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And then I get really worried because her eyes widen and swing towards Jesse ‘It was a shotgun wedding, wasn’t it? You h, thinking how obscene it is for her to say such a thing She’s not thinking straight, and now she’s saying stupid shit Even with her limited time with us, she knoe feel about each other

‘Elizabeth,’ Jesse sits forward, all stern, his jaw ticking I fear the worst ‘You know better than that’ He sounds so calm, but I can detect the irritation in his tone, and I can hardly blame him He’s insulted, and so am I

Mum huffs a little, but Dad interjects before she can retaliate ‘So you didn’t know at the wedding?’

‘No,’ I answer quickly, taking lass with both hands to preventit

‘I see,’ Dad sighs

‘I can’t believe it,’ Mu’

‘Then don’t bloody tell anyone’ I snap, feeling immensely pissed off with , est I was rushed down the aisle because of it? That justHis twitching, tense frame should be a clue, and when he takes , I know that my mum is about to be trampled

He leans forward, and I closeforced to do the right thing after a quick fk about with a girl’ He’s not quite snarling at e exactly howwith, I iht years old Ava isher worked up or upset, so you can accept it and give us your blessing, or you can carry on like this and I’ll take h he has just firmly put my melodramatic mother in her place, and quite harshly, I could kiss hi from him, that’s bloody hilarious

‘Now, let’s all just calm down a little, shall we?’ My dad says, all calm and softly, ever the mediator Not only does he avoid affection, he’s not all that keen on confrontation, either I notice he givesrare from my father and only delivered to his hen he thinks it’s absolutely necessary It is definitely necessary right now because if mum doesn’t rein it in, Jesse will trample all over her, and it won’t be delicately either He has been unusually tolerant so far, but then again,his hand on his wife’s are to shut the hell up ‘How do you feel about this?’

‘Fine,’ I answer quickly, feeling Jesse squeeze my hand I need to find a replacement for fine ‘Perfect Couldn’t be happier’ I return my dad’s smile

‘Well, then They’re hs It’s quite funny to say that Jesse is financially stable ‘And they’re bloody adults, Elizabeth Get a grip You’re going to be a granny’

I’ pretty mortified After what has just transpired, you would think ere a pair of teenagers I setically at Jesse, who shakes his head in coranny!’ Mum chokes ‘I’m forty seven years old’ She fluffs her hair ‘I could be a Nana, though’ She htfully

‘You can be whatever you like, Elizabeth’ Jesse picks theto leave it there I can tell he’s dying to trae, Jesse Ward!’ She reaches over the table and flicks the top of his ise ‘Wait!’ she shrieks

‘For what?’ Dad asks

Muain and again before finally resting on Jesse, who has raised broaiting for her to advise us on e’re waiting for ‘You said babies, plural You said our babies’

‘Twins’ Jesse sns disappearing in a split second He rubs randchildren’

‘Well, I’ll be daratulations!’ His chest swells a little in pride,! You are going to be exhausted What are…’

‘No, she won’t’ Jesse cuts her off co herself any further into his trailantly and shuts her trap, and I h Yes, I have hi’ Mum says quietly ‘I’m so sorry It’s just a bit of a shock’ She leans over and puts her hand out I take it ‘You’ll always have us’

I smile, but realise instantly that I won’t actually have them They live miles away from London, and with Jesse’s farandparents to pop over and relievein to see randchildren I feel Jesse’s hand tighten around hts I look at hiht into my eyes