BABY Steps

As soon as Julia told him her life-changing news, she saw his face grow pale

- Kit McWalter

Julia’s three minutes were up. Holding the stick, she opened the bathroom door and went into the bedroom, where Mark was changing into his training gear. ‘Jules… What’s wrong?’

Mark’s anxious gaze took in her pale face, then the stick in her hand. He turned pale himself. ‘Jules, are you?’

‘I’m pregnant, Mark,’ she confirmed quietly. ‘I’ve suspected it for a while now.’

‘But… I mean… are you sure? Really?’

His hands dangled at his side, one foot socked, the other bare. He knew he was getting his initial response all wrong. He should have acted on his second instinct, to leap across the room and sweep her up in a big hug, erasing that pale, scared look from her face. But honestly, she’d knocked him for six!

They’d been going out for a year, but had only been living together for three months. The spare room was full of half-assembled gym equipment. They were still adjusting to ‘his and hers’ routines. Tuesday night was darts night for him at The Bell with the guys from his rugby club. Wednesday was match night itself, Saturday was training. On Wednesdays, Julia went to yoga and then had a drink afterwards with her scary friends Debs and Sue. Whoever got in first from work started the evening meal. It was all finely balanced, and now – this!

He knew he should adjust his face muscles to ‘shocked, but delighted’, only they’d got stuck on ‘shocked’.

He took a deep breath.

‘When?’ he managed.