Page 56 of Best Laid Plans

He wondered about that other time, eight years ago, when she’d discovered she was pregnant. Had she been ecstatically happy? Just as quickly he dismissed the question. There was little to be achieved now by reminding himself that he could only ever be a second best option after Josh.

It was time to be positive, to look forward to the future. A new generation perhaps.

When he heard Lucy’s footsteps he set his mug down, unhappily aware that she wasn’t hurrying. She hadn’t called out in excitement.

He turned, arms ready to comfort her, and his heart stood still in chest as he prepared himself for disappointment.

He didn’t want to put extra pressure on her, and he summoned a smile and tried to look calm, as if the result really didn’t matter either way.

Lucy came into the kitchen and he saw two bright spots of colour in her cheeks. Her eyes were huge and shiny with emotion.

She waved a plastic stick. ‘There are two lines.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘It means –’

She looked as if she was going to cry. Will’s throat tightened.

‘We did it, Will.’

She didn’t look happy.

‘You mean –’ He hardly dared to ask. ‘You’re pregnant?’

‘Yes!’

He wasn’t sure if she was going to laugh or cry.

‘Congratulations,’ he said and his voice was choked. ‘You clever girl.’

Tears glistened in her eyes but at last she was smiling. And then she was grinning.

‘Can you believe it, Will? I’m pregnant!’ With a happy little cry she stumbled towards him and he opened his arms.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered as she hugged him.

‘Congratulations,’ he said again.

‘Congratulations to you, too. You’re going to be a father.’

He grinned shakily.

A soft look of wonder came over her face as she touched the amethyst pendant, then pressed her hands to her stomach. ‘I’m going to be a mother.’

‘The best mother ever.’

‘I don’t give a hoot if it’s a boy or a girl.’

‘Not at all,’ Will agreed, although he realised with something of a shock that he really would love to have a son.

Happiness shone in Lucy’s eyes as she looked around her kitchen, as if she was suddenly seeing it with new eyes. She grinned at the table that she’d set for breakfast, at the dogs’ bowls on the floor near the door. ‘Oh, gosh, Will, I’m pregnant!’

He laughed, but it felt inadequate.

‘Thank you,’ she said again, with a smile so sweet he wanted to sweep her into his arms, to hold her and kiss her and murmur endearments, all of which were completely inappropriate now that they were reverting to friendship.

Lucy’s mind, however, was on a more practical plane. She looked over at the stove. ‘I’ve probably burned the sausages.’

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