“That’s such wonderful news, sugar. I can’t think of anything better.” Her eyes danced evilly. “Roman, you’re going to be a grandpops.”
His expression was murderous. “If you say that word again, I swear - ”
She giggled, the sound still like bells at Christmas. “You can’t get away from it. Your son’s going to be a daddy.” Then her attention was back on the screen. “Is this good news for you both?”
I nodded, seeing Zoey do the same, although she looked tearful again. I hated being away from her.
“It’s a surprise,” I said. “Not going to lie, but it’s a good surprise.”
My dad was still processing, although he was smiling. There was no reason for him not to be, I knew, but I knew for Zoey, she would want his support.
“How are you feeling, Zoey?” he asked, his arm now around Amelie’s shoulders, her head resting against him.
“Tired. Emotional. I was with Fleur when I found out, and I feel a bit weird being on my own right now - ”
“Then we’ll come and get you and you can stay here until Caleb gets back,” my dad interrupted. “We promise you don’t have to sit outside. It’s perfectly warm in here and Amelie’s made lasagne.”
“I’m so hungry. Are you sure you don’t mind? I mean, I know you’ve only just got back from holiday and you’ve had this thrown at you and - ” She was garbling nervously.
“Zoey, it’s good news as long as it’s good news for you.” His voice had that firm, calm quality I remembered from when I first met him and the first thing he pretty much did was give me part of his liver. “I’ll drive round and pick you up. How long do you need to pack a bag?”
“About half an hour. Are you sure - ”
“Do you want garlic bread with your lasagne or chips, or I can do you a salad?” Amelie interrupted this time. “Or all three.”
“All three. Thank you. I’m going to go get my stuff together. Caleb, phone me later, please.”
“I will do.”
She clicked off, leaving me with my dad and Amelie.
“You okay, kid?” My dad said, Amelie wandering off and leaving just my dad on screen.
“Yeah. Surprisingly excited and yeah. I didn’t think I’d be this thrilled.” I was grinning like a mad man now. “It feels so right even though it was an accident.”
He laughed. “Well so were you, and you were a surprise when I found out about you, but a good one. I think I only looked at whether I could send you back twice.”
“I probably know why for both those occasions. I think Zoey’s really shocked and I’m pissed off that I can’t be there. She’ll tell you she can look after herself, which she can, but I’ll feel better if she’s got you and Am with her.” That was my only regret, that I wasn’t there when she found out. There wasn’t anything I could do about that now or could’ve been done about it. We moved forward, and what was waiting for us was good. My chest swelled.
“We’ll look after her, you don’t need to ask. I’ll phone you later too and let you know how she is. And you know Amelie will make sure she’s okay.” He swallowed, looking emotional, which was unusual for my dad. “Why don’t you both move in here while you get your house ready? It’s big enough and Amelie and I promise to keep stuff to the bedroom.”
I laughed, trying not to remember the scene I’d witnessed which sent me to living at the flat above the Puffin Inn. “I’ll see what Zoey wants to do. She might be up for that rather than staying at Mavis’ and it means Mavis’ can be freed up sooner.” No one else needed Mavis’ house at the moment, but you never knew when someone would.
“Or there’s the flat above the inn. It’s finished now.”
I shook my head. “No. I think that’s in the past now.” The thought of going back there didn’t sit right.
“I think you’re right not to.” He was quiet. “You’ll be a good dad, kid.”
“Yeah, well, I had a pretty good example.” I grinned again, swallowing down emotion that was starting to bubble up. “By the way, baby stuff’s fucking expensive.”
“Yeah, is it? You’re wife’s rich and you’ll just have to do some overtime then, won’t you?”
I ended the call, laughing, knowing that in another nine months or less, we’d have a baby who’d be spoiled in all the ways that mattered.
Zoey phoned me back a couple of hours later, wrapped up in bed, sinking into a mattress I knew was like lying on a cloud and a duvet that would be cosy and snug, because that was how Amelie did things.
“How was your lasagne?”
