Chapter 41
“You’re pregnant?”
Liv and Nish sat side by side on the sofa, clutching hands like a pair of naughty teenagers.
Kate sat in the armchair by the fireplace, almost as shell-shocked by their big news as they were.
“I’m forty-two,” Liv said. “How can I be having another baby?”
“I think we both know the answer to that,” Nish said.
“I blame that Bridgerton dress,” Liv said, shooting him a pointed look. Confusion filled his eyes, followed swiftly by a knowing groan of recollection.
Liv scrubbed her hands over her pink cheeks. “What are the kids going to say? And your mother will be horrified.”
“Will you stop worrying about what everyone else is going to think and worry about yourself for once?” Nish said. “We’re having another baby, Liv.”
She fell silent and looked at Kate, who was doing her best to read the situation and keep up with the fast-flowing emotions in the room before she said anything. The moment to speak was now, judging by the way they were both staring at her.
“What a lucky, lucky little baby,” Kate said, a slow smile spreading over her face as she held Liv’s gaze.
Liv swallowed, then nodded, her eyes filling with tears.
Kate jumped from her chair and knelt by the sofa, somehow managing to pull both Liv and Nish into one big embrace.
They sat huddled for a while, Liv crying, Kate and Nish both liable to join her at any moment.
Liv’s sudden collapse that morning had filled them both with abject terror; to now be celebrating such life-affirming news was a whole heap of emotion to process in the space of a few hours.
“That bloody holiday is happening,” Nish said. “You’re not going to work tomorrow.” He looked at Kate for backup.
“Nish is right,” she said. “You need some proper rest, a break to get your heads around all of this together. Take the kids somewhere nice for a couple of weeks, I’ll watch the shop.”
“You think?” Liv said. “Are you sure?”
The fact that Liv wasn’t arguing was answer enough for Kate. Liv might be the big sister, but it was Kate’s turn to step up.