‘Hi Georgie, it’s Liam.’
‘Hello,’ she said guardedly.
‘I’m calling to see how you are.’
‘But you only saw me yesterday.’
‘I know, but under the circumstances–’
‘Liam, you can’t phone me every day.’
He paused. ‘Then how often can I phone you?’
‘I don’t know.’ He could hear frustration in her voice. He didn’t want to annoy her.
‘I think I just needed to make sure it wasn’t a dream,’ he tried to explain.
‘It’s real, Liam.’ Her tone had softened. ‘Look, I’ll keep in touch, I promise.’
‘Okay,’ he said, resigning himself. ‘How often?’
‘Liam!’ she exclaimed, but she didn’t sound annoyed this time. Perhaps a little amused, maybe even flattered. ‘I’ll phone you when there’s anything to tell you. After my doctor’s appointments, for example.’
‘How often do you go to the doctor?’
‘Once a month.’
‘Oh.’ He couldn’t pretend he wasn’t disappointed.
‘But in another month or so, it’ll be fortnightly.’
‘Okay,’ he relented. ‘But you’ll call if you ever need anything in between?’
‘I will.’
‘You know, I think I should give you my other numbers. You only have my mobile.’
‘That’s all I had before.’
‘Well, it’s different now.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Have you got a pen?’
‘Yes Liam.’
‘Really, you’re not just humouring me?’
He heard her laugh. ‘Just get on with it.’
Liam dictated his work number, his home number and his address.
‘You live in Queenscliff?’
‘Now I do. I used to live in Mosman, like I told you.’
‘Hmm.’
‘So have you got all that?’
‘Yes, I have.’
‘And you’ll call?’
‘If I need to.’
‘Okay.’
‘Bye Liam.’
‘Bye Georgie.’
He hung up, smiling. He hadn’t been able to wipe the smile off his face all day. He felt buoyant and light-hearted. He had something to look forward to again and it was something wonderful, the best thing that had happened to him since Georgie had come into his life. They shared this baby, nothing could change that and they would always be connected, that had to put the odds in his favour. He wanted to go to one of those baby shops and buy the place out. He wanted to celebrate, to announce it to the world, but no one would really understand. It would only confuse his mother. She was still digesting the news that his marriage had broken down, how would he explain this? Then again, if she met Georgie, that would explain everything.
Liam glanced around the office. He didn’t really know anyone here well enough yet to share his news. Then it occurred to him. He picked up the phone again and dialled.
‘Good morning, Evan Pratt’s office.’
‘Stella?’
‘Mac?’
‘You haven’t forgotten me?’
‘As if I could,’ she chided. ‘How the hell are you anyway?’
‘I am bloody fantastic, Stella. I haven’t felt this happy in ages.’
‘Wow, what’s happened?’
‘Let me take you out to lunch and I’ll tell you all about it.’
‘Okay, but I do have to get back to the office this afternoon,’ she warned him.
‘I understand. Where do you want to meet?’
They worked at opposite ends of the city now so Darling Harbour was central for both of them. Liam was waiting less than patiently where they’d agreed to meet, when he spotted Stella hurrying towards him. He walked forward and, on an impulse, threw his arms around her, lifting her off the ground. Stella shrieked and he put her down again.
‘Mac! What’s going on?’
He couldn’t hold it in any longer. ‘I’m going to have a baby!’
She looked perplexed.
‘Well, not me actually . . .’
Her eyes grew wide. ‘You mean Anna finally–’
‘No, no . . .’ His heart sank. ‘Not Anna.’
Stella frowned.
‘It’s Georgie,’ he said simply.
‘You’re back together?’
‘No,’ he faltered. ‘Let’s go find somewhere to eat, this is going to take some explaining.’
They walked to the closest restaurant and Liam insisted on ordering champagne before he told Stella the whole story. He admitted it was all a bit complicated, to say the least, but he wanted to celebrate. It was good news after all, wonderful news. And he wanted to hold onto this feeling for a while. It had been a long time since he’d felt so happy.
‘Do you think you and Georgie will end up together?’ Stella asked.
‘I don’t know. I mean, I want that, more than anything. But it’s going to take a long time for her to trust me again. I’m just hoping that after the baby’s born she’ll see me in a different light, that she might be able to forgive me.’
‘Well,’ Stella smiled, raising her glass to him. ‘Here’s to you, Dad.’
‘I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that.’ He sighed happily. ‘The idea of an actual baby seemed so unreal by the end. I can’t believe I’m going to have a child, a son or a daughter . . . it’s incredible.’
Stella put her glass on the table. ‘This is going to be hard on Anna. Have you thought about how you’re going to tell her?’
He stared blankly at her.
‘You have thought about it, haven’t you, Mac?’
‘Of course I have,’ he said. ‘I just don’t like thinking about it.’
Stella was watching him. ‘Sorry, I’ve burst your bubble, haven’t I?’
He gave her a feeble smile.
‘What are you going to tell her?’
‘The truth. What else can I do?’
‘Try to be sensitive, Mac. Can you imagine how she’s going to feel?’
‘She’s going to hate me.’ He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. ‘I thought about not telling her–’
‘Mac!’
‘For about five minutes,’ he insisted. ‘I don’t want to hurt her, that’s all.’
‘You want to save your skin, you mean.’
‘Probably.’ He took a deep breath, sitting back in his chair again. ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do it. It seems so cruel. I keep imagining her face . . . ’
‘You’d better do it soon, Mac, it’s not going to get any easier.’