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“Seven. I thought I was really late and then I went into denial. Shit, it’s not ideal timing but...I wanted to tell Jason in person. I haven’t told Mum and Dad.”
I didn’t ask why she wanted to tell Jason before her parents. Something else was going on behind her troubled face, and she wasn’t going to open up to me.
“Look. I’m due a call from Jason. We chat by webcam. I’ll text him, let him know you want to talk. You’ll see him, just not in the flesh.”
“Thanks, Gemma.” She swallowed a mouthful of tea, her eyes brightening.
I texted Jason, and we arranged the connection. By the time I had brought down the laptop and set it up, he was there on the screen. He sat at a desk in his usual hotel suite. No tie or jacket, he looked a little tired, although he smiled in greeting.
“Louise, hi.”
“Jason. I...I’m pregnant,” she blurted.
His eyes widened and lips twitched before he managed to rustle up a few words of congratulations.
“It wasn’t planned. Condom split on us,” rushed Louise.
“Happens, Louise,” he said, frowning. “How’s Ben taking the news?”
Louise covered her mouth with a trembling hand, and her face crumpled. “He wants me to have an abortion, terminate it.”
Jason face went from bemused to expressionless. I gasped. How could Ben be so callous? I’d thought he was a decent bloke, the affable type who brightened up a conversation with a few jokes. Ben was talented with his hands and made a living repairing stringed musical instruments while perfecting his own violin-making skills. Dreams of becoming the next Stradivarius occupied his ambitions, and he’d an encyclopaedic knowledge of violin makers and techniques.
“He’s asked you or told you?” asked Jason. He wasn’t attempting to hide his displeasure in his tone.
“Neither. He said he wasn’t ready. We need more time, money, space. Lots of reasons why we shouldn’t have a kid. So I yelled at him that he wanted me to get rid of it and he said, why not, you should, or something like that. That happened on Sunday. We haven’t spoken to each other since then.” She buried her head in her hands.
“You said he wanted kids.”
“Men say that, don’t they, to keep women happy,” she said bitterly.
“I take it you don’t want a termination,” soothed Jason.
“No. Of course not. The idea is abhorrent. But, he won’t talk about it now. I’m starting to puke up, and he won’t discuss anything with me.” Her shoulders shook, and tears began to flow down her red cheeks.
I put my arm around her, and she let out a sob. “Perhaps he needs time,” I said. “It’s unexpected, a big shock. Just give him time, and he
’ll come round.”
“I don’t know. He can be stubborn. I’ve been in London for two days, and he hasn’t even rung to ask me how I am.”
“Have you called him?” asked Jason.
“No. I don’t know what to say. I’m going home tomorrow. I’ve got to face him sometime.” She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
“Don’t worry. He may have calmed down and you can have a rational conversation. Does he have much contact with children?”
“No, I suppose not. No nieces or nephews or friends with kids.” She pursed her lips. “Ben and his father are estranged, and his mother lives in Australia. I suppose he hasn’t been much of a son, never mind a parent.”
Jason smiled. “Not much of a role model for him, then. Let him get use to the idea, Louise. Once I’m home, we’ll come and visit you. Seeing Joshua might remind him he does want kids, and what is growing inside you is part of him.”
Louise nodded. “Thanks, Jason. Sorry to burden you with my—”
“Don’t. We’ve been down this road before. You’re not to hide your problems from me. I’m here for you, Lou.”
The conversation finished shortly after when Jason’s mobile rang. I closed the laptop lid.
Back in the kitchen, collecting up the empty mugs, I asked her a question. “Why did you want to talk to Jason and not your parents?”
