Aeon by Peter Donovan

Author:Peter Donovan [Donovan, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626751637
Publisher: BookBaby

Chapter 18

Amber stood at the doorway of Karl and Sarah’s house. It was late March and in the gradually lengthening days the buds were beginning to appear on the vacant branches of trees, as spring nuzzled its way out from the harsh British winter. Most days were still wet. Amber seemed to remember there being more wet days than dry from the previous year, or maybe that was just her mood. She had only spoken to Sarah once since her return from Antigua and then had spent most of the time listening to Sarah go on about her holiday. Amberwondered if Sarah would believe she was pregnant, she could scarcely believe it, but during the call, she never managed to find the right words.

The large black door opened revealing Sarah who wore a grin, letting the warm light from the hallway flood the cobblestone courtyard. Being in Sarah’s company instantly took Amber back to a time in her mind before they’d grown up – simpler days.

“Amber, finally, I thought you’d never get here.” said Sarah, breathlessly.

Amber stood for a moment on the stone front step, slightly apprehensive about moving inside, then finally stepped through the front door into the narrow hallway of this large London terrace and was greeted by the warmth of central heating and the comforting smell of a roast dinner cooking, from the kitchen.

“I had trouble with the A10 roadworks,” Amber replied, a little uptight from the evening’s slow progress. “Will they ever finish the bloody widening scheme; it’s been going on for years.”

Sarah chuckled and thought ahead, then answered, “Not in the next nine months they won’t.”

The joke seemed lost on Amber who was still preoccupied from her journey, judging by her sultry expression. Sarah recalled when they were teenagers, Amber would get into one of her sullen moods; it could last for days.

“Here, let me take your coat.” Sarah held out a hand as Amber slipped the heavy woollen garment off, revealing a bottle green, long knitted jumper, jeans and a pair of black Jimmy Choo boots. Sarah stood stock still in the hallway surprised by what she saw, and was not discreet about showing it as her smile broadened.

“Are you pregnant?” she said, her voice climbing two octaves.

Amber looked sheepishly at Sarah. She knew she should have warned her rather than turning up with her bump clearly showing, but never felt there was a right time. Luckily the camera always hid her belly whenever she spoke to anyone on the phone.

“Congratulations,” Sarah continued, gesturing for Amber to go through to the kitchen rather than into the living room, where Karl could clearly be heard shouting at the football commentator for his obvious error, Sarah pulled the living room door to as she passed. “Why didn’t you say something before?” Sarah literally rubbed her hands together. “Ooo, who’s the lucky father?” she asked without thinking.

Amber tactfully ignored the question and forced a smile, rubbing her belly as she followed Sarah into the kitchen, glancing at two new pictures on the wall, clearly bought in the Caribbean.

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