‘Just … this thing, Mum. This thing that’s happened. Are you sitting down?’
Chapter Ten
I don’t think I heard him properly. I can’t have because this is my son – mykid.I realise he’s a fully fledged grown-up on paper and could pass for an adult man on the outside. But what does ‘on paper’ actually mean? His passport looks as if it’s been fished out of a septic tank. He still carries a skateboard at any opportunity, as if it’s some life-supporting device – and he still hasn’t replaced his lost debit card.
‘No time,’ he’d announced, when I asked him if he’d spoken to the bank.
Yet he’s had time to get someone pregnant!
That’s what Eddie’s just told me – I think.Hang-on-it-doesn’t-take-very-long-to-make-someone-pregnant.
No, I must have misheard him. Having spoken perfectly clearly until around the age of thirteen, Eddie suddenly developed a muffled diction, as if speaking through a cushion, and it’s stuck.
‘I said I’m going to be a dad,’ he repeats.
I grip onto the duvet, as if that’ll help me. ‘Oh my God, Eddie,’ is all I can say.
‘What is it?’ Frank asks, alarmed. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Hangon.’ I swivel to cut him out of my vision. ‘Eddie, are you sure?’ I’m trying to keep my voice light, as if asking,Has a bird just shat on my head?
‘Yes, Mum. I’m sure.’
For a moment, I simply try to take this in. Frank is asking repeatedly what’s going on, but I can’t bring myself to tell him. ‘What I mean is,’ I start, straw-clutching now, ‘are you sure it’s your—’
‘Yes!’ Eddie announces. ‘Why d’you even ask that?’
‘I’m only asking. That’s all.’Because I know, from what you and Bella and Ana have told me – very sharply, on occasion – that ancient people like me aren’t meant to assume that people are exclusive. They might just be hanging out, or ‘talking’, whatever that means – and what-do-I-know-anyway-he’s-only-been-in-Edinburgh-five-bloody-minutes!
‘Carly, whatisit?’ Frank demands.
I still can’t say it out loud. Right now, I can barely breathe. I fix my gaze on the little green cut-glass vase on the chest of drawers that used to belong to Mum. ‘I’m just trying to figure out how it happened,’ I say.
‘In the normal way,’ Eddie mutters.
My heart is thumping against my ribs. ‘I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.’
‘I’m not.’ He clears his throat. ‘It was just … a
thing.’
‘Right. Okay—’
‘Carly, I need to know what’s going on!’ Frank is out ofbed now, still naked but grabbing at the clothes he tossed all over the floor in expectation of an afternoon’s session. He stumbles as he tugs on his boxers. ‘Can you please tell me—’
‘Someone’s-having-a-baby!’ I blurt out.
‘What?’
‘Oh, have you told Dad?’ Eddie snaps accusingly.
‘Well, yes, love! He’s right here.’
‘Who’shaving a baby?’ Frank thunders.
‘I didn’t think you were going to tell himright now,’ Eddie complains.
‘Does it matter? He’s going to find out—’
