Xander nodded.
Quinn answered the phone.
‘Hey Quinn, is Alex with you?’ Xander said. ‘Immy would like a word.’
Quinn must have said yes because Xander handed the phone to Immy, kissed her on the cheek and left the room. Immy sat down on the bed and waited for her sister to come on the line.
‘Immy, are you OK?’ Alex said.
‘Yes and no. Look, I don’t want to worry you and I don’t want you to cut your holiday short, but I just wanted you to hear it from me, as quite a few people are finding out and I didn’t want it to come to you on the grapevine.’
‘Immy, what is it? You’re getting me worried.’
Immy let out a sigh. ‘So first of all there was a fire in my shop late Friday night.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘It’s OK. I’m OK, Xander got me and Jacob out before it spread. He literally broke down the door and practically carried us both out. I was checked out at the hospital and I’m fine. The shop is destroyed and they are saying I can’t return to the flat or shop until a building inspector comes out to see if there is any structural damage. So I’m staying at Xander’s for a few days.’
‘Oh god. Immy, no, I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s OK, I mean, it’s not but the fire brigade put the fire out very quickly so hopefully the damage won’t be too much.’
‘OK. But why are you staying at Xander’s? You could stay at mine.’
‘Your spare key is in my flat so I can’t get it, but it’s OK.’
‘No it’s not, you don’t even like the man.’
‘Well that brings me on to my second point. We’re… giving it a go.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘We’re trying to have a proper relationship. We did a lot of talking on Friday after he saved me. He pushed me away before but it was purely to protect his daughter. I can’t really get into that as it’s not my story to tell but now we’ve decided to date and see how things go.’
‘Right,’ Alex said, slowly, sounding completely unsure about this new revelation. Not surprising really since she knew how much Xander had hurt Immy everytime he had pushed her away in the past. She must think her sister was a glutton for punishment.
Immy let out another sigh. There really was no easy way to say this, so she would just rip off the plaster and go for it.
‘Alex, I’m pregnant. Three months.’
There was silence from Alex and then she made some inarticulate sounds.
‘I’m obviously keeping the baby.’
‘Immy,’ she heard her sister’s voice soften. ‘I’m really happy for you, you’ll make an amazing mum. But you don’t need to be in a relationship with Xander just because you’re pregnant. You’re strong, brave and resilient and me and Quinn will help you in every way we can.’
‘I’ve already told Xander that I’m happy to raise this baby alone and I don’t need anything from him. He knows he can have as little or as much involvement in the baby’s life as he wants. But I’m not dating him because I’m pregnant. We both care deeply about one another and we want this to work. He was scared to get involved in a relationship because… well, I can’t say too much about what happened but his wife was horrible to Etta. Xander was scared to let anyone get close to her for fear of her getting hurt again. So he built a wall around him and refused to let anyone in. But now he wants to try and so do I, because despite what happened at Christmas, I never stopped caring for him. He has been sweet, loving and caring ever since Friday. I know it’s very early days for us and it might not work between us, but whatever happens I think we’ll remain good friends and co-parent together. But I’m excited about this, we get on really well, so we’re going to give it our best shot.’
There was silence from Alex for a moment. ‘I want to be happy for you, I really do, I just… I don’t trust him not to hurt you.’
‘Everyone deserves a second chance, right?’
‘I think this is his fourth or fifth chance.’
‘Look, you don’t have to like it, but I would ask that you respect my decision. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t feel that it was right. You’re going to have to trust me.’
‘I trust you. It’s him I don’t trust.’
