February

The due date for our son is in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to seeing him. I'm standing in the empty bedroom that will be my son's room with a tin of blue paint.

Casey walks into the room and looks at it. "How long is it going to take for the room to be finished?"

"Four days. I need to give the paint time to dry as well. Then we can unpack the boxes that are gathering in the third bedroom."

She crosses her arms not looking too happy. "That room is supposed to be our office, not a storage room. Why can't you hire someone to come in and paint it for us?"

"I'm not hiring anyone to do something that I'm capable of. I want our child to see that I did something myself because I love our son with all my heart."

"If you love us you'd go to the store and grab everything I have on the list before lunch."

Shaking my head I look at Casey. "You're capable of doing that yourself. I'm busy right now and we're running out of time for the room to get done."

Pulling her phone out of her pocket she calls someone. With a whiny voice, she says. "Miguel, can you come over and help my fiancé with painting the baby's room. I want him to go to the store and he's taking too long with the room." She puts the speaker on, so I can hear her conversation.

Damn, she made me out to be the lazy one. I have a lot on my plate and running to the store for her isn't one of my plans for the day.

Miguel: Casey, I'm not coming to your place. I've told you a hundred times that I don't want anything to do with you.

Casey: You don't mean that, Miguel. When I call you come running.

I'm glad he's not falling for her shit this time. He deserves better than getting mixed up with her again.

Miguel: Not this time. I met someone and she's the one I'll be dropping things for. Not you. Please lose my number.

That's great he found someone and he's telling her how it's going to be and she's not going to win this fight with Miguel.

Casey: You don't have a girlfriend. You're saying that just to get rid of me. I've known you a long time, Miguel and during that time you've never had a girlfriend.

Miguel: Things change. People move on. You're pregnant and living with the father of your child. Be happy Casey and forget all about me.

Casey: I don't want to forget you, Miguel. You were the best I ever had.

She's cruel to say those words while I'm close to her.

Miguel: Why don't you call your neighbour? I'm sure he'd love to help, Austin with the work.

That's the first time he's said my name during the conversation.

Miguel: The next time you call me I won't be answering, Casey. I'll see you around.

The dial tone greets her ears and her face turns red with anger. "Who the fuck does that guy think he is. Hanging up on me and telling me what to do." She stomps towards the door and looks at me. "If it wasn't for you I'd with someone who loves me. I hate you, Austin."

She's not the first woman to say that to me and with her, it doesn't bother me. She's just going through one of her mood swings and they're starting to drive me crazy.

One moment she can be sweet and the next she's a terror. It's like a revolving door. You don't know which version you're going to get each day.

Hearing the door slam shut I pick up the paintbrush and start painting the room. While I'm painting my phone starts to ring and I walk over to it. Looking at the caller ID I see it's my brother and I pick up the call.

Me: Hey, brother. What do you need?

Calvin: Where are you? I thought we were meeting up for our morning jog.

Me: Agh, I forgot about that. I'm in the middle of painting my son's room. Why don't you join me for that instead?

Calvin: Sure, I'll message my wife and let her know the plans have changed.

Me: Why do you need to run things through with her? You're a grown man and should be able to do what you want.

Calvin: I always do what I want. It's polite to let your wife know, just in case she worries that you're running late. A couple of years ago I was in a terrible accident in Australia and my wife didn't know where I was. She got a phone call eight hours after the accident telling her I was in a coma. Can you believe it? Eight, hours before she knew where I was. That's why I tell her everything.

Me: Does it calm her nerves knowing where you are?

Calvin: Yes, it does. Let me call her and I'll join you shortly.

Me: Okay, see you soon, brother.

He hangs up the phone and I continue with painting the side of the room where the window is

A smile spreads across my face as I look at what I've done so far.

Casey's going to like this room soon enough.

The front door to the condo opens and I hear a male say. "Austin, where are you?"

"I'm in the spare room." Standing up I move over to the door and lean against the door frame.

My brother rounds the corner and a smile spreads across his face. "It's been great seeing you more often."

"I know. It's been great knowing that you can come around at short notice and help me with things."

Calvin looks at the bare room. "Do you need help setting the room up over the weekend?"

"Yes, I do. You get the kids to come over as well. We can make a family day of it."

"Sounds good. Will, you're fiancé be joining us?"

Probably not. She's never joined on anything that involves my family and I don't think she's going to start now.

Clapping my brother on the back, I say. "She has a name. I know everyone on the family doesn't want to say it, but they should."

"There's only one woman's name that we'll be saying, but you fucked that one up good."

Damn, I was waiting for him to bring that up and he has to do it while we're painting my son's room.

"I can't turn back time, Calvin. If I could Eliza would be the only woman I'd be with. The time I spent with her in July was the best time of my life. That's all it's supposed to be. Just memories of the woman I used to love. I dream about her at times too, but that all it is. Just dreams. Last month she told me how much she hates me and how much she doesn't want to see me. She looked happy with the guy she's with and I couldn't ask for a better person to be with her." Picking up the brushes we start painting the room.