Shattered Hearts

Chapter 36

"What are you doing?" John asked as he watched Darlene rummage around the back of the wardrobe. She pulled a skirt out and threw it on top of an evergrowing pile of clothes on the bed.

She turned to him, rolling her eyes. "Don't you recognise my maternity clothes? I'm sorting them out for Lottie, she'll be needing them before much longer."

"Are you sure she's pregnant?" he asked doubtfully. "I thought the doctor said it couldn't happen?"

"No, he didn't exactly say that. He said she had trauma from the fall and there's some kind of issue with her womb that means she's at risk of early miscarriage."

"Right," he said, still disbelieving. "But she didn't look pregnant at the christening."

Darlene let out an excited laugh. "And when she was pregnant last time she didn't start showing until she was five or six months along."

He sat down on the bed, picking up a dress and folding it into a pile. "Has she told Louis yet?"

"No, not yet, she's only just had it confirmed by the doctor."

Okay, so she was definitely pregnant, what a mess.

"And it is his baby?"

"Of course," she said the smile falling from her face. "Why would you even ask that?"

He shrugged. "I dunno, I guess it could be an immaculate conception." He tried not to snicker but God sure was working in mysterious ways.

"Johnny will you keep your dumbass jokes to yourself," Darlene said giving him a hard look. "Lottie and Jamie will be here soon, and if she hears us mocking her-"

"I'm not mocking her." If anyone could see the irony in the situation it would be Charlotte.

"I hope not." Darlene threw a dress in his direction, making sure it landed on his head. "She's going to need our support. I think she'll have to keep working so I could help look after the baby, and I expect her bitch mom will help. Even though she's a bitch."

His eyebrows knitted together. "I think you're getting ahead of yourself." In principle, he had no problem with her supporting Charlotte, and if she wanted to look after the baby then that was her decision. However, the way she was throwing herself into the whole thing, almost like she was the one having the baby, was a little disturbing. "Darlene, be careful you don't take over."

"I'm not trying to take over," she said pouting. "I'm looking for practical ways I can help. She's really going to struggle if Louis doesn't support her."

"So at least wait until he finds out." He folded another dress, almost certain that Darlene had never even worn it. "I can't see him bailing on her though."

"No, I don't think he will," she said her voice softening. "A few months ago, I didn't know what to make of him but Lottie seems to have turned him back into a normal human being."

"Then let's hope she reaps the benefit of that and not some other woman," he said looking at his watch. "What time's she getting over here?"

"Any minute now."

"Okay, I'll go put the kettle on." He wasn't entirely surprised she'd invited Charlotte and her son to stay the night but he was surprised that Charlotte had accepted. He assumed she was struggling to adjust to living alone, albeit with her child and Darlene was probably desperate to pump her for information. Although it was a little annoying, at least it kept her off his back. There were only so many times they could talk about Rosalind without serious repercussions.

~~~

"I think they've settled down now," Charlotte said taking a seat next to John on the sofa. "I left them playing with Junior's trainset."