Catherine places her bottle on the counter and steps forward to give me a hug. “Congratulations, Lizzie! That’s fantastic news.”

She looks at Ross from under her eyebrows. “You kept that one under your hat, didn’t you, Dr. Murray!”

Ross looks like a rabbit in headlights and I immediately regret blurting it out like that. But I refuse to spend my whole time worrying about his reaction to things. Besides, what difference does it make when we break the news? His colleagues are bound to find out sooner or later.

“It was a bit of a surprise to us, too,” he says. I wish he’d look a bit happier about it.

After supper, Catherine insists on loading the dishwasher while Ross and I sit on the sofa and watch a bit of telly.

I look at him sideways. He’s staring at the screen, seemingly engrossed, but somehow I sense that he’s not really watching it at all. He becomes aware of my gaze and gives me a quick glance.

“I didn’t realize you were going to tell her tonight,” he says. He sounds tense, as if I’ve done the wrong thing.

“Nor did I, but it’s okay, isn’t it? You don’t mind, do you?”

“No,” he says. “Although it’s going to be a nightmare at work once this gets round. Everyone popping in to slap me on the back and make daft comments.”

I give his arm an affectionate squeeze. “At least you’ll get it over with.” I kiss him on the cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you more warning. And I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you before offering her a room. I’m too impulsive, aren’t I?”

“No, you’re not. We’re just very different types of people, that’s all,” he says, squeezing my hand. “It’s what makes us work.”

I snuggle into him. “Do you think she’ll come in here and watch telly with us?”

“I hope not,” he says.

I can’t help laughing at his hangdog face. “Two weeks will fly by, you’ll see.”

36

By the time I wake up, Ross has already left for work. I wish he wouldn’t do that, just go off without waking me.

Sunlight oozes in through a crack in the curtains and I find myself staring at a massive gray cobweb I’ve never noticed before. It swathes the corner of the ceiling above the wardrobe and has started to inch its way along the coving. I’ll have to try and get rid of it with a broom.