Page 37 of The Half Sister

‘O ye of little faith,’ Matt laughs.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Kate reaches into her bag and pulls out a wrapped gift box, putting it in front of Matt on the table.

‘What’s this for?’ he asks.

‘Do I need a reason?’

‘Normally, yes,’ he says, eyeing her suspiciously.

‘Just open it,’ she says impatiently.

Her eyes don’t leave him as he unwraps it, far too slowly.

‘Hurry up,’ she urges.

He smiles and rips the paper off impatiently, looking quizzically at the pen-shaped box he’s left with. As he lifts the lid, his face crumples.

‘Are you...are you really?’ he cries, holding up the pregnancy test with its two blue lines prominently displayed.

Kate can do no more than nod her head for fear that thepairof them will end up sobbing. They look at each other, alternating between crying and laughing, unable to say anything.

‘When did you find out?’ he asks incredulously.

‘About an hour ago,’ she says, smiling. ‘I couldn’t wait, and I didn’t want to tell you on the phone. I wanted to see your face.’

‘Well, you’re definitely not having the burrata!’

‘I know!’ She laughs. ‘I’m already missing it.’

‘I...I don’t even have the words,’ says Matt. ‘I truly don’t know what to say. How do you feel? Do you feel different?’

Kate had spent the past hour wondering that herself. She’d taken herself off to the toilets as soon as she got back into the office, leaning against the locked door, inhaling and exhaling deeply. She’d felt her breasts, checking for signs of tenderness, and questioning whether she could make it to the shop to get some ginger biscuits, because she was sure she felt sick. She’d read enoughMother & Babymagazines to last her a lifetime, so she knew what she wassupposedto feel. It was all very wellsayingshe was pregnant, but she doubted that she’d truly believe it until she actuallyfeltit. Though standing there, waiting for all the symptoms to present themselves, was probably a pointless exercise.

‘I think my boobs are bigger,’ she says.

‘Already?’ says Matt, with his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Kate laughs and drops her head onto the table. ‘Oh my God, listen to me. I’m going to be one of those women, aren’t I?’

Matt looks at her expectantly.

‘I’m going to think I’m the only woman in the world to have a baby.’

He laughs. ‘I can’t even begin to imagine how high-maintenance you’re going to be.’

‘Youwillgo and mine for coal if I develop a craving for it, won’t you?’ She can’t keep the mirth from her voice.

‘The best you’re going to get is ice cream at midnight.’

‘Häagen-Dazs?’ she questions playfully. ‘Anyflavour?’

‘Within reason,’ he says, smiling. ‘I can’t believe we’ve done it. It just doesn’t feel real. Can we go around to your parents’ house tonight?’

It catches Kate off guard, her mind playing tricks on her for that split second, making her believe that her dad is still there. She’s ashamed to acknowledge how differently she feels about going once she realizes he’s not. Perhaps it’s time to start calling it her mum’s house.

‘It’s very early days,’ she says.

‘I honestly don’t think I can keep this a secret,’ says Matt, his expression struggling to hide his unadulterated joy.

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