the wrong kind of love #26

Chapter 26

When Nicky left, Brian got up and walked over to Mandy.
“What did he want?” he growled, towering over her.
Mandy looked up at him, dumbfounded, “What’s it to you?” she gasped.
Brian shrugged, tutted and walked away moodily. Mandy was still too shocked by his behaviour and continued staring at him as he walked away. She finally snapped back to reality and answered the call.
“Hey Bri. How do you fancy going to the pub after work?” called out Mark, stuffing a doughnut down his face.
Brian looked at him, “What about Fina and the kids?” he asked.
“Well, she can come too if she wants, but don’t you think the kids are too young?” he shrugged.
Brian rolled his eyes, “No, you ponce. I mean, won’t she mind?” he sighed.
“She is at her mum’s today. She won’t be home until around 8!” he shrugged, “I am sure she won’t mind!”
“Well, in that case, ok. I’m in!” he smiled. He looked at Sam and grinned, “What about you Sammie? Fancy pubbing after work?”
Sam looked at him and shook her head, “Sorry lads. Shane is picking me up after work!”
“So? Bring him with you!” answered Mark.
“Nah. I already promised him that we’d go to the movies. He has been on and on at me to go and watch a flick with him for a weeks now. Maybe another time eh?” she smiled.
Brian winked at her and looked at Mark, “I guess it’s just me and thee!”
“More drinks for us!” grinned Mark.
Mandy hung up the phone when she saw a woman standing in front of her. She had a baby in her arms. She must have been just a few weeks old, she guessed.
“Hi. May I help you?” she asked, with a smile pasted on her face. She looked at the baby asleep in her arms and smiled even bigger.
“Hmm, yes please. Is Mark Feehily here please?” she asked.
Mandy looked back, “Well, he was here a second ago. Hang on. I’ll go and look for him. Who is asking for him?”
“OH just tell him its his wife!” she smiled, cradling the baby in her arms.
Mandy smiled and went inside the corridor. She stopped by the kitchen and opened the door. Mark and Brian quickly stopped chatting and turned around to look at her. Mandy looked at the pair of them. They looked like naughty little schoolboys who had just been caught out smoking.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Mark grinned, “Nothing. Just having a chat, that’s all!”
Mandy looked at Brian, who immediately looked at the ground.
“Oh. Alright then. I just came over to tell you your wife is there asking for you!” she said.
“Ok, great!” smiled Mark, “Tell her I’ll be right over. Just want to finish my coffee!”
Mandy nodded and walked back to the main hall. She sat at her desk and looked at Fina, “He’ll be right over. He is just finishing his coffee!” she explained.
“Thanks!” smiled Fina.
Mandy looked at the sleeping baby again, “She’s gorgeous! How old is she?”
Fina smiled at her and then looked at her sleeping baby, “Thank you. She looks just like her daddy!”
Mandy smiled and nodded.
“She’s only 3 weeks old!” added Fina.
Mandy smiled and saw a little girl, of around 3 walking around her desk. She tapped Mandy on the knee and looked up at her. Mandy looked down at her and smiled, “Hello there!”
“Hello. My name is Tammy and I am 3!” she grinned, holding up 4 fingers. This made Mandy chuckle slightly.
“Well, hello Tammy. My name is Mandy, and I am…too old!”
Fina smiled and shook her head, “Sorry about her!”
Mandy smiled and shook her head, “Mark is my daddy!” she babbled.
Mandy smiled, “Yes, I know. You look like him too!”
“Both of them have been blessed with their father’s looks!” laughed Fina.
“Do you work with my daddy?” she questioned, looking up at her.
“Why, yes. I do!” smiled Mandy.
“Tammy. Sop bothering that lady and come here!” sighed Fina. She then looked at Mandy, “Sorry. She may have her father’s appearance, but she has my character and will talk non stop for hours.”
Mandy laughed, “It’s ok. She’s no bother!”
Fina smiled and bounced the baby in her arms as she started crying.
“Great!” she moaned, “Why is Mark taking so long? Emma’s getting hungry!”
“Want me to go and get him again?” offered Mandy.
Fina shook her head, “No, don’t worry. But could you...I mean, would you mind holding Emma for a second? I need to find her dummy!” she said, struggling with the bag tossed over her shoulder.
Mandy jumped at the chance. She quickly got up and held Emma in her arms. She looked at her, crying and bounced her in her arms. Fina searched the baby bag for a dummy. Mandy looked at Emma and smiled, trying to calm her down. Just as Fina grabbed a dummy from the bag, Mark and Brian walked back in.
“Sweet Jesus!” gasped Brian, slapping Mark’s shoulder and stopping.
“What?” asked Mark, trying to follow his gaze. Brian watched as Mandy bounced Emma in her arms and smiled at her. His mouth was wide open. She looked like a natural mum, even if she wasn’t one yet. It really suited her. He could really picture her with a baby in her arms. His baby, he dreamed.
“Look at her. Look at her holding your daughter, Mark. Now how good would she look holding her own baby?” he fantasized.
“Brian, you’re obsessed, mate. You need to get a life, man!” he chuckled.
“I do have a life. It would be better if she was in it though!” he mumbled, walking to his desk.
“Daddy!” shouted Tammy, running towards her father. Mark turned around and scooped her in his strong arms, kissing her, “Hello sweetheart!”
“Mummy is taking me to Nanny Slater’s!” she boasted.
“I know, pet!” he smiled, “Are you being a good girl for Mummy?”
She nodded slowly and put her finger in her mouth shyly.
“Tammy!” warned Fina.
Tammy looked innocently at her father and bowed her head down with a shy smile.
Fina sighed, “Tell Daddy what you did!”
Mark sighed and looked sternly at Tammy, “What did you do?”
“I painted picture for you, on the wall!” she mumbled.
Mark looked at Fina, trying his hardest not to laugh.
“Don’t you dare laugh!” she hissed.
Mark shook his head and looked back at Tammy, “We have been over this time and time again. What does Daddy keep telling you?”
“Not to paint on the walls!” she mumbled with her finger still in her mouth.
“Where do you paint?” he further questioned.
“On paper!” she added, looking down at the floor.
“Good. Now next time don’t forget!” he smiled, kissing her and putting her back down on the floor. He leaned over, kissed Fina gently on the lips and then kissed Emma’s forehead delicately.
“You ok, love?” he asked.
“Yeah. We just came over to see you before we go to mum’s!” she smiled.
Brian looked at them and couldn’t help feeling envious. This is what he wanted. A woman to love and a woman who would love him back and give him happiness and a family. He sighed and continued working at his computer, every now and then looking over at Mandy. He heard Fina saying goodbye and then looked at Mark. Mark looked at him as he made his way back to the desk. He smiled at him.
“Don’t talk to me. I hate you!” Brian growled jokingly to him.
“What did I do?” laughed Mark, holding his arms up defensively.
“You have everything I want in life. A good woman. 2 gorgeous kids and a nice home. What do I have? An annoying housemate, his loud girlfriend and his incredibly annoying pet dog to keep me company!” he moaned.
“Oh don’t you start feeling sorry for yourself, McFadden, or you’ll be going to that pub alone!” smiled Mark.
“Yeah, coz I have never done that before!” he sighed, rolling his eyes. He smiled at Mark as he picked up a paper and went to the photocopying room. 5 minutes later, Mandy walked in, needing to copy some forms. Brian looked at her and sighed, “I won’t be much longer!”
“Take as much time as you need, Brian. You got here first!” she shrugged.
“How are you finding it here?” he asked, trying to make small talk.
“It’s alright!” shrugged Mandy, “I’m coping!”
“Boring huh?” he asked, looking at the papers feeding on the tray.
“Not really. It sure beats staying at home, staring at the same 4 walls day in and day out!” she shrugged.
Brian nodded and got the paper out of the tray, “All yours!” he mumbled, turning around and grabbing the copies. As he did so, Mandy walked and stood behind him, ready to use the machine. As he turned around again, unaware that Mandy was right behind him, he bumped straight into her. He grabbed her arms to steady himself and her and they stared into each other’s eyes. He felt her chest pressed on his and swallowed hard as he stared deep into her eyes.
“Sorry!” they both said unanimously.
Brian laughed, blushing slightly, “My fault. I should have looked where I was going!”
“No, I shouldn’t; have been standing so close to you!” she smiled, “Totally my fault.”
Brian stared at her, both of them unaware that they were still pressed into each other’s chests.
Brian looked at her for a little while and cleared his throat, “I’ll, er…I’ll see you outside!” he pulled away, stepped aside and walked away. Mandy sighed when he left and finally let all the tension she had inside of her out with that sigh. She looked at him walking away, shook her head and then set about Making her copies