Page 49 of Love, Accidentally

I smile. ‘Have you, indeed? That’s a big step forward.’

‘Yes, well. Isaac’s still being kind of cute, so the idea of another one doesn’t seem quite so horrific. Plus, like you, I’m not getting any younger, so if I want to avoid going down Mum’s egg freezing route, I’d better get on with it.’

‘Oh, the romance,’ I laugh. ‘I bet Greg can’t get enough of it.’

‘Greg’s quite happy,’ she says archly, before giggling herself. ‘To be honest, baby sex isn’t very romantic, but I’m not sure he’s that bothered. I bought some lube so we could shortcut to the main event, which he seems to like.’

‘Hm. Doesn’t that affect your chances of getting pregnant though?’

‘Relax, nurse. I bought a fertility-friendly one. I do know a little bit about these things, you know. Anyway, sometimes the window for sex is surprisingly short, so we need all the help we can get. Isaac may be cute, but he’s no respecter of boundaries.’

‘I could take him out for the day one weekend if you like,’ I say impulsively. ‘Give you and Greg some “me” time.’

I can practically hear her brain whirring on the other end of the call.

‘Really? But you’ve never taken him out before. What would you do?’

‘There’s that soft-play centre in Tonbridge. We could get McDonald’s afterwards and then maybe go to a park or something.’

‘I dunno, Tills. What if you lost him or he hurt himself?’

‘I’m not going to lose him, and if anything went wrong, he’d be in the hands of a trained A&E nurse. It’s about time we got to know each other a bit better, don’t you think?’

‘It’s certainly a kind offer,’ she says dubiously. ‘Let me talk to Greg.’

‘Wow. Don’t be too enthusiastic, will you? I thought you’d bite my hand off.’

‘I will, I promise. I just need time to get used to the idea of my sister as babysitter. Let me consult the ovulation charts and get back to you. If Greg and I are going to get a whole day together, I want to make sure it’s the right one.’

* * *

‘Have some more crumble, Tilly,’ Jonathan urges, pushing the bowl towards me.

‘I couldn’t eat another thing. That was absolutely delicious though,’ I tell him, trying not to slump back in my chair.

‘I told you he does a mean roast,’ Will says with a grin.

He’s not wrong. Although I’m sure Mike could pick a few technical holes in Jonathan’s cooking, there’s no doubting the love that went into it. I don’t think I’m going to be able to move for hours, I’ve eaten so much.

‘It’s so nice to have people to cook for again,’ Jonathan sighs happily. ‘A roast doesn’t really work for one person. I mean, you can use the leftover meat in stews and curries, but making roast potatoes for one is just depressing. I did try the shop-bought ones for a bit, but they’re not a patch on the real thing and I could practically feel Geraldine’s disapproval.’

‘She did have strong views about food,’ Will agrees. ‘To be fair, she had strong views about a lot of things.’

‘There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t miss her.’

‘And that’s normal, Dad. But you know she’d want you to live your life too.’

‘I do, but it’s hard sometimes. Anyway, are you young things OK to clear up? I feel an afternoon nap calling me.’

‘Absolutely. You go and lie down. I’ll bring you a cup of tea later.’

‘Thank you, Jonathan,’ I add. ‘That really was delicious. A proper treat.’

‘Ah, you’re more than welcome, Tilly. Shall we have pork next time? Risk our teeth on the crackling?’

‘You’re inducted into the Sunday lunch club now,’ Will tells me with a smile as Jonathan heads for the staircase. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’

‘I think my waistline might mind,’ I say with a laugh. ‘He’s definitely a feeder, your dad.’

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