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What I don’t say is that I’m not going to celebrate her appearance when she might run off again at any moment. I want to go out there and pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless, but I’m not going to give her my heart on a plate only to have her stomp all over it when she undoubtedly freaks out and legs it.
I sigh. “Everything’s back to front. We should have had time to get to know one another, to try each other out and see if we fit, but instead we’ve leapfrogged straight to kids. It’s crazy.”
“Did you ask the sex of the babies?” Kip asks.
I smile. “They’re boys.”
He laughs. “Excellent.”
“I thought so.”
“When are you going to tell Mum and Dad?” Damon asks.
“On Saturday, I thought. Don’t tell them before.”
“Wouldn’t dream of missing out on the spectacle,” he says.
“Ah, fuck, yeah.”
“Dad’s going to mock you mercilessly,” Kip says.
“I know.”
“Mum will want to hold a party,” Damon says, “and invite the whole of Wellington.”
“If only you’d settled down and knocked a girl up, I’d be off the hook.”
“Ain’t no woman gonna tie this dude down,” he says, grinning as Kip laughs. “All right, you want to hear about Christchurch?”
“Please,” I beg, desperate for someone else to be in the limelight.
Damon goes on to explain about his conference, and I listen, but it’s impossible not to let my mind drift. It’s unusual for me—I’m usually hyper-focused. But I guess it’s not surprising. After all, it’s not every day you find out you’re going to be the father of twins.
“Let’s wrap up there,” Damon says a bit later. “I don’t think your mind is quite on the topic, bro.”
“Sorry.”
“No, fair enough. What’s the time?” He checks his phone. “Nine thirty. Are you coming to the meeting with Mei Zhang at ten?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a couple of phone calls to make first, but I should be there on time.”
“All right,” Kip says, getting to his feet. “See you in a bit. Door open or closed?”
“Closed, please.” I go over to my desk and sit in my leather chair, then flop back and blow out a long breath as the door closes behind them.
I turn and look out of the window, at the view across the park. It’s a beautiful spring day. I think about the way the jacaranda petals floated onto the Aston outside the clinic, and the brilliant smile that Catie gave me when she asked if I thought it would be best if she terminated the pregnancy, and I answeredA hundred percent no.
I had to ask, because it was only fair that she understood it was an option. Her body is going through incredible changes, and at the end of it she’s going to have two babies to look after. No wonder the poor girl’s terrified. I’m terrified, and I don’t have to squeeze two beach balls through a hole the size of a fifty-cent coin.
The key to all this is that neither of us have to do it alone. It’s time I enlisted some help. Mum and Dad will be there eventually to ensure I don’t crash and burn but for now it’s not me that needs aid. Catie will have to go to another scan next week. Angela Clinton will be a great help to her, but it will also do her good to have a friend who can answer her questions and provide general support.
I pick up my phone, then prop my feet up on the window ledge as I call Kennedy’s number. It rings three times before she answers.
“Saxon Chevalier! As I live and breathe. I was just thinking about you.”
“Morning, Ken. Good things, I hope.”
“Jackson said he was thinking about getting a clown for Eddie for Christmas, and I thought of you.”
