It was probably my imagination that all conversation ceased. That couldn’t have been possible. But it definitely lessened in our little area.
Ian and Zoe stopped squabbling and stared at me. Ian grinned widely, then frowned as if he’d just fully heard what I’d said.
“You did what, exactly, to Ivy?”
My powers of speech had vanished. In lieu of them, I pointed at Zoe. More precisely, Zoe’s belly.
They both looked down at her bump and then back at me with twin horrified expressions. I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh.
If it sounded a little hysterical, that was probably due to imminent heat stroke.
“Can you get him some tea?” Ian asked Zoe, already moving toward me.
“With a shot of brandy.”
Zoe nodded, eagerly scurrying away.
“Make that two shots,” Ian called after her. He turned back to me and hauled me in for one of his standard bear hugs.
Ian Kagan didn’t do anything halfway, and that included greeting someone. Did
n’t matter if it had been a day or two months since the last time. His difficult home environment had left some lasting scars, and he didn’t take anything for granted.
Unlike me, he’d evolved from what he’d come from. Me? I’d made mountains from tiny piles of rice.
My parents were good people. Quiet, stoic, and sometimes uncommunicative and undemonstrative, yes. But I couldn’t keep blaming them for everything. They’d done the best they knew how to do, as we all did.
And yes, Darla had fucked me over, as had my former friend. None of that mattered now. I couldn’t keep using them as excuses for why I shoved people away and painted everyone with the same negative hues.
Ian held on for longer than normal, patting my back as he moved back. Then he smacked my cheeks. “You doing okay? You’re still upright. That’s a good sign.”
“I’m fine. Just fine.” I wobbled a little on my feet, only partially affecting the stumble.
Ian laughed and gestured toward the little café area off to one side. “Zoe’s handling the drinks, so let’s sit.”
I sat. It was a relief to have something steady beneath me again.
“I’d ask how you are, but that’s probably redundant.” Ian sat forward in his chair and stretched out his long legs. “Is that why you went right to Ivy from home?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t know until I…saw her.”
God, that first glimpse of her would never leave my mind. So proud and defiant and beautiful, that was my Ivy. If need be, she’d take on the world alone. And she’d win, because who would dare tell her no?
“She didn’t tell you?”
“She tried. She called. Left messages.”
“And you didn’t reply to them?” Ian stared hard at me, then shook his head with a sigh. “Worse, you didn’t even listen to them, did you?”
I scrubbed my hands over my face. “It’s complicated.”
“Maybe the baby isn’t yours?”
I dropped my hands and narrowed my eyes. “You better watch your mouth, arsehole.”
Ian laughed and sat back. “Just proving a point, mate. So, if the baby is yours—”
“Can you not shout the news, please? It still hasn’t made it to TV.”