Page 92 of Tiers of Joy

“Listen I will let you get back to sleep. There is just something I want to tell you first.” I pause.

“I’m pregnant.” I say smiling.

“Well done, bye.” Then she disconnects.

“Wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction.” Gaige says.

I hold up my hand and count down from five. By the time I get to three my phone is ringing again.

“What the ever loving fuck?! You’re knocked up?!” She screams.

I laugh.

“Yes!”

“Oh my god! This is incredible. How far gone are you?” She asks.

“Eleven weeks.” I answer.

“Oh the hot fucking night! He knocked your arse up! High five on the spectacular sperm Gaige.” She compliments.

“Err thanks.” He mutters.

“Look I have to go but I wanted to tell you before people in the town found out.” I state.

“Glad you bloody did too, no one wants to see me go all Carrie.” She laughs.

I mouth the words ‘see, I told you' to Gaige.

“Bye Sally!” I yell.

“Bye my beautiful pregnant friend!” She yells back.

Gaige puts his arm around me and kisses my head.

“You two are batshit crazy.” He states.

“Yes, yes we are.” I laugh.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I close the door to the kitchen and hand Amy and Josie a coffee and a cupcake each.

“What’s going on Esme? Are you closing?” Amy asks, clearly panicked.

“No, no, not at all. I’m definitely not closing.” I reassure them.

“Okay. So obviously you both heard about me collapsing the other day?” I ask.

They both nod.

“Well, Doc found out why.” I pause smiling.

“Oh my god, you’re dying?!” Amy cries.

“Amy…I’m - ” I try to tell her.

“Don’t you worry about a thing. We will take care of the shop for you. We could do a fundraiser and get the local network here too? They could do a whole piece…”

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