‘I need to, because it seems you are intent on making everything so bloody complicated! I mean, what’s the plan? Wait until the child is a teenager then whip it out as a surprise one Christmas, ta-dah! Here’s one I prepared earlier!’
Whether with nerves or at the end of his tether, Aiden burst out laughing, and she had no choice but to follow his lead.
‘It’s not funny!’ she wheezed, as she howled her laughter, knowing it was that or sob.
‘I know, I know.’ Her son lay his head on his arms, as his shoulders shook. ‘Oh my God, I know!’
They sat this way for a minute or two, both struggling for breath, beside themselves with laughter until it naturally subsided and the air around them was cleared of anger and in its place, the beginnings of peace.
‘Mum,’ he ran his palm over his face, ‘I’m so tired.’
‘Me too, love.’
‘Why was Holly here in the middle of the night?’
‘Well, it wasn’t strictly the middle of the night, but I was in bed, preparing for sleep.’
‘She broke in?’ He stared at her, clearly hoping to be corrected on this point.
‘No.’ It was time for Enya to speak with the honesty she was keen for her son to foster. ‘She arrived just as I was leaving to catch my train yesterday. I think she was trying to hide from Jenny and Phil, and I didn’t feel I could tell her to leave, didn’t want to. I’m happy she still feels she can come over whenever, and it will be even more important when the baby comes along.’
He gave a slight shake of his head, as if he was still finding it hard to accept that a baby would be coming along.
‘I came home, didn’t know she’d fallen asleep and went to bed, only to see her shadowy figure looming in the doorway as I nodded off. I screamed the place down!’
‘Where was she sleeping?’ he asked, his voice quiet, suggesting he could take an educated guess at the answer, especially as she lived in a two-bedroomed house.
‘In your bed.’
‘That’s not,’ he closed his eyes, ‘that’s not okay, not really. Supposing I’d come home with Iris?’
‘This isexactlywhat I’m talking about, Aiden, setting the boundaries, having those difficult conversations that mean people aren’t taken by surprise. They need to happen and soon.’
‘Can I tell Iris the news over the phone, do you think?’
She answered slowly. ‘Do you remember when Dad was ill, when we first found out?’
Aiden nodded.
‘How would you have felt if I’d told you over the phone?’
‘Terrible.’
‘Exactly, and for me who was doing the telling, I needed to see your face, hold your hand, be there to help you digest it, to answer the hundreds of questions that I knew you’d have.’
‘So I take it a text is also out of the question?’ He beamed at her.
‘No, I think that’s a good idea, or better still, why don’t you do it via a series of emojis?’
‘Do you know, Mother, your sarcasm is quite unbecoming.’
‘I need another coffee, and only because it’s too early for wine.’ She stood from the table. ‘Can I get you one?’
‘No, but I’ll have some more eggs if there are any going.’
Enya grabbed the bowl and happily smashed eggs into it. She grabbed the whisk and vigorously beat them.
‘You okay, Mum?’
