Poisoned Cherries

Chapter 6

Mac the Dentist was right about the tabloids; was he ever. We weren’t past the soup course before my cellphone played ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas’. It was Susie, sounding a lot less tired than I did.

‘The hospital’s had a call from one of the Sunday papers,’ she said, and I could hear the fizz in her voice. ‘They’ve been tipped off about me having been rushed here, and that it was you who did the rushing.

‘Who’d have done that, Oz?’ she asked, indignantly.

‘Take your pick. Police, hospital staff, another patient, it could have been anyone. I’d bet on the porters myself, but we’ll never know for sure. The newspaper will protect its source.’

‘Who’s protected us?’

‘We’re not entitled to protection. . at least I’m not. What did the hospital tell them?’

‘They’ve referred the reporter to the Trust press officer. She’s with me now, and she’s asking how we want to play it.’

‘It’s decision time, then. What do you want to tell them?’

‘That’s up to you. If you just want to say that you’re a friend and you happened to be with me when the baby started to come, that’s okay by me. It would be the sensible thing to do, Oz.’

It was; I knew that. Nobody at the hospital knew for sure that I was the father, other than the people who had heard us in the delivery room, and I reckoned they were bound by medical confidentiality. If I played it that way there would be no comeback from Susie, ever. No lawyer would allow the paper to say any different and Miles would only find out if I chose to tell him.

There was only one problem.

‘I won’t deny our daughter, Susie,’ I found myself saying, ‘not for one second. Tell the press officer to give me the reporter’s phone number. I’ll issue a statement through my lawyer.’

‘Saying what?’

‘Saying that you’ve had our baby, that she’s a wee cracker, and that we’re both chuffed as hell.’

She laughed. ‘I can just hear Greg McPhillips reading that to the press!’

‘Word for word, I promise you.’

‘And what’ll he say about the fact that you’re still married?’

‘The truth; that Prim and I haven’t been together for some time, and that the last time I spoke to her she was in Mexico with her new partner.’

‘You sure you want to be that frank?’

‘Certain.’

‘What about Miles?’

‘If he can’t handle it, fuck him.’ Mary frowned at me across the supper table. I mouthed an apology.

‘Indeed I will not,’ Susie chuckled. ‘You might be making a scarlet woman of me, but I’m not going to live up to it.’

‘Hey, I don’t want to do that; we’ve got things to talk about.’

‘No, we don’t. I can take care of myself.’

‘I know that. I didn’t mean that.’

‘Shut up, Oz. You’re tired and emotional.’

‘Okay, I will, for now. How’re you feeling?’

‘Sore.’

‘How’s wee Janet?’

‘Hungry. Lovely too.’

‘Look after her. I’ll pick you both up tomorrow, mid-day as arranged. The only thing is, we’re not going to be alone.’