Page 76 of Be More Lucy

‘You’ve gone quiet,’ Lucy said.

Mark stopped and pulled her into a hug. ‘About what you told me last night about your um …’ He hesitated.

‘Spot of bother?’ she said. Referring to it like that avoided triggering the crying. Why was he bringing that up?

‘Yes.’ He looked at her, concerned. ‘I think you should tell Em as soon as possible.’

‘What do you know that I don’t? Em’s not pregnant, is she?’

‘No, but Jack’s keen to have some little Carvers running around that new house of theirs. I have a feeling it won’t be long before she is.’

He was right, but the thought of telling Em brought her out in a cold sweat. ‘I have tried to tell her lots of times, but I always chicken out.’

‘What are you afraid of? I’m sure she’d be sympathetic. Jack would too.’

‘I know, but dropping it into a conversation is difficult. It’s a bit of a mood killer.’

‘Not as much of a mood killer as you bursting into tears if she tells you she’s pregnant. She won’t understand why you’re upset. And if you tell her at that point, it will put a real damper on their excitement.’

He was right. ‘I don’t want to do that to them.’

‘I know you don’t.’

‘You’re a wise man, Mr Farnham.’

‘Sometimes. If you need my help, just ask. Though I have no idea how I could help.’

‘Thank you.’ She kissed him.

‘There’s one more thing,’ he said, looking directly into her eyes. ‘If you were pregnant with my child, I’d stand by you.’

Lucy so wanted to believe that, but it was an easy thing to say, not quite such an easy thing to do. ‘That’s a big promise. You might feel differently if it happened.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘I thought about it last night. I promise I wouldn’t abandon you.’

39

‘When have I got to get you back to the airport?’ Mark murmured in Lucy’s ear.

She rolled over to face him, pulling him close under the sheet. ‘A couple of hours yet. I wish I didn’t have to go.’

Sunday had been bliss. They’d spent most of the day in bed, apart from half an hour or so in the pool when Mark heard Noah and his mother go out.

‘I wish you’d stay.’

‘I can’t. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow and I can’t cancel it.’ Lucy sighed. ‘How are we going to make this work? You living here and me living in Birmingham? It’s not like I can get a job over here.’

‘You could.’

‘I sound like someone chewing a wasp when I speak Spanish, and I’m used to being my own boss. I couldn’t work for someone else again, and I can’t run the marketing business from Spain. Clients expect me to see me face to face. I’d have to sell up and start afresh over here.’

He kissed her. ‘We’ll think of something. I’ve had a few ideas.’

‘Such as?’

‘I need to do some asking around. Can you come to see me again next weekend?’

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