‘Deliberately excluding me. Is it because you don’t like me?’
The directness of his question left her momentarily grappling for something to say. Not so long ago she would never have believed he would be asking her this, or that she would find herself having to lie. ‘Of course I like you,’ she said. ‘I think you’re great for Willow. You’re just the kind of boyfriend she needs.’
‘You have a strange way of showing that.’
‘I’m sorry if that’s how you feel,’ she said.
‘It’s not me you should apologise to, it’s your sister. This time you’ve really upset her.’
This time?Martha bridled at his tone and his accusation. But at the same time, she had to accept that there was doubtless an element of truth in what he’d said. It was just a bit much hearing it from him. But it did explain why Willow wasn’t returning her messages.
‘And the thing is,’ Rick said, just as she was about to apologise again, ‘I don’t want anyone upsetting Willow right now, not when she’s—’ He broke off.
‘Go on,’ she said, ‘when Willow’s what?’
‘Forget it, I shouldn’t have said anything. I promised Willow I wouldn’t.’
Martha’s senses were instantly on full alert. ‘If there’s something wrong with my sister, Rick, I think you should tell me.’
When again he didn’t answer her, her concern grew. ‘Willow’s not ill, is she?’
There was a rustling in her ear, followed by a sigh. ‘If I tell you, you have to swear you won’t tell her that I told you.’
‘Told me what?’
‘That she’s pregnant.’
Martha gripped the worktop in front of her and jammed the mobile hard against her ear. Once more Tom saw her at the window and waved, his face wreathed in a boyish smile of happy contentment in the golden sunlight. He looked so perfectly at one with the world. Whereas here, inside the kitchen, her world had just spun off its axis.
‘Are you still there, Martha?’ asked Rick.
‘Yes,’ she said faintly. ‘That’s …’ her words fell away as she fought to find the right ones.
Rick chuckled in her ear. ‘I think what you’re trying to say is that it’s quite a surprise.’ He chuckled again, shredding her nerves.‘A shock might actually be more appropriate. We’re both still trying to come to terms with the idea of a baby. An actual baby! It’s going to mean a lot of change for us.’
‘Yes,’ Martha finally managed to say. She swallowed. ‘Well, I suppose I should offer you my congratulations.’ She immediately regretted her choice of words.
‘Yes, Isupposeyoushould,’ he said. ‘But I think you ought to know the reason why Willow didn’t want you to know about the baby. She was worried it would upset you; you being so desperate to have a child of your own. She really is one of the sweetest, kindest and most considerate of people. But then I don’t need to tell you that.’
‘No,’ Martha said, ‘Willow has always had a very generous and warm-hearted nature. She certainly puts me to shame.’
He made no attempt to dispute this. Instead he asked if he could pass on a message from her to Willow.
‘Just tell her I called,’ Martha said.
‘But you will promise not to tell her that I let the cat out of the bag, won’t you? I don’t want to find myself in the dog-house. If that isn’t too much of a mix of metaphors.’
‘Of course,’ she murmured, her throat tight with the weight of pain his blitheness was causing her. ‘I’ll wait for Willow to share her good news with me when she’s ready.’
‘Thanks for that. Oh, and not a word to your mother. Not yet. Let’s keep this between ourselves.’
Martha agreed and ended the call.
She was halfway through a second glass of wine – not caring that it was a non-alcohol night – when Tom came in from the garden. His gaze caught on the glass in her hand. Then her face.
‘You okay?’ he asked.
‘No,’ she struggled to say. Her voice wobbled and she bit down on her lower lip. Turning away from Tom, she fought hard to stop herself from crying.
