Page 28 of Maximum
“That’s good news.”
Fleur and Thato kept up the interview for another five minutes. After they were done, we both shook his hand and wished him good luck with the important work he was doing.
“I’m surprised how rational you sounded in that interview,” I said and nudged my shoulder against hers when she came to sit beside me on the bench.
Fleur gave me a cute smile and looked in the direction of where her parents had last been. “I’m hungry. Maybe we could find my parents and have that picnic my mom brought.”
“Wait.” I placed a hand on her thigh when she was about to get up. “Are we telling your parents that I lied about the pregnancy yesterday?”
Fleur looked out over the water. “No, I don’t want them to think you’re a liar in general. I’ll think of something.”
Half an hour later, we had found a nice spot away from people and penguin droppings to sit and enjoy the sandwiches and fruit that Justine had prepared.
“Your mom always makes the best sandwiches,” Tom said with a loving wink in Justine’s direction.
“Yes, they’re good,” I agreed and took another bite of my tuna salad sandwich.
“I’m sorry, but you know what Dad and I are bursting to ask,” Justine said with a suppressed smile. “Are we finally going to be grandparents?”
My heart sunk seeing the hopeful expression in their eyes.
Fleur looked down and picked away some breadcrumbs from her pants. “Maximum shouldn’t have said what he did yesterday. He got a little too excited because my period is late. I’ve told him it doesn’t mean that I’m pregnant.” There was a small sigh at the end of her sentence.
“But honey, you should get a test. You can get those things in every supermarket now.”
Fleur nodded to her mum but didn’t smile.
“I’m still going to cross my fingers,” Tom said with a wink in my direction. “Fleur might as well have joined a convent as a nun with her decision to give up on men and dedicate herself to work with animals. I can’t tell you how relieved Justine and I were when you showed up and told us she’s accepted your proposal.”
“How late is your period?” Justine asked Fleur.
“Oh, about a week. It’s nothing.”
“But it could be. Why aren’t you happy? Isn’t this what you always wanted?” Justine leaned forward on the picnic blanket and touched Fleur’s shoe.
“Yes, but to be honest, I couldn’t afford to have a child, at least not now.”
“Oh, sweetheart, that’s nonsense. What children need the most is love and attention. I’m sure they have Goodwill shops in Ireland too, and no child ever died from wearing second-hand clothes.”
Tom chipped in with, “You know, darling, you were always such a happy child. Running around barefoot, out and about picking food from the trees and playing with animals. God knows, your mother and I didn’t have much money back then, or now for that matter.” Tom chuckled. “But you two are young and strong. Wealth has never been evenly distributed in this world. So what if caring for animals and playing rugby doesn’t pay much? Our income fluctuates too, but we get by and you will too. I used to pick up odd jobs here and there when photo assignments were low. If you two love each other, you and your baby will be fine.”
I thought about telling them that my adoptive parents were among the richest people in the world, and that my financial situation was more than solid, but there was something really nice in Justine and Tom accepting me just for me.
“I actually brought you a small gift, honey,” Justine said and pulled a book out of her knitted bag. “I didn’t wrap it because the world doesn’t need more useless garbage, but I saw this cookbook and instantly thought of you.”
“Mom, you didn’t need to bring me a gift.”
“No, I know, but it’s from our local thrift store, and it was only eighteen rand.”
Fleur read the title out loud. “Tasty Favorites on a Budget. Thanks, Mom, that’s sweet of you. Come here.”
I watched how Fleur gave Justine a tight hug and missed my own mum, Ciara, for a second. She’d been warm and loving too, but I would never understand how she’d been so blinded by my father.
“Actually, I bought you both a small thing too. Here.” Fleur fished out a small package and handed it to her mother and then she gave her father a rolled-up magazine that had a rubber band around it.
Tom was the first to comment on his gift. “This is wonderful, I love it.”
“It's a wildlife magazine with a fascinating article about Greenland. Do you have it?”
