Page 10 of Christmas Chaos
3
APRIL
Breathe in, two, three, four, and hold, two, three, four. Breathe out, two, three, four…
Rory’s jaw clenched tight as he did the breathing exercise Zoe’s best friend, Sam, had once talked about. Sam said it calmed her down when she was stressed. Right now, with Zoe curled up on his lap on the phone to her mother, he needed all the help he could get to hide his emotions. He was absolutely terrified.
‘I don’t feel pregnant. Should I feel pregnant? What am I meant to be feeling? Oh my god, Mum, I’m pregnant!’
Zoe’s mother, Mary, was on speakerphone and her laugh was warm.
‘My darling girl, you won’t feel anything for weeks but you might get very tired and nauseous. You need to rest.’
‘But I don’t want to! I’ve got to get everything organised for Christmas.’
Oh god. Fucking Christmas. Rory’s heart rate spiked as he tried to work out when Zoe might give birth.December? January?
‘Zoe love, it’s the beginning of April,’ said her mother.
‘Yes, but I’m due mid-January so what if the baby comes early? I can’t leave anything to chance. Or to The Grinch.’
‘Rory, are you listening to this slander?’
He let his breath go. He had to get it together.
‘Yes, Mary,’ he replied. ‘Although if you weren’t on the other end of the phone I would have already tuned out.’
‘Oi!’ said Zoe, wiggling the fingers of her free hand. ‘I know how ticklish you are. These digits are deadly weapons and I’m not afraid to use them.’
He flinched. The thought of being tickled was almost enough to displace the fear that his wife was finally pregnant. ‘Apologies, Mary. What I meant to say is that I am tuned one hundred per cent to Radio Zoe and hanging on her every word.’
‘Oh dear.’ Her mother laughed. ‘That’s your first mistake. If I paid attention to half of what Arnold said I’d go mad or fall asleep.’
‘Mum! This is serious! Christmas is serious! I’ve got to be prepared.’
Breathe in, two, three, four, and hold, two, three, four. Breathe out, two, three, four, and hold, two, three, four.Rory’s brain stumbled forward through the year. Sod Christmas preparations. What about preparing the cabin for the baby? In the army, he’d been trained to assess every environment for risks and right now, thinking about splinters from the floor, burns from the Rayburn, slips in the bathroom and falls from the furniture, the cabin was looking more dangerous than a temple trap from anIndiana Jonesmovie.
‘Darling,’ Mary continued. ‘I had to be induced with you at forty-two weeks and most first-time mums give birth ten days after they’re supposed to. You’ll be fine. This is going to be your last quiet Christmas for quite a while, so you need to enjoy it.’
Breathe in, two, three, four, and hold, two, three, four. Breathe out…
‘When does Dad get home? Does he have his mobile on him? I want you to tell him the moment he gets in.’
‘He left it at home again. He’ll be back about seven, just as I’m heading out to choir practice. Will you still be at the castle?’
‘No, we’ll be home by then. Tell him to take his phone tomorrow and I’ll ring him in the morning.’
‘Okay, love, will do. Now rest up and let your wonderful husband take care of you.’
Yes. This was something he knew he could do. As she said goodbye to her mother, she shifted in his lap.
‘Rory…’
‘Hmmm?’
‘I think I need to lie down.’
Panic flared. ‘Are you okay?’
