Chapter 17

During their Sydney stopover, Kelly and Kenny had a bite to eat and a look through the duty-free shops before Kenny noticed an internet terminal.

"Do we have time for me to have a quick peek at my email?" he asked.

"Sure," replied Kelly. "I'll go back and pick up that scarf I was looking at. It will be a nice get-well present for my mam."

"Synchronise watches?" joked Kenny. Kelly tapped hers and saluted before going back towards the duty-free area. Kenny turned back to the machine and fed a $2 coin into the slot. Logging in to Yahoo, he checked his email inbox. A couple of new messages, mostly jokes from friends and one from Lynda.

Opening it, he rolled his eyes at the familiar "All Staff" in the To: box.

"She's done it again!" he laughed and scrolled down to read the body of the message.

To: All Staff

From: Lynda Day

Subject: none

Spike, we need to talk.

I think I'm pregnant.

Kenny stared at the message until his paid time expired.

"Nice one, Lynda!" he croaked eventually. "What a way to drop a bombshell on your best friend!"

"Is everything okay?" Kelly asked, duty-free bag in hand. "Only we've got to get back to the departure gate. They've just called our flight, didn't you hear?"

"No. No, I didn't," replied Kenny, vaguely. This would have to be one of the strangest days of my life, he thought. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he smiled at Kelly and they walked towards the gate to board their onward flight to Heathrow.

Towards the end of the flight, Kelly noticed Kenny wasn't watching the movie on the screen in front of them but rather staring at his tray table which was securely fastened in the upright position. She nudged him.

"Enjoying the tray table?" she asked.

"What? Sorry, yeah. It's really good. I like that guy, the main guy."

"Yeah, right. Look, you've seemed a bit distracted since we left Sydney. Not regretting coming along, are you?"

"Hmm? What? No! Definitely not! It's just – well, I got an email from my friend, my best friend, in England. She thinks she's pregnant."

"Wow! That's big news!"

"Right. Big news."

Kelly sensed more to the story. "Is it good big news?"

Kenny thought. "I don't know. Somehow, I don't think it was planned. Which, to this particular friend, would mean bad news."

"Is this Lynda, the one you've been telling me about?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah," said Kenny.

"Is the baby Spike's?" she asked.

"I'm pretty sure," replied Kenny. "The only reason I know is because she sent an email thinking it was only to Spike, when in fact it was to All Staff."

"Which you would have received in your Yahoo email because your friend Billy who is a tetraplegic and is also head of IT at the Phoenix had set it up so you'd still be in the loop," deduced Kelly.

Kenny was amazed. "Wow! You really have been listening!"

Kelly smiled. "Well, I happen to find you very interesting."

"I happen to feel the same way about you," Kenny smiled back.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are about to commence our descent into London Heathrow. The ground conditions are fine and at present, there are no air traffic delays which – I don't mind telling you – is nothing short of a miracle. For passengers travelling onwards to Dublin with Aer Lingus, please proceed along concourse A to the transit lounge. If you are leaving us here in London, we'd like to offer you a warm welcome home or a pleasant stay. Thank you."

Again, Kelly and Kenny went through the process of disembarking the plane. When they emerged into the airport terminal, Kenny was struck by all the familiar sights and hearing familiar accents. Without even realising it, he had accidentally come home. He noticed Kelly watching him carefully.

"So! Onward to Dublin then?" he said cheerfully. She smiled.

"I think you know what you have to do."

Kenny pretended to misunderstand. "Sorry? I'm not quite sure I follow."

"This is where your flight ends, Kenny, for now. It's probably best I don't land on the family when they're such a state with a man in tow."

"But . . . I thought we . . ." Kenny stammered.

"This isn't the end, ye daft boy," Kelly pinched his cheek softly. "It's just the beginning." She handed him a sheet of paper. "Names, numbers, addresses. My parents, my sister, my grandparents, my local bar, the hospital my mam's in. You won't lose me again, Kenny, I promise."

Kenny took the paper. "Thanks for being so understanding. This friend – Lynda, I mean – we go back so far and . . ."

"You don't have to say anything," said Kelly. "Now, you give me all your numbers. I want next-of-kin, childhood friends and any place you think you'll visit. I'll come back to London when I know my mam's better." Kenny hastily scribbled down all his details, having to think hard about some of the numbers. Spike wasn't the only one having trouble remembering details thanks to the advent of mobile phones.

They said their goodbyes with lots of hugs, kisses and a few tears before Kelly went one way towards her connecting flight and Kenny went the other towards home.