by Kris Webb
Max’s words stunned me. I’d always thought that if he hadn’t been back for work we wouldn’t have seen him at all. Now he was telling me that he’d made a decision about what he wanted months ago and had been working towards getting it ever since.
I took a deep breath. ‘Look, Max, this is a lot to take in. A year ago you couldn’t even cope with the idea of having a serious girlfriend and now all of a sudden you’re in the running for father of the year? Sarah and I have got things pretty well sorted now and I don’t think I can live worrying when the reality of having a baby will become too much for you. One look at me in my dodgy slippers after a bad night with Sarah and you’ll run screaming back to San Francisco.’
‘I know it sounds pretty weak,’ he acknowledged. ‘I’ve never believed that people can change, but they can grow up and I think I have finally moved out of adolescence.’
The already torrential rain became cyclonic and the sound of the water hitting the concrete was deafening.
‘Sophie, I don’t know how else to say it,’ Max yelled over the noise. ‘For God’s sake, I bought a bloody goat farm for you. Can’t you just give me a chance?’
Maybe it was his question, or maybe it was the cold water trickling inside the collar of my jacket, but I suddenly realised what a ridiculous situation this was and made a decision.
‘Look,’ I said. ‘Where are you living these days?’
‘I’m still in a hotel in the city. Why?’
‘This is just an idea, but seeing as how you’ve been paying rent already, what about moving into my spare room until you find somewhere permanent?’
Seeing the look on his face I added quickly, ‘As a flatmate only. Don’t go getting any ideas.’
Max smiled at me.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
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