Jo waved Gary off, as he left for his holiday with his parents. Kris, Phil and Nathan had already said their goodbyes. Kris appeared at her shoulder in the doorway.

 

‘Come on, I think we need to talk about what’s been bugging you,’ Kris led her into the lounge and they sat down.

 

‘Nathan, get us a coffee will you?’

 

‘Hey,’ he was about to argue, but when he saw their expressions decided against it.

 

‘I know there’s something major going on with you and Gary. You may not want to say anything, but I can’t stand seeing it eating you up like this….you and him aren’t?…’

 

‘No, Kris! It’s not all about sex you know! Well, I suppose it is in a way...but not the way you’re thinking….’

 

 

***

 

 

Laura had been sitting in the bathroom for a long time at Number Eight. Nobody else was at home. Her dad was working, mum was trying to find another part time job, after being fired from one the other day for being rude to a customer...and Rhys was out with friends.

 

She sighed heavily, sitting on the closed toilet, and stared at the box containing the pregnancy test kit.

 

 

 

Richard at Rachel were sat in the garden at Number Four.

 

‘It’s so hot, could you get me another drink please?’ They were getting on better over the past couple of weeks...not quite back to the way they were, but close.

 

Rachel groaned slightly as Richard got out of his chair.

 

‘Are you OK, Rach?’

 

‘Er, yeah, I think it’s just a twinge,’ she patted her bump, which was pretty big now, her due date was only a couple of weeks away now.

 

As the sun was beating down, Rachel thought that the baby was helping to bring her and Richard back together again...maybe everything would be alright after all.

 

 

***

 

 

‘I can’t believe it!’ Kris was stunned after Jo’s revelation about Gary.

 

‘Neither could I!’

 

‘No wonder he seems to be on another planet half the time...the poor so and so. Wait ’til I see those parents of his again!’ For probably the first time ever, Kris was defending Gary and had some sympathy for him.

 

‘That’s the whole point, Kris, we can’t interfere. I shouldn’t have told you anyway, because Gary’s trying to make it up with them, so getting angry isn’t going to achieve anything’

 

Phil appeared in the doorway, clutching a beer.

 

You two coming outside, we’re going to light a barbecue soon?’

 

‘Yeah,’ sighed Kris, shooting Jo a filthy look as she got up.

 

 

***

 

 

‘This is the life,’ Richard groaned happily as he sat back down.

 

‘Smells like someone’s having a barbecue,’ Rachel added, her eyes closed.

 

‘Yeah, next door, I heard them a minute ago….Rach?’

 

‘Hmmm?’

 

‘I wondered if we could talk about how things are going?’

 

She sipped some of her orange, swatting away a persistent fly.

 

‘They’re going well, aren’t they?’

 

‘Oh yeah...but should we talk about marriage again?’

 

Rachel was feeling uncomfortable, a bit of a beached whale in the sunshine, and Richard was annoying her now.

 

‘For goodness sake! Can we just leave it for now please?!’

 

Richard regretted what he’d said straight away.

 

‘Sorry, Rach…’

 

‘I mean, I don’t know if I can just walk down the aisle this soon...and the baby is….’

She suddenly winced in pain.

 

Rachel? What is it?’

 

She cringed again.

 

‘What do you think it damn well is?! The baby’s coming!’

 

 

***

 

 

Laura had finally build up enough courage to take the pregnancy test kit out of the box. She wasn’t too worried, but felt slightly nervous. The thought of having a baby scared her a bit, but the thought of being closer to Nathan was exciting to her.

 

 

***

 

 

Richard was throwing Rachel’s bag into the back of the car.

 

‘I still think I should call an ambulance,’ Richard was panicking.

 

‘Don’t be silly, it might be ages yet, you can drive me there...if you’re capable of it!’ Rachel managed to roar with laughter at this, although she was pretty scared herself.

 

Max and Fiona came out of Number Two.

 

‘Hey! You going to the hospital?’ Max asked.

 

‘No, Max, we decided to take my bump down the market and flog it in a hurry,’ she laughed and Fiona joined in.

 

‘OK, stupid question...you OK mate?’

 

Can’t stop and chat, Max,’ Richard leapt into the driver’s seat and started the ignition.

 

‘Good luck!’

 

 

***

 

 

‘Another burger anyone?’ Phil asked.

 

Kris was lying in her bikini now.

 

‘Do you want me to rub some lotion in?’ Nathan grinned.

 

‘Here we go…’ Phil added, knowing how Nathan and Kris loved to flaunt their sex life in front of everyone.

 

It hadn’t been this hot in Alborford for some time, and they could hear several households out in their gardens too.

 

‘Maybe summer’s arrived at last,’ Kris muttered, as Nathan rubbed sunblock into her back.

 

‘Hope Gary’s having a good time,’ Phil said.

 

Kris and Jo gave each other a knowing,

but concerned look…

 

 

 

Back at Number Eight, Laura decided that she’d better hurry up, so she could get out in the sunshine and try to think about something else.

 

The necessary ten minutes had passed, and she reached for the test.

 

Just then, she heard the front door slam, it was her mother.

 

‘Hello! Anyone home?’

 

‘Up here mum! Will be down in a minute!’ She shouted from the toilet seat.

 

Looking back at the test, she saw that it was….

 

‘Positive.’

© 2010 Danny Alborough / DJA Publications
All characters, names and situations are fictitious.
Any similarities to places or people, living or dead, are purely coincidental.