Aimee sat in the doctor's office anxiously. She knew something was wrong from the expression on the doctor's face, and his reluctance to actually commence the appointment.
'I don't have a STD do I?' she asked anxiously.
'No, no,' he reassured her. 'That's all clear.'
'So, um, everything's good?'
'No. Your pap smear revealed a high level abnormality. When was your last smear before this one?'
'Um, when I was pregnant with my son,' she admitted.
'Was it normal?'
'Um, no, but I was told it was probably due to a HPV infection. I was a virgin when I met my husband, but he wasn't a virgin. He was two years older than me...' she trailed off.
He nodded. 'Okay. Well, I'm going to refer you to a colposcopy. I've called ahead, and they can fit you in the day after Boxing Day, if that suits you.'
The day after Bella was due to arrive. She was supposed to be working that day.
'Can I organise it for another day?' she asked.
'You can, but I wouldn't delay it. Chances are it's not cancer, but surely you want to put your mind at rest?'
She laughed nervously. 'Are you kidding? It took me over nine year to come back for a pap smear. The only reason I asked for it was because my boyfriend told me to.'
'In which case, ring and confirm for the day after Boxing Day.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas had passed, Bella had arrived, and Val had spent the day with both Bella and Ben. Aimee had had to go to work, so the three of them had driven to the Gold Coast. They'd gone swimming, eaten McDonalds for lunch, played in the arcade, eaten fairy floss, then headed home.
It had been a long day. A good day. Val finished sweeping the kitchen floor, put the broom back beside the fridge, and went to the living room. He stood in the doorway, watching Aimee and the kids. The three of them were talking about Val's parent's house, and eating m&m's.
He'd wanted this - a family - for so long. He liked the noise and the laughter and the mess and the sense of purpose. He enjoyed listening to the kids bicker and giggle. Bella was enjoying her time up in Toowoomba so much more now that Ben was around, and that made him feel not jealous, but relieved.
He'd never forgive Kylie for not telling him she was pregnant with his child. What selfish, stupid, idiotic part of her had thought that was acceptable? Most people thought the worst part of it was that she'd decided, two years into Bella's life, that she needed his money. Val disagreed. The financial side didn't bother him. He knew he shouldn't have relied on her claims that she was on the pill, and at any rate, he should have used a condom. He'd had a lot of unprotected sex in his early twenties. God knows how he hadn't picked up a STD. But he hadn't; his results were in, he was clear.
The worst part was missing out on the first thirty-one months of Bella's life. He could remember meeting her for the first time like it was yesterday. His mother had come with him. She, too, had been in shock at the news Valery was a father, but unlike him, she was confident around young children.
The two of them had arrived at Kylie's house on a Saturday morning. He'd been so nervous. A kid. A daughter. It had seemed so surreal. And, rather than being interested in the strange Russian couple who'd arrived at her house, Bella had been scared. She'd sat in her mother's lap, barely glancing at them, until a good hour had passed. Only then had she ventured closer to Val and Yuliya.
It had taken Bella years to become used to Val. He'd had to visit her at her mother's house - which later became her mother and stepfather's house - because she was so wary around him. She was nearly four before he was trusted to look after her for a full day, and six before he was allowed to have her sleep over at his hotel room.
Val grieved the lack of contact with his daughter. He was working with some dead beat arsehole at the time, a guy who couldn't be stuffed doing fortnightly visitation with his kids, and he'd been blinded by his rage towards the man. How could he give up on his kids? Didn't he know how lucky he was, to have been the one to bring them home from hospital, watch their first steps, and take them to their first day of school?
Val had none of that. He'd had a daughter who lived interstate, called him by his first name, and referred to her stepfather as 'Dad'. He was angry. He still was angry, a fact that wasn't helped by Kylie intermittently suggesting that he use the cash he was spending on travel directly on his daughter. The implication was clear; your presence isn't as valuable as your money.
Things between him and Kylie had improved these days, but he was still slightly perturbed by the conversation they'd had last night. Kylie had suggested a change to their custody arrangement. Unlike other suggestions she'd made, this one actually seemed to have both his and Bella's needs at the forefront, but he was still worried about it. He'd have to talk to Aimee about it.
Val walked in and took a seat next to Aimee. She glanced over and smiled at him in the glow of the television. He kissed her freckled nose and wondered how it was possible to love someone so much.
'Want an m&m?' she whispered, offering him the bag.
He grabbed a handful. 'Thanks.'
She leant into him, and he wrapped his arm around her. It felt nice. It was also the first time they'd touched in front of the kids, and it didn't go unnoticed.
'You didn't tell Mum she was your girlfriend!' Bella hissed accusingly.
Ben turned around stared at Val and Aimee. His hazel eyes appraised them carefully, before settling on his mother in a wary, questioning way.
Oh shit. He'd just assumed the kids would have realised he and Aimee were more than friends. Linda's daughters certainly didn't need to be told who he was. In fact, the middle daughter, Anika, had rolled her eyes when they were introduced and made some comment about his age. Ben and Bella, however, seemed too have miss all the clues.
'Well?' Bella demanded. 'Is she going to be sleeping in your bed tonight, or is she actually just a friend?'
'Woah, settle down,' he replied. 'She's my girlfriend. I'm sorry I didn't tell you.'
He was surprised by how angry she was. She was almost treating it as if he'd betrayed her by not telling her. Ben, on the other hand, was taking it all in his stride.
'Cool,' Ben said. He turned to Bella. 'So I guess that makes you my stepsister. I'd rather a brother, but you're pretty cool.'
Bella sighed heavily. 'Aren't you mad that they lied to us?'
Ben considered the question. After a pause he replied. 'Nope. Where are the m&m's?'
Valery stood up and gestured for Bella to follow him. She gave him a withering look, but she got up all the same, and followed him into the kitchen.
She looked a lot like him; pale skin, blue eyes and dark hair. Tall. Solidly built. It was so odd seeing his features reflected back at him, and even weirder when he realised that he, too, would have felt betrayed if he was standing in her shoes.
'I'm sorry,' he repeated. 'Bella, I meant to tell you. There was just never a right time. I thought maybe... you'd just figure it out.'
Her face twisted into a grimace. 'Val, I see you for two weeks a year. Every time I come here, you expect me to know what you're doing. How was I to know you were dating Aimee? You said we were taking Ben with us because his Mum was working.'
