Two simple words
Chapter one
Summer stood on the bridge, staring into the rippling water, as a tear streaked slowly down her cheek. What was she going to do? How exactly was she going to go about telling Andrew? He was trying to do the right thing, trying to deal with his situation, but now she was going to change everything. Change the last few months with two simple words.
"Summer?"
She turned quickly, wiping away her silent tears on her sleeve as she did so.
"Andrew…"
What was she supposed to say?
"What is it?" he asked confused. "Is everything ok?"
If you only knew, she thought to herself.
"Look I can't stay long" he said, flicking his golden hair out of his eyes. "Tash is waiting for me; we're going shopping for a cot for the baby."
'The baby' thought Summer and she couldn't stop fresh tears pouring down her cheeks. She turned quickly, hiding her face behind a curtain of hair.
"Sum, what is it?" Andrew stepped forwards and reached out a hand. He rested it gently on her shoulder and she shuddered.
"Andrew, I…" She started again.
"Listen Sum, if this is about us again you know I can't. I want to, you know I do, but Tash and the baby need me. I can't just abandon my kid."
"I'm not asking you to but…" She just couldn't seem to say it. Everytime she started it was as though a lump stuck in her throat and she couldn't make out the words.
"No Summer. I won't leave my baby. To do that I have to be with Tash. You're just making this harder for both of us. I love you but I'm sorry" He pulled away his hand. Summer tried to catch it but his fingers just brushed passed hers as he strode off along the bridge. He didn't look back, but as he reached the end of the bridge the lump in Summer's throat unstuck.
"I'm pregnant!" she shouted after him.
He stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly. His eyes met hers, fear and shock flickered across them. Then he turned back and began to run, not knowing where he going but needing to get as far away as he could from her. From her and the revelation that was going to turn everything upside down, all over again, with two simple words.
"Summer, can you hear me?"
"What?" said Summer, coming out of her daze.
"I said have you seen Andrew" repeated Tash exasperatedly. "We were supposed to be going shopping for Junior hours ago."
"Oh, no, I haven't seen him" lied Summer.
She was sitting in Harold's, a cold coffee in front of her. Tash sighed, rolled her eyes and marched out. Summer glanced down at her watch. It was two o'clock. She had been sat there for nearly three hours. Where was Andrew? What was she supposed to do next? What if he didn't come back? What if he had done something stupid, or was lying in a ditch because he hadn't looked as he crossed the road? She had knocked him sideways, she knew it, and now he had disappeared. He must be confused and in shock, hurtling around like a bull at a gate. Should she go and look for him? That might make things worse. Where would she look? What if….?
"Summer, darling?" Lyn's voice snapped her back to reality again.
"Yes Nan?" said Summer, forcing a smile as she turned to face her.
"Could you pick up Charlie from nursery? I'd do it myself but it's getting quite busy and I don't want to leave Kate to cope on her own."
"Oh, yes, of course. Right." replied Summer. "I'll go now."
"Thank you darling" smiled Lyn.
Summer got slowly to her feet, reached for her bag and made her way out.