Gaby clapped her hands. “Yes!”
Peter laughed. “He says the owner is at home and is happy to show us around. They don’t start formal viewings until next week, so we’re getting in ahead of the crowds.”
They got out of the car and hurried to the door, where they shook off the snow before going inside. The owner was a middle-aged woman who greeted them with a smile and showed them around the immaculate house, explaining how she planned to move closer to her daughter and grandchildren in Essex but that she’d miss the house where she’d lived for so long.
The owner gave them a tour of the cosy downstairs living room and spotless kitchen. Upstairs there were three bedrooms and a recently updated bathroom. The weather was too wild to inspect the garden, but from the back windows they could see it was tidy and well cared for. Through the snow, Gaby spied bird feeders hanging from the trees and remembered filling her aunt’s bird feeders last autumn and imagining what it would be like to have a garden of her own and sweet wild birds to look after.
And now here she was on the cusp of that unexpected dream coming true.
Gaby followed Peter around the property in a daze, drinking in each and every aspect. They asked questions and chatted for a few minutes before Peter thanked the owner for her time and promised to be in touch.
Back out in the car, they once more shrugged off the snow that had landed on them. Peter turned in his seat towards her.
“You were quiet in there, Gaby. Did you not like it?”
“I loved it. I adored it. I’m just… I’m just a little speechless, that’s all.”
“Why?”
She gestured back to the house. “It’s just so perfect. Everything’s so perfect. These past two months have been perfect. I never imagined…”
A sob caught in her throat and Gaby was mortified to discover she was crying.
“Gaby!” Peter said, trying to pull her close to comfort her, although it wasn’t easy now they were sitting in the car. “Don’t cry! That’s not what I wanted to happen.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just a bit emotional and…” Realisation dawned as she grasped just why she’d started crying out of the blue. Wiping away the tears, she laughed softly, which only made Peter look even more confused.
“There’s something I need to tell you, Peter. I was going to wait until later but maybe this is the perfect moment.”
Gaby looked out at the snow swirling on Foxglove Street and at the pretty little house she knew in her heart would soon be theirs. She took Peter’s hand in hers and looked into his eyes and saw everything she’d ever wanted there.
“I’m pregnant.”
Peter stared. And then his eyes flew wide. “You’re pregnant? We’re… we’re having ababy?”
“We’re having a baby!”
He let out a whoop that almost lifted the roof off the car and pulled her into his arms, kissing her senseless.
“We’re having a baby!” he yelled.
She was helpless with laughter and joy and tears. For as long as she lived, she’d never forget this moment, huddled in the car with the snow falling and the man she loved lighting up like a shooting star because of the news she’d just told him about the baby growing inside her.
“Gaby, I’m so happy. I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
The hugged each other and cried and laughed.
“When is the baby due?” Peter asked, his expression filled with wonder and astonishment.
“I don’t know for sure. I only did the test this morning when I realised I hadn’t had a period since our first night together.”
Peter blinked as this sunk in. “The night after we climbed Blackberry Hill to see the stars?”
“Yes.”
“But we were so careful.”
“Apparently not careful enough,” she laughed.
