Derek arrived an hour and a half later, bearing Thai takeaway for three and a six-pack of beer. ‘I don’t do feel-good films and I don’t do tears,’ he said. ‘I’m here strictly to get the low-down on the Greenstone Foundation proposal.’
‘Of course you are,’ murmured Millie soothingly. ‘Shall we eat first?’
‘We should definitely eat first,’ said a freshly composed Charlotte.
Derek eyed the sweets laden kitchen counter sceptically. ‘You’re into the crisis food,’ he declared. ‘I’ve lived in enough foster homes to know crisis food when I see it and crisis phone calls when I get one.’
‘This crisis doesn’t involve you directly,’ said Charlotte.
‘Then why am I here?’
‘We needed a test male,’ said Millie. ‘And by we, I mean Charlotte. Strictly speaking, this isn’t my crisis either—lucky for you.’
‘Millie’s going to observe and take notes,’ said Charlotte. ‘Derek, would you like a cold glass for your beer?’
‘Hospitable,’ said Millie. ‘Nice touch.’
Charlotte poured beer for Derek with a relatively steady hand, wine for Millie, and sparkling mineral water for herself.
‘The mineral water could raise questions,’ said Millie. ‘Maybe you should pour yourself a glass of wine as well, even if you don’t touch it. Derek, what do you think?’
‘Huh?’ said Derek.
‘My mistake,’ said Millie. ‘Proceed.’
Charlotte set three places at the kitchen counter for eating. She set serving spoons to Derek’s Thai offerings. ‘You think I need to be more formal?’ asked Charlotte. ‘Because I can always set the dining table?’
‘No, this is good,’ said Millie. ‘He needs to feel comfortable and relaxed. Derek, do you feel comfortable and relaxed?’
‘I might if I knew what was going on,’ muttered Derek.
Millie nodded sagely. ‘Proceed.’
‘I’m going to ask him about his work,’ said Charlotte. ‘Derek, how’s the work? Research coming together well?’
‘Is this a job interview?’ asked Derek, hoeing into the food. ‘Because if this is about the sidekick position for the Greenstone Foundation, I want more prep time. Seriously, Charlotte. You could do worse than consider me for the job.’
‘Interesting,’ said Mille. ‘The man has his own agenda.’ She turned to Charlotte. ‘Greyson may well have his own agenda too.’
‘Who’s Greyson?’ asked Derek.
‘Formerly Thaddeus,’ said Charlotte. ‘In other words Gil. Gil Tyler. Of long pig fame. Millie can fill you in on the details later. The important thing is for you to put yourself in the role of dedicated research scientist and world traveller. We didn’t think it’d be too much of a stretch for you. As for the foundation position, if it goes ahead you’d damn well better apply seeing as I wrote it with you in mind.’
‘Seriously?’ said Derek.
‘Seriously.’
Derek beamed.
‘Excellent work with the compliments,’ said Millie, and to Derek, ‘How are you feeling? Are you feeling relaxed?’
‘Well, I was,’ murmured Derek.
‘I think it’s time,’ said Mille.
‘Are you sure?’ Charlotte didn’t feel at all sure. ‘I mean, he’s hardly touched his beer.’
‘It’s time,’ said Millie. ‘It’s just a practice run. Master the fear.’
‘Okay.’ Charlotte took a huge breath and reached for Millie’s wine, only Millie was faster, holding it up and out of the way before Charlotte could get to it. Derek had his beer halfway to his lips so no joy there either. ‘Derek, I’m pregnant.’
Derek’s beer went down wrong. Derek surfaced all a splutter.
‘I’m thinking you should probably wait until Greyson’s between beers to make that particular announcement,’ said Millie.
‘Will do,’ said Charlotte nervously. ‘Derek? Anything to add?’
‘Not a word,’ wheezed the beleaguered Derek.
‘Put yourself in Greyson’s shoes,’ said Millie encouragingly. ‘Anything to add now?’
‘Am I the father?’ asked Derek. ‘No, let me rephrase. I can’t say those particular words without breaking into a cold sweat. Is Greyson the father?’
‘Yes,’ said Charlotte.
‘And also your fiancé.’
‘No,’ said Charlotte. ‘I’m currently fiancé-less. As is Greyson.’
‘And you want him back?’ asked Derek.
‘Hard to say,’ murmured Charlotte. ‘I never really had him in the first place. Let’s just assume that I don’t really know what I want from him at this particular point in time.’
‘Do you want financial assistance when it comes to raising this child?’ asked Derek.
‘No.’ Charlotte shook her head emphatically. ‘I don’t need Greyson’s money. That’s the last thing I need.’ She picked up her glass of fizzy water, wishing it were wine. ‘Is that really one of the first things that came to mind?’
‘Yes,’ said Derek grimly. ‘Not everyone can afford to be blasé when it comes to ongoing monetary commitments, Charlotte, and raising a child very definitely qualifies as that.’
‘So maybe she tells him she doesn’t want his money before she tells him she’s pregnant,’ said Millie.
‘How?’ asked Charlotte. ‘How do I do that?’
‘Maybe you start with what you do want from him,’ said Millie. ‘Which would be …?’ And when Charlotte remained silent, ‘This is your cue. What do you want from him?’
But Charlotte didn’t know. ‘Maybe, apart from the knowing … maybe some level of participation?’
‘You mean marriage,’ said Derek.
‘No! Not necessarily.’ Charlotte was starting to tremble now. She countered by crossing her arms in front of her. ‘I don’t know. This isn’t going well, is it?’ she said in a small voice.
‘You’re telling a man he’s going to be a father, Charlotte,’ muttered Derek. ‘How do you expect it to go?’
‘Better,’ she said and choked down her rising panic. ‘I just assumed that breaking the news to him in person would be better, but maybe it’s not. I could email him with the news, or text him, and then arrange a meeting …’
But Derek was shaking his head. ‘I didn’t say don’t give him the news in person. I said give him some thinking time once you do. Don’t analyse his initial response. Like as not, it won’t be the one you want. Give him some space with this. Let him know your thoughts on marriage and motherhood, and then let him be.’
‘I can do that,’ said Charlotte faintly, and turned to Millie. Millie who’d been judging her presentation and hopefully taking notes. ‘Millie, so how did it go?’
‘Fine. Just fine,’ said Millie a little too readily. And then, ‘I need another drink.’
Charlotte waited until the following morning to email Greyson. A beautiful late-summer’s morning with not a whisper of a cloud in the sky. A good day, she