(no subject)

[axeslade]

Next chapter of I Should Tell You

Mandy did everything possible to keep her mind from their meeting. After all, he might not come. He might decide to stand her up just because. So she made a late dinner, helped Kimberly with her homework and cleaned house just to keep herself busy and wear herself down in case he didn't show.

Due to this, she was asleep when someone knocked at the door. She roused a little at the sound, but put it off as a dream. She thought this the most plausible explanation, especially after she heard his voice.

"Mand?"

She was just starting to drift off again when he banged on the door some more and spoke, worry clear in his voice.

"Mand? Look, I'm sorry I'm so late, I....had some things to care of. Open up, please?"

Then her mind kicked in and she bolted out of bed and down the hall to open the door, thankful, when her mind cleared, that she hadn't bothered to change out of her street clothes when she went to bed.

He looked shocked when she opened the door, and then embaressed. He looked down at his feet, nervously shoving a few stray strands of hair out of his face.

"Ah...look, I'm really sorry for showing up at this hour..."

"What time is it?" she asked. In her haste, she hadn't thought to look at the clock.

He looked up then, giving her that wolfish smile she knew far too well.

"Two in the morning. I just...I had a lot of thinking to do, you know?"

Mandy nodded, then stepped back.

"Well, come in then."

***

"So..." Curt coughed, setting down his coffee.

"Why did you want to see me?"

Mandy looked up from her mug, a bit startled since neither of them had spoken in almost ten minutes. Then she shrugged.

"Guess I just wanted to...see how you were getting on or something I guess. It has been nine years."

He locked his eyes with hers and gave her skeptical look.
"Doing all right. Producing albums for a few people, staying clean. You?" he said just a little too casually.

She shrugged one shoulder.

"All right. Lounge singer, it's crap work but it keeps a roof over my head and the bills paid on time usually."

Curt nodded, then smirked at her.

"We could've done that over the phone. What's the real reason you wanted to see me?"

She swallowed, turning her head to the side to avoid his piercing gaze.

"I...missed you, I guess," she whispered, keeping her eyes on the stained carpet. She heard him swallow, heard the rustling that probably meant he was running his fingers through his hair. Then he spoke, trying to sound aloof and casual but just coming off nervous.

"Yeah? After nine years you finally started missing me?"

She laughed because otherwise she'd start crying. No, goddamn it. She'd missed him every goddamn day for the past nine years. But she had just a bit too much pride and was still a little too wounded by what he'd done to make her leave in the first place to admit to that.

"Did you..." she started, then stopped. Should she really ask him about that? She glanced up and saw him giving her a questioning look and sighed. Might as well get it over with.

"Did you...talk to someone from the Herald today?"

She would've sworn she saw him wince quickly, but he just nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah I did. In fact, that reminds me of something I wanted to talk to you about..."

"Mommy?" Mandy whipped her head around when she heard Kimberly's voice, startled when she saw her daughter standing the hallway.

"Hey baby, what're you doing up?" she asked softly. Kimberly shrugged and yawned.

"Heard you talking."

"I'm sorry we woke you sweetie. We'll be done soon, go back to bed."

Kimberly nodded, rubbing her eyes, and pointed vaguely at Curt with her free hand.

"Who's he Mommy?"

Mandy glanced quickly at Curt, biting her tongue when she saw the question in his eyes, then looked back at her daughter.

"Just a friend sweetie. Go back to sleep."

"All right Mommy."

"G'night honey. Sweet dreams," Mandy murmured as Kimberly shuffled back to bed. The room fell silent again for a few moments, Mandy and Curt both staring at the ground.

Suddenly, Curt spoke up, although he kept his gaze lowered.
"Cute kid. What's her name?"

"Kimberly Anne," she said through a tight throat. Even though she'd planned on telling him soon, she'd hoped she'd have a little more time to prepare.

Curt nodded, then spoke again, even softer this time.

"How...how old is she?"

Mandy licked her lips.

"She'll be nine in May," she said, squeezing her eyes shut so she wouldn't catch a glimpse of Curt's face to see his reaction. It didn't help much, though. She still heard him let out a shaky breath and felt him get up from the couch.

"I-I should be going. I'll swing by tomorrow, okay?" he stammered. She nodded listlessly and leaned back against the couch, keeping her eyes closed until she heard him leave the apartment.