“God, I’m so sorry.” I half fall off the bike, and he catches me and helps me to my feet.
“Hey,” he says, “what’s up?”
I burst into tears and bury my face in his shoulder.
“Oh dear.” He rubs my arm. “Come on, let’s get you to the house. Abby’s just putting Ethan to bed, but she’ll be done in a minute.”
“I don’t want to bother you…” I squeak.
“It’s no bother. Come on.” For the second time in as many weeks, he walks me the short distance to his house.
He props my bike out the front against the wall, opens the door, and lets the two German Shepherds run in, trying not to get run over by Spike in his wheelchair. Then he leads me inside.
“Come on,” he says, “you need a drink. Brandy? Whiskey?”
I wrap my arms tightly around myself. “I shouldn’t. I’m pregnant.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Ohhh… Right.” He clears his throat. “Okay. I’ll put the kettle on. Come and sit down.” He leads me into the living room and pushes the box of tissues over to me.
At that moment, Abby comes out of the hallway to the bedrooms and stops in surprise as she sees me. “Beth!” She looks in alarm at Noah. “What’s going on?”
“Ahhh… I found Beth and she was a bit upset, so I brought her home. She… ahhh… didn’t want a drink because she’s pregnant.”
Abby’s jaw drops. “Beth!” She runs over to me, sits beside me, and puts her arm around me. “Oh goodness! Are you okay?”
I put my face in my hands and sob.
“I’ll make some tea,” Noah says.
“Make it the ginger and lemon one,” Abby tells him. She squeezes my shoulders. “It’s really good for morning sickness. I didn’t have any when I was pregnant with Ethan, but this time it’s been quite rough. I’m blaming Noah.” Ethan was her previous partner’s, but now she’s about five months pregnant by Noah with her second child.
I try hard to get my tears under control while Noah makes the tea. When they finally calm, I wipe my face and blow my nose hard. “I’m so sorry,” I say to Abby. “You must be tired of me keep turning up in bits.”
“Not at all. I’m just pleased we can be here to help.” She rubs my back. “When you did find out?”
“I first guessed on Monday, but I took the test today.”
“It’s Archer’s?”
I nod. “I’ve just told him.”
Her brows draw together. “He didn’t react well?”
I start gabbling. “I guess I’d hoped he’d be happy. I mean, I expected him to be shocked. Of course I did. But… he looked completely floored. It’s my fault; I told him I was on the pill, and I am, I mean I was, but I forgot one the day after I broke up with Jude, I just completely forgot it. I was convinced it wouldn’t matter because I thought I’d have trouble getting pregnant, because my sister has had to have five rounds of IVF and she just can’t seem to conceive, and I have endo as well, and I thought it wouldn’t happen, but it did, and now I don’t know what to do…” I blow my nose hard again, aware I’m babbling.
Noah comes over with the hot tea and places it before me. “Do you want me to go?” he asks us both.
I shake my head and give a short laugh as I wipe my face again. “Of course not, it’s your house.” I smile. “I really appreciate your help.”
He sinks onto the chair opposite. “If there’s anything we can do…”
“Thank you. It’s okay, I’ll be all right. On the way here I bumped into Jude sitting outside the Ark, that’s all, and it shook me up a bit.”
“Did you tell him?” Abby asks, and I nod. “How did he react?” she asks.
I sigh. “He was okay. A bit hurt. But when he saw how upset I was, he said Archer will come around, and I just need to give him time.”
“I’m sure he’s right,” Noah says. “Archer is the last person to shirk his responsibilities.”
