‘I can’t imagine what they’re going through.’
It was the drawback, if you could call it that, of doing this job. Each of them felt every case keenly, and it was always worse when a child was involved. And babies? Well, that was a whole different game, especially for Nadia.
Bess was still peering at the photograph of the puppy and Hudson looked at the picture again. ‘He’s cute, but he’ll be a lot of work. Hope you and Gio are ready.’
‘Kind of.’
‘What’s his name?’ Nadia asked.
‘Zeus. Gio refused any suggestion of a cute name so I let him have his way. I’ll choose the next, eh?’ She laughed.
‘Steady on – surely one puppy is plenty.’
‘You tempted?’ Hudson asked Nadia.
‘Maybe… one day.’ Perhaps it would stop her feeling so lonely. She didn’t have much going on other than work, which she loved – it was the way she’d made it on purpose – but she had to admit the puppy was absolutely gorgeous.
‘Gio and I have found some puppy classes,’ Bess told them, ‘and we’ve worked out a schedule for training him between us both.’
‘Of course you have.’ Nadia smiled. ‘When did you guys ever do anything half-heartedly?’ Both had strong personalities;neither of them would go into something with their eyes half closed.
‘How will you manage with both of you working long hours?’ Hudson leaned against the door jamb. ‘I suppose there’s doggy day care.’
‘Yeah.’ But Bess wasn’t looking at either of them.
‘Is that what you’re doing?’ Nadia asked.
Bess nodded and added an, ‘Uh-huh.’
And Nadia went into panic mode. ‘Don’t tell me you’re resigning. We can’t lose you, Bess.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, I wouldn’t resign because I got a dog. And I love my job, as well as you guys.’
‘Then what’s wrong? There’s something, I know there is.’
She looked at her feet: not a Bess thing to do at all. ‘I wasn’t going to say anything yet. It’s so early…’
And now it made sense, the way Bess had looked shifty in the car when Nadia shared her own history and struggles.
Bess stammered over her speech, getting the facts out in the end. ‘I’m going to have to take some time off… soon… I mean, it’s why I’ll be around for the puppy, but it’s why we almost didn’t get the puppy… it’s…’
‘You’re talking in riddles.’ Hudson laughed. ‘You’re taking leave to look after your puppy, is that what you’re saying?’
Nadia knew that wasn’t what she was saying at all. And she knew she shouldn’t feel this way, not for a friend, but she had a sinking feeling. She should’ve known. Bess was renowned for having a big appetite and never held back but she’d not even eaten much of the lunch Nadia had brought in for the team a few days ago. She’d had a couple of doctor’s appointments recently too, and now it all made sense.
Bess was pregnant.
‘I’m not taking leave for the puppy, no.’ Bess still looked as though this might be one of the most painful things she’d everhad to do. ‘Gio and I, plus my mum and his, will manage Zeus between us, but in about seven and a half months, I’ll be at home a lot more.’ She couldn’t meet Nadia’s eye at first and when she did, Bess’s eyes were filled with tears.
Hudson caught on. ‘You’re pregnant?’
‘Shh… yes.’ She let a smile escape. ‘But I don’t want everyone knowing just yet.’
‘That’s brilliant news,’ said Hudson, giving her a hug. ‘Congratulations.’ He left them both in the office when his phone rang and he took the call.
Nadia hugged Bess. ‘Congratulations. I’m really pleased for you. I mean it.’
But Bess’s bottom lip wobbled and she looked at the floor. ‘I was dreading telling you. I really was. I tried yesterday.’
