it's not just dating

Lynsey knew she'd put Casey in a mood. He was like a lion without a kingdom, sometimes. Or maybe just the silent type.

If only he would yell, put his fist through the wall, some kind of reaction would be nice.

"Oh, you know, you wouldn't want that, that would be horrible," Effy told her while they were cutting fruit and making more refreshing drinks while the men were out back watching Duffy's toddler. 

"Right, I know, but sometimes, it's like I'm not even here," Lynsey felt overcome with something. Possibly morning sickness although it was late in the afternoon. "I know, I should have told him days ago about..about the pregnancy. It just didn't feel like the right time. Like what if he thought it was a lie or.." Lynsey shook her head. "I'm just not the one going through something like this until now. Other people are."

"Well, we are all other people," Effy's big eyes looked at Lynsey as if she needed to accept the fact she was going to be a mother and she needed to be ready.

Lynsey remained even lipped. She was glad she would actually have a clerk position at the library. She missed the library. She was no longer a volunteer and of course, she would be doing all of this while pregnant.

Casey hadn't said, "You can't work under these conditions." In fact, he said nothing but looked at her a bit agitated that maybe her timing was the worst.

"You know, he loves you," Effy said as she was peeling a mango.

Lynsey really didn't know. Sure, he gave her flowers sometimes, but they were from the garden. Maybe he only wanted her to put them in a vase. It wasn't like a courting season. They didn't go anywhere. 

She nursed her bottom lip.

Of course, other things happened. And it would have never happened if she hadn't made it happen. Only, at the moment, she couldn't think what it was. But he'd been affectionate. As the weeks wore on it wasn't quite possibly like the first night, but they were still sleeping together. 

"You know, living together is what the Chinese call dating," Effy smirked.

"I don't even know what you're talking about," Lynsey winced.

"Oh, I had a roommate from Shanghai and when she went out on a date that meant spending the whole weekend with the guy," Effy explained.

Lynsey nodded, not knowing where this conversation was going.

"When I was with Jamie, his mother never liked me, and somehow I knew we would never get married, although, he kept saying, once I finish this school or that residency we'll get married. All the while, it was me who paid the rent and worked. We had a lot of friends back then. Still, I never felt quite comfortable with him and his mom would only say, 'They're only dating'."

The more she talked about dating and living together made Lynsey smile. 

"But, but you're a family with Duffy," Lynsey never knew Effy's ex. "Do you want to get married now?"

Effy nodded. She said she was ready for such an adventure. "It's just been crazy. We should be married by now, but Duffy wants us to get married with friends and family." They already had a marriage license.

"So that means you already are?" Lynsey thought so from where she was from.

"Yeah, but he wants it official, like in a church," Effy said Duffy wanted a certain pastor to marry them that was a friend of the family. 

Lynsey nodded, she hoped it would happen for Effy. Meanwhile, it felt as if this was the end of her and Casey. Not the beginning.