April 10th 2016

"No, too early, go back to bed."

"It's eight am in New York, Soph."

"Exactly. It's too early."

"Get over it."

"Why are you calling me at this time of day?"

"Because I need you to help me out with something."

"Are you coming out of the closet and you need me to be your beard?"

"I think you and I both know that I'm not gay."

"Actually-"

"Sophie, stop bullshitting."

"Fine, let's get serious. What do you need help with?"

>

"I need you to help me with my grandmother."

"Why, what's wrong with Connie?"

"Nothing, she just wants a word with you."

"Oh, ok. Why?"

"Don't ask me. She was gabbing on about something and then suddenly she demanded that I call you. I tried to tell her about the time zone thing, but she was pretty insistent. Here she is."

>

"Good morning, Connie. Or, rather, good afternoon."

>

"Of course. How may I help?"

>

"Excuse me?"

>

"-Grandmother, you cannot go around asking people things like this.-"

>

"Connie, that's a wonderful gesture, but I couldn't possibly accept."

>

"Yes, it will."

>

"I'll be able to make a flying visit in July, Connie. Is that soon enough?"

>

"Isn't he?!"

>

"I can't take the credit for the boys making up."

>

"They just don't want to admit that they were the ones to bury the hatchet first. Men and their pride."

>

"It was my honour, Connie."

>

"Maybe we should stay on the phone longer. Just to annoy him."

>

"Bye, Connie."

"..."

"..."

"I don't think I like you and my grandmother being on such good speaking terms."

"Why not?"

"There's just something very strange about it, that's all."

"You're reading too much into it."

"Perhaps."

"So, I take it that you took Alfie to the country."

"Yes. He's enjoying it immensely. He and Samuel have been outside playing fetch since the table was cleared after lunch."

"Oh, that's cute."

"I suppose. So, what dress is my grandmother pawning off to you?"

"How would I know? Apparently, you were hovering the duration of the entire call, so you probably know about as much as I do."

"You know what this means, don't you?"

"I'm getting a vintage fifties gown?"

"Apart from that."

"No idea. And to be fair, it's too early in the morning for me to be thinking, so quit asking me questions and just give me the answers."

"It means, smart arse, that she considers you family."

"Family?"

"You heard her. She never had any daughters to pass her heirlooms down to. If she's handing them down to you, you must hold a special place in her thoughts."

"Well, I already knew that your grandmother likes me."

"I think you've been promoted from just someone she likes, to someone she loves."

"That was inevitable. What's not to love about me?"

"A number-"

"The question was rhetorical, Daniel."

"Was it, though? Really? Because I feel like it's a question I could easily answer."

"You're not being very nice to me this morning. First you wake me up, then you ask me questions and now you're practically insulting me. I feel victimised here."

"Victimised?"

"If you're going to start spewing out scenarios where people are really being victimised, then I'm going to hang up."

"In that case, I'm steering away from that thread of conversation."

"Good."

"What's your plans for the day?"

"Emma and I are teaming up to go to battle against the monster-in-law to be."

"Ah, wedding planning stuff?"

"Yep. I think we're tackling the seating plan."

"That stuff is brutal. you've got to be a seasoned diplomat to conquer that stuff."

"Don't I know it. When I get married, I'm going to elope. That way, I won't have to put up with half the crap Emma's going through."

"When you get married? I thought you were against it."

"Not entirely. I mean, if I felt like it was right, then I would marry."

"So, it wasn't right with Owen?"

"..."

"Sophie?"

"How do you know about Owen? I never told you about him."

"Um, uh... I, uh..."

"Hugo?"

"Don't be mad, Soph."

"I'm not mad. Just disappointed."

"Oh, Christ. That's worse than being mad."

"Owen is in the past. We didn't have the easiest of break ups. I know I came out of it looking like the bad person, but I was hurting, too."

"Sweetheart-"

"I imagine Hugo told you why I broke my relationship with Owen off."

"Yes."

"It wasn't as simple as that. I mean, I know my chances of conceiving children naturally is slim, but there's IVF and stuff. Surrogacy. Adoption. I've looked into all my options. It's just, sometimes, the guy isn't the right one."

"..."

"Daniel?"

"You've looked into all those things?"

"I mean... yeah. More so recently."

"Does that mean... you want children?"

"It means I haven't given up on the idea of being a mother. But, I don't want to be disappointed if things don't go right. Like, IVF isn't always the answer Surrogacy can go wrong. Adoptions don't always work out. There's a risk in all the options."

"But?"

"How do you know there was a 'but?'"

"Because I can hear it in your voice."

"Sometimes, a risk is worth taking."

"For the right person?"

"For the right person. Which Owen was not."

"What did happen there, if it wasn't solely based on having children?"

"I didn't love him."

"Ah."

"I did love him, I just didn't love him enough, like someone deserves to be loved."

"I can understand that."

"Mind explaining it to him? He was not happy when I broke up with him."

"His loss."

"What are you doing today?"

"Alfie and I are going to spend the rest of the afternoon here before heading back to London."

"And what about Samuel?"

"He's staying here until tomorrow, I think."

"So you have the rest of the day together, huh?"

"I suppose."

"In that case-"

"I knew you'd do that."

"What?"

"Start to say goodbye."

"I don't want to intrude on what your bonding time."

"I think we bonded enough on Friday night."

"Then, bond a little more."

"You're so stubborn, Soph."

"My best quality."

"I thought sarcasm was your best quality?"

"I have many qualities and they're all the best."

"That they are. So, you're going to shoo me off now?"

"Yes. Have a nice day with your brother, Daniel."

"Have a nice day with your sister and the monster-in-law to be. I'm sure with you on Emma's side, the Delaney girls will win the battle and the war."

"You bet. Love you, bye."

"Love you, bye."