The Call Of The City – Episode 23


Kerry relaxing in a bath as Daniel makes a meal Illustration by Sailesh Thakrar

Expecting?

The word vibrated in Kerry’s brain as she drove home, through the winding lanes of the North York Moors.

It was a beautiful evening, the sky a pale blue, the sun still high overhead and the air full of birdsong and the scent of heather.

Expecting. Pregnant. She might be having a baby.

Of course, she and Daniel wanted a family; they’d been talking of having three or four, God willing.

But not yet. Not when she was only twenty-four and they’d been married less than a year.

Not when her parents were still so low, and life still felt so unwieldly.

Not yet.

Kerry stopped at a chemist on the way home, unable to look the shop assistant in the eye as she bought a pregnancy test.

She took it as soon as she got home and stared down at the two pink lines with disbelief, even as she remained completely unsurprised.

“Kerry?” Daniel’s voice floated from downstairs in the kitchen. “Are you in? You all right?”

“Yes.” She felt faint and queasy, the test clutched in her hand.

Quickly Kerry put it in the bin, washed her hands, and went downstairs.

As soon as she walked into the kitchen, Daniel looked at her sharply.

“What’s up?” he asked, frowning. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing,” she began, and her voice wobbled. “Nothing’s wrong.”

She took a deep breath.

“I’m pregnant.”

As Daniel started to smile with joy, Kerry burst into tears.

To be continued . . .

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