Well… there’s a big leap now. It’s suddenly about four months in the future… making it October. We’ll make it October 6^th, so it can be my birthday, and the day that my cousin’s baby is due to be born. That sounds good. Mind you, my birthday is on a Monday this year. Oh well. It’s the start of October, anyway.

And I know that Anita never seems to walk normally around the hospital – she always bumps into people. She must be very clumsy.

___________________________

Diane wandered into Keller ward. “Morning Kath,” she greeted her friend chirpily.

“Morning,” Kath replied, looking up from the papers she was holding. “Where’s Ric?”

“At the Hadlington,” Diane said, collapsing into a chair. The lift had been full, and walking up three flights of stairs was not easy, especially because she was nearly seven months pregnant. “I had to drive myself,” she added, pouting.

“You did it for a year before you finally snatched him up,” Kath told her. “Why’s it different now?”

“Firstly, I’m not used to it, and secondly, I’m pregnant.”

“And thirdly, you’re lazy,” Chrissie put in, appearing behind them. Her maternity leave had finished two weeks ago, and she was back on the ward, making her presence felt. Tricia was looking after baby Manda.

“Coming from the woman who always makes her husband drive her in, that really kicks,” Diane teased.

“Owen doesn’t mind.”

“Nor does Ric,” Diane replied, resting one hand on her stomach. She removed her hand quickly as the baby kicked. “If we’re coming from the same house to the same hospital at the same time, it makes sense.” She reached over and grabbed some papers from the desk. “What am I doing today?”

“I bet that you’ll spend at least five minutes trying to get out of that chair,” Chrissie said, remembering the last few months of her pregnancy with Amanda.

“How much?” Diane queried. She knew perfectly well that she could stand up in seconds, but she didn’t mind the idea of making some easy money from Chrissie.

Chrissie was a bit startled, but replied with, “Ten pounds?”

“You’re on,” Diane replied, standing up easily. “Thanks,” she added, holding out her hand for the money. Chrissie grumbled, but handed over a tenner.

Kath smiled as Chrissie left. “That was a bit cruel.”

“How?” Diane queried. “She started it. Besides, I need the money. I haven’t got anything for the baby yet.”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed that Ric is rich?”

Diane laughed. “He’s still paying Jess’ way. I can’t expect him to pay for me and for a baby who’s no relation to him.”

Kath smiled. “You make it sound as though you’ve just found a baby on the street and are asking Ric to pay for it.”

“Ah, excuse me?” a patient asked. Diane sat down and began looking at her papers again, and Kath turned to the patient.

“Yes?”

“I’m David Lloyd,” the man said. Diane’s head shot up suddenly, and she gasped. “I’m due in today.”

“Okay, Mr Lloyd,” Kath replied. “You’re in bed six… I’ll show you where it is.” Diane tried to hide her face as Kath and the patient passed by. She had to get away from the ward. She waited until they couldn’t see her any longer, and stumbled into the lift, pressing the first button that she saw.

*~*~*

Jess glared at the woman in the bed. “Cantankerous old…”

“Watch your language,” Lisa warned her. “What’s she done now?”

“Mrs Mills doesn’t think I’m qualified, and would prefer to see a doctor,” Jess snapped, shooting the woman such as vicious look that, if looks could kill, she would certainly have dropped dead.

“What?” Lisa exclaimed. “That’s disgraceful!”

“It’s what she said.” Jess sighed. “I don’t care if she’s seventy-five years old. I’m not helping her any more.”

“Jess, she’s old…” Lisa tried to placate her.

“So?”

“She needs us to do everything for her, she’s helpless, poor woman,” Lisa continued, although it was hard with Jess glaring.

“She has made it quite clear that she doesn’t want me helping her,” Jess replied, stalking off.

*~*~*

Diane stumbled out of the lift, and looked around. ‘Psychiatry’ one sign read, pointing to the left, and ‘Neurology’, the other one pointed to the right. Neurology – that was Ethan. She could escape there for a while. But she would have to explain herself. It would be just as safe to walk around, looking busy.

She was so busy trying to look busy that she didn’t watch where she was going, and walked into someone. “Sorry,” she stammered, gathering up the papers she’d dropped.

“That’s okay,” replied a voice with a faint Scottish accent. “I seem to walk into people a lot.” Diane looked up and saw someone who looked vaguely familiar.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asked, awkwardly.

“I’m Anita Forbes… I don’t think so,” was the reply. “I’m usually pretty good with remembering, and I don’t remember you.”

Diane thought for a moment. “You were the psychiatrist who saw Steve Waring, weren’t you?”

Anita nodded. “Yeah, that’s me. How is he? I never saw him after that first session. He’s a nurse here, isn’t he?”

Diane paused. “He, ah, died… about five months ago.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry,” Anita replied. “Ah… sorry, but who are you?”

“Sorry, I’m Diane Lloyd.”

“Ric Griffin’s girlfriend?” Anita queried. She knew a lot about the staff that Tom worked with, but had never met any of them.

“How do you know that?” Diane asked, confused.

“I’m… rather cosy with Tom Campbell-Gore.”

“Ah.” Diane nodded, and began walking alongside Anita.

“Were you, um, very close to Steve?” Anita asked, tentatively.

Diane put one hand on her stomach. “He’s the father.”

“Oh. I’m very sorry,” Anita replied, awkwardly. “So, ah… why are you up here?”

“I’m… just come for a walk,” Diane lied.

“And you took the lift?”

“I’m lazy,” Diane defended herself. “It’s very hard to walk up and down stairs when you’re pregnant.”

“I can imagine,” Anita said, privately thinking that Diane was a little strange. “Well, I’ve got an appointment. Nice to meet you, Diane.”

“You too,” Diane replied, watching Anita walk away. She seemed nice… a bit too familiar, and it was worrying knowing that Tom Campbell-Gore was telling details of her relationship with Ric, but quite nice all the same.

But it was probably best to move away from this floor. What was to say that Anita wasn’t an example of all psychiatrists? If they were all that nosy, then she would be better off on another floor.

*~*~*

“There you go, Mr Lloyd,” Kath said, settling the patient in the bed. He looked about sixty, and seemed to be perfectly healthy. “You’re here… under observation, aren’t you?”

“Just under observation,” he replied. “Apparently my GP thinks I have some… illness.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand all this medical jargon. My daughter would. She’s a doctor, you know.”

“Is she?” Kath queried absently, as she flicked through his notes.

“Haven't seen her for years, though,” Mr Lloyd continued.

“That’s a pity. My son Danny, he lives in Australia now – he moved there a few weeks back,” Kath said, softly. “I miss him already. Where does your daughter live?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. She used to live in London, but… It’s been nearly ten years since I heard from her. She left when my wife died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kath replied, sympathetically.

He sighed. “I’ve got used to it.”

Kath nodded. “I’ve got to go… press that button if you need anything, alright, Mr Lloyd?”

“Will do.”

As Kath arrived back at the nurses’ station, she noticed that Diane had vanished. “Sandy?” she called, and Sandy scurried over.

“What is it?”

“Have you seen Diane?”

Sandy thought. “Ah… she hurried off when you were seeing to that man. She looked a bit funny – a bit sick, maybe? I thought she went to find Mr Griffin.”

“Thanks.” Kath sighed.

*~*~*

A few hours later, Ric strolled easily into AAU, to see Jess sulking at the nurses’ station.

“What now?” he asked his daughter.

“Mrs Mills,” she scowled.

“Who?”

“She’s a cranky patient,” Lisa explained.

“Jess, you have to not let the patients get to you,” Ric scolded gently.

“This one’s worse than normal,” Jess replied. “She told me that she didn’t think I was qualified. Pretty much that she didn’t think I was good enough. She wanted to see a ‘doctor’,” she added, making quote marks with her fingers.

“What’s the matter with her?” Ric queried.

“Car crash,” Lisa replied. “Compound fracture of the right leg, and she blacked out for nearly an hour after it happened. She’s seventy-five, too, so…”

“Okay,” Ric agreed, taking the notes that Lisa handed him. “Where’s Diane?”

Jess shrugged. “I haven’t seen her. I think she was on Keller for most of today.”

“I’ll see to this Mrs Mills, then I’ll find her.” Lisa led the way to Mrs Mills.

“Mrs Mills?”

“That’s me,” she replied. “Are you a doctor?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered, smiling. “Your leg?”

“It’s darn painful,” she said vehemently, causing Lisa to have to turn away to hide her giggles. “Now, will you be doing something about the pain, or can I have some paracetamol?”

“We can give you morphine, but I’m afraid you will need surgery to set the leg, so you’ll be nil by mouth,” Ric replied, after examining the leg.

“Surgery?” Mrs Mills repeated. “An operation?”

“I’m afraid so. The risks are minimal, don’t worry,” Ric replied, smiling. “There is no alternative. If we leave your leg like this, it may get infected.”

“And having this operation would stop it hurting?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you may do it,” Mrs Mills said, graciously. “It will be you who does it? Not that young girl over there?” she added, pointing at Jess.

“I can safely promise that I will not let my daughter perform the operation,” Ric said, trying to hold back laughter. “I’ll be back to check on you in an hour or so.”

*~*~*

“Have you seen Diane?” Ric demanded, charging into Keller ward.

Kath looked up abruptly. “I thought she was with you.”

“She’s not here?”

“Not that I know of,” Kath replied. “She disappeared a few hours ago. I was seeing to a patient and she left.”

“After taking my ten pounds,” Chrissie chimed in. Off Ric’s look, she continued, “I bet her that it would take her a long time to get up from her chair. She found it really easy.”

“She does that,” Ric agreed. “So you don’t know where she is?”

“She was going into the lift,” Sandy commented.

“What floor?” But Sandy just shrugged. Ric sighed, and paged Diane.

*~*~*

Diane, wandering about the grounds of the hospital, was startled when her pager started beeping. Upon noticing that it was from Ric, she sighed and took herself inside as quickly as she could. Five minutes later, she tentatively stepped out of the lift onto Keller ward.

“If that had been an emergency, the patient would be dead,” Ric told her, smiling.

“I can’t run.” She looked around nervously. Was he still there?

“Are you alright, Diane?” he asked. “Diane?” he added, as she didn’t reply.

She looked up at him. “Yeah?”

“What’s the matter?” he queried, pulling her over to a chair and sitting her down. “Are you alright?” He sat down next to her, and put an arm around her.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. Talk to me,” he pleaded.

“Really, Ric, it’s nothing,” she said, desperately trying to make it seem so in her own mind.

“Don’t you trust me, Diane?” he asked, hurt.

She sighed. “Of course I trust you. I love you.”

“And I love you, but something’s troubling you. Don’t lie to me – I’ve known you for a long time. I can tell when something’s wrong.”

She pointed to the patient from earlier. “Look at him. Does he look familiar to you?”

Ric followed her gaze. “A little bit. Why?”

“If I told you his name was David Lloyd…” she continued, toying with a loose thread on Ric’s jacket, deliberately not looking at him.

“Lloyd?” Ric repeated. “Diane, is he…?”

“My father?” She nodded. “Yeah… I just had to get away for a bit, Ric. I couldn’t be around him. He scares me. He makes me sick.”

“He makes me sick, too, Diane,” Ric replied. “How anyone could do what he did…”

“Don’t say anything,” she begged. “Please. Don’t tell Kath or anyone, don’t tell her what he did to me.”

“I never would,” he promised, kissing her. “Are you okay to carry on?”

“Yes. Just – don’t make me see him,” she said, desperately. “I can’t see him, I can’t talk to him, Ric, I can’t, I can’t!” She was almost hysterical, tears filling her eyes. Ric held her close to him for a moment.

“I won’t. I promise, Diane,” he said, softly. “You don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do.”

“Thanks,” she choked out.

“Ric?” Kath called, coming over. She shot a curious glance at Diane, who was teary-eyed and upset, but didn’t say anything. “There’s a new patient, here for observation, a Mr Lloyd… would you have a look at him?”

Diane turned away. She didn’t care whether her father was ill or dying, she just wanted to be away from him. “I…” she began, but Ric nodded. He helped her up, and she walked off as quickly as possible.

“What’s the matter with her?” Kath queried.

Ric shook his head. “I can’t say, I’m afraid. Would you ask someone else to look at Mr Lloyd? I don’t think I’d be able to be civil to him.”

“Is he related to Diane?” Kath questioned. “He’s her father, isn’t he?” Ric nodded slowly. “Do you know, she hasn’t been in contact with him for ten years?”

“She had her reasons,” Ric replied. “She was a mess when her mother died. I was there. Just don’t tell Mr Lloyd that Diane is here. Could you ask Tom Campbell-Gore to have a look at Mr Lloyd?”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say that there’s a clash of personalities,” Ric answered, shortly. “If I could say more, Kath, I would, but I promised Diane.”

“I’ll get Mr Campbell-Gore,” Kath replied. As she made her way over to the phone, she spoke again. “Is Diane okay?”

“It was just a shock… seeing him again,” Ric said. After all, it was nearly true. He just wished that it were entirely true.

*~*~*

“I’ll see you in theatre, Mrs Mills,” Ric announced. He crept up behind Diane, who was talking to Jess, and put his arms around her waist, causing her to scream.

“Ric!”

“Diane!” he mimicked, kissing her. Jess made a retching sound.

“Do you have to do that in front of me?”

“Yes,” Ric replied, kissing Diane again.

“Put her down,” Lisa laughed, walking past.

“We’ve got to get to theatre,” Ric told Diane.

“What are we doing?” she queried, as they walked off.

“Operating,” Ric teased her. “Joke. Mrs Mills, seventy-five, broken leg.”

“Ouch.”

“And we have the fun of setting it.”

“How generous of her.”

*~*~*

“So, Mr Lloyd,” Tom began. “Any pain?”

“No… do you have any idea what’s wrong with me?” Mr Lloyd asked.

“Well, it’s believed to be…”

“Wait. No technical language,” Mr Lloyd commanded. “That’s my daughter’s area, not mine.”

“Is your daughter a doctor?” Tom queried.

“A damn good one, I’m sure,” Mr Lloyd replied. “I ain’t seen her much, not since she was eighteen, but she was good at whatever she did. She’ll be one hell of a doctor.”

“I’ve got a daughter… Josie. I only met her recently, but she’s a great girl. What’s your daughter’s name?” asked Tom, absently.

“Diane,” Mr Lloyd said, lying back down.

“Diane Lloyd?”

“Do you know her?”

“She works here,” Tom replied. “She’s the general surgical registrar. Would you rather she saw you?”

“That’d be nice.”

“I think she’s in theatre at the moment, but she should be out within a few hours,” Tom considered. “I’ll tell her to come and see you when she’s done, if you want.”

“Thank you,” Mr Lloyd replied, smiling. “It’s been near on ten years since I saw Di, you know, Mr Campbell-Gore.”

“Ten years?” Tom repeated, shocked. Diane didn’t seem like the sort to neglect family. Although, thinking about it, he couldn’t remember ever hearing her speak about her family.

“I’m not blaming her. It’s a hard life for a student, and I’m sure it’s no easier for a doctor. But a phone call wouldn’t have gone amiss, especially after her mum died. She’s all the family I’ve got.”

“I’ll tell her.”

And so it was that, three hours later, as Diane and Ric emerged from theatre, Tom greeted them. “Do you know your dad’s here, Diane?” he asked.

She turned away abruptly. “I don’t have a dad.”

“Well, there’s a David Lloyd up on Keller ward who wants to see you,” Tom replied.

“How does he know that she’s here?” Ric demanded.

“I told him. He mentioned that his daughter was called Diane, and I told him that she works here,” Tom said. “Is something the matter?”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Diane muttered, leaning against Ric for support. “I can’t believe this. I have to see him?”

“He said that he’d like to see you.”

“I’ll bet he did,” she returned, bitterly. Tom, somewhat confused, left, leaving Diane and Ric alone to think. “What am I going to do, Ric?” she asked. “What the hell am I going to do?”

*~*~*

“How’s that, Mrs Mills?” Lisa asked the woman, who was rapidly gaining consciousness.

“Hello.”

“Any pain, Mrs Mills?” Lisa queried, preparing to adjust the morphine drip.

“No dear.”

“Alright then. Just call me if you have any problems,” Lisa replied, turning away.

“She’s fine with you,” Jess commented. “You’re only a nurse too.”

“Some people are just like that,” Lisa said, sighing. “Don’t let it get to you.”

“That’s fine for you to say. She’s not got a vendetta against you.”

“And she hasn’t got one against you,” Lisa replied, turning to pick up the phone.

Jess grumbled to herself as Lisa walked off. She’d not slept much the previous night, after an argument with Alex. He had stormed out, and she’d spent the night worrying about him. He’d finally called just before she left for work, fine, but by then the damage had been done, and she’d not slept at all. She was tired, but she knew that that evening, she had plans with Ric and Diane. She sighed, and laid her head down on her arms. She just wanted to sleep – block out the world. She’d cancel her plans. She just wanted to sleep.

*~*~*

“I’ll see him.”

Ric, sitting beside Diane, looked up abruptly. “What?”

“I said, I’ll see him,” she repeated.

“Are you sure?” he queried, concerned.

“Yeah… I’ll do it, it can be like closure, you know? But I want to do it now,” she added. “Get it over with. It’s the end of the day, I just want to go home.”

Ric helped her up, and they walked into Keller ward. As they approached the doors, Diane stopped abruptly. “Are you alright?” Ric asked, gently.

She moaned in frustration. “It’s stupid. How come I’m so scared by him?”

“You’ve been through a lot, Diane. Don’t feel that you have to rush yourself.”

“I thought that when I came here, when I left home, I thought I was safe, you know? And now… I’m not. He’s here.” She looked down, and saw her pregnant stomach, the one thing above all that she had to protect. She turned to Ric. “Do I look very obviously pregnant?”

Ric couldn’t lie. Diane was normally quite thin, so pregnancy had changed her a lot. “I’m afraid you do. Is that a bad thing?”

“I don’t want him to know,” was all she said, trying to think of a way to disguise her bump. “Is there any excuse I could make?”

“You eat a lot?” he suggested. She sighed and folded her arms across her stomach, shooting him a hopeful look. “It looks like you’ve folded your arms across your pregnant stomach, Diane. You can’t hide being seven months pregnant.”

“Maybe he won’t ask.” She took a tight hold of Ric’s hand, suddenly scared. Guessing how she felt, he put an arm around her, letting her lean against him for support.

*~*~*

Tom, passing by Anita’s office, looked in. “Hi.”

“Hey,” she replied. “Skiving?”

“No…”

“Sure. Come in, by the way,” she added. “Always nice to see you.”

“I wondered why you spent so many evenings at my house,” he joked.

“Josie’s good company,” she teased, playing along with him. As he sat down, she thought of something. “I met Diane Lloyd today. Bit odd, isn’t she?”

“Diane?” Tom thought about it. “She’s not weird… I’ve never noticed, anyway.”

“She acted a bit odd… ah well.” Anita shrugged it off. “S’pose she’s allowed to. She’s pregnant and everything.”

“Want to go out tonight?” Tom queried.

“Out?” Anita repeated. “You mean not just over at your place with a lasagne that Josie cooked?”

“I mean out, yes. A proper date for once, at a restaurant,” he replied. “And you better say yes, because I’ve already booked.”

She jokingly took out her diary and flicked through a few pages, before smiling. “Yeah, I’m free. I’ll meet you back at your place.”

“Eight o’clock alright for you?” Tom asked, getting up.

“I finish at six, so I’ll have time to change… eight sounds good,” Anita replied. “You’re off already?” she asked, as he kissed her and made for the door. “See ya.”

*~*~*

“I thought you’d have gone home,” Chrissie commented, as Diane and Ric walked past, Diane still holding on to Ric for support.

“No… there’s something I have to do first,” Diane replied. Chrissie shrugged and walked off.

“See ya tomorrow.” She turned back. “Hey, tomorrow’s your last day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, have fun.”

Ric smiled. “I’ll miss you when you go for your maternity leave. You’re the best registrar I’ve ever had.”

“I’m the only one who’ll sleep with you, you mean,” Diane corrected him.

“That too,” he agreed. “Are you alright?”

Diane nodded as they approached the cubicle where Mr Lloyd was. Suddenly she turned to Ric. “I can’t… I can’t, Ric, I just…”

“Whatever you want to do, I’ll be there,” he promised, hugging her and kissing her hair.

“Thanks,” she whispered. She took a deep breath, and pushed Ric in front of her slightly. He obligingly went into the cubicle, and Diane followed, staring at the man who had taken away her life.

“Hello,” Mr Lloyd greeted her, brightly.

“How can you sit there and say that so calmly?” she demanded. Whatever she had expected to see, it hadn’t been this. She hadn’t expected him to ignore the hurt he had caused her.

“You’re pregnant,” he noticed. “Congratulations. Is he the father?” nodding towards Ric.

“That’s none of your business!” Diane replied, sharply.

“So he isn’t.” Mr Lloyd sighed. “I’m disappointed, Di.”

“Don’t call me that,” she said, weakly. Ric tightened his hold on her; she looked as though she might faint.

“You never used to mind.”

“You mean I never said anything,” she retorted. “I never said anything about a lot of things, did I, Dad?” She spat out the word, as though it were rude. And, as she said it, she wanted to hurt him, hurt him like he’d hurt her. But she knew that she could never do that. Nothing could make up for the ten years she had spent, living in fear, or for the following years, where she had pushed everyone away. All the years she had lost Ric for.

“I – I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied. It was obvious that he was lying.

“You don’t remember hitting me?” Diane demanded. “Kicking me? Punching me? Making me sick? Do you remember the day I broke my leg? The day I dislocated my shoulder?” Tears were falling down her cheeks, and she was speaking so loudly that she knew everyone could hear, she knew that Kath and Chrissie and Sandy were all probably listening, but she didn’t care. For once, she didn’t care. She had spent so many years living in fear of this man, hating him, not daring to so much as breathe in his presence. It was such a release to be able to shout at him, to tell him what she thought of him.

“Don’t, Di,” he pleaded, almost crying.

It was that name. That name, the name he had called her all those times, when he was hurting her, when he was telling her how much he hated her, and he was using it again. And it made her feel ten years old all over again. It meant that he was winning, when she felt like that. She had been in control, but the moment he called her ‘Di’, she knew that she would never be stronger than him. He would always be able to control her.

“That’s not my name.” She was trying so hard to be strong, but she could feel herself falling apart.

“It was your name when you were a little girl,” he replied.

“I’m not a child any more. I’m twenty eight,” she said, trying to sound brave and strong.

“You’re still my little girl, Di.”

She wanted to shout and scream and hit him, but she didn’t dare. How could he be so patronising? She glanced helplessly at Ric, wanting him to save her, yet not wanting to need to be saved.

“Doesn’t it show something that she hasn’t visited you in ten years?” Ric asked, answering Diane’s silent plea. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be your little girl any more.”

“I never wanted to be your little girl,” she whispered, wanting to speak louder, but unable to. As he opened his mouth to speak, she suddenly found strength, thinking about what she wanted to say. “I never was your little girl. I was your punch bag, wasn’t I?” His eyes closed, she’d hit home. It felt good. “You never cared about me. Never. I don’t know how you dare to call yourself my father. I’m not even a parent yet, but I can’t imagine ever being able to raise a hand to my child. That disgusts me… how could you hurt a defenceless child? That disgusts me… YOU disgust me. I hope I never have to see you again, because if I do, one of us will end up dead,” she finished, viciously.

Ric looked at her with admiration. She suddenly turned round abruptly, and left, wanting to have had the last word. Ric followed her. Tears were running down her cheeks and she was breathless, looking upset and angry. She tried to calm down as Ric approached her. “Thank you – for being there for me.”

“Do you feel better?” Ric queried.

She nodded, wiping her eyes. “It… I needed to do it. I’ve needed to do it for twenty years.” She smiled suddenly. “And I’ve done it. I told him.”

I’m gonna hold on

‘Cause what I believe in is so strong

No matter how long, no one

Can tell me I’m wrong

I ain’t goin’ down

You won't find me
Naked and cold justa sittin'
on the doctor's table
Waitin' to be told justa why
I'm no longer able
To feel my heart beatin'--
give me a good reason why!

*~*~*

Anita and Tom were on their date. They usually preferred to stay in, either at Anita’s, or at Tom’s, because Josie would obligingly retreat to her room. At home, there were fewer chances for Tom to be tempted by alcohol. But tonight, they were at a restaurant – a smart restaurant. Tom had a reason for doing it – other than the fact that Josie had forced him to do so. But Anita just thought that it was a nice change of pace.

“This is posh,” Anita commented, as she looked down the menu. “And expensive,” she added.

“I’m paying, don’t worry.”

She smiled. “Right, what’s the most expensive thing on here?” She laughed. “Joking, don’t worry.”

“If you order anything over ten pounds, I might have to take back my offer,” Tom teased. “I used to have a lot of money saved away, but you and Josie seem to have taken a lot of it over.”

“Well, you’re just being a doting father and a loving boyfriend, aren’t you?” Anita smiled.

“No, I think I’m being bled dry by two sly and conniving women,” he countered. “It’s amazing how you do it.”

“It’s a skill,” Anita replied. “Besides, you don’t mind really.”

“No, you’re right. I’d much rather be broke and have you and Josie, than be filthy rich and have no one except a bottle of vodka.” He smiled at her. “I have not touched a drop of alcohol since the day that I met you, Anita.”

“I don’t think that I can take the credit for that.”

“I think you can. I’m doing it for you – and for Josie. Before, I had no one to keep clean for. Now there’s you,” he said, slightly shyly. Anita was blushing, but she was looking right into his eyes, and that gave him strength. “And… well, I want that to always be true,” he continued, taking the little box out of his pocket and kneeling by her chair. “Anita, will you marry me?”

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected this at all. But she barely had to consider her answer. “I’d love to,” she whispered, letting him put the ring on her finger.

*~*~*

“Do I still have feet?” Diane asked, idly. She and Ric (and Mitsy) were in the kitchen at her flat, where Diane was making herself a cup of tea.

Ric gave her a strange look. “I’d imagine so.”

“That’s a relief. I haven’t seen them for a few weeks,” Diane replied. She sank into a chair. “This is tiring.”

“What is?”

“Pregnancy. I don’t know how I’m going to last another two months,” she said, trying to keep the whiny note out of her voice.

“Well, you start your maternity leave tomorrow,” Ric told her. “You can have some rest then.”

Diane laughed. “Do you realise how much I need to do before the baby is born? I have to move Mitsy and myself into your house, buy all the furniture for the baby, baby-proof your house…”

“Do you realise that I will be doing most of that?” Ric countered. “Alex has volunteered to help as well.”

“You can’t let him do that,” Diane replied, scandalised. “He shouldn’t be doing heavy work!”

“He won’t be doing heavy work,” Ric told her. “Don’t worry. I might not like him that much, but I wouldn’t harm him. Jess and I will be doing the heavy work. You and Alex can rest and do the easy jobs.”

“Like what?”

Ric thought. “Alex can paint.”

“And I can’t?” she demanded.

“The fumes,” he explained. “And the smell. You get to dictate where everything goes. You should be good at that.”

“I’d have done that anyway,” she replied, smiling. Ric chuckled, and there was a pause as Diane drank her tea. “So when are we moving?”

“We? You’re the only one who’s moving,” Ric corrected her.

“You’ve barely left my flat since July,” Diane commented. “We’re only going back to yours because there’s more room for the baby there. When, anyway?”

“I was thinking Saturday,” Ric replied.

“Today’s Thursday!” Diane exclaimed. “Saturday? Are you sure?”

“Perfectly. The sooner you move in, the sooner we can get things ready for the baby,” Ric explained himself. “And be sure, if you aren’t ready for this baby, it will come. Jess came on the day that we were about to buy the furniture. I had to rush to get everything ready for the day she came home.”

“I’ve got two and a half months,” Diane replied. “We could have everything ready in about three weeks, if we try.”

“We can do that,” Ric agreed, sitting down next to her. “And this is only the beginning.”