The Girl from Nowhere by Lamb Charlotte

Author:Lamb, Charlotte [Lamb, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

WHEN she saw Buddy that afternoon, he looked like a man in a state of

extreme shock, his flyaway hair ruffled wildly, as though he had spent

most of the day tearing it with his hands. He looked at her bolt-eyed as

he flung himself into a chair in the lounge, his long thin legs moving

with his usual disjointed yet graceful energy.

'I can't get over it!'

'Aren't you thrilled?' Suki asked. 'Isn't it exciting?'

'Exciting? Suki, I don't even believe it's true yet. Every five minutes I

think: Rosie's going to have a baby, and every time I get dizzy. Out of

the blue like that, after fifteen years, it isn't easy to believe.'

'I think it's wonderful,' Suki said.

'Life's never going to be the same again,' Buddy groaned.

'Think how much fun you'll have!'

'Look, I know what happens when there's a baby in a house—I've seen

it happen before. The house is turned upside down. Everything

revolves around the damned baby, nothing else matters any more.'

Suki laughed, wondering if Buddy was suffering pangs of jealousy

over the coming baby, but unable to believe such a ridiculous idea. Or

was it ridiculous? He had had Rosie's undivided attention for fifteen

years, but a baby would nudge him out of the limelight.

He put his fingers over his face, wailing behind them. 'And what's

everyone going to say? At our age? We're going to look like idiots!'

'I'd guess all the men will think you're quite a guy,' Suki said

cheerfully. 'Becoming a father at forty- four…'

'Five,' Buddy said.

'Even more impressive.'

She felt him peering at her through his fingers. 'I guess it isn't bad,' he

admitted.

'They'll all envy you. Having a baby in the house will make you feel

years younger, I'd think.'

'Starting a family at our age? You're crazy!'

'I think it's wonderful.' She smiled at him. 'Put me on the rota for

baby-sitting, won't you? I see myself as a sort of auntie.'

For a few minutes Buddy was silent, then he said: 'I keep trying to

think of a way of leading up to the subject with my friends.'

'Buy a box of the best Havanas and hand them out,' Suki said. 'Don't

apologise, Buddy—boast!'

He grinned, dropping his hands. 'Now there you might have

something.' His eyes took on a visionary look. 'It'll certainly cause

something Of a sensation. Just picture their faces!'

'It will improve your image no end,' Suki mocked. 'Nothing like

potential fatherhood to give you a virile image.'

Buddy wasn't listening. 'I wonder what it'll be,' he said to himself. 'I

might not mind so much if it was a boy.'

'Well, of all the sexist remarks!'

'I'm no chauvinist,' Buddy denied. 'But I must say I wouldn't mind

having a son to take on the business when I've retired. I haven't done

too badly and there'd be quite a nice little agency for him to inherit one

day.'

'Empire-builder!' Suki mocked.

He laughed. 'I suppose I'll get used to the jokes,' he added, and she

smiled at him.

'Of course you will. The best defence is always attack, anyway, you

told me that yourself years ago when I did my first press interviews.

Don't give them a chance to make the jokes—make them yourself.'

'Oh, I will,' Baddy agreed.

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