“And what if there isn’t? You need to calm the fuck down Lauren, get the test done, get the results back and go from there. Whatever you decide, whatever choices you make, they are between you and Gabe, you do exactly what is right for you two, it’s nobody else’s business. We will be there for you every step of the way. You hear me?”
I nod, feeling much calmer, I wipe the tears from my cheeks that I hadn’t even realised I had cried. Jo’s phone rings breaking the intensity of the moment, she frowns and looks at me as she answers. “Gabriel Wilde, how are you hot stuff, behaving I hope? Yeah, I’m at your place now.” She screws up her nose as she looks at me again. “Why don’t you just ring her phone, she’s right here? Oh, she’s not talking to you and would that have anything to do with the shit you screamed down the phone at her this morning and the fact that it’s now almost nine at night and you still haven’t apologised for your behaviour. It would, well in that case, no, I won’t pass on a message, she’ll talk to you when she’s ready. See ya Darl.”
She hangs up. I just know my mouth is hanging wide open, he is going to be so majorly pissed off. I had told the girls about Gabe’s little tirade earlier, I was planning on calling him later, when they had gone anyway, but I’m going to be in for more shit now that he knows I have told the girls. We all look at each other and burst into laughter, that’s why I love my girls, one minute we are having a D and M about life changing decisions, the next we are fifteen again and hanging up the phone on boys. The girls finish off their wine while I make myself a cup of tea.
“Soooo… I saw Jason today.”
Now it’s their turn to stare open mouthed.
“What? Where?” asks Jem.
“I walked right into him in the car park outside Woolies, he looks terrible”
“Bet that was weird. Was he okay?”
“Yeah it was really weird. He was okay for the most part, he clocked my engagement ring though and my new car and the rego but something was off, I don’t know, he just looked really rough.”
“He knows you’re engaged and he was ok, fuck, perhaps he’s finally getting his head around it all.” Jo states.
“Perhaps he’s finally getting to grips with what he did to you and the guilt is eating him up.” Jemma states.
“I don’t know, I don’t know if he will ever understand what he put me through. I’m actually going around there tomorrow to collect the last of my stuff before he moves. He won’t be there.”
“No Lauren, that’s so not a good idea. Does Gabe know?”
“No, that’s why I want to go tomorrow, I can get all the stuff back here and put away before he gets home, he won’t let me go round there and there’s stuff that I want, art work and pieces that I’ve collected over the years, all my college certificates and that kind of shit, I want to get it now before Jay finds out about the babies. I have a feeling he won’t take that news well and I don’t want him to destroy all my stuff.”
“You’re not going on your own Lauren, what time are you going round there? Jake and I will come with you.’
“NO!” I shout, a little too loudly. “Don’t you dare tell Jake, he will be straight on the phone to Gabe, I mean it Jo, do not say a word to Jake.”
“Okay, okay. I will come on my own, what time?”
“First thing, I said I would be go around at nine”
“I have a couple of clients booked in for the morning. Can we make it one-ish?”
“No, I need to get there early so I can get it all home and put away before Gabe gets back.”
“Are you sure he’s not gonna be there Loz?” Jemma asks
“Yes, he told me he would stay out of the way. I will go at nine and make a start and you just meet me there when you can.” I suggest to Jo.
“I’m working all day, otherwise you know I would be there for you babe, Fridays my busiest day, it’s not like I could even re jig appointments.” Jemma sounds apologetic.
“No, it’s fine really, I don’t think I have that much there, I have most of my clothes, it’s just personal shit and he told me to take any furniture that I want.”
We end the night deciding that Jo will meet me at Jason’s as soon as she finishes work; I will go there early and make a start as I don’t want to still be there later in case Jay comes home.
Once I get into bed I call Gabe but I get no answer, it doesn’t even go to voicemail so he’s obviously switched his phone off and doesn’t want to talk to me. Fine, fuck him, I’ll stick to my guns and won’t talk to him again ‘till I’m looking at him. Arsehole!
CHAPTER 28