He'll come through

Chapter 27 - Hormones, heartache and the future...

Chapter 27 

Rose shook her head, unable to fathom this news, “Delilah, please think about this. You’ve got Maria, Freddy and now possibly another baby. You can’t manage all that financially or emotionally. You need to tell him, he needs to...”

                “He needs to do nothing Mum, I CAN manage, and I WILL manage. What I won’t do is be someone’s second best, I told you that weeks ago. If I am pregnant then I will tell him, of course I will, but that is not my bargaining tool, that isn’t what I am.”

For the first time in a long time she could tell her mother was angry with her, disillusioned maybe and it hurt her, she’d relied on her mother so much since she’d got back from her kidnap ordeal.

                “I don’t think it’s as simple as that love, life isn’t always black and white. I’m not saying settle for less, I’ve never said that. But you have got to think that this time next year you might have three children in your care as a single parent, Quinn needs to know, and he needs to pull his finger out. He has as much responsibility here as you do. That may mean that things are not as you’d like in an ideal world, for either of you.”

Lilah considered that advice all evening as she tried to watch TV, the kids fast asleep in bed; there was some truth in her mother’s words. Quinn did have a role here, and there was no way he could still play soldiers in warzones and political trauma, putting himself at risk when he had such important commitments. Maybe he needed to get a proper, reliable job, move nearer, be there! Either way he had to make some commitment to Freddy and any other potential children, whether he wanted her or not. After all, it took two to Tango.

Maria started school a few days later, and as she walked her in for her first day, Lilah contemplated the fact that despite her mother’s repeated nagging, she’d not done a pregnancy test. She just knew, and lo and behold, she’d thrown up several times and hadn’t been able to tolerate coffee for a few days. Proof enough.

She was playing in the garden with Freddy when her mother looked over the fence.

                “How you doing? You taken a test yet?”

Lilah sighed, “Mum, I’m coming to hate you with all this nagging. I told you I’ve got a doctor’s appointment, what more can I do?” Spotting the eyebrows rise in defiance Lilah blew out a large breath of air, “I know! I get it! I will speak to him, just give me some space!” She added a late, “please!” Before turning back to Freddy.

Lilah knew her mother was right, she really had to sort this out, but there was something secure about denying it was all happening. If she ignored it long enough, a small part of her really hoped that everything would go away, though she knew it wouldn’t. She also knew that she wouldn’t get rid of this baby, if ever she would then it wouldn’t be now, the baby of the man she loved, a full sibling to Freddy, nope, never an option. So all she could do was phone him...after the doctor’s appointment.

That afternoon, at two thirty she left the GP surgery, she did a test prior to going to confirm what she already knew, but it was still a shock, and as she bundled out of the surgery, tucking the confirmation leaflets and hospital appointment onto the top of the pushchair, she guided Freddy out into the early September sun. She’d taken no more than a dozen steps when she looked up to see Quinn stood in her path.

He’s come! Was her only thought as she drank in the vision of him, tall, suited...that was a turn up, and a welcome one at that, his dark haired trimmed, short, eyes hidden behind designer shades.

                “Quinn!” she breathed, “what are you doing here?”

Quinn continued an aggressive stride towards her, “what’s wrong? Is Freddy ok?”