“No, I’m not.” Drew sits forward slightly, bringing me with him. “As far as I was aware, Maisie was theirs, not mine, so I didn’t question what they were doing about having kids. I assumed they’d already done it, if you see what I mean.” Heshakes his head slowly. “No… there’s something else in the back of my mind about the two of you, although I don’t know whether it’s this, or if it’s to do with something else.”
Livia blushes and murmurs, “Oh, God,” under her breath, and Hunter laughs, looking down at his wife.
“I don’t know why you’re embarrassed, babe. Drew might not remember everything yet, but he will one day.”
“What is it I’m supposed to remember?” Drew asks.
“Just that, when Livia and I first got together, you nearly caught us in the act.”
Drew chuckles, his body shaking beneath mine. “Perhaps that’s one thing I’ll pretend I forgot permanently… for your wife’s sake.”
“Man, you really have changed.” Hunter tilts his head, staring at his brother. “The old Drew never passed up the chance to score points over me.”
“I’ve changed in all kinds of ways,” Drew says, hugging me tighter.
“So it seems.” Hunter glances at me, smiling. “But I still can’t work out how you knew Livia and I were trying for a baby.”
“I don’t know.” Drew sounds thoughtful. “Is it something to do with a telephone call?” He looks at me, but I shrug my shoulders.
“It would have been before the accident, Drew. I wouldn’t know.”
He turns his attention to Hunter. “There was sunlight and I’m getting an image of domed rooftops. Does that make sense?”
Hunter smiles. “Yeah, it does. You were in Rome on that assignment, and you called me a couple of days before you came home. We talked about it then.”
“That’s when you told me?”
“No, you already knew.”
“I did? How?”
“I told you just after Maisie was born. Livia was finding it kinda hard, what with Ella being pregnant as well, and you noticed she wasn’t being her usual self, so I told you what was going on.”
“Please tell me I didn’t try to score points.”
Hunter shakes his head. “No. I don’t think you could’ve been more supportive. I couldn’t always share my feelings with Livia, so it helped, knowing you were there.”
“But surely you had Ella, too.”
“We didn’t tell her.”
“Why not?”
“Trying for a baby is really personal… especially when it’s not working out. Somehow, having you in my corner made it a little easier. It was like you said in that phone call, when you were in Rome, I had to be strong for Livia, but sometimes I needed someone to be strong for me… and that was where you came in. That’s why I wanted to tell you our news. Because even though you don’t remember, you’ve been there for me, and I appreciate it.”
“Are you keeping it to yourselves, then?”
“Just for now. We won’t be able to for long. Pat will almost certainly work it out if Ella doesn’t get there first.”
Drew takes a deep breath and I look into his eyes, seeing how happy and proud he is that his brother trusted him with this. It’s important, I can tell, and I nestle in to him. He looks down, tilting his head to one side.
“Are you okay?” he asks. I nod my head, just once, and he tucks my hair behind my ear, his thumb caressing my cheek. “It’s all gonna work out just fine, Josie. I promise.”
I close my eyes, his lips dusting mine, and I let myself believe him… because when I’m in Drew’s arms, anything feels possible.
***
Drew