20. Kate
Kate began making tea for the three of them, but when she peered inside the fridge for milk, she discovered it had run out.
‘Are you both okay with black tea?’ she asked Georgia and Elias.
‘I can go get some milk,’ Elias offered. ‘Where’s the nearest shop?’
‘There’s a small corner store about two minutes up the road,’ Georgia said. ‘If you don’t mind going, could you please grab some baby wipes too? They’ll be on the shelf to the far left.’
Kate laughed. ‘You know the layout of the store?’
‘For the baby stuff, yes.’
‘Can do,’ Elias said as he handed baby Amiri back to her mother. He grabbed his keys from the hall table, where he’d left them on entering. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
When he was out of earshot, Kate turned to Georgia. ‘What do you think so far?’
‘Thank God you’re not having Hugo’s baby.’
Kate’s eyes widened. ‘What?’
‘I couldn’t be sure until I saw Elias, but I am so, so glad you didn’t go through with the IVF with Hugo.’
‘Why are you just telling me this now?’
‘I’m not. I’ve mentioned my hesitations before, but you didn’t want to hear them.’
‘Give me an example.’
‘Like last month when you told me how you two were out for dinner, and he was rude to the waiter.’
‘It was just something I noticed. Did you comment on it when I told you?’
‘I said you needed to be careful.’
‘I thought you were just being weird. And it didn’t seem as if it was related to me not having his child!’
‘Well, it was, okay? I saw it as a huge red flag.’
‘What other things have made you question him?’
‘There was that time you tripped on the stairs outside your house, and he laughed.’
‘Wait, when?’
‘I don’t know. A few months back.’
‘Were you there?’
‘Yes. I was dropping off Kai and Ezra so I could take the two little ones to a doctor’s appointment, remember? Hugo had been at your place, but he left when I showed up.’
‘I don’t remember that.’
‘I told you afterwards that I thought it was douchey behaviour.’
‘I definitely don’t remember that.’
‘And then there was that time I caught him looking through your phone…’
‘Wait. You really never told me about that.’ Kate would not have overlooked such a gross breach of her privacy.
Georgia frowned. ‘Maybe I forgot. It was when we went to that pizza restaurant, and I’d brought along all four kids. You’d gone to the bathroom, and I was distracted feeding Amiri, but I looked up at one point and saw Hugo going through your phone. I meant to tell you afterwards, but then Kai started throwing up, so we had to leave.’
Kate shook her head. ‘Jesus.’
‘Sorry. I should have been more forthcoming.’
‘Yes, you should have. So does that mean you’re okay with Elias?’
‘I am.’
‘After seeing him for two seconds?’
She hesitated before answering. ‘Yes.’
‘It seemed like you were going to say something else just then, but you didn’t.’
‘I wasn’t. I just think Elias is a better match.’
Kate was unsettled by her sister’s reaction to Elias and all these revelations about Hugo.
Which made her realise she hadn’t spoken to Hugo since she’d found out about the pregnancy. That was going to be an interesting conversation. But there was a chance he’d be relieved. She’d been the one to ask him to help her out, and while he had never shown any hesitation, she knew he must have had some. He’d signed a legal agreement absolving himself of any responsibility, so not having a baby of his exist at all would remove any future problems. She had secretly felt a little guilty asking him in the first place, since it was something he’d probably have to disclose to a future romantic partner. She couldn’t imagine many women being super excited by the news.
And now with all this talk about how Hugo wasn’t the person she thought he was, she was feeling a little relieved.
‘If you say so. I’m not exactly sure what you’re using for reference, but I’ll trust your judgement.’
‘Have you talked about how you feel about each other?’
‘We’ve agreed to be friends. It makes sense when there’s another life involved. We can’t make any stupid moves and risk ruining everything before the baby is even born.’
‘Friends, huh?’
‘Why do you say it like that?’
‘Nothing. If that’s what you’ve agreed to, fine.’
‘I don’t like what you’re implying.’
‘I’m not implying anything. But just realise when it comes to emotions, and especially those that are enhanced by a pregnancy, it might be difficult to control the situation.’
‘I’m a doctor, Georgia. I know how emotions and hormones work.’
‘If you say so.’
Kate ignored her. Georgia was only two years older, but she’d always acted like she was more experienced. And now having been a mother for nine years, she definitely had that air of thinking she knew everything about everything.
She wished Elias would hurry back. He’d already gained her sister’s approval, so she wanted to get the rest of the visit over with so they could move on.
She hoped her parents would be as approving of Elias as Georgia was.
* * *
On the drive home afterwards,Elias was grinning. ‘Your sister is great.’
‘Yeah, she loved you. Weirdly.’
‘Hey!’
‘No, I don’t mean you’re not worthy. Just that she doesn’t normally take to new guys I introduce her to so quickly.’
‘How many guys have you introduced her to?’
‘Not a ton. But a few.’
‘Does that mean she wasn’t a fan of the one you had previously lined up to father your child?’
Kate wasn’t going to say anything, but since he’d brought it up, she couldn’t really avoid the subject. ‘Apparently. Which I only just found out. I mean, I was going to have the guy’s baby! She could have been a little more forthcoming with her concerns if she had any.’
‘I think your sister has good taste,’ he said.
‘Of course you do.’
‘She’s amazing, looking after four kids like that.’
‘She really is.’
‘Do you want more than one child?’
Kate was quiet. She’d never really given it much thought, but she had seen how much easier it was for Georgia after the first two had reached school age and how they could keep each other company. When Georgia was busy looking after the younger two, the older ones would play together outside or hang out in the living room playing Nintendo.
Not that having a second child should be for selfish reasons.
‘Since I was about to undergo IVF, I had assumed I would just have the one. And without a partner, I think two would have been a decision I’d have to plan for meticulously.’
‘What if you had a partner to help?’
‘I don’t know. Let’s just focus on this first one for now, okay?’
Elias chuckled. ‘Yeah, sorry.’
They turned into her street, and Kate noticed a car parked in her driveway.
Oh no.
It was Hugo. His ears must have been burning.
‘It looks like you have a visitor,’ Elias observed.
‘You should probably pull over here,’ she said as they neared the house. ‘I’ll walk the rest of the way.’
‘Wait. Why? Who is that?’ His face suddenly twigged with recognition. ‘Dr Douchebag.’
‘I… I haven’t told him the news yet.’
‘That’s perfect. We can tell him together.’
‘Ah, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
‘Why not? I’m the father. You don’t know how he’s going to react. What if he gets aggressive?’
‘Hugo wouldn’t get aggressive.’
And then she thought about what her sister had said earlier. Was she right? If the guy had done everything Georgia said he had, could he also be violent?
She suddenly felt uneasy. Maybe it would be best if Elias accompanied her.
‘Okay. But we need to be sensitive. He’s been really good to me, so I don’t want to upset him.’
‘Of course I’ll be sensitive.’
‘All right, then.’
Elias pulled up beside the curb, and they both climbed out of the car.
Hugo was standing at the top step.
Kate looked at the staircase, trying to remember the incident her sister had mentioned about him laughing when she tripped that one time.
Had that really happened?
He smiled as he saw her, but when he noticed who was behind, his expression turned to a scowl.
Hmm. This was probably not going to go smoothly.