(002)
“Wow.” The word stumbles out of Michael’s mouth, unsure of its own intonation.
“Yeah.” The clipped response.
Steph picks an errant sycamore seed from her dress and looks to her left along the river, to their daughter Madeline playing with a reed.
“Maddy!”
Madeline stands up and away from her makeshift plaything, looking back towards her parents for assurance.
“Come back towards the trees for me sweetie.”
Madeline swivels on a wonky axis, toddling to where she’d been told. Two pairs of eyes following her path rather than focusing on their own. Micheal caresses his hand over the back of Steph’s.
“What’re you thinking?”
She traces loops with the seed around his knuckles, another welcome distraction.
“I don’t know. I just didn’t expect this. I don’t know if we’re ready- it’s just so soon-”
Michael pulls her closer into him, kissing the top of her head.
“I know,” he whispers, “but we didn’t think we were before-”
“Mama! Mama! Look, I found a purse!” From the bush beside them Madeline appears with her right arm sticking out at a 45 degree angle. Her newfound purse is an olive green egg, with vertical chequered grooves swinging from a metal ring between her pinched fingers.
The couple share a short intake of breath.
Steph’s voice is measured and calm, slowly creeping out of Michael’s grasp towards her daughter.
“Madeline, honey, can you stand still for me?”
Madeline stops, but the weight of the grenade in her hand means it swings on a pendulum in her grip.
“Now,” she smiles, “hold your hand very still for me, so I can have a closer look at your purse.”
Maddy holds her arm with her other hand, trying to steady the swing.
“It’s heavy!” She puffs.
“I know, sweetie. I know it is.”
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