‘My face aches from smiling,’ I told Jamie later, as we sat hand in hand, slumped in two of the chairs I’d neatly tied ribbons round, watching everyone dance.
I pushed my cheeks forward and made a face at him.
‘I’m going to have to do this to stop it hurting,’ I said.
‘Still fancy you,’ Jamie said.
‘What about if I do this?’ I said, going cross-eyed and sticking my tongue out.
‘Yup,’ said Jamie.
I relaxed my face.
‘Oh no! God, no! What have I married?’ he cried in mock horror at my normal expression. I punched him good-naturedly.
‘Mitch reckons he’s in there with Kirsty,’ I said, nodding across the room to where my handsome brother was fluttering his eyelashes. ‘He says they’re going to do a duet later. He’s brought his guitar and he’s trying to persuade her to sing.’
‘Interesting,’ Jamie said. ‘Does Kirsty want to?’
‘Not sure,’ I said. ‘But I’m sure Mitch can win her over.’ Mitch was a very talented musician and I had a lot of faith in him.
Harry came over and sat down, followed by Louise.
‘Having a good time?’ she said.
‘The best,’ I beamed.
‘Where’s Parker?’ Harry said. ‘Didn’t he look cute in his little outfit?’
‘He flagged ages ago,’ Jamie said. ‘Tansy and Michael took him home.’
‘Just think, at the next family wedding we could have a little one of our own,’ Louise said, taking Harry’s hand. Harry smiled at her adoringly.
‘I can’t wait,’ she said.
‘Wonder who’ll be next to tie the knot,’ Jamie mused.
‘Probably Mitch,’ Harry giggled, raising her eyebrow at my brother, who was now dancing close to Kirsty.
‘Or your mum and Douglas,’ Jamie said. I gave him a fierce look. I may have got over my doubts about Mum having a boyfriend, but a husband? I wasn’t sure about that.
‘There’s Tansy and Michael,’ I said quickly. ‘We could all go to Boston.’
‘Why not?’ said Jamie.
But Harry and Louise’s chatter had made me think of something. Something that made me feel a bit odd – and a bit excited. In fact, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.
‘Are you okay, Ez?’ Jamie said. ‘You’re miles away.’
‘Have you seen Chloe?’ I asked.
‘Her mother-in-law was taking the kids home,’ said Harry. ‘Think she went outside to say goodbye.’
‘I’m just going to find her,’ I said, giving Jamie a kiss. ‘Back in a bit.’
I weaved my way across the dance floor and reached the door of the gallery, just as Chloe came in.
‘I need to speak to you,’ I hissed in her ear. She looked startled, and more than a little bit drunk, but undeterred I pulled her outside.
‘It’s freezing, Ez,’ she complained.
‘I know,’ I said. ‘I’m sorry. I need you to get something for me. From the twenty-four-hour shop.’
‘What?’ she said. ‘What can you possibly need, right now?’
I told her and her eyes widened.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Let me just grab my coat and boots.’
I blew her a kiss as she staggered down the stairs, slightly unsteady on her feet.
‘Hurry up,’ I begged.
She wasn’t away long. I was chatting with Mum and Douglas when I saw her emerge through the gallery door, cheeks flushed with the cold.
‘Oh I’ve just remembered I need to speak to Chloe,’ I said, abandoning Mum and rushing across to meet her.
‘Did you get it?’ I asked.
Chloe nodded and opened her blue clutch bag so I could peek in.
I closed my eyes briefly then I peered into Chloe’s bag.
‘That’s it?’ I said.
She nodded.
‘And I just wee on it, and it’ll tell me if I’m pregnant?’
She nodded again.
‘Okay, then,’ I said breezily. ‘Thanks for that. Let’s go back to the party.’
‘Oh no,’ Chloe said. ‘No way. I went outside in the freezing cold in this small dress to buy this. Not to mention the fact that bloody nosy beak George from the garage clocked exactly what I was buying and is probably at this moment telling anyone who’ll listen that I’ve got baby number four on the way,’
‘What if it’s positive,’ I said.
Chloe grinned.
‘Then you’ll be about to have the most incredible adventure of your life,’ she said. ‘And if it’s negative, we’ll come back to the party, neck some champagne and have a dance.’
‘Right,’ I said, taking a deep breath. ‘Let’s do it.’
We went downstairs to the cafe where there were more loos and where we were less likely to be interrupted
Chloe opened the box and pulled out a thick white stick.
‘You just wee on this end,’ she said. ‘One line in this window means you’re not pregnant, two lines means you are.’
I took the stick from her and went into the cubicle. My hands were shaking so violently I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold the test steady. But I managed, ignoring Chloe’s helpful instructions that she shouted through the door. Then I lay the stick on top of the cistern and stared at it. Nothing happened. I wasn’t pregnant, I told myself. It was just the stress. I was a week late, or thereabouts. But think of everything that had happened this week – that was bound to have an effect. Wasn’t it? And yes I was definitely more tired than usual, but I’d been in an avalanche for goodness sake. That wore people out. I thought about my monster hangover after the hen night, when I’d only managed to force down a couple of drinks. Then I looked at the stick again.
‘Is anything happening?’ Chloe shouted through the door.
I gulped for air and opened the cubicle door.
‘Something’s happening all right,’ I said, handing her the test. ‘I’m having a baby.’