Page 111
Sinking back into her seat, she wondered whether she could ask everyone she knew to block Cat too, but surely that was impractical. Nausea rose in her gut as she realized getting rid of Cat wasn’t going to be easy.
She wound the window down, needing some fresh air in her lungs. The delicate icy structure of the snowflakes falling past represented the fragility of her happiness. Every time things seemed to be looking up, something else came along to derail the situation.
Lost in her thoughts, she startled as Hana climbed back into the car.
“What did the doctor say?”
“I’ve got a prescription for some anti-sickness tablets. Hopefully they’ll help.” Hana buckled in. “What’s wrong? You look a bit pale. Hope you’re not coming out in sympathy for me.”
Maya didn’t have the heart to voice it, so she handed Hana the phone, pointing at the comment in question.
Hana’s face soured. “That little bitch. She always was a spiteful cow.” She glanced up. “Don’t worry about it. She’ll soon get bored and piss off.”
“I hope so,” Maya said, starting the car. Though she wasn’t sure that would be the case. “Come on. Let’s stop at the chemist on the way home, then we’ll be back in time for dinner with the parentals.”
“Thanks for all of this,” Hana said.
Maya smiled. “You’ve already thanked me. The last one is still valid, you know. They don’t have an expiry date.”
Hana laughed weakly. “You’re always looking out for me. Even though that’s meant to be my job, as the older sibling.” She touched Maya’s hand. “This pregnancy has got me thinking. I’m going to do better. You can rely on me.”
A lump formed in Maya’s throat, and she nodded, unable to speak.
They managed a trip to the chemist and home again, and were just pulling on the drive when Hana grabbed the Waitrose bag and heaved her guts up into it, having to abandon it and work her way through a couple of others.
“Whoa there,” Maya said, rubbing her back. “This is a three-bag event. That’s the equivalent of ten on the Richter scale.”
Hana tried to smile as her retching eased, and Maya continued to rub her back until she was done.
They climbed out and Maya disposed of the bags, whose duties were one hundred percent over rather than being for life. Then she took Hana inside.
Omar’s car was on the drive, signaling his return from work.
“Honey, we’re home,” Maya called out as they entered the hallway.
She went ahead into the kitchen, where their parents were making dinner, and gestured for Hana to sit while she got her a glass of water. Hana’s plan had been to tell Yvonne and Omar about the pregnancy once they got home, but the poor woman clearly needed a few moments to recover from chucking her guts up.
Omar glanced over from peeling potatoes to eye Maya as she passed the water to Hana, who was sitting with her head in her hand.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Omar said. “We need to talk about this ski nonsense. I’m beginning to think my previous suspicions about Sam leading you astray were correct.”
Maya’s gut tightened, and she nearly sloshed the water out of the glass. “Leading me astray?”
“That’s right. Just like last time.”
She took a breath, her heart rate accelerating. “He wasn’t influencing me last time, or this time. Will you give me some credit? I can make my own decisions. I don’t need a boyfriend to make them for me.”
Her dad shook his head. “That’s not what I mean.”
Maya was having difficulty summoning her usual shield of humor. “What do you mean, then?”
Omar put down the potato peeler, and Yvonne shot him a warning look. He hesitated. “I’m just worried. That you’re going to abandon your career in haste and settle for a second-rate job. Especially when you might be in a certain . . . condition.”
Yvonne tilted her head in confusion. “Condition? What do you mean?”
“Oh God,” Maya said, rubbing her temples.
Omar glanced at Yvonne. “I didn’t want to worry you, but Maya asked my advice on morning sickness.”
