Iain didn’t say anything. He pushed his hand back through his hair and looked as if the wall was the only thing keeping him up right.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Dad.”
“A lot. I mean, you’ve only just started seeing each other but you’ve known each other for years, and I guess this isn’t planned…”
“No. We’re both a bit shocked, but both happy about it. Really happy.” He didn’t understand why he wasn’t feeling more apprehensive, or angry, or something other than sheer amazement. He didn’t get his own reaction.
Iain nodded. “Jesus. Thank god you’re both in your thirties and not eighteen and twenty-one when you were mooning after her like a love-sick cow.”
“I’m sure it’s a love sick puppy.”
“No. In your case it was a love-sick cow. You kept coming back from university and you’d spend your entire holiday finding out where Keren was going to be or ‘helping’ her with something. I’m pleased for you, son. You’ll be a great dad. When you’ve got over the sleepless nights, continual worrying and carrying enough for a small army wherever you go. And Keren’s a great girl. You got lucky.” His dad was coming to now, the shock wearing off. “I’m not sure about telling Graeme I’m going to be a granddad though. If… No. That doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter.”
“I’m stealing your thunder.”
“There’s no thunder to steal. Tell me.”
“If things carry on as they are, and I think they might, he’d be a step-granddad. I’m not sure how much he’d like that.”
Scott chuckled. “It is serious then?”
Iain shrugged. “It’s serious enough for me to be coming out to my sons. That’s a risk.”
Scott disagreed. Risk was not allowing yourself to move forward because of what people’s reactions might be, and he wondered for how many years his dad had sacrificed his happiness worrying about what his kids’ thoughts would be. But he got it. He, Zack and Alex were the centre of their dad’s world. That and the farm. Along with the odd horse.
“Dad, mum’s now married to a guy a year younger than me. I think we could handle you being gay.”
“Bi.” His dad raised his brows. “But let’s save that conversation for another time. When I tell your brothers I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to hold a question and answer session.”
“As long as there are no details.” Scott added.
“And I don’t want any from you. Congratulations. Possibly the nicest news I’ve had for a long time, although I thought Sorrell and Zack would be the first to make me feel ancient.” He opened his arms and Scott walked into them, not recalling the last time he had a hug off his dad. They didn’t do affection. His father was a farmer, a tough guy. One with many layers.
“Well, that would’ve been logical. Given that I’ve been seeing Keren for all off about eight weeks.”
His dad laughed. “And she’s seven weeks pregnant?” He shook his head. “Go up and check on her. I’ll tell Abby to hold the fort. And I’ll see you at the weekend. Or earlier if you need any tips on being a father-to-be.”
“Or I have questions about Graeme.”
“All in good time.” He slapped Scott on his back and left the room, leaving Scott wondering exactly what dimension he’d walked into.
Keren was asleep on the sofa when he went upstairs, a light fleecy blanket thrown over her and her hair mussed over the couple of cushions he’d acquired. She was wearing the new dressing gown and nightwear stuff she’d had delivered that morning, seeing that pretty much all of her stuff was unrecoverable. Jonny had told them he’d be able to get some bits out in a couple of days and see what was salvageable. The insurance company was at the site tomorrow, the visit expedited given that five sets of residents had been affected by a crime.
Then they’d have an idea as to where their future was going to live, although he was starting to hope it would be altogether, which gave him just a few weeks to prove to her that they could work.
“Hey.” He crouched down next to her. “Sleepyhead. We should get you to bed.”
She murmured something unintelligible. He picked her up in his arms, holding her to his chest and carried her into his bedroom, placing her down on the bed.
“You told Zack.” It was a mumble. “It’s too early.”
“I know. But I needed to tell someone else I’d burst.”
Her eyes flickered open. “You surprise me.”
“It seems to be a day for surprises. Do you want the biggest surprise?” He wouldn’t tell anyone but her. Keren wouldn’t say anything. He trusted her.
