“So, it’s a girl?” Mum queried, her eyes filling with tears.
“No.”
“So, it’s a boy without its bits?” Grandma swished her teeth so fast they nearly popped out of her mouth. She caught them just in time.
Matt’s wide-eyed gaze flipped between them.
“We’re confused Molly,” added Danny, his hip jutting sideways. “Is it a girl, or a eunuch?”
“It is not a eunuch!” I yelled through gritted teeth. So much for keeping calm and no stress. “What I meant is that I think it is far too early in the pregnancy for the baby, or babies, to have genitals.”
A collective Ahhh, sounded around the cubicle.
“Well it doesn’t matter what you have Molly,” said Lizzie. “We’ll love them just the same.”
I released the tension and smiled at her. At least one of my family was sane.
“How’s Riley?” I asked her.
“He’s doing okay. His wound isn’t looking as good as the doctors expected so they’re keeping him in for an extra night.”
“We were hoping to take some snacks up to him,” added mum, tapping her oversized cooler bag that doubled as a handbag. “We’ve missed Sunday dinner for a couple of weeks now and I thought it would be nice. I’ve even baked him his favorite carrot cake.”
“Carrot cake isn’t his favorite,” stated Lizzie.
“Of course, it is! I made it for him for his birthday.”
“I know you did, but carrot cake is your favorite. Riley loves your mud cake.”
Mum blushed, realizing her mistake.
“Carrot cake is better for a man recovering,” added Grandma. “It’s the healthy choice.”
“There’s nothing healthy about the amount of sugar she put in it,” Dad piped up.
“Yes, but it has cheese frosting. That’s dairy, which is good for your bones,” said grandma, defending mum.
“It’s cream cheese, and technically it may be dairy, but it’s still not a healthy cake.” Dad crossed his arms over his chest, adamant that he was right.
“That’s fine, Bill,” said Mum. “Then you won’t want any, right? I’m sure one of the kids will love your share.”
Dad dropped his arms and started to splutter. “Now let’s not be hasty. Just because I don’t agree with the health benefits, doesn’t mean that I can’t indulge a little bit.”
Andrew grinned from the back of the pack as the nurse pushed her way into the area. “I’m sorry,” she announced as we all turned to face her. “But we can’t have you all in here at once. Molly needs her rest.”
I loved my family, but I loved the quiet that prevailed once they had all departed.
Matt slumped in the hard chair, the rings beneath his eyes dark from exhaustion.
“Why don’t you head home?”
“Because I need to be here for you.”
“I’m fine. They’ll move me to a ward shortly and then all I’ll do is sleep.” I felt the way he looked.
He was about to respond, but hesitated. “I could do with getting an early night. Try to catch up on some sleep I’ve been missing.”
“You haven’t been sleeping well?”
“No. I’ve been too worried about telling you what I’d learnt.”
I nodded. “Fair enough. But I know now.”
“You didn’t tell your family.”
“Yeah. I just didn’t know what to say. Plus, between Lizzie and now this, they’ve had enough shocks to last a lifetime. For dad to learn he has a half-brother may just push him over the edge. Apart from that, it feels like Grannie Carol’s story to tell.”
Matt nodded his understanding. “I really want to track Darryl down. Hopefully he lives in town and I can get to know him.”
I smiled at the hope in Matt’s eyes.
“Provided he wants to know me that is,” he added, the light dimming.
“Why wouldn’t he want to know you? You’re an amazing person. He should be proud of the way you’ve turned out despite him not being a part of your life.”
His eyes were soft as he looked into mine. “Thanks, but...never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” He waved his hand dismissively.
“Matt, I know you well enough to know it’s clearly something.”
He sighed. “I’m worried. I never had a dad. I never had anyone to teach me how to be a dad as mum never had a man in her life long enough. How am I going to know what to do when our creation arrives into this world? What if I’m a terrible father?” He blinked rapidly as his shoulders tightened, and his leg started to jiggle against the bed.
I reached across to him and took his hand in mine, holding it as tight as I could. “You’re going to be an incredible father. This baby is going to be very lucky.”
Our eyes connected and a silent communication passed between us.
“But what if there are two?”
“We’re not outnumbered, so we’ll be fine.” I grinned. It felt good to be this close to Matt, to hold his hand and feel like a team. Until I remembered he was my cousin. Was it something I could live with?
“You’re really good for me, Molly. Have I ever told you that?” He didn’t wait for a response. Instead he hovered over me and his lips touched mine in a delicate kiss. It was a kiss I thought about until the early hours of the morning.
I’d drifted in and out of sleep, but a deep sleep had eluded me. Probably because every time I managed to doze, a nurse would appear to take my blood pressure, waking me back up. Just as I was finally drifting into a contented sleep, my phone beeped alerting me to a message.
Sleepily I reached for it wondering if Matt was still awake and sending me a message. Swiping it unlocked a photo appeared on my screen.
I blinked to clear my vision and sat up as an image of Matt, his arms around another woman shone back at me. His eyes were dancing with joy as his lips touched her forehead. The message read: This is what he’s really been up to.
Chapter Ten
“Do you mind if we stop at Café by the River?” I asked Matt as he indicated and pulled away from the hospital. We were on our way home, but I was craving a coffee. Anxiety gnawed in the pit of my stomach as my mind raced over the confrontation Matt and I were still to have over the photo, but even though coffee would only heighten that anxiety, I couldn’t do it without it.
“Sure. Are you allowed caffeine?”
“Lara never said I couldn’t.”
“Maybe you should switch to decaf just in case.”
I sighed. “As if morning sickness wasn’t bad enough, do you know how many things I can no longer eat?”
“It’s not forever though.” Matt released the gear lever long enough to give my hand an encouraging squeeze. “And the reward is pretty incredible.”
Easy for him to say. He hadn’t been relieving his breakfast.
We travelled in silence as he crossed town towards the river. I wanted to bring up the photo but needed to get my timing right. And overtaking a truck didn’t feel like the right moment.