“I couldn’t be happier for you Mum, congratulations – Gabe.” He takes a deep breath and seems to be swallowing back tears. “She is the bravest person I know. If it ever comes to my attention that you have hurt her in any way, shape or form, intentionally or otherwise mate. I will hunt you down and kill you.” He stares long and hard at Gabe, just to make a point but then just as quickly they are having a hug and shaking hands again.
The next few hours go along pleasantly, the men cook, the women set up the food and the drinks are flowing, twice I have been asked what I’m drinking and both times I have got away with saying white wine and lemonade and that I will have a drink later, once all the food is cleared away but I am acutely aware of the fact that both Jemma and Zac have been watching me more than normal but neither of them have said a word, so maybe I’m just being paranoid. Once everyone has eaten the men drift over to the pool table and to watch the footie on the big screen on the wall; Ava, Sophie, Louie and Josh are all sitting on bean bags around the fire pit and I notice Gabe has spent more time looking at them this past half hour than he has concentrating on his pool match or even on me for that matter, it’s getting cold now so I walk over to where the kids are sitting and tell the girls that I’m going in to get my hoodie on and suggest that perhaps they might be more comfortable and warmer if they went and changed into trackies and hoodies too, thankfully they agree and follow me inside to change. I am so uncomfortable in my jeans that I switch into a pair of yoga pants, a hoodie and my Uggs; as I walk back out to the pool house, Zac is grinning at me.
“Jeans a bit tight are they darl?” He winks at me as he says it, I try to keep a poker face, and it lasts for all of ten seconds.
“Please do not say a word to anyone.”
He looks absolutely amazed, his grin is as big as Gabe’s was when we found out and my heart warms to Zac even more. He puts his arms around my shoulder and pulls me in for a cuddle.
“Really? I was right. Does he know, when?”
We start walking around the edge of the pool. “Of course he knows…I’m about eight weeks we think but we won’t be telling anyone until I’ve had all the tests done on them because of my age.”
“Wait, wait, wait a minute. Tests done on them?”
It’s my turn to grin now. “We’re having twins.”
Zac spits the mouthful of beer he had just swigged from his bottle and then totally floors me by wiping tears from his eyes. “I wish my Dad was here to see him so happy and settled, I’m so fucking pleased for him Lauren, for both of you but it’s a shame your babies won’t know the ol’ the man.”
It’s my turn to choke up now; they actually won’t have a Pops at all as neither of us have our Dads still living. “They will know all about Charlie and about Joe – my Dad and even though they won’t have a Pops, they are lucky enough to have two of the best uncles around, as well as two big brothers, so they will be just fine.”
“You’re fucking amazing, you know that Lauren? Everything that’s happened to you these past few months. You’ve taken it all in your stride and just bounced back. When did you find out you were pregnant?”
“Just yesterday.”
“Fuck. Sam would be freaking out and you’re so calm.”
“Zac, believe me, I am seriously freaking out, we have so much to consider, that’s why we don’t want anyone to know until all the tests are done. I’ll be forty six next birthday so we will have all the necessary tests carried out and then make a decision on what we do. For us it’s just another hurdle, our whole relationship has been spent dealing with shit, we can only hope that this will be something to celebrate.”
He pulls me in for another cuddle. “You two really deserve some happiness, I really hope this all works out for you, I really do and I couldn’t have picked anybody better for Gabe, you two are seriously perfect for each other.”
We walk back towards the pool house with Zac’s arm draped over my shoulder. Gabe comes out of the toilet and looks right at us and frowns.
“Dude. Get your grubby mitts off my woman.”
“She’s family now man. I get to give her cuddles.”
“Since when was that a rule. Get away from him Lauren, he’s a perv.”
Gabe holds his hand out to me. I kiss Zac on the cheek and walk into Gabe’s arms; he wipes his thumb over my lips.
“Don’t kiss my brother, I don’t like it.” I simply shake my head and kiss him, full on the mouth.
“Loz, put the sex god down and come talk to us for a minute will you.”
I look over my shoulder to where Lu is sitting with Jemma and Jo; I’ve barely spoken to them all night what with playing hostess with mostest. Lu is slurring her words and obviously pretty pissed and I can’t help but smile as Jo rolls her eyes at Lu’s condition, it would have only taken her two or three glasses of wine to get to this stage, she never has been a big drinker.
“One sec,” I call out.
“Sex? Who’s having sex, you, with him, oooh, can I watch?”
I shake my head and look back at Gabe. “You have an admirer.”
“I know, she keeps touching me, right in front of Shannon as well, she didn’t care.”