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You said he tries to “tune” girls. What am I missing there? Some kind of odd reference to transistor radios?’
    â€˜Basically just means trying to hit on them, you know, like pick them up.’ Bazza gave her a sly smile and added, ‘Or court them, as I’m sure they said back in your day in what – the early eighteen-hundreds?’
    â€˜Watch it there, kiddo, I’m not that fond of you yet!’
    â€˜Hey,’ said Bazza, holding his hands up in defence. ‘I’m just trying to say, you’re really not as old as you make out you are, McGavin.’
    Evelyn smiled despite herself. She rather liked his habit of calling her by just her surname. He’d been doing it all afternoon and it had made her feel like she was just another one of his mates. It was rather enjoyable to be feeling young and hip once again.
    â€˜You just might live to see another day, Barry.’
    â€˜Ahh, McGavin, how many times do I have to tell you? It’s Bazza. Or Baz, if you like. Careful, you’re starting to show your age again.’
    â€˜I take it back. You’re in big trouble there, mister.’ Evelyn pursed her lips and folded her arms menacingly, but there was a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth and she thought to herself, Who would have thought it? I’m really getting to like this kid.

Chapter 7
    Belinda
    â€˜From what you’re describing, it sounds to me like you’ve been experiencing the beginnings of pervasive pregnancy denial, but the good thing is you’re here now.’
    The obstetrician gave Belinda an encouraging smile and patted her hand. ‘How about you hop up onto the bed here and we’ll take a look and see that everything is going along okay.’ She had just a hint of an Indian accent, which made her voice sound gentle and smooth.
    Belinda had spent the last forty-five minutes explaining to the doctor why she was having her first check-up so late. Stacey had been sitting next to her, interrupting with helpful comments like, ‘Last time we had a wine and cheese night, I wouldn’t let her have any Camembert cheese. I knew something was up, you know? And soft cheese is bad for pregnant people, right? Although I guess I should have tried to stop her from drinking all that wine . . .’
    As she climbed up onto the bed, Belinda asked the question that had been bothering her for the last few days – ever since shehad finally accepted the fact that she was pregnant. ‘Um, how did this even happen? I only missed one pill. Didn’t even skip it, actually, just threw it up – is it really that unreliable?’
    â€˜Honestly, it depends on the situation, sweetheart. I’ve had patients that have fallen pregnant simply from taking just one single pill at a different time of the day. Whereas others could take their doses as irregularly as an arrhythmic heartbeat and never fall pregnant—’ she paused here as though expecting some sort of appreciative reaction to her clever metaphor; when none was forthcoming, she continued. ‘Fact is, you just got lucky . . . I guess,’ she added a little falteringly.
    Belinda shivered then, as a cool gel was squeezed onto her belly and she looked the other way as Doctor Vashna tapped at her keyboard. As they waited for the image to appear on the monitor, a thought suddenly occurred to Belinda that she hadn’t even considered up until now. She seized the doctor’s wrist just as she was about to place the ultrasound device on her stomach.
    â€˜Wait! The father is a twin! What if I’m carrying twins? Oh my God, oh my God, I can’t have two babies!’ She was almost hyperventilating when Doctor Vashna burst out laughing.
    â€˜That’s why I’m the one who’s getting paid the big bucks here. The father being a twin has absolutely no bearing at all on your chances of falling pregnant with them. So stop worrying.