‘Something’s happening at the celebrity jail,’ he said, waving to the TV.
Kate looked at the screen. He was watchingCelebrity Cell Block, and a crisis was unfolding. Instead of the usual live coverage of the inmates, the presenter was standing outside the prison, speaking straight to the camera. From time to time, it cut to Tessa, who was wearing civvies instead of the regulation uniform.
‘What’s going on?’ Kate asked.
‘Tessa seems to be leaving,’ Will said, turning up the sound again.
Just then, a breaking news update ran across the bottom of the screen, stating that Tessa was quitting the celebrity jail later today. The picture showed her packing her stuff and giving her cellmate an enthusiastic hug, then being led out of her cell by the ‘warder’.
‘Wow! Owen calling off the campaign worked fast.’
‘She hasn’t been voted off.’ Will shook his head. ‘It’s something else, but they’re being very cloak and dagger about it.’
As they watched, the camera returned to the presenter standing outside. Her hushed tone imbued the event with all the seriousness of a military coup. She said she could confirm that Tessa would be leaving later today, but at the moment, they couldn’t reveal why. All she could say was that Tessa had to go for ‘health reasons’, then added paradoxically that she could assure Tessa’s family, friends and legions of fans that she wasn’t ill and there was nothing to worry about. ‘What wecantell you is that Tessa requested an item from the pharmacy yesterday. We haven’t been told what it was, but subsequent to that, she had discussions with the producers and it was decided that she should leave immediately.’
‘Oh my God, she’s pregnant!’ Kate’s hands flew to her face.
‘Shit!’ Will’s eyes were wide with shock. ‘Do you think that’s it?’
‘An item from the pharmacy – it must have been a pregnancy-testing kit. And she’s not ill, but she has to leave for health reasons. What else could it be?’
‘Oh Christ! Poor Louise.’
‘You don’t think Rory’s just going to dump her, do you?’
‘That’s exactly what he’ll do.’
‘But he can’t! He’s nuts about her! And, besides, they’ve only just got together.’
Will looked at her squarely. ‘Have you everheardRory on the subject of fathers who bail on their kids?’
Kate looked at him in silence as the truth of his words sank in.
‘Oh my God, you’re right!’ Kate knew exactly what Rory thought of men who abandoned their children. ‘Poor Louise.’
‘Poor Rory.’
* * *
In Tuscany, Louise was sitting in front of the TV with Rory, watching the same program, having been tipped off that something was happening with Tessa at the jail.
‘She’s pregnant!’ she whispered.
Rory stared at the screen in numb disbelief. How could this have happened? They had always been so careful. But accidents happened. He didn’t say a word, but his mind railed against the dawning reality.
Maybe Tessa wasn’t pregnant, he thought hopefully. Maybe everyone was jumping to conclusions. No one had actuallysaidshe was pregnant. There was still hope, he told himself. But he didn’t voice it out loud: deep down, he knew he was clutching at straws because he didn’t want it to be true. In his heart, he knew Tessa was pregnant, and it was like a death sentence.
He cursed himself for being so careless and stupid. He thought of all those wasted years when he could have been with Louise, regret gnawing at him. If only he had had the courage to follow his heart. If only he had realised years ago that Louise felt the same way. If only he had never been with Tessa. If only, if only, if only…
They both stared determinedly at the screen, afraid to look at each other. Rory reached for Louise’s hand and gripped it as their world fell apart before their eyes. When his phone rang, they jumped. He let go of Louise’s hand, stood up and moved away to take the call. When he had disconnected, he came back. ‘Tessa wants me to be there when she comes out.’ Louise nodded silently, blinking hard to stop the tears.
‘Louise, I?—’
‘I know,’ she interrupted. She couldn’t bear to hear him say it. ‘You have to go. It’s okay.’
She had known it would happen. The moment she realised Tessa was pregnant, she had known she would lose Rory. No one who knew him as she did could have doubted it. She couldn’t resent him for it or even wish it was otherwise. She understood that he had to go. He wouldn’t have been the man she loved if he didn’t. It was just horribly ironic and unfair that the very qualities she loved in him were taking him away from her now – his inherent decency, his dependability, the way he looked after people, his gritty determination to shoulder his responsibilities.
Wordlessly, they got up and began to make preparations, Louise helping Rory to pack. They moved about like automatons, studiously avoiding touching. Louise was terrified that if he touched her now she would end up begging him to stay, and she didn’t want to make it any harder for him than it already was.
