Part 4 (2/2)
”Yeah.”
”Well I lied,” he said, giggling hysterically. ”I just wanted a good picture of you so I could get this done. Come on Katy, you didn't really expect me to get you anything useful for the baby did you? The overzealous use of primary colours just brings me out in a rash.”
”But to have to encounter the public display of my naked body, not once but twice, is harsh Daniel, way harsh,” said Katy.
”Once,” corrected Daniel. ”The other one is Demi Moore who obviously doesn't have the same stupid hang up as you do about celebrating the gloriousness of the pregnant body.”
”Daniel, I weigh an obscene amount more than I usually do, I have stretch marks a mile long and I haven't seen my pubic hair in months. But I am trying very hard to be grateful that my nipples are making their way at a rapid pace around my belly to check that it's still there. Please tell me what is glorious about that?”
”All right, all right. Never fear, Louise is on her way with the boring present. Don't blame me when you have to pretend to look excited about a poo bucket or something.”
At that moment Louise staggered into the room laden with gifts. She was Katy's personal a.s.sistant and resident mother hen. Her desk was full of photos of her kids and she never shut up about their latest escapades. Louise had been overjoyed when Katy told her she was expecting and was full of helpful advice on every aspect of pregnancy and motherhood, quite often knocking on her office door to share some little nugget that happened to cross her mind. Katy had begged for her to be moved to another role but her boss had refused, given that he was quite enjoying watching Katy cringe at Louise's daily account of her three labours.
”Sorry I'm late. Your b.l.o.o.d.y phone never stopped ringing,” said Louise glaring at Katy like it was her fault she had been inconvenienced by having to do her job.
”Anything urgent?” asked Katy.
”Don't think so. Mostly clients, so I said you would call them back after your baby shower, which seemed to shut them up. Oh and some guy called Matthew something or other. Said he was an old friend and he was trying to catch up with you. I have sent his number to your Blackberry.”
The sound of Matthew's name caused Katy to jump and she dropped a fork noisily on the floor. This gave her valuable moments to compose herself as with some effort she bent her protesting body to pick it up.
”OK, er, I think I know who that could be,” said Katy sitting upright again, trying to ignore the heat rising to her cheeks.
Daniel was staring at her in shock. He was the only person she had told the Matthew story to since her friends, whom she rarely saw, would no doubt recoil in a horrified Stepford Wives fas.h.i.+on if she told them she had screwed up something as basic as knowing who the father of her child was. Daniel on the other hand had applauded her promiscuity, proclaiming that she could make a good h.o.m.o yet. However confusion over who might be the father of her child had rendered him speechless. In fact he had walked away and not spoken to her again until some hours later after he had obviously given it some deep thought. He came up to her office, shut the door behind him and told her that, after some consideration, he thought her only option was to forget Matthew. Bury him deep in a place in her mind she rarely visited and focus on being the best mum she could and help Ben to be the ”Dad of the Century.” Then he got up and left the room with Katy having said nothing. It was the only time Katy could remember Daniel being one hundred percent serious and it had scared her. If Daniel took this seriously then there was no denying the situation was indeed serious.
”What can I get you to drink Louise?” asked Daniel, still staring at Katy.
”White wine and lemonade please,” replied Louise.
Daniel visibly shuddered at the prospect of having to ask the cute barman for such a concoction.
”Come to the bar,” said Daniel to Katy, already taking her arm to avoid a refusal.
”What the h.e.l.l,” he spluttered as soon as they were out of earshot. ”Is that the Matthew I think it is? I thought he had been confined to the back and beyond of your life?”
”I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. He turned up at my antenatal cla.s.s last night. He's moved back up here,” she hissed back.
”What the h.e.l.l was he doing at your antenatal cla.s.s?”
”His wife is pregnant stupid. Why else would he be there?” she said hysterically.
”You have got to be kidding me. You mean he's having a baby with his wife and he could also be having a baby with you at the same time?” said Daniel, stopping in his tracks.
”We don't know if my baby is his. I did only sleep with him once. We've been over this remember?” she said firmly.
”I know, I know. But now that he's back in your life, that's different isn't it? What are you going to do?”
”Well,” she said, trying to calm down. ”This can't change anything can it? You were right the first time. I still have to ignore what happened. Even more so now his wife is pregnant. I have to a.s.sume it's not his.”
”But he's already called you,” said Daniel. ”He could be enquiring whether you have a good recommendation for babysitters of course but I somehow doubt it. Do you think he suspects anything?”
”Well we all had to say when our babies were due...”
”Oh that is just too weird,” interrupted Daniel. ”Imagine being in a room and knowing when the last time everyone had s.e.x was,” mused Daniel.
”Why would it be the last time?” asked Katy.
”Oh come on, you heteros only ever have s.e.x over the age of thirty to procreate. The reason why pregnant women look so serene is because they have been relieved of their carnal duties. So what did Matthew do when you gave your date?”
”He went white and walked out and he didn't come back.”
”He suspects it could be his then, definitely?” pressed Daniel.
”I guess so.”
”So?” he asked.
”So what?”
”What the h.e.l.l are you going to do?”
”I have no idea,” said Katy starting to panic again. She looked around the room desperately, hoping the answer might leap out at her only to catch sight of her two naked bodies on public display.
”This is not how it's supposed to be happening,” she turned to Daniel angrily.
”Hey girl, no need to take it out on me,” said Daniel. ”Let's all just keep calm shall we? You're absolutely right. This doesn't change a thing. The plan remains, especially now you know that his wife is pregnant. Matthew is history; Ben is the father, get on with it. You just need to tell Matthew that. Then everything will be fine. You'll see.”
Chapter 8.
Katy dropped a pound coin in the hat of a homeless guy begging outside the pub. For luck, she thought, in the absence of a wis.h.i.+ng well. She pushed open the door and immediately knew there was no way she would be seen here by anybody she knew. She noticed with relief the gaudy torn wallpaper that perfectly complemented the mismatched furniture littering the room. Dirty mustard-yellow foam oozed from every padded seat onto the slimy grey carpet, battered by years of abuse. A couple of slot machines tinkled merrily in the corner providing the only hint of cheer in the depressingly awful place. It was empty apart from three people sitting at the bar who looked like they'd been there since lunchtime, possibly the previous day's lunchtime at that. They were slumped forward talking in a series of high and low pitched noises rather than words, but seeming to still understand each other.
The only other inhabitant was a very fat old lady dressed in a long dirty blue raincoat and a clear plastic headscarf sitting in the corner nursing a pint. She shouted over to Katy as she stepped gingerly over the threshold.
”He's over there love, made a friend already he has,” said the woman.
Katy looked over to where she was pointing to see Matthew looking as out of place as she must. He was dressed in a smart navy suit and tie and had a very large German Shepherd dog lying across his feet.
”Is that the latest accessory you people from London wear to keep your feet warm,” she couldn't help but comment as she sat down.
”The b.l.o.o.d.y thing won't move and I daren't kick it or it might bite me. Worse still its owner might,” said Matthew, looking nervously back over to the woman who gave him a big toothless grin.
”Well I think you can safely say his bark is going to be worse than her bite,” she quipped.
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