Eli moved to stand in front of him, searching his face. "You're jealous," he said, the same incredulous note in his voice as a smile crossed his face.
Dorian punched him.
"Hey!" Eli staggered, holding his jaw.
"Was it you?" Dorian asked again, his voice as flat as the grey tarmac beneath their feet.
"No, you idiot, Jaysus. No. I've never had sex with her. And I haven't made her pregnant."
Eli didn't back off after the punch. He straightened, jaw tight, but his stance stayed planted.
Dorian was muttering, more to himself than anyone else. "Then who? Finn? There are so many ways she could have... she betrayed me."
"I can’t believe I am saying this to you, lad, but let’s look at this logically. Why do you think it's not yours?" Eli asked, his voice steady.
Dorian's eyes cut to him, but he didn't answer.
Eli met his eyes. "If you noticed the way Rune looks at you even once, you wouldn't ask that question. Even when you're the worst mofo in the room, she still looks at you like that. No one else. So, I'll ask again, why do you think she betrayed you?"
Doran remained silent. "I wish I smoked." he muttered.
"If she had shown any interest," Eli snapped, "I would have been mighty keen."
That set Dorian off again, shoulders tight, fists clenching to throw the next punch.
"Hey, enough," Eli said sharply. "It didn't happen, you moody tosser. And I don't think she's been with anyone else. When would she have had the time? She slaved all week and went home to sleep. Who has the energy for anything else? And you took her everywhere – weekends, evenings. You kept her on an extremely short leash, you did."
"It's not mine," Dorian said stubbornly.
"Why?"
"Because I had a vasectomy when I turned twenty-three. I don't want children."
Eli went silent for a beat. "You idiot."
Dorian's jaw flexed.
"I think you need to go wank off into a test tube and get that checked," Eli said flatly. "I'd be very surprised if your swimmers haven't done a jailbreak."
"I can't believe we're having this conversation."
"Well, I think you need to make an appointment with your GP, just to be sure."
Chapter sixteen
Chapter 16
Rune had spent the last few days at her parents' house being fed at every opportunity. Her mother had a knack for "just happening" to have warm bread ready, or a pot of soup simmering, or thick slices of bara brith on the counter.
She didn't have much by way of morning sickness, just a faint queasiness if she skipped meals. Yesterday she'd gone into town to register with her GP. Today, she was headed to her grandparents' farm.
Crib Mynydd farm sat on the edge of the valley, up a narrow lane where the hedgerows closed in tight. The drive in was still the same, rattling over the cattle grid as the metal bars clanged under the tyres. Beyond it, the view opened wide to sprawling green fields ringed by stone walls, with the mountains rising slate grey in the distance. The main house was solid and square, slate-roofed, its whitewashed walls bright against the winter sky.
She didn’t even get the car door open before the front door banged wide. Her gramps and nana came down the path at speed, her nan chattering away in Welsh and gramps following slowly in his stoic gruff manner, both unmistakably happy to see her. Gramps swept her into a hug that smelled faintly of hay and horse, Nana following with her own squeeze before pulling her toward the house.
All the dogs followed in a joyous, chaotic tide – two golden Labrador retrievers, three wiry sheepdogs, a working springer, and a cluster of mutts of such indiscriminate breeding that it was anyone's guess what their lineage was. Rome, her old dog, had been gone a few years now,but Rain was still there, her sharp eyes and quick trot a little slower with age. Inside, they crowded into the kitchen, the dogs flopping down in assorted corners as if they owned the place until Gramps whistled and they all shot out like they were electrified. All except Rain, whose old bones had earned her place by the fire.
"What's been going on with ya, then?" Gramps asked, pouring tea into thick mugs.
