Читать книгу The Baby Diaries - Sam Binnie - Страница 27

Time to tell Eve. Why was I nervous? This wasn’t the Eve of old, this was new Eve. Nice Eve. Thoughtful Eve. Normal Human Being Eve. Since she’d tried to seduce Thom at her last birthday party, met someone she’d actually cared about for once (the lovely baker Mike) and faced my half-hearted wrath, Eve had changed. I loved seeing her now – she no longer made me feel guilty or inadequate. Yet, still so nervous.

She’d come over to mine for lunch, and was loitering in the kitchen doorway while I got everything together.

Eve: I brought some wine – shall I open it?

Me: Yes please. Just a bit for me, though, thanks.

Eve: Late night last night?

Me: [brightly] No, it turns out I’m pregnant! Oops. Didn’t mean for that to happen. Not that I’m an idiot or anything. Just … statistically unlikely. But it’s fine. I’m fine, and the baby’s fine, although I’m still not used to it actually being a baby – I just like to think of it as a thing I’ll have to get round to dealing with sometime next year. Ha!

Eve: Oh right. Cool.

And that was it. She didn’t ask any more, and I didn’t volunteer it. We ate lunch, and talked about work and our families, then she left. I felt flat.

When Thom got home from the pub, I was still lying with my face half-pressed into the sofa, watching something dreadful on TV with my open eye.

Thom: Eve back on form?

Me: No! She was fine. It was nice to see her. She just didn’t really … care.

Thom: Wasn’t that what you wanted? Better that than her telling you how to name it and where we should live and what clever little vintage items it ought to wear, isn’t it?

Me: I suppose so.

Thom: Keeks, I know she’s been different these last few months, but a leopard can’t change its spots entirely. Just think about all the other people who do make you happy: Suse, Zoe, Alice – have you seen Greta recently?

Me: No! That will be nice! You’re right. It’s just habit with Eve. But you’re right.

TO DO:

Stop having high hopes for Eve

Start enjoying the rest of our friends while I can

Remember I’m not dying, just having a baby