" I asked Laura.

"Yeh it's good. Busy..." I nodded idly as Laura described the finer points of student life. The best parts, the socialising, the parties, the freedom from home. She neglected the mention her lectures, her assignments or her money worries. It is strange how we decide to romanticise our life to others as if to make them jealous even when there is little to nothing to be jealous of.

With the kitchen unpacked I felt more content. The boys left again and I rang the chip shop. Cathleen had fallen asleep. I ordered her a burger and resolved to leave her some of my chips and leave them in the oven to stay warm.

I stood for a second. I had clothes to pack away but Cathleen and Cora were sleeping and I couldn't wake them. Curtains.

"Can you help me hang curtains please?" I asked Anna. I felt light.

"Ciara go lie down for ten minutes, you're as white as a sheet."

I did as I was told knowing I couldn't stand much longer. I'd been going since nine this morning. I'd been here last night packing sheets and pillowcases and towels away. Then I'd went home and packed up the last of my clothes and shoes leaving out one outfit for today. I hadn't gotten into bed until one then I'd rose at half seven to shower and eat then to be here for the boys arriving with boxes. It was catching up to me now at two.

I went down to our room and Cathleen was just waking up. She smiled apologetically at me. Then her eyes widened as did mine as I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

"I'm so pale," I muttered.

"You look bad," she breathed as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"Here sleep for half an hour. I will wake you, I promise. Just rest."

Cathleen got up and I took her place. Instantly Cora adjusted to a new person to cuddle up to and I mean my eyes literally slide closed. I was fast asleep in seconds.

Forty five minutes later I was woken by Cora pulling at my arm. I opened one eye to see her grinning cheekily at me. She gave me a big kiss then tried to climb over me.

"It's okay bubba, I'm getting up now," I murmured gently.

We rose and pattered down the hall. Thankfully it was a bungalow so everything was easy to access and there was no worrying about stairs. Cora smiled as her feet made squashing noises on the wooden floor.

Cathleen had mercifully kept things running for me. Curtains had been hung in every room including the bedroom, something I'd failed to notice.

"Thank you," I said to Cathleen as she lifted my lunch out of the oven.

"Always welcome darling," she told me.

Cora and I picked at our lunch then I settled right back into work. With only bits of the living room to suss and clothes to pack away we were pretty sweet.

"I'll clean the bathroom for you," Anna offered.

"Thank you."

Our parents had arrived too so they started into the living room with Stephen, Cormac and Peter whilst John brushed the concrete around the house. A pointless job in my opinion. Cathleen and I stuck into the clothes.

"Built in units are a pain." I was ready to cry. The room was a decent sized square but it had once been fashionable to build in units. The landlord had obviously thought built in light brown units would look great up against one wall. A gap was left big enough for a double bed in the middle of all the units. The plain units were a space killer. The room would have been much bigger with wardrobes fitted in. The room was big enough to out the bed against the other wall as we'd done earlier for Cora but it made to rest of the room too narrow. Cormac had since moved the bed to the middle of the units. The bedroom walls were a neutral cream and a beige carpet lined the floor. Any duvet colour went so that was good.

"Tell me about it," Cathleen agreed, "You'd be better with a closet."

We divid the clothes up, Stephens on the left mines on the right. To reach the cupboards above the bed we had to stand on the bed and stack the shoes in.

For six o clock the house was all organised.

Cora was exhausted from being caged in rooms all day. She'd been kept in the same room as Cathleen and I all day playing with her baby or her sticker book. She'd been really well behaved. I was so impressed.

"Chinese time!" Cathleen practically cheered.

Everyone had a similar idea. Despite having eaten badly all day everyone was craving the fatty contents of a Chinese especially me even though I should have been eating better.

"We're going to head home for dinner," Anna explained politely as we write down a Chinese order.

"Are you sure you wouldn't stay?" I asked.

"No, thank you darling."

I hugged her goodbye and Laura. Thanked them all again and they left.

"Thank fuck they're gone," Stephen said finally.

I slapped him on the arm playfully and went off to the living room to sit down. The sofa was comfortable. Black leather with two matching arm chairs. Again gotten cheap as an ex display model. Money was important especially with baby stuff to buy as well as pay rent.

That night I fell into our bed and giggled slightly as Stephen climbed in beside me.

"What's so funny?" He asked as I rolled into my side.

"It's such a grown up thing to do, you know, move in together, but I don't feel grown up enough for it."

"Ahh baby but neither do I. Let's just play house for a while see how she goes."

He kissed me goodnight and I smiled as he pulled me close. We spent our first night in our house sleeping cuddled up into each other.