Miranda – A New Beginning

Chapter 8

AT THE FLAT

Gary walks in to the flat.

Gary – "Hi."

Miranda – "Hello."

Gary – "Can we talk?"

Miranda – "Yes."

Gary sits down.

Miranda – "Coffee?"

Gary – "No thanks."

Miranda waits for him to speak. She has to wait a very long time. Finally…

Gary – "Miranda, I've been thinking… about today and the baby… and you."

Miranda – "And what have you decided?"

Gary – "I need to explain a few things to you."

Miranda guesses that this cannot be good news and braces herself for the inevitable.

Gary – "When you told me… and Mike… that you were pregnant, I was so scared. I didn't think I could bear the responsibility of being a father. But when I thought about it being Mike's… well, that was worse. I suddenly realised that I might have lost you. That if the baby was his, then the two of you would get back together."

Miranda – "That's ridiculous Gary; I don't want to get back together with Mike."

Gary – "He does. And if the baby had been his; you'd have had a very good reason to want him back in your life."

Miranda – "But you know now that the baby is yours. And you still don't know what you want."

Gary – "I've spent the last four weeks convinced that Mike was the father. I couldn't allow myself to think it was mine. In case it wasn't. Can you understand that Miranda?"

Miranda sighs.

Miranda – "Yes, I do understand Gary. But how do you think I've felt through all of this?"

Gary – "I know. I've been selfish. But as the days and then weeks went by I just felt that we were falling further and further apart. When Stevie came by yesterday and told me about the scan I knew I had to make a choice. I had to either get out of your life for good… or take the risk and hope that I was the father. Then I realised that if the baby was mine I would never forgive myself for not being there. So that's why I came to the hospital today. When we found out that the baby is mine I just couldn't believe it. I'm still in shock. But I really want to sort things out Miranda. I want to be there for the baby."

Miranda – "And what about us?"

Gary looks up… it's make or break…