Neeta and Rich returned early on the Saturday afternoon. She called me from the airport. She was excited and wanted to see me that evening, if I was free. I was just as excited about telling her my news. I offered to cook a meal for them. I asked Jane and Simon, but they were going to visit Simon’s brother and his wife who had just had their third child, and third boy. Jane was a little wistful that they were unlikely ever to have children. “Enjoy other peoples’ children,” I told her. “Then you can have the pleasure and hand them back when you’ve had enough.”
“We had a fantastic honeymoon,” Neeta enthused. “And guess what?” I tried but couldn’t guess. “I’m pregnant.” She was thrilled for herself and I was equally happy for her. I knew they both wanted a family. “I came off the pill a month ago. My period was almost a fortnight late, so yesterday, I bought a pregnancy testing kit. It was positive. We’re thrilled.”
While I was, naturally, pleased for them. I suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. Would I ever have a baby of my own? I had never been broody before, but what with Jane going to see her baby nephew, and now Neeta, I began to wish for one before it was too late. I tried to push it out of my mind while I congratulated them and listened to all their honeymoon news.
“I’ve got some news, too,” I told them during a break in the conversation. “I’m off to Canada on Monday.”
“What did you say?” Neeta asked in astonishment.
“I said I’m off to Canada, on Monday. To Vancouver to be precise.” I replied, pleased with the surprised look on both their faces.
“That’s what I thought you said,” Neeta continued. “Why? What’s the rush?” I then explained why Oliver hadn’t been at their wedding; why he was too exhausted most of the time to think straight and that I had offered to go and be the cleaning lady, odd job woman, comforter or whatever was needed. I would be away for almost three weeks.
After they had expressed their horror at what had happened to his brother-in-law, Rich said he thought I was mad. I asked why?
“You have no idea what you are letting yourself in for. They might resent you being there. They could make you feel as depressed as they are. Then where would you be?”
“Back here with my friends who would give me all the support they can,” I answered. It sounded flippant, but I meant it. “I know there are risks. And it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, either. I thought about it and all the difficulties that could arise. Then I talked it over with Jane and Simon. If you’d been here, I’d have talked it over with you, too. You have to just listen to Oliver to hear how much he needs help. And I can give them help. Not just Oliver, but his sister and her boys, too. And if I can take some of the stress off him, then it might help him to help them more.”
“And,” Neeta chimed in, “you’ll be with him. Day and night?” she asked raising an eyebrow.
“He said he would have to rearrange the sleeping arrangements, so I am assuming it will be just during the day time.” I tried not to sound disappointed. “I think if we were together at night time too, he might not get the rest he needs,” I grinned. “And, it could be something that his sister would disapprove of; with the two boys in the house. You see, I have tried to think of all possible problems. I really am going to be a girl Friday. It won’t be a holiday at all.”
“Can you afford it?” Neeta asked. “Getting a ticket at short notice can be expensive.”
“Of course I can. I’ve still got the money from the Courier. Anyway, Oliver said he wouldn’t agree to me going unless I agreed to let him pay. He’s booked the tickets. I haven’t had to do a thing.”
“You can’t book airline tickets these days without passport details,” Rich added. “You have given them to him, I hope.” I shook my head in puzzlement. Oliver hadn’t asked for my passport details, so how had he booked the ticket? And then I blushed in remembrance. Neeta immediately picked up that there might be a bit of juicy information.
“While I was still making my mind up between him and Sean, he asked me to go to Cyprus with him - after your wedding. He said he’d book the tickets. If I chose Sean, well, then he’d cancel the tickets. I gave him my passport details then. He must have kept them.”
“You kept that one close to your chest,” Neeta laughed. “Well, I wish you luck. I don’t think I could ever do something like that. I just hope he appreciates what you are doing for him. But I don’t want you giving him ideas that if you two do get together, you will always be at his beck and call.”
“I’m won’t be at his beck and call,” I argued. “Oliver was against my suggestion at first. He started making some of the objections I’d already thought of, so I had my answers ready. And he’s not the sort of man to take a woman for granted. But yes, I do hope he appreciates any help I can give him. When he comes back here, of course.”
The rest of the evening was spent telling me about their honeymoon and the plans for the baby.
“Have you ever wanted a family?” Rich asked after a while.
“Rusty is one of the few women I know,” Neeta interrupted, “who isn’t oohing and aahing over babies. If she wanted a family, she’d have had one by now. ” Her statement hurt me quite a lot.
“As a matter of fact, I would like a family,” I replied, indignantly, “but only when I meet the right man. I’m relieved I don’t have a family at present. None of the men in my life have been what I consider ideal father material. And I don’t want to end up a single mother. Parenting is a joint project and I only want to do it with someone who feels the same way.” It sounded petulant but I wanted to set the record straight.
“And do you think you have met him?” It was obvious to whom Neeta was referring.
“I’m making no assumptions. What will be, will be. We still don’t know how long he will stay in Canada. And the experience, or the period of separation, may well change him. Or me.” Very shortly after that, Rich said they ought to be going.
And then they left.