Page 14 of Seven Letters

Over the years Adam and Mia had learned to tolerate each other and sometimes, usually when wine was involved, they even got on quite well, but they were never going to be close. Mia was too forthright for Adam and he, in turn, spent his life winding her up.

Sarah had tried to bring them closer by highlighting each one’s best qualities to the other, but they were just too similar. Both wanted to have their own way, both were stubborn as mules and both had very strong personalities. While they argued heatedly about pretty much every topic under the sun, Sarah and Johnny would sit back, wink at each other and sip their wine, or go outside and have sneaky cigarettes. They were the total opposite – Sarah had fallen for Johnny’s humour and warmth from day one, and that had never changed. She always said he was the best brother-in-law she could have hoped for. Whenever she said that, Mia went quiet. She would never be able to say that about Adam.

‘Now that I’ve got this new contract, I want to take you and Izzy on a blow-out holiday. I was thinking we could go and visit Rob and Ellen in Toronto. I’ve always wanted to see Canada. I’d like to spend some time with my brother and for Izzy to get to know him and Ellen better. She hasn’t seen them since they came back for Christmas two years ago.’

Sarah’s head throbbed. The thought of going two hours down the road to Cork on holidays seemed like too much of an effort at the moment. All the way to Canada?

‘I’m not sure I should fly that far when I’m pregnant. I think I’d be nervous. I’m afraid to risk anything when it’s taken us so long to get this far. Can we go after the baby’s born?’

Adam nodded. ‘Of course. I wasn’t thinking. No risks, no way, not this time.’ He bent down and kissed her stomach. ‘This baby is a keeper, I just know it.’

Sarah smiled and rubbed her stomach. ‘I didn’t carry any of the other four pregnancies past seven weeks, so it’s looking good. The scan went so well. The baby is growing normally and looking healthy. Thank God.’

Adam lay down on the bed beside her and held her hand. ‘Thank God is right. I so want a sibling for Izzy … Rob’s my best mate.’

‘I don’t know what I’d do without Mia.’

‘It’s been a long road, but it’ll be worth all the disappointments to have a sister or brother for Izzy.’

Sarah rolled onto her side to face her husband. ‘Actually, Adam, it looks like it’s going to be a baby brother.’

Adam stared at her. ‘What? Seriously? You found out the sex?’

Sarah nodded, smiling at his delight.

‘Oh!’ he said, kissing her. ‘I’m going to have a son? Really?’

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. It was wonderful to see Adam so happy. The miscarriages and the constant hoping had been draining, but even though he had almost given up hope, she never had.

‘Yes, they’re fairly confident it’s a boy. Your son.’

‘Woohoo!’ Adam said, punching the air. He threw his arms around her. ‘Sarah, this is just brilliant. I’ll teach him how to play football and we can go to rugby matches together and watch theStar Warsmovies and – Oh, God, it’s going to be amazing.’

‘So you’re a bit pleased, then?’ Sarah said, laughing.

‘A girl and a boy! It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted. And you are the most amazing woman. I know it’s been hard on you, much more so than on me, but you’ve been so strong. And now we’ll have a son. It’s just fantastic news.’ He held her close.

Maybe a boy would bring Adam home more, Sarah thought,as she cuddled into his embrace. He’d want to play sports with his son and do boy stuff. It might work out for all of them. It could make Adam really step up and spend more time being a father. She couldn’t wait for their future.

6

Olivia reached over and fixed Charlie’s tie. Mia caught Sarah’s attention and they rolled their eyes. It was the fourth or fifth time she’d done it. His tie was perfectly straight – she just couldn’t help herself: she was constantly touching him or fixing his clothes. It reminded Mia of a dog peeing to mark its territory. She didn’t like Olivia. Neither did Sarah, but she wasn’t irritated by her like Mia was.

Olivia had dropped into their lives and plonked herself down. Mia didn’t want her father to mourn her mother’s death for ever, and she was glad Charlie had found a companion, but Olivia was suffocating. She wanted to be with him day and night. All she talked about was the golf club, going on holidays and how successful her sons were, which really bugged Mia. It was bad enough having to put up with Olivia pawing her father without having to hear about Robert, her barrister son, ‘senior counsel, you know’, and Tim, with the PhD. It made Mia, the teacher, and Sarah, the ex-call centre manager, seem pretty lame. Not to mention Johnny, the unemployed journalist. At least Adam, the successful businessman, was something for Charlie to shout about, even if he ‘just owns a bunch of bathroom stores’, as Johnny grumpily pointed out.

Mia missed her mum. They’d been so close. Penny was the one person in the world who reallygother. They were very similar, and Mia missed being able to call her and talk to her about things, good and bad. Her mum would always listen and give the best advice. She’d understood why Mia was hetup about something because she’d got het up about the same things. They were two peas in a pod, and she’d made Mia feel cherished.

Sarah and Charlie were different. They were more relaxed and didn’t let things bother them. On the one hand, Mia envied them and wished she could be more like them, but on the other, it annoyed her that they didn’t get more wound up about things. How could you go through life like that? Mind you, Mia felt so strongly about so many things that sometimes that in itself was exhausting.

Charlie poured everyone more wine. Sarah waved her hand over her glass. ‘Not for me, Dad.’

‘I must say, it’s very nice having a driver again. I could get used to this, Sarah,’ Adam said, accepting a refill with relish.

Sarah punched him playfully. ‘Don’t get too comfortable. As soon as this baby’s born, I’ll be swigging white wine by the neck.’

‘I find one or two glasses perfectly sufficient,’ Olivia said. ‘I never like to see a woman drunk. It’s so unseemly.’

Mia picked up her glass and drank the contents in two large gulps.

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