No Bra Required! (24 page)

By the time Gerald and Richard were due to arrive back from
Australia, Lucy’s morning sickness had started.  She was now almost five
weeks pregnant, and even though her doctor had said she was perfectly healthy,
and her pregnancy appeared to be progressing well, Lucy panicked about every
little twinge and stomach grumble.

They were landing at Manchester Airport, so were going to
spend the night with Lucy, and she would drive them back home the next day, but
the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became about returning to
Ed’s home town.  At least she was no way near showing, so maybe this was
the perfect time to return.  If she did happen to bump into Ed, he
wouldn’t suspect anything.

Once Lucy had visited the doctor and had her pregnancy
officially confirmed, it was then that she started to think of Lottie
continuously.  She kept recalling how she’d felt at this point in her last
pregnancy, and constantly comparing it, just in case there were similarities
that may indicate that this child may tragically be taken away from her
too.  While she was shopping, Lucy couldn’t help but look at baby clothes,
picking them up and holding them against her cheek, wondering what Lottie may
have looked like wearing it.  All the time Lucy was a conflict of
emotions.  The idea of another baby, although scary, had grown on her, and
she knew that she already loved it unconditionally, yet she felt guilty for
feeling that way.  Silently she would apologise to Lottie and promise that
she’d not forgotten her.  Sarah had certainly earned her ‘Best Friend
Stripes’ the last couple of weeks, trying to keep Lucy thinking straight and generally
looking after herself.

As Lucy waited in anticipation for the first glimpse of her
Dad and Richard, she wondered whether they would spot her secret straight away,
or whether she’d be able to manage to hold on to it until they were safely
ensconced in her lounge.  She smiled and placed a hand on her extremely
small bump.  Yes, she was scared of what may happen, Ed finding out scared
her, and how she would cope as a single mother scared her, but she was also
thrilled.  As the days passed Lucy’s previous mantra of ‘no more
children’, seemed stupid, and she was extremely regretful of the time she’d
wasted on all that angst and pain about creating a new life, but at no point
though did she regret not having another child with Simon; that ship had well
and truly set sail.

Suddenly appearing round the corner Gerald started to speed
up as he spotted Lucy.

“Sweetheart,” he said engulfing her into a bear hug. 
“Oh I’m so glad to see you.  Are you okay?” Gerald stood back and examined
his daughter’s face.  “You look so pretty, doesn’t she Richard?”

“Hello my darling.”  Richard had now joined them and
kissed Lucy as he leaned across the barrier.  “Your Dad’s right, you do
look pretty, I think we expected you to be red-eyed and miserable.”

Lucy laughed and kissed Richard’s cheek.  “I’m fine.
I’m done with being miserable over men.  Come on let’s get you both home
so you can fill me in on everything that you’ve done.  You two look pretty
good yourselves.  Oooh I’ve missed you both so much.”

Once back at Lucy’s house, after a takeaway meal, Richard
and Gerald were enjoying telling Lucy all about their trip.  They’d both
had a wonderful time, and looked tanned and healthy; even Gerald’s leg had
improved with lots of swimming in the family pool.

“It sounds like you’ve had a brilliant time,” Lucy said
passing Richard his digital camera back.  “And your photos are
amazing.  I love that one of the bridge and the people walking up the top
of it.”

“I know, I thought they were absolutely barking mad, but
people were queuing up for miles to do it.”  Richard re-filled his wine
glass and beamed at Lucy.  “Oh much as I’ve loved being with Wendy and the
family, it’s good to be back home and see you.”

“Ah bless you Richard, but I’ve been okay, I promise.”

“We would have come home Lucy, if you’d wanted us to. 
You sounded okay on the phone, but I’ve been so worried about you, we both
have.”

Lucy leaned forward and squeezed her Dad’s hand.  “Dad
I do appreciate the thought, but I would have been cross is you’d have come
home.  Honestly, I’ve been fine.  I won’t lie it’s not been easy, but
let’s face it we’d only been together a couple of months, no time at all
compared to a five year marriage.”

“But you still cared a lot about him, because it was a short
length of time doesn’t mean your feelings aren’t as strong,” Gerald replied.

“Have you spoken to Ed at all?” Richard asked, concern
clouding his face.

Lucy shook her head.  “Nope, and I don’t want to. 
I saw them in bed together and he swore at me for finding them, so what is
there to say?  What on earth could he say to me that would change all
that?”

Gerald shook his head.  “Nothing I suppose, but I’m
absolutely shocked that he would do that.  I truly, truly thought that you
two were a perfect match.  He cared for you so much, it was obvious.”

“We’d both said the ‘L’ word.”  Lucy gave an empty
laugh.  “I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Well if I know Ed he wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t
mean it,” Richard said shaking his head.  “I honestly don’t know what to
say to him next week when I go back to work.”

“Nothing Richard, it’s not your problem and this isn’t going
to spoil your relationship with him.  You have to work for him, and to be
honest I think he did love me, but just didn’t bank on Katie’s determination to
get him back.”

“I agree with Lucy, Richard.  You have to work for Ed,
and I also agree that he did love her, so if Lucy wants us to leave it we
will.  Although, I may have to move to Dr Kindler, I’m not so sure I can
be that magnanimous.”

“If that’s what you want Dad, then that’s up to you.” 

“I think I will have to Lucy, plus I guess I owe you a pair
of diamond earrings,” Gerald said, remembering his bet with Lucy.

Lucy smiled and shook her head.  “I won’t hold you to
that, don’t worry.”

“No a bets a bet, I promised you diamond earrings if things
didn’t work out.”

“Seriously Dad, I don’t want any, they’d just remind me of
what happened all the time.”

“I understand sweetheart, but if you change your mind then
tell me.”

Lucy blew out a deep breath.  “Okay I will, but I do
have something to tell you now that could make life a little difficult for
you.”

Richard and Gerald looked at each other quizzically, and
then back at Lucy.

“What is it sweetheart?”  Gerald asked.

“Okay, despite everything I’ve ever said, and what I’ve ever
done to avoid this happening, well I may as well just say it. I’m pregnant.”

Gerald gasped.

Richard knocked back the rest of his wine, and then reached
across for Lucy’s which he suddenly realised she hadn’t touched.

There was silence for a moment as both men tried to take in
the news Lucy had just given to them.  Lucy watched them both intently,
smiling at the look of astonishment on both their faces.

“Are you two okay?” Lucy asked.  “Strong, sweet tea
anyone?”

Both shook their heads, with their mouths open wide.

Finally Gerald spoke.  “Stupid question, but how?”

“Too much lonely drinking on the night Katie arrived. 
I ended up being sick and then didn’t take my next pill within the recommended
time.”

“But you’ve always been extremely careful Lucy, surely
something like this has happened before, when you were with Simon, being ill or
forgetting your pill I mean?”  Gerald shook his head, still unable to
believe that six short weeks ago he’d left his daughter in love with her new
partner, and adamant that she didn’t want any more children – now here she was
alone and pregnant.

“I was sick once before, but I guess Simon and I were just
lucky.  The thought honestly never entered my head Dad.  I expect if
Ed had known I’d been sick he would have used something, but I didn’t tell him.
 I was too embarrassed about drowning my sorrows and puking like a
teenager.” 

“Am I right in thinking that Ed doesn’t know about the
baby?”  Richard asked.

“Yes you’re right Richard…Dad please don’t look at me like
that.”  Lucy had glanced at Gerald and seen the look of horror pass over
his face.

“Lucy, I will support you in any way possible, but not
telling him about his child, well I’m sorry I don’t agree.  I was forced
to move away from you and Sophie, and it broke my heart, it devastated me and
you two were grown women.”

Lucy had thought about this a lot over the last few days,
and her resolve had softened slightly.

“I’m not saying never Dad, just not yet.  I can’t cope
with having to deal with him and Katie just yet.  There’s something else
you need to know.”

“Wait, let me get some more wine,” Gerald said.  “I’m
not sure I can take another surprise without alcohol!”

“Okay, are you sitting comfortably?”  Lucy asked before
preceding to tell them about Katie’s pregnancy.

As the weeks passed, Lucy bloomed, growing happier with each
day.  She had managed to get a part-time job working at an after school
play-scheme, and she was enjoying every minute of it.  The pay wasn’t
great, but it was enough with her savings and Simon’s continued contribution to
the mortgage to get by.  At almost eight weeks pregnant she still wasn’t
showing too much, for which Lucy was grateful.  If she were to come
through the divorce without any problems, Simon couldn’t find out about her
upcoming event.

Ed still wasn’t aware that he was to have another child,
however, Lucy agreed with Gerald that she would tell him and decided that it
should be that weekend.  Richard had offered to arrange a meeting between
them, but Lucy asked him to wait for a couple of days, until she arrived at
their house, just in case she chickened out.  She hardly spoke about Ed to
Richard or Gerald.  Richard did tell her he hadn’t seen any evidence of
Katie, but that Ed was unusually quiet, barely speaking to anyone at the
surgery and that he wasn’t able to look Richard in the eye.  All signs of
his guilt, Lucy commented.

Pulling up onto her father’s driveway Lucy sighed
heavily.  It reminded her of doing the same thing just four months ago, then
she’d been distraught at the end of her marriage, this time she was here to
tell another man that she was going to have his baby.

Gerald opened the door and gathered Lucy into his arms,
hugging her tightly.

“Hello sweetheart.  How are you feeling? Was the
journey okay?”

Lucy nodded and kissed Gerald’s cheek.

“I’m fine thanks Dad, a little tired from driving, but
otherwise I actually feel really well…apart from morning sickness that is,
although even that is easing.”

“That’s great, come on in, let’s get you a cup of tea.”

As Lucy entered the house, she sniffed the air and laughed.

“Dad, you disappoint me, no mulled wine on the go.” 
Lucy nudged Gerald and winked.

“We didn’t think it was right in your condition.  I’ve
made some lemonade instead.”  Gerald dropped Lucy’s bag that he’d taken
from her.

Richard appeared from the lounge and moved forward to greet
Lucy.

“You look beautiful,” he said gazing at Lucy. 
“Pregnancy suits you evidently.”

“Thanks Richard, although I’m not so sure you’d say that if
you saw me in the morning when I have my head down the toilet.”  Lucy
laughed and hugged him.

“I thought you said it was getting easier,” Gerald exclaimed
turning Lucy towards him.

“It is Dad, it’s just morning now instead of all day.”
 Lucy’s face broke into a huge smile.  “Honestly, I feel really
healthy, so stop worrying.”

“Come on let’s sit down,” Richard said ushering them all
into the lounge. 

Once they’d all sat down Lucy suddenly realised that Gerald
and Richard appeared anxious about something.

“Okay you two, what’s wrong?” Lucy made herself comfy on the
chair.

Gerald looked at Richard who nodded.

“Well,” Richard began.  “I rang Ed…”

“I asked you not to until I got here.”  Lucy knew that
she needed to talk to Ed, but she wanted to do it when she was ready, plus
she’d specifically asked her ‘fathers’ not to do anything until she said so.

“I know you did, but Ellen mentioned that Ed was thinking of
going to Wales this weekend, to help his parents pack up before coming home,
and well I didn’t want you to have a wasted journey.”  Richard explained.

Lucy conceded that he’d probably done what he thought was
best.

“Okay, I understand,” she replied still a little annoyed
nonetheless.  “So, what did he say?”

Richard’s eyes darted to the floor.  “I only spoke to
Katie,” he said finally looking at Lucy.

“And?”

“She told me that he’d gone to Wales to bring Nate home and
to tell his parents that they were going to be giving it another go and, as you
said, she’s pregnant with his child.”  Richard moved across and held Lucy’s
hand.

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears.  She realised that Ed’s
betrayal still hurt, her heart still ached for him, and all these weeks she’d
been fooling herself that he meant nothing to her.  Suddenly she felt
sick, she rushed from the room as bile rose in her throat.

“Are you okay darling?”  Gerald asked when Lucy
reappeared, ten minutes later.

Lucy nodded, one hand to her mouth, the other resting on her
stomach.

“Hmm, it was just a shock to hear it straight from the
bitch’s mouth.”

Gerald brushed Lucy’s hair from her face.

“I know Luce, it must have been difficult to hear, even if
you already thought that’s what was happening.  You know, maybe he’s only
giving it a go because she’s pregnant.”

Richard added.  “Your dad’s right Lucy, he does look
miserable.  He isn’t acting as though he’s just got back with the love of
his life, and is about to have another child with her.  You’d expect at
least a little smile on his face, but there’s nothing but a scowl these days.”