Page 9 of Wedding Crasher

‘This is my staple dinner when Tom’s away.’

Marla found spoons and glasses and sat down. ‘Which seems to be quite a lot these days?’ She twisted the lid off the chilly Pinot Grigio.

‘You noticed.’

Marla nodded and filled their glasses.

‘He’s just busy with work. You know how it is.’

Emily peeled off the ice-cream lid and sighed.

‘Who am I kidding? He’s avoiding me, Marla.’

‘Surely not. Why would he do that?’

‘Because we’re trying to have a baby.’

Marla nodded, her face a study of sympathy. She’d been aware of Emily and Tom’s decision to add to their family from fleeting conversations and casual remarks, but looking at her friend’s miserable expression it was obvious she’d played it down, or else played it close to her chest. ‘Well … I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure that avoiding you isn’t going to help makethathappen.’

Emily’s shoulders slumped. ‘That’s the problem. Itisn’thappening.’

Oh.Marla hated to see her friend so low, and cast around for something encouraging to say. ‘They say it can take a while to catch, Em.’

‘Yeah, I know. But it’s been over eighteen months now.’ Emily started poking her spoon gloomily into the ice-cream.

Marla couldn’t believe her friend had kept this secret so long. ‘Have you seen the doctor?’ she asked.

Emily shook her head with a cynical laugh. ‘Why do we, as women, know that it’s okay to ask for help, but men see it as an insult to their manhood? Well, Tom does, in any case.’

Marla reached over and squeezed Emily’s hand. ‘Give him time, Em. He loves you. He’ll come around.’

‘You reckon? Think, Marla. When was the last time you even laid eyes on Tom?’

Marla cast her mind back. Actually, she couldn’t remember. Tom used to visit the chapel almost daily, but now she came to think about it she hadn’t seen him more than a handful of times in recent months.

‘Exactly.’

‘I never realised, Em. What are you going to do?’

Emily looked helpless. ‘I’ve booked us in to start tests – or for Tom to give a sample, at least. I haven’t dared bring it up again since I told him, because it always ends up in a row.’

‘I’m sorry, honey,’ Marla soothed. ‘Bloody men. Mars must be a boring place with all of that testosterone swilling around making civilised conversation impossible.’

Emily rolled her eyes. ‘I bet they play a lot of darts and live on beer and pizza.’

‘Give me Venus anytime,’ Marla said. ‘Wine and ice-cream is much more fun.’

Emily clinked her glass against Marla’s. ‘I’ll drink to that,’ she agreed, pushing the ice-cream tub across the table. ‘So. Marla.’

Something about the sudden speculative gleam in Emily’s eyes put Marla on her guard. ‘Umm?’

‘Have you never metthe one?’ Emily pressed.

‘The one?’ Marla fidgeted in her chair, uncomfortable with the turn the conversation was taking. ‘You’re such a hopeless romantic, Em.’

‘Is that a yes?’

Marla shrugged. ‘I’m just not looking for Mr Right.’

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