Chapter 45
Bella was ensconced in her attic office where she had been working hard since Markie was dropped at Sylvia’s at 8.45a.m.
She liked the room much more now. She’d put in new shelves, a filing cabinet, a desk, chair and a coffeemaker. Once she closed the door at the top of the stairs, she found it easy to forget about her baby and the rest of the house and slip straight into work mode.
Prentice had given her a spanking new computer and a silver mobile just like Susan’s. And everything had arrived in boxes labelled:
Bella’s Baby
She was concentrating hard on the proposals up on the screen in front of her, when a sharp ring at the doorbell startled her.
Oh God! She really could not cope with another Jehovah’s Witness, meter reader or carpet-shampoo salesman. She stayed put in her chair, hoping they would go away. There was another long, loud ring. Damn. She closed the file and stomped down the stairs.
She turned the catch, swung the door open and saw Don, tired, crumpled, with a large bag over his shoulder.
‘Hello, gorgeous girl,’ he said with a big grin. ‘I can’t find my keys.’
‘Hello!’ she cried. ‘I didn’t think you were back till this evening.’ They hugged and kissed hard on the doorstep. She hadn’t seen him for three weeks and she’d missed him like hell.
‘Nice coat,’ she said as he stepped inside. She laid her cheek on his shoulder and smelled his neck, then kissed it.
‘Yeah, my wife gave it to me. Don’t tell her I’ve come here to see you first.’ He grinned and they kissed mouth to mouth again.
‘You look so tired. D’you want some coffee?’ she asked.
‘No, no, I’m fine. Markie isn’t here then?’
‘He’s at Sylvia’s till 1p.m. How was the trip?’
‘Bloody awful, but never mind, it was my last one.’ He gave her a teasing smile and twined his hands behind her waist.
‘What?’ She pulled back to look at him.
‘I’ve got something to tell you…’ he paused, enjoying the suspense. ‘I’ve just been made news editor.’
‘No?!’ She was really shocked now. ‘You’re kidding!!’
‘I’m not.’ Don looked very pleased with himself. ‘I just heard this morning. I did tell them when they first offered that I wasn’t going to do it because the hours are so long. But they’ve come back with an even better offer and said I can do four days a week, starting in January.’
‘Oh my God! Are you happy?’ she asked, somewhat needlessly.
‘I’m bloody thrilled,’ he said with a smile.
‘No more foreigns though…’ she said, sure he would miss them.
But he surprised her by saying ‘Thank God for that!’ with a laugh.
‘Well, congratulations. Four days a week – that’s amazing.’
‘Long days Bella,’ he warned. ‘But three days off to recover and be husband and Dad.’
She kissed him and felt a flutter of anxiety because she had big news too.
‘So…’ he said. ‘What about you?’
‘Well… I’ve got some news too actually.’ She locked her eyes onto his, very intently. ‘It’s a shock, sweetheart.’ She felt properly nervous and she could see that he was starting to feel nervous too.
‘I’ve just found out that we are… we’re pregnant again. By complete accident… obviously,’ she added.
‘Oh my God!’ he gasped, then put his arms around her. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he let out a low whistle and said, ‘God, Bella. Two… two babies!’
‘It must have been that Saturday. I was so glad you were back… I didn’t think about?—’
‘Oh yes,’ he cut in. ‘That was very hot.’ He looked at her tenderly. ‘It’s a sign,’ he smiled. ‘We’re meant to be.’
She hugged him close. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered and felt tears well up.
‘God,’ he said again and wiped her cheeks with his thumb. ‘Everything’s going to be OK, I promise… and I definitely need that coffee now.’
As they walked to the kitchen, she suddenly stopped him to ask, ‘Wait… has any news editor you’ve ever known stayed married?’
‘No, but I see that as a challenge,’ he answered, smiling back.
‘And are you going to be earning more than me now?’
‘Maybe… But no percentage share… so?—’
‘So that’s all right then!!’ She laughed and kissed him on the mouth all over again.
‘Mmmm…’ she said. ‘Just you, me, and a hallway… like old times.’
‘Just what exactly do you have in mind, Mrs McCarthy?’
Unbuttoning his coat and letting it fall on the floor, she answered, ‘Why don’t I show you, Mr Browning?’