Page 17
“Coffee, please,” I say. “And if you know what’s good for you, maybe cut out the jokes this morning. I’m not in the best mood.”
“I can tell! I hear yoga is a great stress reliever—you should try it sometime.”
He just can’t help himself.
“How do you work with this guy?” I whisper to Emily, loud enough for Jamie to catch. “Doesn’t he drive you up the wall?”
Emily nods emphatically. “And not only is he my colleague, soon he’ll be my brother-in-law. What am I getting myself into?”
“She loves me really,” Jamie assures me. “Anyway, Emily, are you for a coffee too?”
“I’m actually going to pass on a hot drink this morning. I’ll just grab some juice for myself.”
“All right, I’ll go get your coffee, Grace, then I’ll be back for your hot-food order.” Picking the menu off the table, he holds it in front of Emily’s face. “Have a wee look! We’ve got some nice things on here.”
She sighs. “Are you as annoying to actual guests as you are to me and Grace? Because if so, you and I will be having a chat later.”
With another wink, Jamie leaves. Emily goes over to the continental-buffet area and pours herself some orange juice. There’s a fine spread: cereals, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurts. On top of that, Lewis is a brilliant breakfast chef, a role he’s continued with since taking over as hotel manager. I know from experience the cooked options are to die for, and yet . . . I’m not sure I can eat anything, hot or cold. Just the thought makes me nauseated. I’m tense, and my nerves all over the place. I’m still trying to get my head around what the doctor told me.
Jamie comes back with a pot of coffee and fills me up. Emily, taking her seat again, orders the vegetarian breakfast, while I ask for a potato scone and some scrambled eggs—a small portion. We’ll see if I manage any of it.
After Jamie leaves, Emily leans across the table and says in a low voice, “I have some news. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone yet, but seeing as you’re here, it makes sense to tell you in person rather than wait and tell you over the phone. The thing is . . . well, your coffee smells really good, but I’m actually off caffeine at the moment.”
She watches me expectantly, but my sleep-deprived brain doesn’t understand why she’s delivering such mundane news in such a dramatic whisper.
And then things click into place.
“You . . . you’re pregnant?”
A smile breaks across Emily’s lips, and a chuckle bubbles up from her chest. “Yes!” She glances about her then lowers her voice again. “I’m at the very early stages. My period is only a couple of days late, but I took a test, and it was positive.”
I glance down at my black coffee. I shouldn’t be drinking the stuff either—I hadn’t even thought.
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” Emily’s brow furrows.
“Sorry! It’s just . . . a bit of a shock. But it’s wonderful news, Emily. Congratulations!”
Her eyes soften, and the tension in her forehead vanishes. “Thanks! Apart from you and Ally, no one else knows yet, including his brothers, so keep it to yourself, yeah? But I had to tell you. You and I tell each other everything.”
Oh God. She just had to say that, didn’t she? Normally we do tell each other everything. The day after her engagement party, it didn’t even occur to me not to confess to her I’d slept with Aidan. Now would be the perfect opportunity to admit that I, too, am pregnant, but I can’t bring myself to. The words won’t come, like they didn’t yesterday when I got back to the hospital waiting room and Aidan jumped up to ask me about my ankle. With hindsight, I wish I’d blurted the news out then—dumped it on him the same way the doctor dumped it on me—but I didn’t. I kept it to myself.
And now I find myself doing the same thing again. The truth is, although we’re both pregnant, we’re in very different circumstances. Emily’s found the love of her life. She’s moved to a new, wonderful home and has a brand-new job that she’s incredibly passionate about. Together with Lewis, she’s making big changes around the hotel, modernising some of its tired decor and bringing in additional revenue via the newly finished function room.
As for me? The man who got me into this situation doesn’t do relationships and only ever sleeps with a woman once. My brother has just moved out of the flat we share, and I have to find a new place, which won’t be easy, given London prices. And if I’m being honest with myself, my job isn’t exactly fulfilling me the way it once did, especially as I have to put up my fees yet again, which will push away people who genuinely benefit from what I do.
Of course, there’s also an even bigger difference between us. Emily is excited there’s a baby growing inside her, whereas I . . . am not sure what to think. I’m still considering my options.
No, I can’t spoil Emily’s happy news by revealing what’s happening with me, so instead I force a smile and say, “Well, how are you feeling? Any morning sickness, or is it still a bit early for that?”
Even though Johnny’s cottage is only a couple of minutes’ walk away, Emily insists Ally drive the two of us there. She won’t hear of me going on foot, given my sprained ankle. When Ally pulls up to let us out, Emily instructs him to carry me from the car inside, and that’s where I draw the line. I make it clear that will not be happening.
I’ve had more than enough of being carried by men for one weekend. Besides, the doctor said there’s no need to avoid walking altogether, and in fact, gradually putting some weight back on my ankle is an important part of the healing process. So, with a hand on Emily’s shoulder for support, I navigate my way along the garden path without any help from Ally. He turns the car then lingers in the lane, waiting to check we get in okay. It’s sweet, but I shoo him away—I hate being treated like an invalid.
Emily reaches for the knocker, but before she can use it, the cottage door is flung open. Mum stands in the doorway, arms crossed, brows knitted together in a deep frown, eyes fixed on me.
“Grace Adefope! How could you not tell us? This family does not keep secrets from one another.”
A chill creeps up my spine. How on earth does she know? Things rarely remain hidden from Mum for long, but apart from the doctor, I’ve not spoken to a soul about my pregnancy.
