Read Online Tiddas by Anita Heiss - Free Book Online Page B

possibly have done to make her seem so angst-ridden?
    â€˜I don’t know how to say this, and I really wish I didn’t have to.’ Izzy got that pre-vomit saliva build-up in her mouth and thought she should bolt from the table, but she swallowed hard and hoped it would stay down.
    â€˜For fuck’s sake Izzy, just say it, we’re all worried now,’ Ellen said, echoing what the others were thinking.
    Izzy took a deep breath. ‘I’m pregnant,’ she said matter-of-factly. She sighed with relief and looked straight into her coffee cup, which was firmly gripped in both hands. She was grateful for the release, but still she felt like she’d just confessed to a serious crime.
    Silence fell as heavily on the tiddas as the humidity that usually blanketed the city in summer. The women looked anywhere else than at Xanthe. Izzy was pregnant. Xanthe wasn’t. Izzy never talked about wanting kids; her career, her media projects were her babies. It seemed like forever before someone said something.
    â€˜Congratulations,’ Veronica offered half-heartedly, as if itwas the only thing that could be said, or should be said, even though she felt Xanthe’s pain.
    â€˜Oh yes, congratulations, Izzy. It’s a surprise, but . . .’ Xanthe choked up. ‘I’m happy for you,’ she said, swiftly pushing her chair from the table and fleeing to the ladies’ room.
    â€˜How long?’ Nadine asked softly.
    â€˜Going on ten weeks now.’
    â€˜The father?’ Nadine asked again.
    â€˜I haven’t told him, I haven’t told anyone except you girls, and Tracey.’
    â€˜You told your agent before the father? That’s pretty fucked.’ Nadine’s softness disappeared as quickly as Xanthe had. ‘Not even I would do that, and I know you all think I’ve got problems.’
    The waitress appeared at the table and took another round of coffee orders. Everyone ordered cake as well. It was comfort food time; when conversation was difficult, food was always easy.
    Xanthe returned with a freshly washed face. ‘So, when are you due?’ she asked.
    Izzy couldn’t tell if there was a tone to the question or not. ‘November.’ She paused. ‘I think.’
    â€˜You think? How can you not know?’ Xanthe was angry at how vague her friend was about bringing a new life into the world.
    â€˜Because, Xanthe,’ Izzy’s voice was strained, as she tried to remain calm, ‘I didn’t plan this, obviously, and I don’t even know if I’m going to keep it.’
    â€˜WHAT?’ Xanthe yelled. She banged her fists on the table in a display that in the twenty-plus years of their friendship no-one had seen before. The entire café of patrons and staff threw stares at their table.
    â€˜Shhh, love, calm down.’ Veronica was playing the wise one again, placing her hand on Xanthe’s and hoping the moment didn’t turn into a full public spectacle. Veronica believed if you had to be loud and argue, you should at least do it at home.
    Xanthe took a breath and lowered her voice. ‘You can’t have an abortion,’ she said as if in a position to control Izzy’s life and any other that may come along.
    â€˜I don’t think you can really tell Izzy what she can or can’t do, Xanthe.’ Nadine stepped in to show support for her sister-in-law.
    â€˜People like me are desperate to have kids and can’t. I think I’m allowed to comment, don’t you?’ Xanthe replied. She looked back to Izzy. ‘Especially when you ,’ Xanthe almost spat the words out, ‘just act like it’s a choice about having milk in your coffee or not.’
    â€˜Xanthe!’ Nadine snapped. ‘Stop it, you’re being unfair.’
    â€˜Unfair? I’ll tell you what’s un-fucking-fair . . .’ Xanthe sat on the edge of her seat and unleashed a tirade, the sort of