Her mum kept folding and unfolding her hands while Callie watched with growing anxiety. ‘I’ve been seeing someone,’ she said finally. ‘I met him at work. He’s a delivery driver.’
Callie blinked. That wasn’t what she’d expected. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Okay.’
‘It wasn’t planned,’ her mum added quickly, as if Callie had accused her of something. ‘None of it was. And I don’t know what’s going to happen with him. I think he’ll marry me, probably. It’s all happening a bit quicker than I’d first… But anyway.’
Callie nodded. ‘That’s good. I’m glad.’
‘Well, the thing is,’ her mum said. ‘I’m pregnant.’
The word dropped into the space between them like a plate shattering.
Pregnant.
Callie’s brain felt like it had fallen down a flight of stairs. Surely her mother was past the point of getting knocked up? Could you still pop them out at forty-five? ‘You’re…’ She stopped. Tried again. ‘You’re sure?’
Her mum gave a thin smile. ‘I’ve done three tests.’
Callie almost congratulated her. Before she understood what her mother was telling her. A baby. A baby in this house. That she was trying to leave.
Her mother was quick to prove her correct. ‘I know you had your plans, but this changes things. I’ll need your help,’ her mum said, and there it was. Not a question. A statement of fact. ‘More than ever, probably. I’m assuming you won’t be… going anywhere now.’
Callie laughed. It came out wrong. Too loud. Too brittle.
‘I—’ She swallowed. ‘Mum.’
Her mum’s eyes flickered. ‘What?’
‘No,’ Callie said. ‘I can’t stay.’
Her mum’s face hardened. Her idea of the soft approach was over. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. This is your family.’
‘I know,’ Callie said. ‘That’s the problem.’
She thought of George. Of the last year: the bus routes practised until he could do them alone, the way he’d stood a little taller when he realised he didn’t need her hovering over every step. He was fifteen. He was anxious and particular, and stubborn as hell. But he was going to be okay. Hewasokay.
A baby wouldn’t be.
‘You can’t just leave,’ her mum said, voice rising now. ‘I need you.’
‘I’m leaving tonight,’ Callie said before she knew what she’d said. And she meant it, she realised. She could just… go.
Her mum stared at her like she was a stranger. Like she’d betrayed her.
‘Go on, then,’ she said coldly. ‘If that’s who you are.’
Maybe it was, after all.
George was in his room, headphones on, watching a game walkthrough on YouTube with intense concentration. He looked up when Callie knocked.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked immediately. He’d always been good at that.
‘I’m going away,’ Callie said, sitting on the edge of his bed. ‘For a bit.’
He turned back to his video. ‘Yeah, I know.’
‘No, it’s happening sooner than I thought. It’s happening now, actually. Tonight.’
‘Oh. OK.’ He paused, frowning. ‘Do you need help packing?’
