Page 81 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘Course not. Jack will be relieved he hasn’t got to entertain me for the rest of the evening. I’ll have a pint waiting for you.’
Since he’d already been drinking, Archie put his best foot forward and set off for Croftwood Cinema. It wasn’t as far as the pub the night before, and once he got out of the estate, it was only a fifteen-minute walk and it wasn’t dark yet.
The cinema backed onto a secluded area of the park, and they had festival lights strung through the trees. The back door had been slid open slightly to allow the warm spring evening air inside and to allow people to wander outside if they wanted a break from watching the film. Archie slid inside and found Seb on a barstool, as Jack served another customer.
‘I haven’t been here since the festival,’ said Archie, looking around. The bar was designed with an Art Deco theme to match the original features of the rest of the building. There were mirrors behind the bar and Archie caught sight of himself, shocked that he looked so dishevelled.
‘It’s a nice quiet spot to have a drink. What’s up, then?’
Now that he was here, he realised he’d have to break his promise to Nora. Did it count if it was to get advice?
‘Come on, spit it out. You look bloody awful.’
‘Thank you. I’ve had some unexpected news today and it’s rather thrown me.’
Seb took a sip of his pint and waited for Archie to continue.
‘Can I ask that what I share with you goes no further.’
‘Course, mate.’
‘Nora’s pregnant.’
Seb gulped his pint and started coughing. ‘Christ, Archie!’ he said when he’d recovered. ‘Congratulations, that’s amazing news!’
Archie glanced behind him, worried at who might have heard Seb, but aside from Jack, there was no one else in the room with them at the moment.
‘It is,’ he said, grinning and feeling on top of the world again for a moment, just as he had when he’d first heard. ‘But I think I’ve buggered things up with Nora.’
‘Go on,’ Seb said, pushing Archie’s pint towards him.
Archie paused for a sip, then carried on. ‘I’m not sure she’s that pleased yet. I suppose it’s the shock. I hope that’s what it is.’
‘You haven’t talked about this yet?’
‘No. It was just as dinner was served so there wasn’t time.’
Seb raised his eyebrows. ‘And you went down for dinner mid-conversation?’
‘Bugger.’ Suddenly it seemed so obvious. What the hell had he been thinking? ‘I should have said sod it to going down for dinner. It’s just… I always go for dinner, Seb. It’s so habitual, it didn’t occur to me not to.’
‘And Nora?’
‘Nora left.’
‘Ah.’
‘I went after her as soon as I realised we needed to talk it all through, but she’s not at home. She texted and has asked for some time to think.’
‘That’s tough. But knowing Nora, that’s what she’s doing. She’s not the type of woman to punish you by cutting you off, Arch. Yes, you’re an absolute Charlie for going down to dinner after an announcement like that, for crying out loud, but that won’t be what’s riling her.’
‘No, I think that’s probably down to me suggesting we get married.’
‘So you managed to propose between her telling you she’s pregnant and you going down for dinner?’ Seb chuckled and shook his head. ‘Oh Arch. You need so much more help from me than the name of my barber.’
‘I know,’ Archie said mournfully. ‘It’s very easy to see all of this with hindsight.’
‘Look. She’s probably freaking out. She’s how old? Forty odd? This wasn’t in her plan. It’s different for you. You’re gaining everything in this. A child, an heir, someone to share your life with. You have nothing to lose here.’
