“Z..y..z..z..y..v..a”

“43 points, two double letter scores, another 34 for adding to your word, that’s 77, and 50 bonus points for using all seven letters in one go.  127 and I win again, but tot up the scores, Claire love, just to be sure!”

“God, I hate Scrabble, Malcolm.  That’s not even a proper word!  I don’t understand why you have to win so badly that you’d cheat!?”  Talk about competitive, and you’re so smug with it! I bet you can’t even pronounce it!

“It’s pronounced ZeeZee Va.  It’s some sort of South American weevil and it’s the last word in the OED.  It is legit.  Look it up.”

“Well, isn’t it lucky for you there isn’t a copy of the OED in the cottage!”

“If you don’t believe me, Google it.”

“You know fine there’s no WiFi and no mobile signal here, so I can’t.  It’s why we chose this place.  ‘Lets get away from everything’, you said.  ‘If it rains, we can fire up the wood burner and play board games’, you said.  It’s why we’re playing this bloody game instead of watching Netflix.  I know why they’re called board games – trust me I’m bored.”

“What about LUDO then?  Snakes and Ladders? I think there’s a pack of UNO cards in the games cupboard.  Jenga?”

“I’d rather watch rain drops run down the window, thanks, or go to bed.  I think I’ll have a drink.  D’you want me to pour you one?”

Malcolm swept the plastic tiles off the board, ready to put them back into their little red velour bag, but went across to the log basket to put another lump of birch on the stove first, while Claire stopped to run her finger along the small and only shelf of books. 

“Jilly Cooper, Dan Brown, Danielle Steel, Jackie Collins.  Dear God!  Oh, here’s a good one, “First Steps to Forever – The Life of Justin Bieber”.  Shaking her head, she moved on to the drinks tray and poured herself a large glass of Shiraz, showing it to Malcolm who nodded his agreement.

“There must be something there you haven’t read. Jilly Cooper’s OK isn’t she?”

Claire snorted her disdain, and rejoined Malcolm on the sofa.  They sat in silence for a while, except for murmured appreciation of the wine, until Claire licked her lips, and spoke. 

“Well, I haven’t read any of them, and I’m surprised that you have.  I’m even disappointed that you would think I might.  When have you ever seen me with airport fiction?  I sometimes wonder if you actually know me at all.” 

“Look, what is it Claire?  Seems like you’ve got something other than losing at Scrabble on your mind.  What is it?  Come on, spit it out.”   

Claire put down her glass, sat up and turned towards Malcolm, placing a conciliatory hand on his.

“You’re right.  It isn’t about the Scrabble, but you do always have to have the last word.  You can never let anything I say or do pass without a smart comeback.  But no, it isn’t that.  We came here, well I originally agreed to come here, because I thought getting away from everything, with nothing much to do we might, you know….”

“Bonk our brains out”?

Claire smiled, and lowered her gaze briefly, almost embarrassed.

“Well, yes, though that’s never been a problem, but if you must put it that way.  I thought we might talk as well.”

Claire drew a deep breath and went on.

“I want to have a baby.  You know I’ve wanted us to have a baby for ages.  I’m getting older.  If we don’t start a family soon it may be too late for me.”

“Claire, please stop it.  Stop. Please.  We’ve discussed this over and over.  We’ve agreed there’s all sorts of reasons why it isn’t the right time. The house isn’t big enough, my job takes me away a lot and it’s not that well paid or secure.  We just can’t.”

“I know all the reasons, but we haven’t discussed it.  You’ve talked.  And we haven’t agreed.  You decided and I’ve gone along with it. Well, now I’ve decided.  I’m pregnant.”

Malcolm withdrew his hand as if he’d been electrocuted.

“What?!!  How?  When?  It’s just not possible.”

“Truth is I stopped taking the pill months ago, and I suppose all the bonking’s finally worked.  Yes, I know it’ll be challenging at first, but we can work it out.”

Malcolm got up, went across to the coffee table with his wine and sat staring into it for a while.  Then he began distractedly flicking through the Scrabble tiles.  Claire joined him.

“Do you want one more game, then, before we turn in?  I won’t mind, if you really want to.”

Malcolm didn’t look up.  Instead, he began to form a line of letters across the rotating board.  When he’d completed it, he spun the board towards Claire and looked into her eyes. 

“How about this for a last word Claire?  Not much of a score.  Only 19 points.”

V..A..S..E..C..T..O..M..Y.”