You, Me and Him by Alice Peterson Read Free Book Online

I’ve got something to …’
    ‘It’s like he’s too scared of meeting the right person so he only goes out with airheads who won’t challenge him. He needs to take the bull by the horns, you know? He also needs to stop hanging around here. He should meet Alessia. My God, now she is close to perfect.’
    Alessia de Silva is a Senior House Officer at the hospital. I haven’t met her yet, and from the way Finn describes her I’m not sure I want to. Not only is she the sexiest woman on this earth but I am also told that she is ‘seriously clever’. Finn likes to tell me she works ‘under him’.
    ‘Finn?’
    ‘If you sit and wait for this perfect angel, you are going to be disappointed. There are always compromises.’
    You are too right, I think. I’m not entirely sure, however, what compromises Finn has made for me.
    He takes off his tie and it falls to the ground. He loosens the buttons of his shirt. He circles his neck. I put his tie on the kitchen table. Next he kicks off his shoes and swings his feet onto the table. ‘Are you like this at work?’ I ask.
    ‘Ah, that’s good, I’ve been rushing round that hospital all day. The lift decided to break down today. I like Justin but …’
    ‘FINN!’ I start once more.
    ‘… the ice should have melted by now. I still think he loves you and can’t move on …’
    I rush up to him and cover his lips with the palm of my hand. ‘For one second, don’t talk. You are just like George. I have some news.’ I speak slowly and clearly.
    ‘News? Let go.’ I release my hand. ‘What kind of news?’
    ‘Think of something you really want.’
    ‘You got promoted?’ I shake my head. ‘Won a premium bond? A gallery accepted your work?’
    ‘No. Something
you
want.’
    ‘I want what you want. Your happiness makes mine complete,’ he fools around. Then he starts to get it. ‘You’re not … are you?’
    ‘I took the test tonight.’
    ‘Josie!’ He lowers his legs to stand and then wraps his arms around me. ‘I can’t believe it! That’s amazing. You’re not joking?’
    ‘It’s real.’ I think about what Clarky said. ‘There’s no going back.’
    ‘This is the best news. How many weeks?’
    ‘About six.’
    ‘This is the point when I scoop you up into my arms and …’ He attempts to pick me up.
    ‘I’m too heavy.’ I can’t help laughing. ‘Too many potatoes.’
    He kisses me. ‘I’m so happy,’ he exclaims. ‘Are you OK about this?’
    ‘Yes.’ I bite my lip. ‘And no. I had a panic attack at Sainsbury’s. What if I have another child with ADHD?’
    Finn takes my hand hurriedly and we sit down on the stools. ‘You’ve got to stop worrying about this. I’ve seen the research at the hospital. You can have one child with ADHD and four children without. There’s no certainty. It’s a risk, but there’s always a risk. Everyone worries about whether they are going to have a healthy child or not.’
    ‘If it’s a girl, there’s less chance she’ll have it, isn’t there?’
    ‘No, not necessarily. Girls are not so externalised with their symptoms when they are young. They can have ADHD but not be diagnosed until adulthood. And if we do have a boy, it doesn’t automatically mean we’ll have another George.’
    ‘I love George.’ I feel so guilty for talking about him like this.
    ‘I know. Look, the ADHD will probably always be with him but, as hard as this stage is now, people affected as he is can lead independent lives. Look at Emma, the mum you met on the internet, and her son the British Gas boy. These children are often talented and bright, with high IQs, they just need to find something they’re really good at. Great figures like Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde are believed to have had ADHD.’
    ‘And Einstein,’ I add. George has a monkey in his bedroom which he’s named after him.
    ‘I don’t believe there could be two boys like George, do you?’ Finn suggests.
    ‘Why not? Give them both to me, I love