Free Don't Get Me Wrong by Marianne Kavanagh Page B

behavingoutrageously. Only the other day I heard about a politician hosting S and M in his gazebo.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    There was something about Eva’s pregnancy that pushed hostilities between Kim and Harry to the next level.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    It was Sunday afternoon. Kim had wandered into the kitchen to find Harry leaning back against the sink and Eva sitting at the kitchen table. Both were holding bottles of beer.
    Harry looked surprised. “Talking to Eva?”
    â€œYou’re drinking beer!”
    â€œI know. It’s allowed. I’m over eighteen.”
    â€œNot you! Eva! She shouldn’t be drinking!”
    Eva’s eyes were big with alarm. “Kim—”
    Kim ignored her. “It’s bad for her health. Bad for the baby.”
    â€œKim—”
    â€œYou know,” said Harry, “some people don’t agree. There are experts who believe that the odd glass of wine does no harm at all.”
    â€œWhich experts?”
    Harry looked vague. “I don’t know. I’m sure I read it somewhere.”
    â€œYou read it somewhere. Or maybe saw it on the telly? Well my information is a little more reliable. I went with Eva to her prenatal appointment last week, and the midwife reminded her that you must not drink in pregnancy.”
    â€œKim—”
    â€œAt all. Ever. Not the odd glass. Not the occasional treat. Not even a bottle of beer.”
    â€œAll I can say,” said Harry, “is thank God you’re here.”
    Kim stared at him with disbelief. “It’s not funny! Why can’t you just admit for once that you’ve got it wrong? Is that so hard?”
    Eva bowed her head. Her shoulders were shaking. Oh no, thought Kim, I didn’t mean to make her cry. I never meant to make her cry. But Harry’s behaving like a child. Being completely irresponsible.
    â€œYou’re always so emotional,” said Harry. “Are you sure it’s good for you?”
    Eva looked up, her face awash with tears. “Kim, please stop.”
    â€œI’m not angry with you. It’s Harry who . . .” Kim trailed off. Eva wasn’t crying. Eva was laughing.
    â€œKimmy, I’m sorry,” said Eva. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “You’re absolutely right about drinking and pregnancy. And I’m very grateful that you’re so fierce and roaring like a lion to protect me.” She smiled. “But there’s no need. I was getting really fed up with orange juice, and lemonade, and elderflower cordial with fizzy water, and Harry said, Why don’t you try something different? So that’s what I’m doing. This beer hasn’t got any alcohol in it. We thought we might try some alcohol-free wine, too. There’s some that’s meant to taste like champagne.”
    Kim felt herself growing hotter. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œI did try.”
    Kim stared at the floor.
    When Kim eventually did look up, Eva and Harry were both peering at her like anxious parents whose toddler has just had a tantrum. Kim wanted to say, Why do you always do this? Why do you always gang up on me? But that would just have made her sound whiny and immature.
    Harry said, “Sorry. You were only trying to look after her.”
    But this, for all she knew, was yet another trap—a big pit in the jungle, loosely covered with branches, just waiting for her to fall in. She so badly wanted to shout at him for laughing at her.
    But all I’ve got left in this situation, she thought miserably, are the last thin shreds of my dignity.
    A few weeks later, it happened again. When Kim found out that Eva was intending to visit Sieben Linden—an ecovillage in Germany—at the end of November, she was appalled. “But you’ll be huge!”
    â€œIt’s my last chance. After that, I’ll have the baby. And getting around will be so