“Calm down,” I quickly added. “You’re starting to sound like I did a few moments ago. And besides, Matt is coming back.” I hoped.
“Well why didn’t you say that?”
“I just did.”
“Yeah, after I got all hot under the collar.”
I smiled for the first time since Matt had left.
“Don’t get too carried away. I’m not entirely sure how he feels about the whole pregnancy thing.” I picked the skin around my thumb and winced against the sting as blood trickled.
“Give him time,” Danny added. “He’ll come around. It’s probably just the shock. I know I’d be shocked if I found out that I was a father.”
“You’re not the only one.” I smirked.
Danny laughed.
“What’s he doing overseas anyway?” Danny asked.
I shrugged despite the fact that Danny couldn’t see me. “I don’t really know. He said it’s personal, so I figure it has something to do with the family tree thing he’s been doing.”
“Maybe he’s found some secret relative.” I could hear the smile in Danny’s tone.
“So long as it’s not a secret love child,” I mused, sucking my bleeding finger.
“Do you think he’s racking them up?”
“That’s not funny.”
Danny laughed. “Have you heard from Lizzie?” he asked, changing the subject. “I wouldn’t mind being followed around by that cute policeman who’s shadowing her.”
“Yeah, but that’s pretty scary stuff. I thought her stalker was behind bars.”
“Apparently parole came early.”
“But he’s only been behind bars a few months! And he’s killed people.” A chill danced down my spine and mixed with the anxiety that was swirling in my stomach.
“The police are taking it seriously though, which is why she has a constant escort for the time being.”
“I just hope they catch him soon.”
“Me too,” finished Danny. “Anyway, I’ve gotta go. Ring me once Matt has called. I want all the details.”
“Sure,” I reluctantly agreed, wishing I was as enthusiastic about it as Danny was. But then this was a real-life soap opera to him. For me, it was my life.
I said my goodbyes and dropped my phone into the pocket of my jeans, grateful that for the time being they still fitted me. Actually, shopping for a new wardrobe could be fun and was something I was looking forward to. Cheered by this last thought, I grabbed the packet of Tim Tams, and made my way towards the lounge room.
My apartment was on the small side. It was sleek, modern and had an amazing view out over the aqua blue river that made its way to the ocean. At night the lights of Westport twinkled into my lounge room and if it was quiet enough, I could hear the waves crashing the beach. It was an older building that had been modernized, but it meant my kitchen wasn’t open plan. Which was fine by me as I was a messy cook. The downside was that it only had one bedroom, which meant that in the near future I was going to have to move. Or buy my neighbor Valerie out and smash through some walls. But two things would have to happen first. One: I needed to convince Valerie to sell. At sixty-six she’d told me that the only way she would leave was in a box, so I didn’t like my chances of purchasing it. And two: I needed to win the lottery as I’d had barely enough money to pay the mortgage on this property, let alone two of them. Plus, the cost of renovations. But a girl could dream, right?
Reaching the lounge room, I didn’t worry about flipping the light switch on, instead I plonked my tush next to Harper and turned the television on. Resting my head on a cushion, I closed my eyes and relaxed into my comfy couch. I was just about to drift off to sleep, when the deep sexy sound of Matt’s voice echoed through the airwaves. I snapped my eyes open and sat up straight.
“Yes Rob,” he said to the newsreader. I didn’t know when he’d recorded the piece but as daylight lit the hospital behind him, I figured it was sometime this afternoon. “Late last week I was contacted by Paul Pritchard. He worked at the Westport General Hospital in the late 1960’s. He said that he had a story that needed to be told, a lie that needed to be uncovered. However, as you know, Pritchard was found dead in his home early this morning. The police are yet to determine the cause of death.”
Chapter Two
According to the app, I was six weeks and one day pregnant today. Which meant that my baby was now as big as a pearl on Audrey Hepburn’s necklace in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I liked that metaphor a heck of a lot better than comparing it to a piece of fruit. The baby’s smile was starting to form as the cheeks, jawline and chin were taking shape, and most importantly, it now had a heartbeat. My belly fluttered reading that as it all became more real, knowing that with an ultrasound I would be able to hear it. Not that I planned to have one of those for a few weeks, but it was kind of cool to think about.
Maybe hearing the heartbeat will make me fall in love with you.
That thought jolted me up and out of bed, as the nausea made my head spin.
Indulging in a cold shower, I tried to cool my thoughts. I’d had no contact from Matt but then I hadn’t really expected any as the flight took over twenty hours. I’d earlier checked Facebook and Instagram in case he’d updated his status en route, but there was nothing to learn online. None of which soothed the ache I was feeling low in my belly, but I was determined not to be a woman who needed a man, so I hurriedly lathered myself with my almond milk and honey cleansing bar and washed all thoughts of him from my mind.
Once the cold water made me feel a lot more human, I took my time massaging my skin with moisturizer (because I did not want stretch marks thank you very much), blow dried my hair and carefully applied my make-up, covering the dark rings beneath my eyes. I then chose a pale pink linen dress and slipped my feet into my Jimmy Choo Averie flat ballet sandals. I would have chosen my heels, but I’d heard that put a strain on your legs and I could get varicose veins. Best not to risk it.
Today I’d promised to run Grandma Mabel to bingo at St Pat’s. Lizzie now officially worked for me as my assistant, but it was her first day at design school and Danny had a full day planned, so I knew it was up to me. Mum insisted that she needed at least one day a week to herself.
As a freelance photographer, I had a few hours of editing ahead of me, and one new client booked in later in the day for an initial consult. Skipping breakfast, I moved to the desk I had in the corner of the room and got a head start on the bridal photos I’d taken on Saturday. By the time I’d made everyone look their absolute best, it was time to leave and get Grandma. I kissed Harper on top of his head and told him to be a good boy while I was gone, and then headed to the basement to my car.
****
Westport wasn’t a huge town. The last census showed it had a population of thirty thousand two hundred and twenty-seven (soon to become twenty-eight). We had one hospital, one cemetery and one shopping center. Apart from wanting more shops, we had pretty much everything we needed. And the upside was that the city was only a half an hour drive away.
Mum and dad had lived in the same house their entire marriage. Grandma had moved in with them a few years ago when the fire department had been called to extinguish an oven fire. She’d decided to keep her life savings in a cardboard box inside the oven as apparently no robbers ever thought to look there. But what she’d forgotten was that cardboard and heat didn’t play nice together. She liked to retell how a team of hot firemen came to the rescue, but the downside was that mum thought it was best she didn’t live alone and moved her into Danny’s old bedroom.
“Morning,” I sang, kissing mum on the cheek.
“Oh, good morning Molly. How are you feeling today?” Better than mum by the looks of things.
“Not too bad. The morning sickness seems to be giving me a day off. How about you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Just fine?” Mum’s short tight curls that usually hugged her ears were lying flat. Her glasses were attempting to conceal her puffy
eyes, and she was stirring a pot of chocolate. When mum was stressed, she baked. As she already had three sponge cakes, two dozen muffins, and a lemon meringue cooling on the counter, I figured it had been a stressful morning.
“Yes. Perfectly fine,” she snapped.
“Okay. We’ll go with that then, shall we?”
She huffed and called grandma.
Seconds later Grandma Mabel shuffled her way towards us. When she was younger grandma had been quite beautiful and more than once I had been told that I looked like her. Her long flowing jet-black curls had cascaded down her back and her legs were the envy of every woman in Westport. Age hadn’t been kind to her though. She now stood with a hunch, her once dark eyes now cloudy with cataracts. Her purple patent handbag swung from the handlebars of her red wheelie walker, the color of which matched her polyester dress, which in turn matched her tinted curls. Yet her fire had never diminished, and her legs were still the envy of every woman in Westport who was over the age of eighty.
Reaching us, she took one look at the baking mum was doing and started to swish her teeth, a habit she had when she was thinking.
“Keep this up and they’ll be delivering our sugar by semi-trailer,” she commented, helping herself to one of the muffins.
“Good morning Grandma,” I commented, thinking I wouldn’t mind one of those myself, but as my stomach cramped, I knew it would be a bad idea.
“Molly! I’ve been waiting to hear how things went with Matt last night,” she replied. “Danny never called with an update, and Lizzie has her own problems. How am I supposed to stay current if no one tells me anything? I’ve got bingo today. The girls are going to want answers.”
Mum stopped stirring the pot and I had her full attention as she too wanted those answers.
I shrugged. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Was he happy about it? Is he sticking around? Do I need to get the guys from bingo to put a hit on him?”
Mum rolled her eyes. “Do you have to be so dramatic?”
“Don’t get me wrong, Nelle. I like Matt, but if he can’t do the right thing and stick by my granddaughter when it’s his fault she’s in this delicate situation, then someone needs to teach him a lesson.”
“It’s not entirely his fault,” I added, grabbing the closest muffin and picking the chocolate chips out of it.
“What do you mean?” Mum glared.
“You weren’t involved in one of those sex parties, were you?” Grandma asked, her eyes wide. “I’ve heard about those. You throw your keys in a bowl and it’s anyone’s guess who you end up with. I wouldn’t mind trying one, but I’d be worried that Bill Winters would get my keys, and rumor has it that he’s got a dodgy prostate.”
Mum sucked in a breath.
“There were no sex parties,” I hurriedly declared not wanting the details of Bill’s medical problems. “Matt is one hundred per cent the father of this baby. I just meant that it takes two to tango and I’m as much to blame as he is.” To be fair though, Matt is irresistible so maybe I wasn’t to blame after all. A saint would have a hard time resisting him.
Grandma looked disappointed. Mum looked relieved.
“So, he’s sticking around?” Mum asked.
“Sure.” Maybe. Who actually knew?
“I saw his news report last night,” she added. “How’s his investigation into hospital procedures going?”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t heard from him since we spoke after dinner. He’s currently on his way to New York.” By the time I had explained what I knew, I was ready to get on a plane and follow him. Even a twenty-hour flight would be better than the inquisition I received.
“Look, you both know as much as I do!” I interjected between the questions. “I promise when I hear from him, I’ll let you know. Anyway, if we don’t get going Grandma, you’ll be late for bingo.” I should have started with that because she immediately sprang up, grabbed her wheelie walker, and sprinted for the door.
“Well come on then! I won’t get the good cards if I arrive late.”
I kissed mum’s cheek before following her.
“Aren’t all the cards the same?” I asked, searching my bag for my car keys.
She shook her head. “You young un’s have so much to learn.”
****
St Pat’s bingo hall was located about five hundred meters from the river. It was attached to Saint Patrick’s church and held bingo every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you wanted a game on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, then you needed to go to Saint Josephs. Grandma often frequented both as she liked to cover all bases, but St Pat’s was the biggest, and according to her they had the best prizes and the lucky cards. I took her word for that and followed her through the entrance door, waving to Father Dawson as I went. I was sure I saw his eye roll as grandma passed him, but I could have been mistaken.
“Hello Mabel,” said a woman with a bigger hunchback than grandma. “The usual?”
“Yes, thanks Betsy, but make sure you give me the cards that have been rubbed with good luck. I didn’t win a single thing with the ones I had last week, and I had my eye on that voucher for the beauty academy. I was hoping to use it for some Botox.”
“What would you do with that?” Betsy asked.
“I’ve heard that it’s great to stop crows’ feet. Thought I might try some, but as I didn’t win, looks like I’ll have to try some of that dragons’ blood cream they advertise on the television.”
The beauty academy dodged a bullet there then.
Grandma accepted the fifteen cards Betsy handed her, gave her some money and then shuffled her way towards a table at the front of the room.
“I like to sit here,” she explained. “Ted is the new caller and he’s pretty easy to look at, if you get my drift.” She nudged my ribs and winked. “And those little shorts he wears doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”
I looked towards the man at the podium checking that the machine holding the bingo balls was working, and shuddered.
“Is that him?” He looked to be closer to mum’s age than grandma’s.
“Yeah. Betsy has her eye on him too, but he’s not interested in her.”
“He’s a bit young for you, don’t you think?”
“I thought I could be one of them Leopards.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean cougars?”
“Oh yeah! That’s the one.”
On the one hand I liked grandma’s spirit. I hoped to have half as much fun as she did at her age. On the other hand, I shuddered wondering if she would know what to do with Ted if she had the chance.
“Hey Byron,” Grandma yelled, tapping a man on the shoulder. “You’re in my seat.”
“Sorry Mabel, but I got here first.”
“But I always sit here!”
“Then today is a good day for a change,” he commented.
Grandma tutted. “Whatever happened to chivalry?”
“I’d love to be a gentleman and offer you a seat, but I broke my hearing aid this morning and I can hear the numbers being called a whole lot better from here.”
I didn’t want to interfere and remind him they called the numbers over a loudspeaker. Instead I pulled out a chair alongside him and suggested Grandma sit down before someone else took the seat. She muttered about it being better than nothing, when I heard my name called.
My gaze shot up and my grandmother from my dad’s side of the family smiled back at me.
“Grannie Carol?”
“How are you, Molly?” Grannie Carol was a lot taller than I was. Her now white hair was tied in a neat bun at the nape of her neck. Her lips, as always, were painted in her bright fuchsia lipstick, and the pearls in her earrings were real. Today she wore a pale blue polo shirt and black pants that I knew would be elasticated at the waist. She was the polar opposite to Grandma Mabel, and it was common knowledge that the two women didn’t really get along.
“She’s pregnant,” blurted grandma, almost snarling across the table
.
“Pregnant?” Grannie Carol recoiled, her eyes wide and the wrinkles on her forehead deepened.
“Ah...yes,” I hurriedly added. “But I’ve only just found out, and I was going to come and see you today with the news,” To be honest, I hadn’t been to visit Grannie Carol in several months, as it was also common knowledge that her and I didn’t really get along either. I guess I was more like Mabel than I cared to admit.
“But you’re not married,” she countered.
“Yeah, and the father’s done a runner,” added Mabel, almost throwing me under the proverbial bus. I tried to shush her with a glare.
“He hasn’t done a runner,” I added, through gritted teeth. “He’s out of the country on personal business.”
“Oh my!” said Carol, sitting hard on the nearest chair. “This is not right. It’s just not right.”
“What’s not right about it?” Mabel’s eyes were narrowed to slits.
“The child was conceived out of wedlock. What will happen to it?”
“Should I remind you that Nelle was knocked up when she married your son Bill?” Grandma Mabel had her hands on her hips, her eyes throwing daggers across the table. Everyone within hearing distance had gone quiet, a few of them turning up the volume on their hearing aids, obviously not wanting to miss the gossip.
Grannie Carol prickled at the accusation. “Mabel, you are a lot of things. You’re loud, you’re brash and you are anything but a lady. But one thing I never pegged you for was a liar!”
“I’m not lying you stupid old codger. Did you never wonder why Molly was born only seven months after the wedding?”
“She was premature!”
“She came on her due date.”
Oh geez.
“Then I guess it’s like mother, like daughter, like granddaughter, then isn’t it?” Carol’s cheeks matched the color of her lipstick.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grandma demanded.
“Word has it that Arthur only married you because you were pregnant.”
“That’s a lie! Arthur married me because he loved me. God rest his soul.”
Wicked Little Lies- Molly Page 2