Page 116 of Such a Good Couple
‘Morning.’ Rachel came up behind her and put her arms around her. ‘How’d you sleep?’ They had yet to sleep in the same bed, as Annie was having such a hard time getting comfortable.
‘Ugh, sleep seems to have left the building.’ Annie sighed. ‘I’m just so full of baby. I can’t get comfortable. I feel like I’ve swallowed a set of bagpipes. Plus, I kept getting the Braxton Hicks things, the fake contractions. All night, I was like, “Is this labour? Or is it wind? Or is it Braxton Hicks?” It’s so annoying.’
Rachel patted the belly and nuzzled the nape of Annie’s neck. Annie felt her breath catch as desire bloomed deep inside her.
Annie sighed as Rachel then pulled away. ‘This is the longest blue ball of all time …’
Rachel smiled. ‘I know. It’ll be worth the wait, though. There is alotgoing on with your body right now.’
As if her body was in agreement, Annie felt another twist and grind of Braxton Hicks starting up. ‘Yeah.’ She nodded. ‘Plus, it’ll be your first time with a woman and I don’t want you to develop a pregnancy fetish.’
‘Aaaand,’ Rachel placed a gentle kiss on Annie’s neck, ‘you’re in enough discomfort right now. You don’t want a fumbly girl-virgin who has no idea what she’s doing at you.’
‘I’m sure you’d know what to do …’ Annie turned and kissed Rachel deeply. Then she pulled away reluctantly. ‘I guess we’ve to get going. It’s nearly ten. Clara is freaking out about everything being perfect.’
‘Yeah …’ Rachel agreed. ‘I’ll go get dressed.’
Annie chose a dress covered with tiny stars that gave Beanie plenty of room and tried not to think about how Clara’s mission to deliver a perfect birthday party for the girls was surely doomed. Like so many days over the last three months since Maggie’s death, it was about going through the motions and pretending, as though their lives depended on it, that everything was okay.
When Annie walked into the kitchen of the Miavita house, Clara, clad in a leopard-print tracksuit with platform runners, was ranting into her phone, while Fionn fussed with an explosion of pink and gold balloons.
Clara waved to her and mouthed ‘fucking cake’ and then slipped out the back door.
Annie gave Fionn a hug. ‘How’s preparations?’
‘Good.’ He smiled gently. ‘It’s a hard day … obviously.’
Annie nodded. Maggie used to go all-out for the girls’ birthday.
‘Anyway,’ he made a visible effort to brighten up, ‘we’re not getting maudlin today! Today’s about new memories … according to my therapist, at least.’ He shrugged in a bemused fashion.
‘Itis.’ Annie gave him a squeeze. ‘Where are the girls? Are they okay? Excited?’
‘They’re … good. I think. I hope. They’re out with Maggie’s parents until kick-off. Where’s Rach?’
‘In the playroom. Conor roped her into wrapping presents theminute he opened the door.’
‘Cool.’ Fionn started to gather up some balloons. ‘I’m gonna start putting these around. You should sit – we’ve got everything under control.’
‘Nah, I’ll help.’ Annie started to disentangle the strings.
‘So? Any movement from the baby yet or is she determined to come out arse first?’
‘No, still as stubborn as ever. The C-section is scheduled for Tuesday three weeks so I’ll be like thirty-nine weeks then and they’re happy with that as she seems to be measuring big.’
‘That’s cool. I know a C-section’s not easy but at least you can mentally prepare.’ Fionn managed to free a few balloons and began to arrange them on one side of the back door. Clara was visible just beyond, gesturing and still ranting. ‘Not really sure what kind of drama cakes can have,’ Fionn remarked.
‘So …?’ Annie changed the subject. ‘Beanie’s not the only exciting thing this month …’
As predicted, Fionn had been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Annie and Clara had had a lot of text back and forth about what Fionn was going to do about the Oscars ceremony. So far he was resolute about not going.
‘Ah, don’t you start. Clara’s already booked a flight that I am not going to be taking.’
‘But, Fionn … it’s the feckingdefinitionof a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You’re nominated in one of the most prestigious categories of the most prestigious awards in the world.’
‘I’m not interested.’ Fionn shrugged. ‘I don’t want to leave the girls. And I don’t know how to explain it but it’s meaningless now, you know? Like … in the old days, I never evenbotheredto fantasise about getting nominated for an Oscar! A fucking Oscar! Wouldn’t have evenoccurredto me to hope for something like that. That’s how far-fetched it was. And last year when the buzz was building, I was getting so caught up in it. But now it all just… doesn’t matter.’ He sounded impossibly exhausted.
‘It doesn’t matternowmaybe but you might regret not going and having your moment.’
