‘You work too hard,’ he said. ‘You’re not drinking?’
She shook her head. ‘Sit down, I have something for you.’
He pulled a stool out and sat at the breakfast bar, his hands reaching for the TV remote. She slapped them away playfully and gave him a box wrapped in a white ribbon.
‘What’s this?’ he asked, a smile of curiosity on his face.
She said nothing as he undid the bow and took the lid off. Inside, wrapped in tissue paper was a pair of baby bootees.
He looked up at her, then down at it again, before gasping. ‘Does this mean?’
She nodded, welling up when she saw his eyes glistening. ‘I’m pregnant.’
He almost fell off the stool in his haste to hug her. She clung to him as he cried out in happiness.
‘I’m eight weeks gone.’
‘We’d better get a holiday or two in beforehand then.’ He laughed. ‘I can’t believe it.’ Then he sighed. ‘Is it wrong we feel so happy after losing Emily?’
‘No. We lost a large part of what made us when she died. Bringing another life into the world will be good. She wouldn’t want us to be stuck in no-man’s land, not getting over the grief of losing her. I think I’ll always refer to her in the present. We will always have two children.’
‘Or three maybe, if we’re quick.’
‘Speak for yourself! You don’t have to bear them.’
‘No, but I am the one that starts everything off.’ He laughed and hugged her again, kissing the top of her head. ‘I am so happy.’
‘Me too.’
‘It’s going to be hard keeping it quiet for another month.’
‘I know. But it can be our little secret until then. Just you, me and the bump.’
He pressed his hand to her stomach. ‘Hello, little one. I’m going to be your dad.’
‘Oh, don’t get all soppy on me or else you’ll have me crying too. Let’s get started on the food.’
‘Ever getting your priorities right, I see.’
‘I’m eating for two now, whether you like it or not.’
‘Oh, I like it,’ he replied. ‘I like it a lot.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Juliette had been feeling nauseous for most of the morning, so once she’d had a bite to eat at lunchtime, she planned to get her head into some work. Since she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d been worrying about the business and how she was going to manage it with a baby alongside it. She needed to have a think about how much time she wanted to take for maternity leave. Work at the moment took up about thirty hours. Once Danny was home, she reckoned she could fit that around having a child, after having a few months off.
Working for yourself wasn’t like having a conventional job. Although she wouldn’t be entitled to maternity pay, thirty hours a week fitted around seven days was just over four hours a day. She could do that when the child was asleep, or with Danny in an evening if push came to shove. Besides, she could always get an assistant if necessary. Perhaps she could do that forthree months around the birth anyway. If she could get someone to help virtually, that would lessen the burden. She would look into that. She didn’t want to lose her clients, nor did she want to become a full-time mum. She enjoyed her work too much.
She smiled, thinking of next summer when Bump would be with them. Everything would be so rosy. Then she snorted. Having a baby wasn’t all sweetness and light. It was hard work, even if rewarding. But the thought of ten tiny fingers, ten small toes and a button nose made her shiver in anticipation.
Juliette hoped her age wouldn’t go against her. It was a nice idea, like Danny had suggested, that maybe they could have one child, perhaps even two more, but right now she’d be happy with a healthy one.
At the kitchen window, she spotted Sarah out in her garden. There was no sign of Richard. She checked the drive to see his car wasn’t there. It was unusual to see Sarah out when Richard had left. She went over to the hedge.
‘Hi, Sarah.’ She waved as the woman looked in her direction.
Sarah waved back.
