Page 12 of Christmas Games
‘Jesus Christ! Zoe’s stronger than I am and you know it.’
Barbara sighed. ‘Well, she’d better be. Birthing you was a challenge and now look at the size of you. Unless you elect for a caesarean section, your wife will be attempting to deliver an ox.’
4
May. Six weeks + two
For the two weeks since finding out his wife was pregnant, Rory kept his operating system set to non-baby status. Zoe didn’t look pregnant and told him she didn’t feel any different. Therefore, she wasn’t really going to give birth in eight months, and his life could continue contentedly on.
That was until they were driving down the side of the glen towards the cabin and Zoe stiffened.
‘Stop the truck!’
Rory screeched to a halt at the side of the road, and Zoe threw herself out, bending over and breathing heavily. By the time he reached her, Bandit was already at her side, rubbing against her leg.
Rory tentatively stroked Zoe’s back. ‘Are you okay? Do you think you’re going to be sick?’
Hands braced on her thighs, she was breathing slowly inthrough her nose and out through her mouth. Anxiety squeezed his chest.
‘I don’t think so. It just came on so quickly.’
She’s alright. Get it together. ‘How do you feel now?’
She cranked herself vertical, and he examined her face.
Giggling, she ran her fingers over his frown lines. ‘I’m fine. I’m sure it’s just a one-off. You took that last bend too fast and left my tummy behind. I thinkIshould drive the rest of the way.’
The relief was so palpable Rory thought he might float away.She’s okay. Everything’s okay.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You think you’re a safer driver than me?’
‘I never said I wassafer. Being driven by me is more exciting. Therefore, I’m abetterdriver than you.’
God, how he loved her. Rory tried to keep his face stern, but could feel the corners of his mouth twitching.
‘I prefer the term “terrifying”,’ he replied. ‘When you’re at the wheel, it’s like playing chicken with death.’
Zoe grinned. ‘And doesn’t it make you feel alive? You’re living in the moment. It’s like mindfulness training. Very Buddhist. I’m basically a spiritual guru.’
Rory leaned down, his lips almost touching hers. ‘Well,’ he murmured, ‘I do like worshipping you.’
Her breath hitched. ‘Do you, er, fancy entering my temple?’
He tugged her closer. ‘Yes, I do. Many, many times.’
Rory had hopedthe nausea was a one-off, but over the next twenty-four hours he knew it was here to stay.
‘I thought it was meant to be morning sickness, not all-the-time sickness,’ Zoe grumbled as she lay on the sofa, Basil, herpet Dumbo rat, sniffing her hand and Bandit at her feet on the floor.
The animals seemed to know instinctively that something was different and wanted to stay close to Zoe at all times. Bandit, in particular, was being extra protective, and Rory had to put him outside whenever they had sex, in case the dog thought Zoe was in pain. The last thing he wanted was his bollocks bitten off.
‘You always like to buck the trend,’ he replied as he fed the Rayburn more wood. ‘Are you sure I can’t persuade you to eat something?’
She pulled a face. ‘The thought of food makes me feel sick. The only thing I like the look of right now is you, but that’s not going to sustain me for the next seven and a half months.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. Apparently—’
She threw a sofa cushion at him. ‘Don’t even go there, Rory MacGinley.’
