page21 (1/2)

‘Deal’ Another hand squeeze ‘Though what if he wants to be a ballerina?’

‘Does he have to be a pink one?’

‘His call’

‘Fair enough Pick our battles is what you’re really saying’ He turned to her and placed his hands on her shoulders ‘You’re awesome, you know that?’

Her mouth dried About to shake her head, she stopped If Conor thought that she’d take the coreat pair of would-be parents I’ll make the rules and you follow the to see how he dealt with her joke

He laughed so my sisters would say’

‘So I’, then?’

‘I wouldn’t put you in the bonkers league but, yeah, they’ll adore you’ He gave an exaggerated sigh ‘And I’ll be in deeper trouble’

Tae on the screen beside her A tiny huentle rhyth with love for this child Her child Hers and Conor’s Blindly scrabbling around, she found Conor’s hand, grabbed it and held on tight, never taking her eyes off the baby Words were beyond her Probably just as well She wouldn’t make any sense

‘Will you look at that?’ Conor’s voice sounded all clogged up as he stared at the ie Their faces were reflected back at the it ‘That’s my baby,’ he choked around some obstacle no doubt in the back of his throat

‘Our baby,’ Tamara admonished in an equally starstruck tone when speech was possible ‘Isn’t he beautiful?’

Noas Conor gripping her hand tight, holding on like he couldn’t take in what he was seeing ‘To think I believed I could forego beco a parent I didn’t have a clue It wasn’t an easy decision, I adh the air ‘I don’t knohat to say’

‘Different fro your nieces and nephews after they were born, eh?’

‘Doesn’t come close To think what I wanted to do to those condonant Now I could kiss them’

Ta the srapher pressed the wand deeper into her belly ‘Guess you get to hear all sorts of weird and wonderful conversations while you’re doing scans,’ Tamara said to her

She grinned ‘You have no idea You two are boringly normal’

Norood For the as it should be?’ Tamara asked with a hitch in her voice, her throat suddenly dry

‘Yes Baby’s the right length for twelve weeks The heart rate is good’

Tamara relaxed ‘That’s the best news so far’

‘Do you want to know the baby’s gender?’

‘I do,’ Tam answered quickly, then looked at Conor ‘Do you?’

‘Absolutely,’ Conor agreed ‘We can’t keep calling the baby he or hi for sure there’s a wee lad in there’

‘You’re just thinking of the paint pails’

The sonographer rolled the wand across Ta at the screen as she found the view of the baby she required ‘There you go You’re having a boy’

Wonder ripped through Tamara A boy Not he or it, but a boy For real

‘A son’ Wonder deepened Conor’s accent ‘Not that it would’ve irl’

‘An All Black in theup in New Zealand ‘A soccer player or a rally driver’

‘Not a ballerina, then?’ Conor grinned Then he shivered and the excitement went out in his eyes, the colour faded from his face

Ta her life for the better ‘Conor?’ Her hand gripped his tightly She shook hiaze ‘Look at me’

He shuddered

Then she knew He was afraid for his son Leaning closer, she spoke quietly ‘Forewarned is forear her gear ‘Could we have a few moments to ourselves, please?’