Thicker Than Soup by Kathryn Joyce Page B

for a while she watched his face and tried to read his thoughts. “How long do you think we can keep this er… to ourselves?” The word ‘baby’ didn’t come easily.
    He didn’t answer and she was about to repeat the question when he turned to face her then saw the blue-purple tennis ball bruise on her shoulder.
    â€œHow did you do that?”
    â€œOh, I slipped. In the bath.” She lied as she recalled the moment he’d unwittingly slammed the door into her. “It doesn’t hurt much.”
    John touched the bruise gently. “You must take care.”
    She rolled towards him, moved by his tenderness.
    â€œIf Diane guessed so easily, your mother and mine will too. We’d better tell them. What do you think?”
    Life was galloping ahead and she was no longer holding the reins. “Not yet; soon.”
    To her relief he nodded then asked if she’d like to have breakfast in bed.
    *
    Though they barely mentioned the pregnancy in the coming weeks, Sally’s mind dwelled on little else. Her guilt, now shared, weighed less and though practical and financial matters added layers, she more comfortably set them aside. Income from the restaurant couldn’t yet be relied on. Her salary was already paying the bills. She’d work for as long as possible and return as soon as she could afterwards. Her immediate predicament was her colleagues. They, she feared, would see her pregnancy as evidence that she didn’t belong in the boardroom and assurances that six weeks leave of absence was all she needed would be easy compared to convincing them she could be a mother and still be professional.
    A month passed without her condition being disclosed, but as she discarded a fitted skirt one morning in favour of a looser dress, she knew it was only a matter of time before her body gave away its secret. As the weekly exec meeting ended she invited the one Board member she felt treated her as an equal to the King’s Head.
    *
    Andrew was a perceptive man. “It’s nice to have lunch with you Sally, but I get the impression there’s more to this than pleasure?”
    â€œHmm.” Sally took out a packet of cigarettes. She wanted one badly. “I’m going to have a baby.”
    His surprised smile quickly dissolved. “I’d like to say congratulations, but your expression tells me otherwise.”
    â€œYou’re right; I’m not pleased. And neither is John, though he’s being amazingly positive about it. We didn’t plan for this; in fact, we planned for it to never happen. But now it has, and it couldn’t be at a worse time with Seagrams just up and running.” She sipped her orange juice. “I suppose you’re shocked that I’m not being all mumsy, aren’t you?”
    Unintelligible chatter filled the gap as Andrew considered his reply. “Well, how you feel about having a child is none of my business. Everyone’s different.” He lifted his glass. “But I suppose what you’re telling me is that you’ll be leaving us. I’m sorry….”
    â€œNo, Andrew, that’s what I don’t want!” Without a cigarette she bit the skin at the side of her thumb. “I need my job – for money and for sanity. I’m scared stiff of being at home with nothing but nappies all day.” Her cigarettes lay on the table and she offered one to Andrew.
    â€œI gave up.”
    â€œI’ll have to.” Sally lit a cigarette. “My worry is Lawrence and the others. I need your support, Andrew. And your advice on how to win them over.”
    â€œI’d like to support you Sally, but seriously, how are you going to be able to do your job when you have a baby? Jenny didn’t work for nearly six years after we had ours and even now she only does part-time.”
    So she was up against Andrew too. “Andrew, believe me, I can do it.” She held his eyes. “I’ll