Stuart and I take Deborah out for Sunday lunch to break the news.

It’s a cautiously sunny March day. There is a slight turn in the temperature hinting at the possibility of a warm spring.

“Let’s sit outside,” I say. “It’s too lovely a day to be cooped up inside.”

I can’t bear the darkness inside and the smell of roast pork and lamb emitting from the carvery.

While the children play on the slide and run up and down a bridge in the play area, Stuart, Deborah and I perch uncomfortably on a wooden bench.

“I know something’s up,” says Deborah as she sips her lime and soda, focusing on watching the children, not looking at us. “Look at those poor little people. It breaks my heart.”

“Mine, too,” says Stuart.

He visibly takes a deep breath.

“You’re right, Deborah, something is up.” His voice is gentle, his manner respectfully calm. In that moment, I feel the most affection I ever have for him. Relief. Our baby is not a mistake, it’s meant to be.

My relief is short-lived.

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” she says under her breath. “How am I going to break the news to Leonard?”

Nina’s father’s health has been fragile for years. I can’t remember the last time I saw him.

“He’s already heartbroken,” Deborah continues. “This dreadful turn of events will just add to the devastation. Couldn’t you have had the decency to wait for at least a couple of years or so? Or were you both carrying on behind Nina’s back, waiting for my daughter to die?”

“I understand that this is extremely difficult,” Stuart says. “I loved Nina. I miss her every day of my life. Yes, this is soon, but we came together through grief, not anything sordid or preplanned. Given the choice, we’d both rather Nina was here.”

Deborah wipes away her tears.

“I’ve always been fond of you, Stuart,” she says. “But I wish you were stronger and could see through what she’s—” she points at me “—done. Pregnancy! The oldest, most effective trick in the book.”

“It does take two, Deborah,” says Stuart.

“It’s really not like that,” I say. “You know I was with Ben. You know Ben left me. You know how much I wanted a baby with him.”

Deborah stands up.

“I also know how envious you were of Nina. Ever since you were young. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie. Everything you do is to benefit you.”

“That’s not true. Yes, I made some mistakes, but who doesn’t?”

She plows on. “I warned Nina before she left us. I warned her that you’d do this. Do you know what her response was?”

I shake my head.

“She said, ‘Marie wouldn’t stoop that low. Besides, she’s not Stuart’s type, nor he hers. They wouldn’t last five minutes together. They’d drive each other mad.’ She trusted you because you loved her children. She gave you her blessing for the most precious of gifts and this is how you repay her! You’re despicable—a scarlet woman!”