Chapter Seven: My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me.

Ainsley took her first steps,

Tried her first solid foods,

Moved into her own bed, in her own room,

Started to communicate in typical baby syllables.  "Da-da?" being an entreaty encompassing approximately "Where is Daddy and why is he not here to feed me?"

Threw the occasional tantrum,

Started to learn how to use the 'potty' and generally started reaching all the milestones one expects of a healthy young tot.

Eliza tried taking Ainsley out to 'work', but the city in the dark of early evening is not an ideal place for a little girl.  As Ainsley grew more mobile and more talkative, these forays to try new foods had to stop.  Especially after the terrifying incident when Ainsley went missing briefly.  After twenty or thirty minutes of frantic searching, Eliza was on the verge of calling Bob -and maybe the police.  That's when she bent down to check beneath the tables for the third, or was that fifth time?  There was Ainsley, head pillowed on her little arms, fast asleep.

Eliza vowed never to let it happen again; and never to tell Bob of her carelessness.

The Avant Gardes set a meeting at their favourite café.  Eliza left Ainsley with Bob and went to met Makenzie, Gunther, Yuki and Hugo.  She felt it was nice to be 'normal' and 'grown up' again.  It was a pleasure to speak with other adults about something other than potty training, toys and baby talk.  Instead of her family, they discussed the latest books, movies and Eliza told them about this amazing Thai place she had discovered.  Little did she know that while they sipped their coffees and ordered refills, that one of the group members was watching her rather closely.

On the morning of Bob's thirtieth birthday, Sidney surprised him with a brunch at the new, expensive and somewhat experimental Chez Llama.   They had fun navigating the menu, which stretched even Bob's, somewhat more conventional, expertise.  Sidney asked about Ainsley and Bob enquired about her husband.  Bob invited Sidney back to the house for cake and drinks later that evening.

Bob blew out the candles on his favourite, chocolate mud cake.  They had fun watching Ainsley mush her rather small piece of cake.  Although Eliza silently cringed at the mess getting on small clothes, thinking they would stain.  Bob was on fine form among those he loved.  He took Ainsley up to get ready for bed, thinking he was a very lucky man indeed.