Sarah fiddled with a pen she’d removed from a tub on the desk, clicking it on and off. ‘They didn’t, but apparently some friends have had an IVF baby recently after trying for five years to conceive naturally. They hadn’t considered the possibility that it might take ages or might not happen at all so they decided to ditch the protection and, of course, it happened immediately. They’re acting like it’s the most unexpected thing in the world.’
I flinched. ‘Unexpected pregnancies happen.’
‘Yeah, when you’re using protection, but when you’re not using anything, what do you expect? And Rhys should have known better.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he knows he’s fertile. He’s already a dad.’
I frowned. ‘Is he?’
‘He’s Megan’s dad. Didn’t you know that?’
‘Megan who?’
Sarah shook her head, frowning at me. ‘Are you having a senior moment? Izzy’s daughter? Bridesmaid at Jess’s wedding? Ring any bells?’
Izzy? Yes, she rang lots of bells. Especially the one marked ‘Lock up your boyfriends’. I knew she wasn’t entirely to blame for what happened at Jess’s wedding because Daniel would have charmed the pants off her – literally – but she’d known he was my boyfriend so she should have kept them firmly in place. ‘The subject of Megan’s dad never came up and I never asked. None of my business.’
‘Well, now you know.’ Sarah put the pen back in the pot and stretched. ‘Sorry. I’ve not stopped moaning since you arrived, have I? It’s been a fraught few weeks and I promise I’m going to shut up about the wedding now. I think I just needed to offload, particularly after Callie’s announcement. How are you? You still look a bit pale.’
Yes, and that probably had a lot to do with the bombshell she’d just dropped. I could hardly make my announcement now. ‘Still not a hundred per cent,’ I said.
‘Did you go to the doctor’s?’
‘Yes.’
‘And?’
I chose my words carefully. ‘She said there’s nothing wrong with me. I need to take it easy for a while and allow things to run their natural course.’
‘Oh. Stevie said he saw you on Friday…’
My heart raced at the mention of his name. ‘You’ve been talking about me?’
‘In passing.’
‘What did he say?’
‘Not a lot. I’m guessing he asked you out and you said no. Or something like that.’
‘Something like that,’ I muttered. ‘You might as well know that Michael asked me out too. Unless you already know that.’ It came out a little snappier than I intended it to and I could tell from the guilty expression that she did know. I really didn’t want to talk about it. The image of Michael’s hurt expression when I offered him only friendship, followed by that brief moment of passion in the hallway with Stevie had been haunting me.
‘And…?’ Sarah prompted when I remained silent.
I shrugged. ‘And I turned him down too.’
‘I thought you liked him. And Stevie. I wondered if you going out with them both last week was about helping you decide which—’
I tutted loudly. ‘For God’s sake, is there anything you don’t know about my comings and goings over the past week?’
‘Sorry.’ Sarah twiddled with her engagement ring. ‘I wasn’t prying, but where do you think both bouquets came from?’
‘Oh! I never thought… Sorry.’ I gave her a sheepish smile. ‘I’m sorry for that outburst. I’ve had a tough week. I like them both, but I don’t want to get involved with anyone right now. I want some time alone.’
‘Because of what Daniel did?’
‘You could say that.’
My phone rang. ‘Sorry, Sarah. Kay, hi, are you okay?’
‘Gary’s here,’ she said.
‘Really? Why?’
‘He wouldn’t say. He’s really upset. Can you get here?’
‘Yes. See you in about ten minutes.’
I stood up. ‘Gary’s at Seashell Cottage. I have to go. Lovely catching up. Same time next week?’
She shook her head. ‘Sorry. I can’t do next week.’
‘No worries. I’ll see you a week on Saturday for your birthday meal, then.’
As I dashed back towards Seashell Cottage, my mind flitted between two things: why was Gary at Seashell Cottage and what the heck was I going to do now that Callie had announced her pregnancy? I’d felt relieved when Sarah told me about Callie and I realised I couldn’t share my news. Why had I felt that way? I chewed it over for a few minutes before I found the answer. Because I still didn’t know how I felt about the baby myself. Was I sad about it? No. Was I happy? No. I just felt so… so… I searched around for the right word… numb. Yes, that was it. Like it was happening to someone else and not me.
The front door opened as I headed down the garden path and Kay stepped outside. ‘He’s in the lounge. He’s in a bit of a state.’
‘Do you know why?’
‘He wouldn’t say. I hope I did the right thing by calling you.’
‘Of course you did. Where are you going?’
‘For a walk.’
‘It’s your house, Kay. We can’t kick you out.’
‘I could do with the exercise and I might get some nice photos.’ She patted my arm. ‘I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Don’t let him upset you, though. You look exhausted.’
‘I am.’
I found Gary pacing up and down the lounge. ‘She knows,’ he said as soon as I walked into the room. ‘We were so careful yet she knows. How does she know? Did you tell her?’ Then he burst into tears.
I ran to him and held him tightly.
‘I take it you mean your mother?’ I asked when he’d calmed down enough to be led to the sofa to sit down.
He nodded.
‘I didn’t tell her. I said I wouldn’t and I kept my promise. I take it you didn’t tell her about you and Rob when I suggested it?’
He shook his head. ‘The timing never seemed right.’
I nearly laughed at the appropriateness of that statement given the conversation I’d just avoided with Sarah. ‘With your mother, the timing would never have been right. What did she say?’
He wiped his face with the tissue I offered. ‘What didn’t she say? The language. It was like she was possessed. She said I was as evil as Lloyd and that we were now both dead to her because of our sins. She started ranting about HIV and AIDS and how that would be God’s punishment to me for my “abnormal behaviour”. What sort of person would say a thing like that to her son?’ Tears coursed down his cheeks again and I took his shaking hand in mine.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I really am. You know I’ve never been her biggest fan, but that’s worse than I could ever have expected from her. Have you told Rob?’
‘Not yet. He’d have stormed round and told her exactly what he thought of her. I’ll tell him, but I need to be less emotional about it. The only person I knew who’d understand was you. I know it’s asking a lot after—’