The Heartbreak Factor - Part Four

Chapter Fifty-One.

Sat on the terrace of a bar in London, I grinned over a cocktail at Chloe, who was sipping away at her bottle of mineral water. I couldn’t help but laugh at her as she went through the ‘fed up of pregnancy’ stage, just like I went through with Katy - although I didn’t really notice it as I was too busy being pregnant. She looked as if she was about to burst at any moment, which was possible since her due date was only two days away. Katy was fast asleep in her pushchair, giving me and Chloe the perfect opportunity to catch up since we had hardly had time to see one another since the wedding. 

“I just want this baby now,” Chloe groaned as she struggled to take her jacket off. “Can’t they give me something to make it come now?”

“Chloe, I don’t think they can give you anything until you’re like a week over your due date,” I said, trying to hide my laughter and be the supportive friend that Chloe needed me to be. 

“Well, isn’t there something I can do to just pop it out?”

“They’ll come when they’re ready,” I grinned. “Take it from me though, enjoy this time whilst you only have to worry about yourself.”

“Everyone says that. My mum said she misses being pregnant. Do you miss it?” Chloe asked me as I glugged away at my raspberry martini. 

“Um,” I paused, putting my empty glass on the table in front of me just in time for the bartender to come and take it away. “I miss the bump. I suppose I miss the cute maternity clothes too. Oh, and I definitely miss how everyone would rally around after me but that’s about it.”

“I just want it all over now to be honest,” Chloe sighed, patting her bump. “I just want the baby in my arms now. I’m fed up of being a huge heffalump.”

“I know what will make time fly by. Let’s go baby clothes shopping,” I suggested. “Katy needs some new summer dresses anyway so you can help me pick some out.”

“If I have to,” Chloe groaned, heaving herself out of the chair and onto her feet. 

Taking hold of the handles on Katy’s pushchair, I began to push the chair towards the door to go down to the high street. By the time I had managed to carry Katy in her pushchair down the stairs and onto the street that was busy with shoppers, Chloe wasn’t even half way down the stairs. 

“That took some serious effort,” Chloe panted, trying to get her breath back as she caught up with me outside the bar. 

“Mothercare is only round the corner,” I smiled. “Think you can make it there?” 

“I’m not a bloody old woman,” Chloe said, letting out a long sigh. 

Slowly, we made our way to Mothercare, discussing what Chloe still needed to get for her baby since her and Josh weren’t the best prepared parents-to-be in the world. 

“Mummy!” Katy whaled as she woke up suddenly in her pushchair.

“Shh,” I hushed as I quickly stopped pushing the pushchair and rushed around to pick her up - a crying baby was the last thing Chloe needed. “It’s alright. Mummy’s here.”

“See,” Chloe smiled as she looked at me cuddling Katy, who kept crying in my arms. “That’s what I can’t wait for. I can’t wait for someone to want me.”

“Josh wants you,” I laughed, rocking Katy gently. 

“Josh used to want me. Now I’m just a big, fat, ugly whale.” 

“Oh, stop it,” I grinned, gently hitting Chloe’s shoulder as I held onto Katy. “We’re going for a curry tonight so if that doesn’t get that baby out of you, nothing will and you’ll just have to wait.”