The Last Goodbye Read Online Free PDF Page B

good. That’s quite close to you guys, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, hopefully we’ll have plenty of time though on the big day.”
“I hope you’ve got the fastest route worked out, Ben? Believe me, if that baby arrives in a hurry you’ll be glad you did.”
“It’s on my to-do list – I think every man fantasises about having the excuse of an emergency dash to hospital with his labouring wife to drive like a Formula One driver through the streets.”
“Eh, darling, I hate to ruin your childhood dream but we won’t be having any Formula One antics when I’m in labour, thank you very much!” I said.
We all laughed.
“I hope you’re looking after yourself, Kate, and putting your feet up because it’s the last time you’ll be able to do it for a while. It’s a tough station being pregnant – us men wouldn’t last a week. Isn’t that right, Ben?”
Ben nodded. “Props to the ladies there.” He picked up his glass and took a sip.
We all started to relax a bit and chatted easily until the waitress came back over and set four shot glasses down in front of us.
“Compliments of the chef. Tomato and peach gazpacho.”
We picked up the accompanying spoons and sampled the appetiser.
“Mmmh, this is good!” I said.
“It is, Kate, isn’t it?” Will said. “Very refreshing.”
He was the kind of guy who when he was talking to you his eyes were on you and you only. I had to admit that I could see his charm. He used your name and always appeared interested in what you were saying. It was all ‘Yes, Kate’, ‘Is that right, Kate?’ or ‘Good point, Kate’.
“Well, I’m sure everyone you meet is full of advice, Kate,” he said now, “but the sleep deprivation is torture. Get a night nanny – it’s the only way.”
“I think we should be able to manage,” I said. “I’m sure the sleepless nights are tough but we can take turns.”
“You eager first-timers are all the same!”
“But surely that’s all part of it,” I protested. “You can’t just take the good bits and let someone else do all the hard work for you. Where’s the fun in that?”
He threw his head back and started laughing then. “Well, don’t ring me when you’re walking the floors at three in the morning with a screaming baby in your arms.”
“Don’t worry – I won’t.” I knew my tone was testy but he had annoyed me.
“Right then, who’s having the roast partridge with chanterelles and pear?” The awkward moment was broken by our waitress who was back with the starters.
“That’ll be me.” Ben nodded at the girl, glad of the interruption.
As Nat and I chatted, I could hear Will talking to Ben.
“So how’s school, Ben? What class are you teaching now?”
“Year two.”
“ Aaaaarggh , how do you do it, mate – listening to a bunch of screaming six-year-olds all day?”
Although he never dared say it, I knew that Will viewed teaching as a woman’s job and couldn’t understand why a man would choose to do a job working with children.
“It’s not that bad,” Ben said.
“Listen, I have one six-year-old at home and it’s more than enough.” He took another gulp of wine, then clicked his fingers at a passing waitress and pointed to the bottle on the table, which was running low. Everything about Will, all his mannerisms and actions, were fast. “But I suppose the holidays help. Imagine that, Nat,” he turned to elbow her, “imagine having six weeks off in the summer on full pay? It’s some life.” He lifted his glass again.
I reached for Ben’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
Will picked up the wine bottle and filled his glass with what was left. I wasn’t drinking and Ben and Nat still had half-full glasses. I continued my conversation with Nat but from the corner of my eye I saw Will lean in conspiratorially to Ben.
“Listen, mate, enjoy your last few months of freedom while you can. Don’t get me wrong, I love my three boys to death, but sometimes I miss that freedom of being able to do