Atonement(72)

“Okay. We’ll discuss it when we get back to Seattle, okay? Not now, not in this f*cking tin can where there is no where for me to go, all right. Can it wait until then? You’ve waited all this time—I don’t see how waiting a little while longer will change anything.”

He smiled. “You’re right. Come here and cuddle in my arms. We have bigger issues to worry about, don’t we?”

“I think this is a situation that will work itself out.” I smiled back before I kissed his lips and surrendered within the warmth of his embrace. Before I knew it, I was asleep again.





Chapter Nineteen





I HAD NEVER been happier than when we finally pulled up to the behemoth monstrosity also known as Fifteen Twenty-One. After he parked, he helped me upstairs and told me he would bring our luggage up to the condo. I lay back on his comfortable slate gray suede recliner chair with a matching ottoman as my Android began to play my sister’s ring tone of “Poker Face”.

I sighed and grabbed the phone. Did I really want to take this call? Did I have a choice?

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, sweetie! By your response I am assuming you’re back Stateside. You okay?”

“Yeah, everything is fine. I’m just jet-lagged and feel like run over dog shit. I can’t believe it is barely after six in the evening and raining when we left beautiful Parisian weather with perfect temps in the seventies.”

“Well you’ll adjust quick enough again. Besides, it’s hardly raining. It’s just enough to dirty up your car if you know what I mean.” Caitlyn paused dramatically before she inquired, “You and Colin weren’t planning on going anywhere tonight, were you?”

“No, I don’t think so. We went to a club last night and we both drank too much. Unfortunately, he was fine this morning our time while I felt like shit even then so I believe we are staying in for the night.”

Oh yeah, and I’m preggers, which kind of kills our nightlife for a while, or at least mine.

“Cool. Liam didn’t want me to say anything but he’s cooking for us all tonight. It should be ready in about an hour. Is that enough time to freshen up and make it up here to his condo?”

“Yeah, that works but I can’t drink so you can make sure he’s got some Evian or Pellegrino on tap?”

Caitlyn didn’t bother to ask why I couldn’t drink; she was much too intelligent to ask the inane question which, ironically, caused a pregnant pause. “I thought you were on the pill, Deirdre? Goddamn you, this is going to crush Mom you know.”

“I am on the pill and I never missed a f*cking dose but either I keep getting packs from a defective batch or I’m just part of that two percent it fails. Who the f*ck knows what happened but I’m pregnant and nothing is going to change that now.”

“Well, there is a chance you might miscarry—does he know? Did you tell him yet? I would go with you for moral support if you want to…you know…”

“Colin knows and if I did that he would murder me himself. He wants the baby and he wants me too—”

“This is just so typical of certain women. You know he’s going to think you did this to trap him. Why didn’t you make him wear a condom?” Caitlyn shouted.

“Why? Do you make Liam wear one?”

“I did…until our tests came back clean and then we stopped. Not that it would have mattered as he was using the Lamb skin kind and those are only good with preventing pregnancy, not sexually transmitted diseases.”

“Listen, I said we would be down so why are we still on the phone? I need some time for myself. I am very tired and frankly, I don’t need the lecture, Cait. I’m older than you and what ever happens is between Colin and I. I know he isn’t your favorite person but it really isn’t your choice so…”

“I wasn’t trying to talk you into anything. I was just saying I wouldn’t want him to think you did it on purpose. Have you explained it was an accident?”

“I didn’t have to,” I began softly. “He saw me popping my pills like candy every day like clockwork. He’s not stupid. Besides, he’s really happy because he thinks it’ll bring us closer together and I can’t say that isn’t true. I really love him and I don’t think this child is a mistake,” I explained in a quiet voice.

“Dad would have been happy at least. He always wanted to be a grandfather and just to think…he’s missing out on it. I don’t know what Mom will say but now that Dad isn’t around and she’s decided to date again, I think she feels young and vibrant again. A grandchild might put a damper on that feeling.”