Chapter 36 #2
‘Yes, Sophie, I couldn’t remember her name.
She said…’ George frowned, obviously trying to reproduce the conversation exactly.
‘Tell Leo that Den and me want to come and see Harry, and to drink some champagne with you all tonight. Tell him to ring me if there’s a problem with that.
If not, we’ll be there at around opening time. ’
At that moment, the door opened, and into the shop walked Den and Sophie, resplendent in elegant black suits.
Sophie’s had a short skirt and a tight little box jacket, and Den was the picture of the man about town in a slim-fitting jacket, trousers loosely crumpled over shiny black shoes, and a grey shirt open at the neck.
The party continued around them, as Leo and Alex stood rooted to the spot, in their welcoming positions near the entrance.
‘Leokins!’ said Sophie, wiggling forwards. ‘You look gorgeous. We just had to come and be with you tonight. I hate hard feelings, don’t you? And Den wanted to see his daddy, didn’t you, sweetie? I guessed you didn’t mind when you didn’t answer my message.’
‘What message?’ Leo’s eyes were flinty as he stared at the newcomers.
‘Look, mate, let’s shake hands, shall we?’ said Den, coming forward nervously. ‘You heard what Soph said, no hard feelings, eh?’
Alex turned to Edward and gave him a hug.
‘Well, that saves us coming up for a visit to break our news, doesn’t it, honey?
Den, Sophie, you’ll remember Edward? We’re going to set up home together and run the two café businesses jointly.
I’m sure you’ll manage to get up to speed on all the details soon.
’ Alex reached for Edward’s hand. ‘Come on, my gorgeous man, say hello to your new brother and his… erm… lady? Doesn’t he look edible tonight, Sophie?
If I didn’t love him already, I’d have fallen for him all over again. ’
Edward blushed crimson and rolled his eyes as Sophie and Den goggled at him. After a moment, Den laughed.
‘This is a wind-up, right, Alex? Fair play to you. You got me that time.’
‘A wind-up? No, Denis, this is deadly serious. I’m staying down here to run the shop with these lovely people, I’m going to exhibit my work as soon as possible… oh, and Edward and I are having a baby.’
Sophie began to giggle, putting a hand tipped with fiery red talons over her mouth.
‘Now I know you’re joking. A baby? How’s that going to happen?’
With a shock, Mab realised that the music had ended again and the shop was now silent. Rows of astonished partygoers stood gaping at Sophie, Den, Alex and Edward. Mab sighed. Oh well, might as well get it all over at once. She stepped forward.
‘Joking? Not at all, Sophie.’
‘Oh, hi, Mabel. Have you lost weight? You don’t look as big as usual,’ Sophie said.
‘Hello, Sophie. So lovely to see you again. I’m just going to clear up a few points for you, and for everyone else who’s interested.
’ She looked round the room, meeting the fascinated gazes of their guests.
‘I am having a child for Edward and Alex. It was a surrogacy arrangement that I’d made with Beattie and Edward as they weren’t able to have a baby of their own, and I’m honouring my part of the bargain as I believe that no child could have a better start in life than to be brought up by these two kind, honest men.
’ Mab’s voice broke as she reached the end of her speech, and she turned and rushed for the stairs.
She heard an outburst of astonished chatter as her words hit home, and then there was silence as the stairs door shut behind her.
Sinking onto the nearest sofa, Mab let herself go, crying as if she would never stop.
A sudden noise startled her and she flinched, wanting nothing more than to be left alone.
The door closed softly as Leo came into the flat.
He stood looking down at Mab for a moment, and then sat down beside her, reaching out to hold her shaking hand.
Instinctively, she leaned on him and then felt him reach into his pocket.
‘For once, I can be a gentleman and offer you my clean handkerchief. Wipe your eyes, pet, we need to talk.’
There was a silence that seemed to last forever. Then Mab said, ‘I thought you didn’t have anything left to say to me?’
Leo wrapped both arms around her, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head. For a few moments, Mab was content just to be where she had wanted to be for so long, but she soon struggled out of Leo’s grip and sat up straight.
‘Leo, what do you want to say to me? Let’s get it over with. I know you despise me for what I’ve done and what I’m going to do, although you must see now that I didn’t sleep with Edward to make this happen. We—’
Leo broke in quickly. ‘Stop right there. Despise you? Never. I love you, Mab, more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my entire life.
I was jealous of Den, and even more jealous of Edward when I thought you must have been sleeping with him to be having his baby.
Of course that wasn’t true, I see that now.
It’s not in your nature to do that and it’s definitely not Edward’s style.
I see that now and I don’t need to know the details of how you arranged things.
Mab, I’m so sorry I flew off the handle. I just wanted you for myself.’
‘But what about the baby, Leo? Can you still love a woman who’s able to give her baby away?’
‘Mab, I respect you for what you’re doing. You haven’t tried to go back on the deal, although if you wanted to, I’d support you and it could be our baby.’
Horrified, Mab began to tremble. ‘Oh, no, don’t do that to me, Leo. I’ve promised them. But it’s going to be so hard.’
‘I know, but we’ll face up to it together, love.
I told you when we first met that we were going to be sensational.
And who knows, we might even make a baby of our own, mightn’t we?
Do you think you might feel like marrying me one day?
I’d kind of like to do the marrying bit before the baby though, if you don’t mind? I’m old-fashioned like that.’
Mab slid back into Leo’s arms, with the delicious sensation of coming home. He nuzzled her neck, sending shivers throughout her entire body. She moved closer and lifted her face to his.
‘Are you ever going to kiss me, Leo?’ she said.
‘Because I’ve got to warn you, I can only consider marrying a man who’s a seriously good kisser, and although you’ve proved that fact once, I’m going to have to do a final check.
Also, sooner or later we’re going to have to go back to the party. People will be beginning to talk.’
Five minutes later, much ruffled, Mab pushed Leo gently towards the stairs.
‘OK, it’s a deal. You love chocolate, you adore books and your kissing skills are out of this world. I love you way too much already and I’m scared of loving you even more as time goes on. But now, let’s go and launch our new life.’
Leo flipped off the light and took her by the hand. ‘Let’s do that. Just one thing though. Before this night’s over, we are absolutely going to try out that jacuzzi. For ourselves.’
And, dear reader, indeed they did.
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