Ever since she passed, it’s just been me. Now I’m surrounded. I love it! I grin. “I look forward to meeting Padrig.”
“I’m here.” One of the guys puts his hand up, and the whole table breaks out in peals of laughter. I’m laughing too, and it feels so fucking good.
“I’m sorry,” I say between bouts of laughter.
“That’s alright,” Padrig says, still smiling broadly. “It will take you a while to get all of our names. It took Elin here a good couple of visits, and she’s Welsh.” He puts an arm around his girlfriend, and they smile at each other.
“Rage,” Nia is touching my shoulder, “I need to talk to you quickly.” She smiles, but I still sense the tension.
“Right now, during supper?” Danial booms.
“Leave them be.” Mam touches her husband on the arm.
“Excuse us,” I say, pushing my chair back. I’m worried. Nia looks pale. I don’t like how troubled she seems.
I put my hand to the small of her back as we walk. She grabs my hand and drags me into the bedroom we’re sleeping in. It used to be her old room. There’s a poster of One Direction on the wall. Nia was apparently a big fan. Apart from that, there’s a sewing machine and a whole lot of half-finished garments hanging all over the place. Nia’s mam turned her room into a sewing room when she left to come and live with me.
She keeps a hold of my hand and drags me into the bathroom. Nia shuts the door and turns to face me.
“What’s going on?” I ask her.
“I’m late,” she says.
“Late?” I frown.
She points at the counter next to the basin. “Is that…” I start to ask.
“It’s a pregnancy test.” She has her hands clutched in front of her. “I’m late, and I…I feel different, but it might be…nothing. It’s probably nothing.”
“It might be something.” I try to keep my excitement in check.
“I’m being silly.” She makes a face.
“We haven’t used any protection, so you’re not being silly.” We’ve had plenty of sex. My heart is beating wildly. My mouth is feeling dry. I want this so badly. More importantly, I know how much Nia wants this. It’s only been a couple of months since we started trying.
Nia looks at her watch. “It’s been longer than two minutes.” She bites her lip. “There’s a good chance I’m not. A very good chance. I don’t want to—”
I walk over to the counter. “Stop!” she bursts out.
I do. I turn back around. She’s white as a ghost. Her hands are shaking. I walk back to Nia and take her hands in mine. “If you’re not pregnant, then we’ll have a whole lot of fun in the coming months trying for a couple of babies. And if you are…” Holy fuck! I grin. I pull in a deep breath. “If you are, then we’ll take it as it comes.”
“We’re still having lots of sex regardless,” she whispers.
“Tons.”
“I read that pregnant women are horny.” Her face falls. “I might not be pregnant, though. I might never be. I don’t mean to be negative, I swear, I just have to be realistic.”
“We’ll tackle whatever obstacles there are to tackle together, Nia. Rwy’n dy garu di.”
She sniffs. The smile that graces her beautiful face actually reaches her eyes this time. “I love you too.”
“Can I please go and look at that test now? Unless you want to do it.”
She shakes her head hard. “I can’t. I feel ill. You do it.” Nia stands with her hands clasped in front of her. She’s trembling.
I pick up the test. I look at the result.
“And?” she whispers.
I don’t say anything as I slowly turn to face her.
“Tell me, already!” she yells. “Just tell me. I can take it. We’ll try again. We’ll—”
I hold it up. She’s a hellhound; her vision is great.
“Two lines!” she screams.
“Two lines.” I nod.
“I’m going to be a mam.” She covers her mouth.
“I’m going to be a father.” I bark out a laugh.
Nia throws herself into my arms. We kiss and laugh and kiss some more. We tell each other a couple of times how much we love and cherish each other. “You’re going to be the best dad on the planet.”
“We’re going to make one hell of a family.” I hug her closer before letting her go. “Will our babies have scales or fur?” I muse.
“We’ll have to wait and see.” Nia is beaming. “We’d better go back to supper.”
I nod.
“Should we tell my family?” she asks. “Maybe we