‘What are you still doing here, Kath?’ Liam said sternly, leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed, affecting a frown.
She looked at him over the top of her glasses. ‘Just finishing up a couple of things–’
‘Everything’s under control,’ he insisted.
‘Yeah, but there’s this batch of files I haven’t even had a chance to look at–’
‘I’ll see to them.’
‘And you know about the big meeting–’
‘Kath, we’ve been all over this, and over, and over again. And you should have left by now. You were supposed to go home early.’
‘What, so I could start yelling at Norm sooner when I see everything that still has to be done before we take off on this stupid trip?’
‘You need a holiday, Kath.’
‘Not this kind of holiday,’ she groaned. ‘A holiday is supposed to be luxurious king-size beds and views from the balcony and deep spas and bars on the edge of swimming pools and drinks with little umbrellas served by waiters who look like male models,’ she sighed longingly.
Liam suppressed a smile, passing her briefcase across the desk.
‘Stop looking at me like that, a girl can dream, can’t she?’ She stood up, taking the bag from him. ‘In real life I’m going to be stuck with Norm in a caravan for three weeks out the back of nowhere, when we can barely tolerate each other in a house with eight rooms and doors we can close between us.’
While she rattled on, Liam had come around behind her and lifted her jacket from the back of her chair, placing it around her shoulders.
‘You just want to take over my office,’ she muttered suspiciously while he gently but firmly proceeded to expel her from the room.
‘I know, it’s pretty tempting. What with that view of the back lane, and the ritzy decor.’
They stopped in the doorway and surveyed the shabby, overcrowded office, its mustard walls, sagging venetian blinds, the shelves straining under the weight of bureaucracy.
‘I promise it’ll all be here when you get back.’
‘And that’s supposed to make me feel better?’ She raised an eyebrow as she turned away and started along the corridor. Liam followed her.
‘So, when’s that baby of yours due?’ she asked over her shoulder.
‘Couple of weeks.’
‘Then it’s any day now?’
‘Well, no, it’s still two weeks away.’
‘Which is any day now,’ she repeated.
‘What do you mean?’ said Liam, startled.
‘Bye Kath! Have a great holiday!’ Tim/Tom/James called from the photocopier.
‘Yeah, right.’
‘Kath, what do you mean it’s any day now?’ Liam persisted.
‘Only five percent of babies are born on the due date, Liam,’ she explained. ‘The rest are spread pretty even, two weeks either way.’
‘But the baby would be premature if it was born now, wouldn’t it?’
Kath shook her head. ‘No, it might be a little undercooked, but your baby could arrive tomorrow or in a month and it’d be on time either way.’
Liam checked his watch after he’d seen Kath out the door. The shop would be shut by now, not that Georgie stayed till closing these days anyway. Back at his desk he phoned her flat, but it rang out. He tried her mobile next, but the voicemail picked it up straight away, which meant she’d probably turned it off. As you would if you were in a hospital.
‘Georgie, it’s Liam. Just calling to . . .’ Check up on you? She wouldn’t like that. ‘ . . . to see how you’re going. Could you give me a call when you get this message?’
He tried the shop but as he suspected, only the machine came on. He rang her flat again but there was still no answer. He wasn’t sure what to do. He needed to hear her voice, make sure she was all right, let her know about this ‘due date’ fiasco if she didn’t know already. Why wasn’t this common knowledge? Of course he realised babies didn’t always come right on schedule, but he thought it was closer than two weeks either way. It all seemed pretty bloody inexact. How the hell was he supposed to stop worrying from here on in? He’d had himself all sorted to get through the next two weeks. With Kath away, work would be flat out, it would give him something to focus on. So much for that idea.
He was still ringing every half-hour after he got home. By eight-thirty he couldn’t stand it any more. He was thinking of driving to Georgie’s place, but he didn’t want to get too dramatic. Nick and Louise were his only other hope. Louise was always polite to him when he called the shop, even pleasant. They’d understand why he was phoning them, surely?
He tried Georgie’s number one more time, and then he looked up in his book and dialled Nick and Louise’s.
‘Hello.’
It was a male voice, which meant it could only be Nick.
‘Ah, hi, Nick? It’s Liam MacMullen here.’
‘Gidday, Liam, how are you going?’
At least he sounded friendly.
‘I’m fine, I’m a bit worried about Georgie though.’
‘Well–’
‘I’ve been ringing her place all evening but there’s no answer.’
‘That’s because–’
‘You know I don’t like to bother her, or truth is, she doesn’t like me bothering her, I guess she told you that.’
‘No, she–’
‘But I was talking to my boss this afternoon and she pointed out that the baby could come any time now and I got worried–’
‘Liam–’
‘She’s there in the flat on her own.’
‘No, she’s–’
‘And I’ve already told her I don’t think that’s a good idea, she should be staying with you guys or–’
‘Liam! She is!’
‘What?’
‘She’s staying here, okay?’
‘Oh, why didn’t you say?’
‘I’ve been trying to for the last five minutes,’ he insisted. ‘Getting yourself a little worked up there, mate.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t apologise, I know how you feel. That’s why I made her come and stay with us. And she didn’t put up a fight, so I think she may have been a little anxious as well.’
‘Is she all right?’
‘She’s fine. Perfect. Right on schedule.’
‘Yeah, well according to my boss, “right on schedule” could be any time from now.’
‘That’s true, but she’s more likely to go late with the first. Louise was ten days over with Molly. The longest ten days of my life,’ he said ruefully. ‘Anyway, I’d put her on, Liam, but she’s in bed.’
‘This early?’
‘Yeah, she’s not doing much else besides sleeping at the moment.’
‘Is there something wrong?’
‘No, it’s normal. Louise slept all the time at the end, with both the girls. I think they get a bit tired carrying all that weight around.’
‘Fair enough,’ Liam mused.
‘But look, I’ll tell her you called, and I’ll get her to give you a ring tomorrow.’
‘I don’t want to put her out.’
‘Don’t worry about that. She should be able to manage it between naps.’
‘Thanks.’
‘And don’t hesitate to call any time, Liam.’
‘I don’t think she’d like that.’
‘What she doesn’t know . . .’ said Nick. ‘If you’re worried, just give me a call.’
Liam smiled. ‘Thanks, I appreciate it.’