Amy passes me a napkin and points to my eyes. I dab under the lashes so I don’t ruin my makeup.
“Hey Steph. Where’s that handsome fella of yours? Cal was it?” Michael says, while filling his plate with mini sandwiches.
Mark smiles. “So you got back together? I never understood why he split up with you. It was obvious he was besotted with you.”
“Wait. You knew Cal?” Michael asks Mark.
“Wait a minute.” Amy buts in. “How do you know Cal?” she asks Michael.
“He was with Steph at a business dinner last year.”
Amy glares at me.
Mark tells Michael about our history.
“I bet he’s happy about being a daddy.” Michael points to my belly.
I wince inwardly, but give him my best fake smile as a lump forms in the back of my throat.
Michael takes hold of Mark’s hand and gazes into his eyes. “We’ve been wanting to adopt for some time.”
Amy drags me back to our table. “You kept that quiet.”
“Well, you never told me you hook up with Scott whenever you’re in the same country.”
“I assumed the baby was your husbands. Is this Cal’s baby? Were you guys banging? Is he the real reason you and Justin split up?”
I stroke my stomach. Tears pour down my flustered cheeks. “You guessed correctly. Only he’s in Australia. He doesn’t want to know.”
Amy hugs me, running her hand up and down my spine. “Are you still crying over him, after all this time?”
I sniffle. “Yes. That and the heartburn. I need my antacids.”
She unzips my bag and rummages through all the crap I carry before pulling out a bottle of Gaviscon. “Here, get a swig of this and then tell me everything. And don’t leave out any details this time.”
I tell her the whole story. Her blue eyes fill up with sympathy for me. Now and then, she rubs my shoulder or hands me another napkin to dab my eyes.
“The worst thing is, I actually thought he’d grown up, but I guess some things never change.”
Amy rolls her eyes. “The dickhead couldn’t handle it the last time you thought you were pregnant. I don’t know what’s wrong with the bloke.”
“You should see him with his girls. I honestly thought he’d be a man this time, and even if he didn’t want to be with me, he could at least acknowledge his responsibilities. Like, why is a baby with me not worth his time?” My head fills with a collage of memories from our past. The moment I thought I was pregnant, things changed. He changed.
Amy pops her brush down and gives me a hug from across the small table. “Forget about him. This baby’s probably better off without him, anyway. If he can’t be bothered to get in touch, then he really isn’t worth your tears.”
I know she’s right, but the ache in my heart intensifies with each passing day.
Towards the end of the session, Mark approaches. “I’m working near you next month, Steph. Would you let me paint you?”
Amy snorts. “Mark, you’re not seriously going to go there again, are you?”
He rocks his shoulders, with puffs of laughter coming through his nostrils. “Tell Cal if he’s jealous, I can paint him as well.”
I roll my eyes with a smile. “I’m not even with Cal anymore. He’s on another continent, so he won’t be bothering you again. I’d actually love you to paint me pregnant.”
His smile reaches his steely grey eyes. “Perfect.” He hands me a card with his number on. “Call me and we’ll arrange something.”