“Well,this sure makes childbirth seem a lot less terrifying,” Sadie jokes asTerrifierplays out on the TV. I should be scared that the woman I love likes this gorefest of a franchise so much, but hey, if it makes her happy…
“Fucking hell,” Gary almost shouts from her shoulder. “Fucking hell, fuckinghell.”
Everyone still in the room laughs - Eleanor left after a large plate of food to go to her football teammate’s birthday party, and Eleanor’s mother, Natalie, and Tim are in the kitchen together with Cathy because Nat is squeamish. Dean has also joined them because, while he’s come a long way, there’s only a certain amount of blood and guts he can take before he gets uncomfortable, which is understandable.
In fairness, Gary’s reaction and Nat and Dean swerving this film is predictable, given that it’s the scene where Art the Clown starts sawing a naked woman in half,lengthways.
“That’s probably what it’s gonna feel like, my friend,” Liaden says matter-of-factly, saluting Sadie with her virgin cranberry martini.
“Thanks, Li,” Sadie says drily, but she definitely winced. I squeeze her hand. I feel a little unnerved when I think of watching her force out a human from her most delicate area, and I’m just going to be a bystander. The prospect of actually being the onedoingit… I have to be honest, I think I’d be a gibbering wreck by now, with more than half the pregnancy over, knowing how this process is going to end. I mean…shit.
Holy freakingshit.
“It’ll be OK,” Em says from Eli’s armpit, where she’s hidden her face from the worst of the sloppy flying guts on the screen. “Nobody will have a saw in the delivery room, and there will be drugs to take the pain away. Loads and loads of drugs.” She looks up just as Art finishes up and the two halves of the body are completely separated, innards spilling onto the floor. Her face screws up. “Ewwww, Jesus, I wish I hadn’t had a second helping of meatballs.”
Sadie sighs. “Yeah, I think I’m done with Art for now.” She flicks it on pause. “Too many people in the kitchen.”
“That’s OK,” Em protests, “we know you enjoy it, and today’s all about whatyouwant - ”
Sadie rests her head on my shoulder, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of how this feels, being able to put my arm around her and kiss the top of her head because she’s finallymine, the way I’ve always been hers. “I’ve seen it so many times. And I’d rather have us all in the same room.” She starts to stand, and Gary hangs on, determined to stay in place. “Besides, there’s food where they are, and my pregnant ass is hungry. Again.”
When we all traipse into the kitchen, I can’t help but notice the way Sadie’s brother and Nat, the mother of his child, are looking at each other while Cathy and Dean rearrange the food on the table. It’s as though their eyes accidentally met in the course of hanging out with the other two, and now neither of them can look away, and neither of them wants to. Sadie mentioned a long time ago that those two have serious unfinished business, and that they both need to get their heads on straight and stop letting old rules get in the way of their happiness. But, interestingly, it’s the one thing Tim refuses to talk about with her. He just shuts down, and will walk out of the room if she tries to push it, or even raises it as a topic of conversation.
I smile to myself. When Tim’s niece or nephew arrives - Eleanor’s little cousin - we’ll have to spend more time together. As a family. And maybe a subtle not-really-a-double-date or two will iron out a few kinks. It’s funny how I have this reputation assucha meddler, when all I ever really do is plant a few seeds and let things germinate and unfold. They’re the ones who follow the breadcrumbs and do all the hard work.
Done with the killer clown?Dean asks, slinging an arm around Liaden’s shoulders and kissing her cheek.
“Missed you too much, Deano,” Sadie replies, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a hug. With her pregnancyjeans, loose top, and the way she has to lean to accommodate her bump, she’s so mind blowingly adorable that my knees feel a bit weak and I can feel a soppy smile taking over my face. Em notices, and gives me the biggest smile I’ve seen on her face since her wedding day.You did it, she mouths at me, and I laugh silently. Almost, I think to myself. Just need her to tell me she loves me, too, and I’ll never need anything else for as long as I live.
“What time are the masseurs arriving?” Cathy asks. “I’ve been looking forward to this. Never had a proper massage before.”
Liaden checks her watch. “We’ve got another hour or so.”
“God, I can’t wait,” Sadie says, rubbing the small of her back. “Right here. It’s been getting so achy.”
“You never said?” I say, walking over and kneading the area gently with my knuckles.
She makes an appreciative noise. “Don’t want to make a big deal every time something minor crops up. I’m just happy the morning sickness has mostly died right back.Mostly.”
“Alright there, Newt,” Tim quips.
I chuckle. “I was almost getting used to the dawn chorus of angry rhino noises in the en-suite.” She smacks my chest, and I pretend it was a proper punch with an ‘oof’ noise.
She laughs, rolling her eyes. “You’re such a tool. Imaginebeingthe angry rhino.”
“Ugh, I remember the days,” Nat pipes up. Her voice is soft, yet precise, every syllable pronounced correctly. Queen’s English all the way. She strikes me as the sort who would have been told off by her parents for dropping her Ts when she was growing up. “I didn’t have it too badly, thankfully, but when I did, it was intense. Just a lot of dry heaving and will I, won’t I.” She shudders.
“You and Tim put me through my paces there, too,” Cathy chimes in. “That’s why I started to suspect there was something different going on from my last time with Jacob.Twins. You could have pushed me over with one finger when the doctor told me.”
“Sorry, Mum,” Tim jokes.
“I’m not,” she says straight away with a gentle smile. God, I’m glad she left that turd of a husband. She’s a different woman from the one I met at that dreadful family dinner. I’ve checked into what Georgie boy has been doing lately, and he seems to be rigidly sticking to his old routine, mowing his lawn, buying right wing newspapers, going to the library, same as usual. Justsanswife. So fuck him. If he’s too stupid to miss them and realise what a fool he’s been, then he doesn’t deserve them in his life.
“I meant to tell you,” Nat says to us both, “I still have some of Eleanor's baby clothes and toys and such. If you don’t mind second hand, you’re welcome to rifle through and take whatever you want.”
“That would be fantastic,” Sadie says, at the same time as I say, “Thanks, that’s really kind.” We look at each other, and she does this sweet nose wrinkling chuckle. Kissing her lips is irresistible at this point, and I don’t even try to hold back.
“Shall we do presents?” Em asks, and Sadie claps her hands with glee.
