Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [6]
`Seven hours.'
`Chloe. This can't happen. You know it can't.'
`But it has happened,' Chloe protested, dry-mouthed. `We agreed. No babies. We don't need them. I don't want
them. I don't even like them.'
`I know, I know,' she pleaded, `but it's happened. It was an accident but now it's happened-'
`Sure about that?' said Greg coldly. `Are you sure it was an accident?'
`I swear to you!' Oh God, this was awful. `I'd never do anything like that. It was just as much of a shock to me-'
`Good. So all we have to do is sort it out.'
Chloe stared at him, unable to speak.
`Don't look at me like that.' Steadily, Greg held her gaze. `What did you seriously expect me to say? Chloe, you are not going to have a baby. We'll get this taken care of. It's no big deal, sweetheart, it won't even hurt.'
Fear was replaced by fury. Chloe felt her fingernails digging into. her palms.
`We aren't talking about a… a wisdom tooth…'
`It's smaller than a wisdom tooth.'
`It's a human being!' Why couldn't he understand how she felt? She fought back the urge to scream at the top of her voice. If he truly loved her, why couldn't he understand how she felt? How could he just reject the idea out of hand?
`I'm not being brutal,' said Greg, `just realistic.' `But it doesn't have to be the end of the world!' `No, just the end of our marriage.'
Chloe reeled back as if he'd hit her. She felt physically winded.
`So that's why you made all this effort,' Greg drawled, gesturing at her dress. `Oh, I get it now. Slap on a bit of make-up, dig a suspender belt out of the back of your knicker drawer and that' 11 do the trick. One flash of stocking-top and you'll have me at your mercy, gibbering, "Darling, how wonderful, you've made me the happiest man in the world, of course I want a baby."'
Chloe looked away.
Well, yes.
Basically it was what she had hoped would happen.
`Sorry, Chloe. I can't do it. I told you before we got married how I felt about children, and I'm not about to start changing my mind now. See?' Greg waved an arm in the direction of the window. `No flying pigs.'
No, thought Chloe, just one two-legged one right here in the living room.
`I can't get rid of it,' she whispered, `I just couldn't.' Hating herself for being so feeble, knowing it was a waste of time even saying the words, she begged.
`You might change your mind.'
`No.' Greg picked up his car keys, his grey eyes cold. `No, no, no. By the way,' he added dismissively as he made for the front door, `don't worry about saving my dinner for me. I'll eat out.'
Chapter 3
`Look, I'm really sorry about yesterday,' said Miranda. `I got into all kinds of bother with a customer and ended up having to work through my lunch break, otherwise I'd have-'
`It's okay, doesn't matter. You don't need to apologise.'
Miranda blinked icy rain out of her eyes and rummaged through her bag. If her fingers were frozen she couldn't imagine how his must feel.
`Ham and tomato today, is that all right? And I thought these might come in handy.' Digging deeper, she unearthed a pair of tan leather gloves and a black knitted scarf.
`They're great. Thanks very much.' He smiled up at her. `Did you knit this?'
She rolled her eyes.
`God, no, picked it up in Oxfam. I couldn't knit to save my life.'
`Well, thanks anyway. Very warm.'
He had a nice voice. Miranda watched him wrap the scarf around his neck and slide his fingers into the gloves. She ruffled her own hair, unexpectedly embarrassed. All of a sudden she felt like a bossy maiden aunt forcing her nephew to try on his least favourite Christmas present.
And be suitably grateful.
Damn, she wished she hadn't given him the stupid things now.
`Better get back.' Hurriedly, she consulted her watch. `Don't want to get into any more trouble.'
`These are expensive gloves.' He was peeling one back at the wrist, reading the label. `Harvey Nichols, it says here.'
`I didn't buy them,' said Miranda, anxious to get away. When his dark eyebrows went up, she added, `Don't worry, I didn't steal them either.'
The phone rang in the salon