Mindlessly folding shirts and placing them carefully in a suitcase, he began to calm down. Doing something, anything, was distracting. Wandering into the bathroom, he saw that Logan had left her make-up everywhere as usual. Rushing out for a date with Tom, she’d left face powder and bronzer spilled all over the countertop; lidless pots of glittery eye shadow were cluttering up the space around the mirror and smeared on the washbasin. She had her own bathroom, but preferred to use Tati’s for make-up. ‘The light’s better and there’s more space. I need to spread out.’
Thinking about his little sister made him smile. She’d been so happy today, bursting with joy about something or other. He wondered how she would react when he told her he was gay, and that he and Tati would be separating? He couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her, of wiping that carefree, eighteen-year-old smile off her face.
Picking up two used face-wipes, he was about to drop them into the bin when something caught his eye. Reaching down he picked up the white plastic stick and turned it over. Two pink lines filled the little window, like prison bars. Jason’s stomach lurched.
So that’s what she was so happy about, rushing out to meet Tom in such a hurry.
The stupid child had gone and got herself pregnant. At her age, Logan was too young and na?ve to see the problems and obstacles. All she would see was a fantasy of her and Tom, riding off into the sunset and playing happy families.
Jason’s head started to throb. How could so many things go so disastrously wrong in a single day? Running into the bedroom, he dialled Logan’s mobile. But a few seconds later he heard it ringing downstairs. The stupid girl had been in such a hurry to tell Tommy the ‘good news’, she must have forgotten her phone.
Abandoning his packing, Jason went downstairs, poured himself a large Scotch and downed it in two gulps. How the hell was he going to explain any of this to his mother?
By nine o’clock, Jason was happily drunk, curled up on the drawing-room sofa watching Borgen. Tati still wasn’t back and George hadn’t called, but the whisky had taken the edge off everything. He heard the front door open and close. A few moments later, Logan swept in, looking flushed with love and excitement.
‘Oh, hi. You look better,’ she beamed. ‘Did you find Tatiana?’
Jason switched off the TV. With an effort he sat up and looked at her.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, noticing his stern expression.
Wordlessly, he pulled the pregnancy test out of his pocket and held it up.
‘What’s that?’ Logan asked guilelessly.
‘You know very well what it is,’ snapped Jason. ‘It’s a pregnancy test. And it’s positive. How could you have been so stupid? So careless?’
Logan flushed red. ‘I wasn’t stupid. Or careless.’
‘I suppose Tom knows?’ said Jason, ignoring her. ‘Don’t tell me, he’s as happy as you are.’
The combination of the alcohol and his own nightmarish day was making him unusually mean.
‘Tom’s very happy,’ said Logan defiantly. ‘But not because of some stupid pregnancy test. We’re getting married.’
‘Getting married?’ Jason stood up unsteadily. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You think marriage is going to solve this?’ He waved the stick aloft, like a tiny plastic sword.
‘It doesn’t need “solving”,’ said Logan furiously.
‘Oh really? So you and Tom are ready to be parents, are you?’
‘Readier than you and Tatiana, evidently,’ said Logan. ‘Not everybody waits a decade to start a family, you know. But I’m glad you’ve finally done it. Congratulations.’
Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Jason frowned.
‘That test isn’t mine!’ Logan shouted at him. Her eyes were brimming with tears now.
‘Of course it’s yours,’ said Jason. ‘For Christ’s sake, Logan. Lying about it isn’t going to help.’
‘Oh my God, are you for real?’ She snatched the stick out of his hand, outraged. ‘IT. IS. NOT. MINE. OK? I’m not pregnant, you self-righteous idiot.’
‘Oh really. Then whose is it? The tooth fairy’s?’ snapped Jason.
‘It’s mine.’
In all the commotion, neither of them had heard Tati come in. Quietly taking the test from Logan, she looked at Jason.
‘Dr Rowley just confirmed the result. I’m pregnant.’
CHAPTER THIRTY