Ellis is trying that “sleep while the baby sleeps” thing, but there is so much else she thinks she has to do. She tried to do the laundry so I sent her to bed and did it instead, when I went to check on her, she was sat in the bed ordering autumn stock for the shop. Having a supportive female presence here was good for Ellis, I think it was the final nail in the coffin of her relationship with Eleanor. Ellis has a bunch of people here where she needs them and she isn’t going to try and force a relationship with someone who I don’t think has ever loved her the way she deserves. Still, she keeps moving, as though she is constantly unsettled by all the changes that have happened.

It’s like she knows she needs to stop but can’t. As though if she falls asleep she will miss something with Charlotte even though we are nowhere near any major milestones. Today, she is going through all her clothes for some unknown reason.

“El, Sunshine, can you please try getting some sleep?” I ask from the doorframe but she just rolls her eyes.

“The season starts soon so I need to figure out what I’m taking home,” she says exasperated. Wait. What did she just say?

My ears just heard her say she needs clothes to take home… as though she isn’t currently home. Does she mean her apartment? Because that’s not going to work for me. I was under the impression that we are doing the family thing; loving each other and raising our kids. Our kids, because Jack is mine, too. I could just be sleep deprived, but if Ellis thinks I am going to let her move out of this house then I haven’t been clear enough with my intentions. I love her, she loves me, I’ve told her I want to marry her, and she is just going to move out?

“Liammmm! Hello, is anyone in there?” Ellis’s hand is waving in front of my face.

“Are you moving out?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own, but it must have been me because Ellis cocks her head to the side with furrowed brows.

“Yeah, of course,” she says casually. Oh, of course, she says. I’m in disbelief. Having my baby and then ditching me to live in a two-bedroom apartment was never obvious to me.

“That’s not going to work for me.” My voice still sounds odd, its low and crackly like I have been on the ice for hours.

“What?” Ellis laughs.

“Ellis, you can’t just move out. We’re a family. Don’t you see this place as home?” I see something click behind her eyes when they widen a little but her face falls back to normal.

“Liam, it’s not that, the season—” She tries, but I know where that is going.