‘Got some leave, didn’t I?’ He blinked at her well-rounded belly. ‘Flaming Nora, you’re huge.’
‘But what’re you… when did you… oh goodness. Why don’t you write and say you’re coming, you ass?’
He shrugged. ‘Thought I’d surprise you. Aren’t you pleased to see me?’
‘Where are you staying?’ Bobby asked, ignoring this question for the moment.
‘Well, here.’
She blinked. ‘Here?’
‘That’s all right, isn’t it?’
‘There isn’t much room, Jake. You’d be better off with Lil, or Dad.’
‘Lil’s got the baby, and I don’t want to bother Dad and his new missus. Don’t worry, I can bed down in the living room.’
Bobby tried to gather her wits after her brother’s unexpected appearance.
‘You’d better come in,’ she said. ‘We were just going to eat. Lucky I cooked enough for two days.’
‘Hang on. Brought someone to meet you.’
Jake beckoned to someone standing out of sight. A young woman appeared at his side, smiling shyly.
‘Um, how do you do?’ she said to Bobby, in a lilting Irish accent.
Jake put a proud arm around her. ‘This is Kathleen, my girl. Kath, this is my big sister Bobby – my very big sister at the moment. That ought to give the two of you summat to talk about, any road.’
But Bobby was too flabbergasted to say hello. All she could do was stare at the girl’s round belly, almost as big as her own.
Chapter 26
‘Oh my word!’ Bobby stared at the girl’s stomach.
‘Aye, all right, you can give me a sermon later,’ Jake said. ‘Can we come in or what, Bob? Cold out here.’
‘Um, yes,’ Bobby said. ‘Yes, come in, both of you.’
She ushered them into the parlour. Charlie looked up from his newspaper.
‘Hullo, Jake. Didn’t expect to see you today.’
‘All right?’ Jake went to shake Charlie’s hand before guiding Kathleen to the fire.
Charlie didn’t seem nearly as dazed at the unexpected appearance of his brother-in-law as Bobby, although his eyes, too, flickered to Kathleen’s stomach.
‘This your young lady?’ he said.
‘Aye.’ Jake regarded Kathleen proudly. ‘Soon to be my missus. Kathleen Brady.’
Charlie stood up to present the girl with his hand, and she shook it shyly.
‘You’re very welcome, Miss Brady. And congratulations.’ He glanced at her stomach. ‘Double congratulations, it seems. Can I get you both a cup of something?’
‘Thank you,’ Kathleen said in her soft voice. ‘I’d love a cup of tea, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.’
‘I’ll make it. Charlie, go and have your stew in the kitchen.’ Bobby, who had recovered her equilibrium finally, shook her brother’s fiancée’s hand as Charlie disappeared to have his tea. ‘I’m sorry, you must think I’m frightfully rude. It was only the surprise of seeing my no-good baby brother. Welcome to our home, Kathleen.’
