Page 20 of This is Where I Leave You

When he had gone, Luke locked up and sat on the sofa with her.

“Luke, you know, I am fine now, and you do have a life. I can’t ask you to live on my couch forever, I am fine really.”

Putting his hands on hers, they both stared at the fire in silence. They both felt so comfy and relaxed, they sat there a while before anyone spoke.

“A couple more nights, for my own peace of mind. And I love your couch, it’s not a hard task. Ok?” Luke looked at her nervously; begging her with his eyes to let him stay a bit longer to protect her, make sure she was ok. He could not bear to think of her in this house of locked doors and ghosts.

Cady smiled back at him, relieved he had not taken the out just yet. His wife must be understanding, or did she just not care?

“Ok, thanks.”

Returning their gazes to the fire, they sat arm in arm till they both fell asleep.

Richard, watching the pair, half smiled to Gerty.

“Think he will be a good dad to my baby?” he whispered, his voice cracking.

Gerty touched his shoulder.

“If it’s meant to be, it will be. We just have to help it along a little, when we can. You ok with this?”

Richard kept his gaze on the sleeping couple.

“He is everything I never was to her. They are more relaxed with each other in a few days than we were in years. I can live with it. Or rest in peace with it,” He chuckled at his own joke.

CHAPTER 19

Georgina sat on the toilet, her feet scrunched up, toes clinging to each other against the harsh cold of the white bathroom tiles. Manoeuvring herself while semi hovering over the toilet, she tutted loudly as she managed to pee on her hand. Placing the stick on top of her laundry basket perched on about half a roll of toilet paper, she pulled up her knickers and washed her hands thoroughly, scrubbing till her hands were pink and sore. Resting on the edge of the bath, she covered her head in her hands and listened to Magda shuffling around outside the door.

“Do you vant coffee this morning? I am making, yes?”

George opened the door and looked at Magda, balancing a pile of fluffy towels in her arms. Taking them from her, she stuffed them into the airing cupboard and nodded.

Coffee would be great, thanks.”

George saw Magda’s eyes fall onto the pregnancy test. Magda nodded towards it. “You look yet?”

George shook her head, suddenly terrified to move. “No. Will you?”

Magda nodded and patting her on the shoulder, she walked past and peered at the stick, picking up the box and reading the instructions at the back, and looking at the test again. She put the box down and turned to her.

“We need coffee now. We talk first, then I tell. Yes?”

George frowned. What? Magda gave her no time to answer, wrapping the stick up in the tissue, she walked into the kitchen and putting the test out of reach, she poured the coffee.

“So tell me, you want baby? Father know?” She sat at the table, gesturing for her to sit down.

George sat down numbly. She took a big swig of coffee and spoke. She really talked, too. About her feelings of abandonment from her parents, her need for stability and independence, the man she met, the long distance relationship with a client that was so new the shine had not gone from it yet. Cady’s situation, bringing up a baby alone. And now this. The possibility that she might be another head strong career woman who had fallen at the womb hurdle. Her clock was not even ticking either, in fact, she wasn’t even sure she had a clock. Magda sat and listened, refilling her coffee cup and nodding occasionally.

“So you think this man is nice man?”

George smiled. “Yes, yes I do. I have really fallen for him. It terrifies me, but it’s true.” He thought of the month she had just spent with him, and of her trip back to Paris that weekend, to finish the contract for two weeks.

Magda half smiled and then looked her straight in the eye.

“You want baby?”

George thought for a moment. Did she want a baby? The truth was, half of her did not look at the test in case it was negative, which was barmy but now, she really hoped she was.

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