Page 40 of Due At The Same Time
Millicent’s mouth opened and closed, and for once, I noted with satisfaction, she had nothing to say.
“I don't want this baby!” Astrid wailed. “I don't want to give birth to yourlittle brother.My god. I’m suing that sperm bank. This is false advertising. After I give birth, you’re up, Ambrose. It’ll all be on you. I’m out.”
At this juncture, I deemed it prudent to break up the party, and after our wide-eyed guests had left, Finn and I went inside.
He made me a hot tea and we settled down on the sofa. I rubbed my belly, feeling unsettled.
Finn pulled me into his arms, still laughing at the events of the afternoon. “You think Ambrose would really raise a baby that wasn’t his?”
I chewed my lip.
“Yes,” I said slowly. “I think he would. He has always wanted kids. He will feel responsible for the baby. I think he’ll want to raise him. It doesn’t sound like Astrid has any interest now.”
Finn laughed heartily.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, feeling a bit annoyed.
I myself felt raw inside, a little upset. It wasn’t my baby. Or anything to do with me. But my heart hurt thinking of what Astrid had said and what Ambrose must be feeling.
“Just the thought of Ambrose raising a baby that isn’t his, doing all this work, and—not even his! His father’s virile sperm instead! You really think he’ll raise his baby brother?”
“Yes,” I said after a moment, “I think he will.”
Finn wanted to talk about it more, was definitely not done laughing until the tears streamed down his face, but I felt pensive.
The next morning, Finn’s limo driver had just arrived to take him to the airport when I got a text from Harold.
“Astrid’s gone into labor,” I told Finn.
”Well, that’s my cue to go,” my baby daddy said regretfully. “Text me and tell me all about it, baby girl. I’m off to Las Vegas to start my next tour. But I’ll do my damndest to get back for our baby’s birth. And just say the word,a chroí,and I’ll hire a whole army of midwives to be there in case I can’t make it back in time.”
He looked so glum at having to leave that after I had kissed him goodbye, I elbowed him affectionately and tried to make a joke.
“Remember, you’re a free man. Now you can get pussy-deep in some groupies.”
He sighed.
“I’m feeling very depressed that you won't marry me, angel. I don’t do that groupie shit anymore. I used to, when I was first starting out and. . .it was a mistake. A long time ago, before I met Astrid, I lost some. . .pretty important things just fucking any pussy I saw so it’s soured me on that.”
He raked a hand through his hair but tried to smile at me.
“When I’m depressed I can get a little reckless at the gambling table. I’ve made an account for you and the baby and put $20 million in it.”
“20 million? Finn, you didn’t have to—”
“Just to make sure I don’t gamble it away, lassie.”
“Finn, be careful,” I warned, almost in tears at his generosity, “Astrid is getting, in her words,desperate to impress you. Just be careful.”
“I will,” I said, and I watched him drive away, spotting that dark flash of his hair out the window as the limo went down the road.
I had just put my long hair up in a bun and sat down to the table to plan my day when the phone rang.
“Yes?” I asked.
“It’s the Orchard Grove Hospital,” a clipped professional voice said. “I have you listed as Ambrose Hargreaves’ emergency contact?”
“We are divorced,” I said in exasperation. “I shouldn’t still be on those forms.”
