Chapter40
‘Dobrý den!’Kara pushed open the door to her friend’s flat above STAR Crystals & Jewellery and made her way inside. ‘Why have you closed up so early today?’
‘Dobray what?’ Star said dully.
‘It means hello in Czech. Put the kettle on, Star, I’ve got so much to tell you. We’ve had the best time! You must go with Conor. The stalls are amazing, and so are the pretty lights and the food and just everything. And bless Skye, I’ve just popped in to see her and she’s coped fine, so all is well in my world.’ Kara then checked out Star’s face, swollen from crying. ‘Shit mate, there’s me completely full of it and you look like the weight of theworld is on your shoulders. Go and sit down, I’ll make us a cuppa or do you want something stronger?’
‘Green tea is fine.’ Star sat with her knees curled under her on the comfy purple sofa.
‘So, what’s up?’ Kara joined her.
‘I saw Jack.’
‘Youwhat?’ Kara’s eyes were wide.
‘Yes, there was no Ralph from San Francisco. Jack had used his mate’s profile and it was him all along.’
‘Oh my God, Star, what did he want?’
‘He said he was working on his screenplay and needed the peace.’
‘Complete bollocks. Why come all the way to Hartmouth to do that? He could have gone anywhere else. He wanted to see you, obviously.’
‘Oh Kar, I don’t know what to do. There’s something else.’ Star bit her lip.
Kara moved to her friend’s side and put her hand gently on her arm. ‘Is it your mum? About your dad?’
‘No.’ Star started to cry. ‘Iampregnant. I was when you asked me the other day but I just kind of felt by not telling anyone, it wasn’t quite real. I didn’t have to face it.’
‘Oh, darling. Have you told Conor?’
‘Yes, and Flo – and God only knows why, but I just told bloody Jack.’ Star sobbed again.
Kara went to the bathroom and got her friend a wodge of toilet issue. ‘Here, blow your nose and let’s break this down, shall we? Do you want to go through with it?’
Star nodded. ‘Yes, of course I do. I have no excuse not to have a baby.’
‘But you do have the choice.’
‘I know I do. The thing is, I don’t love Conor, but I think I love Jack.’ Star’s expression showed her torment as she began to ramble on. ‘And how can I spend my life with someone I don’t love when I love someone else? And it’s not as if I don’t like Conor – I do, very much – and don’t say I might grow to love him because nobody can predict that.’
‘Hold on a second, this is considering that Conor is going to stay around.’
‘He said he needs time to think things through.’
‘That’s fair enough.’
‘Is it? He went home on his own last night and I just wanted him to come around and hug me.’
‘Did you tell him that?’
‘No.’
‘Men are not mind readers, Star, they need to be told and not just when it’s a matter of affairs of the heart. Never forget that the majority of them see the world through testosterone-tinted glasses. My Billy would happily not hoover for a year, if I didn’t prompt him.’ Kara took a swig from her tea. ‘How far gone are you?’
‘I don’t know exactly. I’ve got the doctor’s tomorrow.’
Kara looked at her friend’s tummy. ‘There’s a little bump already.’
