‘Him?Do you know something I don’t, Mab?’said Edward, sitting down and pulling up a chair with interest.
‘No, I…’ Mab sat very still.Just for a moment, her baby had been absolutely real to her.She had seen his tiny shell-pink fingernails and button nose, the drift of dark hair and the deep blue eyes.And even though in her mind’s eye, the baby had still been swathed in a fine wool shawl, she had known without a doubt that he was a boy.As she sat at the table, staring into space, Alex turned off the sausages, put the toast to keep warm and sat down on the other side of Mab.The two men each took one of Mab’s hands.
‘Right, this is the tricky bit,’ said Edward.‘Just hear me out, please, Mab, and then you can have your say.Alex and I want to carry on with the original arrangement.We want to adopt the baby and bring him up together.We’ll get married.Do the whole thing properly, like a real family.The business is going to go from strength to strength, I’m sure of it, so he’ll be well provided for, with parents who love him.’
Mab tried to think, but her mind was whirling madly in all directions.She’d only just begun to really believe in her baby, and now he might be taken away from her and be brought up in a new and fairly unconventional relationship, not knowing why she had rejected him.Suddenly she felt braver than she’d ever felt in her life.
‘But Edward, what about me?’she said.
‘You can be as involved as you like, Mab, like a sort of lovely favourite aunt or… or a godmother.We’ll be living next door to you, after all.It’s ideal!’
‘He has to know who I am, though.Are you prepared to tell him when he’s old enough?’
Alex and Edward looked at each other.
‘Well, actually, Ed thought he or she would be better not knowing to begin with,’ said Alex, ‘so as not to confuse him, but I think, and Ed agrees now, that we should be completely honest right from the word go.We should all go to antenatal classes together, both be at the birth with you and never try to keep it a secret in Clayton; we’ll be just like a normal family; with a few differences, of course.’He smiled at Mab, and she could see why Edward had become so besotted so quickly.
‘But are you sure?’
‘What about?’
‘About your relationship.You’ve only known each other for about five minutes.How can you be sure that you’ve got something strong enough to last through bringing up a child, launching a business, working together?’
Alex and Edward had kept hold of Mab’s hands but now they linked their other hands together.The three of them sat in silence, and Mab felt the strength flowing from them to her.It was like a river of confidence and love, buoying her up, making her want to laugh for the first time for ages.
‘We just know, Mab,’ said Alex.‘Yours and Ed’s son or daughter will be safe, cared for and absolutely adored, you can be sure of that.’
‘That’s something you can be sure of.We’ll do it together.’Edward’s smile wavered as he looked at Mab, waiting for her decision; a decision that could change all their lives forever.Mab, basking in the deep security of their obvious affection, could only shake her head.
‘Mab, you don’t mean “no” to the plan, do you?’Alex said, looking frightened for the first time.
Mab stood up.‘No, I don’t mean “no” to you bringing up my child, I just meant that he’s not going to be a daughter.My answer is yes.I’ve made a big mistake getting involved with a deal like this, but this is the best way to move forward, I’m sure of it.I think you two will make brilliant parents.And I’ll really like having you there when I’m panting and screaming, although if I’m perfectly honest, I’d quite like to miss that bit out.’
Suddenly, the three of them were laughing and crying, hugging each other and dancing around in a crazy sort of circle.Finally, Alex broke away.
‘I know you’ll think I’m very boring when we should be having champagne, but I’m ravenous.It’s sausage time, if you’ll pardon the expression.’
* * *
Much later, the rather grubby and somewhat battle-scarred company met around Leo’s dining table.Jess was nursing a bandaged wrist from trying to carry too many boxes, Harry’s back was giving him gyp and Mab had torn her favourite dungarees during the struggle to squeeze the jacuzzi through the narrow doorway.Even George was suffering, having been clawed by an angry Maurice, who had strongly objected to being shut away in the bedroom for the day.
‘Can we eat now, Mum?’asked George hopefully.A stack of takeaway foil containers were piled in the centre of the table, surrounded by brown paper bags of naan bread, plates, pickles, poppadoms and bottles of beer.Edward was sitting next to Alex, with a pad and pen at his elbow.Their new business partner was obviously ready for a full-scale board meeting, thought Mab, rubbing her tired eyes.
Edward leaned forward.‘George, we’ve got a lot of things to discuss tonight, mate.’
‘Let’s eat first though,’ said Mab, feeling exhaustion about to swallow her whole, ‘we’ll think much better when we’ve got some food inside us.’
She was right.After copious amounts of curry, most of the party felt ready for anything.The problems that had looked insurmountable earlier in the day now seemed merely troublesome.Only Leo still looked jaded and pessimistic.He and Jess cleared the table ready for action, and everyone waited for Edward to begin.
‘As far as I can see, the main issues we have are as follows,’ said Edward, looking around the table to check that he had everyone’s attention.He held up an efficient-looking list.
‘Let’s be positive first.These are the tasks that are already completed: the shop has been properly dried out now, the plumbing is fixed, the jacuzzi is installed, the big sofas are in place, Mab’s bought a great selection of lamps, the chocolate café’s all ready to go thanks to Jess’s hard work, and the books are on the shelves.Harry and Nina have got the Victorian-themed crèche ready and Stan’s all set to run it, George has done a fantastic job getting the fish tank, the menus and the wall art set up, plus our superb dragonfly logo, Mab’s lovely dark blue curtains and cushion covers are making the shop look very sophisticated and Alex has painted the background for the new sign over the door.’
They all sat up a bit straighter.Put like that, it sounded as if they were almost ready to open.
Leo nodded.‘Yes, but the opening day’s set for three days from now.Are you saying that you seriously think we can make it?Face it, Edward – it’s not going to happen, is it?’
Everyone looked at Edward, and Alex leaned closer to him, passing Edward the next list.Mab felt the passion between them almost as strongly as if it was happening to her.Edward seemed completely different now he had Alex.Could anyone have such a drastic personality transplant so quickly?Where was the crusty, often unapproachable man she’d known for so long?More importantly, was the new improved Edward here to stay?
