A Risky Business #SYTYCW15 #CarinaPress

Chapter Twenty

Mid December - Kate's house - why does everything always happen at once?

*Kate*

Four days had passed since I had been to the doctors and nothing had changed. I hadn't read the small mountain of pamphlets that Doctor Golding had given me, I hadn't experienced any more weird symptoms, and I certainly hadn't told anybody my news.

I did feel like I needed to talk it over with someone, but I almost wanted to have it clear in my own mind first. I wasn't really sure what mum and dad would say. Don't get me wrong, I know they would support me whatever happened, but they are very traditional in their views, and a baby before marriage would be a big thing for them. Kim was too young really to have that kind of conversation with and, anyway, it wasn't her problem.

There was one person that needed to know, and he was on a rest day today. I needed to speak to Damien, and I needed to do it sooner rather than later.

One thing that I had done since seeing Doctor Golding was take a pregnancy test. Not that I didn't trust her and Jenny, or that I didn't believe them, I think I just wanted to see it with my own eyes. And see it with my own eyes I did. There it was, that blue line, as strong and clear as you like. Who'd have thought that such an insignificant piece of plastic could have the power to completely turn your life upside down. I had wrapped the testing stick up in toilet paper, put it back in its box and hid everything at the very bottom of the bin.

*

I could hear movement upstairs and listened hard to see if I could make out whether it was Damien or Kim. Kim was already up. We had had breakfast together and she had gone back upstairs to read her book. The footsteps were too heavy to be Kim, it must be Damien having finally dragged himself out of bed. I was starting to feel nervous just thinking about telling him, but it had to be done. He had a right to know and there could, potentially, be decisions that needed to be made.

I sat there picking my nails trying to come up with the perfect opening line in my head. But what do you say?

'Darling, I have the most fantastic news?' No, definitely not suitable.

'How do you feel about having a little Damien running around?' No, not really.

'I've got something I need to tell you - you'd better sit down?' Possibly.

As it was, Damien delivered the opening line for me. He came bounding down the stairs, full of the joys of spring, and arrived in the doorway of the living room where I was sitting, feeling a little bit sick.

"Morning!" he chirped. "Any breakfast on the go? I'm starving. Christ, you look rough, are you ok?"

"How charming of you to say so," I retorted.

He smiled.  Those green eyes just blew me away, every time.

"I'm sorry," he said, "but you do look awfully pale. Do you want a cup of tea?"

"Yes please," I said but I couldn't muster up a return smile for him.

I followed him through to the kitchen and leant on the worktop, watching him busying himself with cups, spoons, milk and sugar. While he waited for the kettle to boil he was opening and shutting all the cupboard doors in turn.

"If you're looking for the biscuits I've hidden them," I told him.

He gave me such a look of despair that I gave in instantly and pointed to their hiding place in the bread bin.