Keren had discussed telling Rayah with Scott. He’d told Alex, who’d said very little, just smiling instead. Jake was a banned subject still, but he’d need to be told soon, even if it was Keren who did it, but she needed Rayah to know. Everyone else could wait until after the twelve-week date, but Rayah – she needed to tell Rayah.
“Yes.”
Rayah sprawled her arms across the table as if she no longer had the strength to even pretend to look normal in public. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes. I’m pregnant.”
“Is the father my cousin? As in Scott my cousin?”
“No. It’s Father-fucking-Christmas. How many other guys do you think I’ve slept with in the last, let’s see, three years?” Keren kept her voice low.
“I take it it’s Scott’s and you’re going to give birth to a not so mini-Maynard. Your vagina is going to be wrecked after pushing it out. Get practicing those Kegels.” Rayah leaned across the table, her volume set to quiet, mercifully. “All of the boys were more than nine pounds.”
“It might be a girl.”
“I was ten pounds two.”
“You weren’t. You probably don’t weigh that now.” Keren eyeballed her, sensing she was being screwed with.
“Seriously. I was a huge baby. Clearly Maynard sperm has super powers and I have just truly grossed myself out.” She narrowed her eyes at Keren. “How far gone are you?”
“You know congratulations is customary in these circumstances?’
“That goes without saying. I’m still in shock so I need facts to ground me. And, I remind you, I have just been Sadie-Graced. I need to have a word with her teacher about setting homework that involved Papier-Mache. Weeks. Gone?”
“Eight.”
“You got pregnant straight away. Gran’s named her gin by the way.”
There had been discussion about what it was to be called. It had even been suggested that its name be decided by a town vote.
“Put me out of my misery?”
“Gran’s Gin.”
Keren frowned, toying with the name. “I actually quite like that. Just tell me it isn’t going to have a picture of her on the front of the bottles, like the colonel on the KFC brand.”
“Vanessa’s organising the branding so I’m thinking it won’t. Although it might encourage people to drink more if they see a picture of her. Back to topic. You’re pregnant?”
“Yes. By your cousin Scott. And it’s going to be a big baby. Apparently. Carry on.”
“Are you happy? Jesus fuck. Your house burned down last week. You’re homeless and pregnant. I’d be having a meltdown right now.”
“Rayah, I think you are having a meltdown. Breathe. Or drink your beer.”
Abby brought the beer and another elderflower cordial over, giving Keren a knowing smile. Keren had already figured that Abby had worked it out, but they weren’t going to have the discussion.
Rayah took a long swig of the beer. “Are you happy?”
“More than you could imagine. Although, it was a shock. Scott found out last Sunday morning when we were at the hospital.”
“How’d he take it?”
“Amazingly well. It was my fault.” She explained about her implant. “But he’s not blamed me. He’s over the moon about it.”
“He loves kids. You saw him with Stevie’s baby the other month. And you’ve seen him with Sadie and the boys. And he’s completely besotted with you.”
Keren shook her head. “He’s completely besotted with the mother of his child. He’s a good man.”
