Chapter Four Hundred and Twenty Six

"You don’t want me there." he said.

"You’re putting me on the spot," she countered, trying to keep up with his arguments.

"Seriously what exactly have you planned?" he asked.

"Karen will be there for me during the birth" she replied. He shook his head as if she’d disappointed him, and he’d expected it all along.

"And where do I fit into any of this? Or am I meant to just miss out on the first few weeks?" His voice broke, betrayed the fear and despair behind his anger. "I want to be at the birth." he said.

For a few moments, all she could see, hear, smell was blood, guts and embarrassment. She swallowed down her automatic refusal.

"Head end only. If I change my mind on the day you respect my privacy. And I still want Karen too"

He looked up in surprise. "Okay, I can live with that. But when we get home, you know it’s just going to be the three of us."

She stared at him. "Oh, no, you can’t think that you’re moving in with me." she said.