Tally stood by the quayside and pulled her coat closer around her. A chill wind was blowing off the Mediterranean Sea, and she shivered as she watched the ferryboat draw ever closer. Though the day was cold, the sun shone brightly, and she held up her hand to shield her eyes. Five more minutes, and the boat would dock.

Her stomach was tight with nerves and her mouth uncomfortably dry. She licked her lips and swallowed. It didn’t matter how many times she played events over in her mind. She couldn’t second-guess the outcome. Em was unpredictable at the best of times. It was one of the things that made her such a fun person to be around. No one quite knew what she was going to do next.

Except this time, Tally needed her reaction to be thoughtful and measured, rather than the usual knee-jerk response. “Speak first, think later—if at all,” was Em’s motto.

Tally touched her fingers to the crisp envelope nestled in her pocket. The contents of the envelope held the precious scan of her unborn child. She’d had it done a week earlier but still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that she was going to be a mother. She must have looked at that grainy picture twenty times a day, hoping the more she did, the more real her situation would become. And yet every day the thought of motherhood grew more surreal.

As the ferry docked, the first mate threw a rope onto the quayside and jumped out to secure the vessel. Safome didn’t get many visitors this time of year, and there were only a handful of people aboard. She spotted Em and waved, more anxious than ever to get this over with. Many times over the past week, she’d almost spilt her news over the phone but had refrained. She needed to do this face to face, where she’d be able to read Em’s reaction.

Em was first off the boat, and she ran towards Tally, dragging her suitcase along the slippery gangway. The two girls fell into each other’s arms.

“God, I’ve missed you,” Em said with her head buried in the collar of Tally’s coat.

“Missed you more,” Tally said, hooking her arm through Em’s as they set off walking. “Come on. My place isn’t very far from here. Let’s get out of the cold.”

“Cold? This is positively tropical compared to London. Minus three when I left.”

Tally grinned. “It’s amazing how quickly you get used to the temperature here. What feels mild to you is bloody freezing to me.”

“I can’t wait to see the place. How’s the refugee thing going?”

“Great. I love working in the café. Feels like I’m doing some real good in the world, you know? Seeing how gracious and grateful the refugees are, it sort of puts my shit into perspective.”

Em nodded. “I can imagine. What about the first article?”

“I sent it over to Pete a couple of days ago. I’m hoping he’ll agree to publish soon. It’s so sad, Em, what’s happening here and across Greece.”

“Well, if anyone can do a story like that justice, it’s you, babes.”

When they walked into Tally’s apartment, Em parked her suitcase by the door and drifted over to the window.

“Blimey. What a view. Look how green the water is from up here.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty special.”

“And we have to take a walk along that beach. It’s stunning.”

“Definitely,” Tally said.

Em glanced over her shoulder. “No wonder I can’t persuade you to move back to London.”

A slug of homesickness hit Tally. “I do miss it.”

“Yeah, but this place is tranquil. Exactly what you need.”

Deciding now wasn’t the time to voice her thoughts about moving back home, Tally nodded. “Why don’t I put the kettle on?”

Em flashed her an incredulous look. “Kettle? I haven’t seen you in weeks. Please tell me the fridge is full of wine?”

Tally chuckled. “I’ve not been very well, so I think I’ll stick to the tea.” Not exactly a lie, but certainly misleading.

Em narrowed her eyes. “Why, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing serious. I’ll be fine.”

“You never mentioned it.”

“Because I’m okay.”

Em frowned. “Come to think of it, you do look a bit peaky. Here, you sit, and I’ll make the tea.”

“That would be nice.”

Tally shrugged off her coat and threw it over the back of the couch. She was going to let Em make the tea, and then she would tell her. Nausea flooded her stomach. She began to fidget as Em faffed about. When Em finally handed over her tea, Tally was almost at bursting point.

“What the hell is wrong with you, babes?” Em said, settling into the chair by the window. “You’re jumpy as fuck.”

Now that the time had come, Tally couldn’t find the right words. No matter where she thought about starting, she knew it wouldn’t come out right. Instead, she handed over the envelope containing the scan picture.

“What’s this?”

“Open it,” Tally whispered. She wiped clammy hands on her jeans.

“Is it a letter from Cash?”

“Just open it, Em.”

Em reached inside and removed the ultrasound picture. Her brows knitted together, and then her head jerked backwards. Her stunned gaze found Tally’s.

“You’re pregnant?” she said in an incredulous tone.

“Yep.”

Em gasped, her eyes wide as her mouth opened and closed, even though no words came out.

“Say something,” Tally said.

“Is it Cash’s?”

“Jesus, Em. Yes. For Christ’s sake, what do you take me for?”

Em nodded. “Yeah. Silly me. Cash ruined you for anyone else.”

“Please don’t,” Tally said.

“Does he know?”

“No.”

“When are you going to tell him?”

Tally rested her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. “I’m not.”

“Yes, that’s probably best,” Em said.

Surprised, Tally’s eyes snapped open. “I didn’t think you’d agree with my decision not to tell him.”

Em shrugged. “Well, if you’re not keeping it, there’s no point shaking the tiger’s tail.”

Tally cocked her head to the side. “What makes you think I’m not keeping it?”

Em’s body stiffened. “You can’t be seriously considering keeping this baby.”

“I am keeping it.”

Em pressed closer. “Why would you choose to ruin your life?”

“I don’t see it that way. Lots of women have babies alone. They cope. So can I.”

“It’s not about that,” Em said, gesticulating wildly. “Don’t you see? If you have this baby, every time you look at him or her, you’ll see Cash. And your heart will break. If you’re still determined you’re not going to try to make things right with him, then please think about what you’re doing.”

“But it’s Cash’s kid,” Tally whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

“Babes.” Em moved next to her on the couch and hugged her tightly. “I know how much you love him, but you have to think this through. Please make sure you’re looking at this not romantically, but practically, because when that kid has been screaming for three days straight, and you’re knackered and alone, reality is going to bite you in the arse.”

Tally recoiled. “Are you saying you won’t support me?”

“Of course I’m not,” Em said, horror etched on her face. “I’m there for you whatever you decide. But I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t make you look long and hard at this decision.”

“I’m keeping it.” Tally plucked the ultrasound picture from between Em’s fingers. “This is my baby. Mine.”

Em blew out a soft sigh and took back the picture. She stared at the grainy image. “I can’t believe it.”

Tally gave a bitter laugh. “Try being in my head.”

“When’s it due?”

“Sixteenth of July.”

“You need to tell Cash he’s going to be a father.”

“No.” Tally’s response was instantaneous and firm.

“If you are keeping this baby––”

“I am keeping it.”

“Okay, as you are keeping this baby, Cash has a right to know. And maybe, just maybe, that will be the catalyst to bring you two back together.”

“I called him.”

Em’s eyebrows shot up. “When?”

Tears welled in Tally’s eyes. “The day I found out. Christmas Eve. I wanted to share the news with him.”

A frown drifted across Em’s face. “But you didn’t?”

Tally blinked several times as the memory of Cash’s harsh words and even harsher tone came rushing back. “It went to voicemail, and then he rang me back. He didn’t know it was me when he called. We spoke for a minute or two, and then I knew I couldn’t tell him.”

Em tilted her head to the side. “Why not?”

“He was… aloof. Cold. When I said I’d called because I wanted to hear his voice, he told me there were plenty of YouTube videos knocking about and that I shouldn’t live on false hope.”

Em sucked in a breath. “The arrogant fucker.”

When a tear spilled onto Tally’s cheek, Em’s arms curved around her neck. Tally rested her head on Em’s shoulder and gave in to her sorrow.

* * *

The morning Em was due to go back to London, Tally sat in silence, her mood sombre as she watched Em pack. Acute loneliness swept through her as she realised she’d soon be alone once more. Safome was great, and Nerissa had become a dear friend, but it wasn’t the same. Not like with Em, whom she’d known most of her life.

Or Pete. She hadn’t even told him she was pregnant. It didn’t seem right to tell him over the phone. He deserved better than that.

“Right, that’s the last of it, I think,” Em said, scanning Tally’s bedroom.

“Did you get your hair straighteners from the bathroom?” Tally asked.

“No. Shit. Imagine this mane without them,” she said, pointing to her perfectly straight bob, a look she achieved by clamping her hair between two hundred degrees of ceramic plates for twenty minutes.

“I’d rather not. There are things the eyes should never see,” Tally said, ducking when Em threw a cushion at her.

Em returned from the bathroom and stuffed her hair straighteners into her suitcase. She zipped it up and heaved it off the bed, where it thudded onto the floor. “I think I may be over the weight allowance for the flight,” she said with a grimace.

“I’m not surprised, with the amount you’ve bought this week.”

“I’ve been on holiday,” Em said with a pout. And then she chuckled. “Although I never need an excuse to shop.”

When Tally didn’t join in with her laughter, Em sat on the edge of the bed and tucked a lock of hair behind Tally’s ear. “Talk to me.”

Tally met Em’s gaze, her vision blurring as her eyes filled with tears. “I want to go home.”