Part 9 (2/2)
They were pretty predictable. Crazy young dating couple at a party. First summer holiday together. First skiing holiday together. First black-tie do together. First professional shot which was probably an engagement picture. And of course a glorious wedding photograph. Katy found herself scrutinizing Matthew's face in each shot. She looked at his eyes and his mouth and then his body language. She realised she was trying to see if he looked happy. Happy in his post-Katy life.
She jumped as Alison came into the room.
”Sorry about that, just finis.h.i.+ng off some little nibbles,” she said as she placed two dishes of food on the coffee table.
”Nice photos,” she finally forced out, at a loss as to what to say.
”Oh thank you. I do love our wedding photograph, it's just so us.”
Katy looked again at the largest frame and took in the artful black and white image. Matthew and Alison stood gazing into each others' eyes on the steps of what looked like a castle.
”So where did you get married?” she asked tentatively, not sure she liked the subject of conversation.
”Well, we found this brilliant castle in Hamps.h.i.+re with its own chapel. It was so perfect. It was hard work finding the right place though. We seemed to be viewing venues for weeks before we were satisfied. I still have a file this thick of everywhere we went to see, so if you are ever thinking of taking the plunge, you know where to come. You're not married are you, you and Ben?”
”No, maybe one day, who knows?” Katy said unable to meet Alison's eye.
”I was wondering if you were waiting until the baby is born?” she asked.
”No. We haven't really got that far yet.”
”Well you never know, Ben might have it all planned. The minute you give birth, he'll pop the question,” Alison ploughed on.
”Pop what question?” Ben asked as he strode back in the room.
”I was just being nosy Ben. I was asking if you have any plans to get married. I'm good at organising weddings you see.”
”I don't think that is really anything to do with us Alison,” said Matthew sharply.
”Don't worry. Me and Katy don't worry about such formalities,” said Ben falling onto the sofa. ”I reckon one day we will just wake up and say, you know what, let's get married. We are more a spur of the moment, fly by the seat of our pants kind of couple, aren't we love.”
”That's right,” said Katy, looking anywhere but at Matthew. ”Definitely.”
”My word Al, is this tea?” asked Ben. ”We'll have to have a c.h.i.n.ky on the way home at this rate,” he continued in a stage whisper to Katy.
”No, no, they are just some nibbles before we sit down to eat properly.”
”I'm just pulling your leg. Right, did someone say go? I'm starving,” he said, picking up an entire plate and helping himself.
Finally, after half an hour of embarra.s.singly awkward small talk, Alison announced that dinner would be ready in ten minutes.
”Would you like to see the nursery before we sit down?” asked Alison.
Katy and Ben looked at each other. Katy knew that it was the last thing she wanted to do.
”Love to,” said Ben, with a shrug to Katy. ”Which wing is it in?”
”It's ridiculously big, isn't it,” said Alison as she led them upstairs. ”But Matthew got such a good package when he was made partner that it meant we could afford this.”
”Say big guy, you're quite a catch aren't you?” said Ben.
”He is now,” said Alison smiling proudly at him. ”But it hasn't always been like this. You should have seen the mess he was in when I met him.”
Katy was beginning to feel really weird. She felt all clammy and a bit sick. Something was wrong.
”So here we are,” said Alison, as she opened the door at the top of the stairs. ”Our nest.”
Katy stepped into the room and felt her jaw drop. She had never seen such a beautiful room. It was a wonderfully serene sea of creams and greens that felt so soft and gentle that she wanted to curl up on the sheepskin rug in the middle of the floor and go to sleep. She stood in the doorway in absolute awe before finding herself drawn to the two cribs that stood side by side on the far wall underneath an enormous arched window. Delicate flowing canopies cascaded protectively over the perfect little havens, and as she got closer, she had to fight back the tears when she caught sight of a small green teddy bear placed in each one, waiting patiently for its new owner to arrive. She was aware that Alison was talking to her but she couldn't concentrate. She turned around slowly and spotted an antique, dark oak rocking chair with a pretty patchwork cus.h.i.+on nestling on its seat. Again she couldn't help herself but walk over and stroke its long arched back before turning around and easing herself down into it. She closed her eyes and gently rocked backwards and forwards.
She let her mind drift off until suddenly her composure was shattered. She thought of the bare white room back at her flat with cardboard boxes stacked haphazardly in one corner and carrier bags strewn in another, belching the random baby purchases made in a panic earlier that day.
Filled with dismay she realised what was wrong. She was jealous. And to her horror a vivid image popped into her mind of a picture perfect barn conversion with roses trailing up the wall and her with Matthew and their two kids waving from the front door.
She started to try and scramble her way out of the chair but found that her belly thought that it had found its perfect resting place and was reluctant to let go. Matthew came over to rescue her, touching her for the second time that evening as he gently took her hand and put his arm around her shoulder.
”You OK?” he asked. ”You look a bit pale. Can I get you anything?”
”No, I'm fine. Absolutely fine,” she said, looking at him wide eyed. ”Lets' eat, now, starving,” she said hurriedly before bolting to the door.
She could hear Alison prattling on as she came down the stairs but all Katy could think about was how she was going to escape this nightmare as quickly as possible so she would never have to look at Matthew's life again.
Chapter 13.
”So we have rocket, fennel, watercress and pear salad. Enjoy,” said Alison as she laid down the delicate white starter plates which were most certainly not of IKEA origin.
Ben eyed the foliage in front of him suspiciously, then picked up his fork, took a deep breath and dug in.
”I've found starters particularly hard during pregnancy, haven't you Katy?” said Alison. ”Everything seems to have sh.e.l.lfish, soft cheese or cured meat in it.”
”I guess I normally end up having soup and I hate soup,” said Katy miserably.
There was an awkward silence.
”Soup is always such a conversation killer isn't it,” said Ben. ”Soup and death. They should be both banned from discussion whilst eating.”
Alison stared at Ben and then turned to ask Katy a question. ”So Katy do you think you will breastfeed or bottle-feed?”
”Forgot to add breastfeeding,” muttered Ben under his breath.
”Well I don't really know yet. Depends on what the baby goes for I guess,” said Katy, kicking Ben under the table.
”Well we've discussed it, haven't we Matthew, and I really want to breastfeed but obviously with two that could be exhausting, so I've bought a breast pump. Matthew will be able to feed them when it's too much for me. I went for the expensive electronic one. Apparently hand pumping is really hard work.”
”Breast pump?” questioned Ben perking up. ”You mean you can buy something to milk your b.r.e.a.s.t.s.”
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