Chapter 4 - Adrian's News.

12th October 1992

Joey awoke to an urgent hammering on the door. He checked the clock, 8:30 in the morning. All sorts of thoughts rushed through his head, mam was ill, dad had had a heart attack, granddad had had a fall, Roxy and Toby had had an accident.

He raced down to open the door of the little house he shared with his wife and step son to see Adrian standing there looking annoyed.

" I want a divorce" Adrian blurted out and he pushed through the door before Joey had a chance to say anything.

"What's brought this on son? You've not been married a year yet."

"Irenee's pregnant." Adrian answered idignantly as if it answered everything.

"Well surely that's good news son, unless it isn't.."

"Of course it's mine." Adrian snapped "Irenee's not.." he was about to say not Roxy but thought better of it "Irenee's faithful and so am I."

"Well what's the problem then?" Joey asked just about managing to hide his irritation.

"We can't agree on a name. She's rejected all my suggestions, Leonardo, Pablo, Salvadore.. "

Joey's initial thought was that he didn't blame her for rejceting those names but instead beckoned Adrian to sit down.

"I wouldn't worry about that, there's plenty of time to discuss names. I remember when Aveline was born, she was known as baby Boswell for the first three weeks before mam and dad had settled on a name. They were so convinced she was going to be another boy..."

"It's not the name" Adrian snapped "it's what it represents. It means we'll never agree on anything, that we're not suited, not compatible. How will we raise a child together when we don't agree on anything?"

Joey was angry now. He couldn't believe the words coming out of Adrian's mouth and he wasn't going to pussy foot around like he often did where Adrian was concerned.

"You knew that what you married her. Did you think she'd suddenly change? A long time ago I stuck up for you when you said you were a wimp but I was wrong. You're worse than your father. Not even he'd be cowardly enough to leave a pregnant woman because she didn't meet his snobbish requirements."

Adrian winced. It wasn't the accusations of being cowardly that got him, he agreed with that. It was the 's' word. He was used to Billy, Jack and Aveline calling him a snob, but not Joey.

He started to cry. "I'm scared Joey. I'm frightened."

Joey softened "Well that's understandable. Pregnancy can be frightening but it's also exciting and wonderful and joyous. If you're scared imagine how Irenee is feeling."

Adrian nodded. "I keep thinking of all the things that could wrong. What if she miscarries? What if the baby has something wrong it? What if it doesn't like me? What if Irenee suffers from the same thing Leonora has. I couldn't handle that as well as Jack is."

Everyone had been surprised how gentle Jack was being concerning Leonara's postnatal depression and he had to admit he couldn't imagine Adrian dealing with it as patiently as Jack was doing.

"You won't have to Adrian. Leonara has no-one other than Jack. Irenee has a mother, sisters, plenty of friends. You won't be alone if that happens and the other stuff we can deal with as well. Now, off you go and enjoy the pregnancy together."

"There's also money. Irenee is already working two jobs and she won't be able to for much longer."

"There's always an opening at the shop, please don't say it's not your niche Adrian as everyone has to make sacrifcices when a baby comes along."

"Dad didn't" Adrian retorted.

"Mam did" Joey answered back "and when it come to parenting, Dad isn't exaclty a role model. Now then, the shop could do with some advertising fliers, something that appeals to students and familes. I'll commission you to design them if you also come to work in the shop 3 days a week. How does that sound? "

"Oh Joey. I'm very moved. I won't let you down."

"You'd better not, and don't let Irenee down either. She needs you."

With that Adrian left and Joey wondered if there'd ever be a time when he didn't have to sort out his siblings'problems and he could just be allowed to get on with his life with Roxy and Toby. Perhaps he and Roxy should move away somewhere, she had a thing about going to Scotland. His siblings wouldn't be able to pound on his door then. His mother would be able to ring him up at all hours and demand he go to see them. He shook his head as he realised that they were Roxy's words and thoughts and not his own. Sure, he did wish his siblings would be a bit more independent, but he did still want them in his life. His irritation wasn't really Adrian's fault, he was jealous. He would love to be the one sharing news of a pregnancy, he and Roxy had been trying to conceive ince they married and nothing was happening and now that Irenee was pregnant he remained the last Boswell sibling not to have reproduced.