by Katie Fforde
‘Here’s the thing,’ said James. ‘There’s the bothy, at the end of the house. It’s nearly ready to go. It just needs a bed and things in it.’
‘If you’d like me to help you get it ready—’ Emily began.
‘No! I told my mother she couldn’t stay because there was only the sofa bed, which she says is terribly uncomfortable.’ Rebecca had clearly taken this personally.
‘And …?’ Emily looked at James and Rebecca, hoping for enlightenment.
‘She’s staying up the road,’ said James. ‘Our friends have a B and B. She’s booked in with them.’
‘Oh, well, that’s OK!’ said Emily. ‘She’ll hardly be here. It’ll be fine.’
James shook his head. ‘She’s arranged for Bed only. She’ll be on our doorstep at seven a.m., every morning, dressed and ready, and she’ll expect us to be dressed and ready, too.’
‘But she’ll leave at seven p.m.?’ said Emily, determined to find the positive in this. ‘Leaving you to have the evening on your own?’
‘No chance,’ said Rebecca. ‘She won’t leave until after the News at Ten, which she’ll insist on watching. I can’t bear it, Em, I really can’t!’
She did seem close to tears and Emily went over to her to pat her back, trying to think of something encouraging.
‘The thing is,’ said Rebecca, ‘I always get a bit of baby blues – nothing major and nothing I’d usually pay any attention to – but with her here, I know it’ll be worse. I’ll cry all the time and she’ll tell me how lucky I am.’
Emily bit her lip to hide a smile; Rebecca was quite lucky but it would tactless to point this out when she was feeling anything but. ‘Make a calendar,’ she said. ‘Get the boys to do it, and cross off a day until she’s gone. You could even divide the day up into sections, so you all get a chance to colour in a section. You know, breakfast to morning coffee, coffee to lunch.’
The boys regarded her with interest.
‘You’ll be too busy to fill it in often, so when you do, there’ll be loads to do. The time will fly by!’
‘I’m not convinced,’ said James. ‘But we’ll cope.’
Just then the back door opened and Kate came running in. ‘Can I see the baby?’ She screeched to a halt. ‘Oh,’ she whispered. ‘Is that her?’
‘You don’t have to whisper, Kate,’ said Archie. ‘She’s asleep!’
‘Yes, but we don’t want her to wake up, so whispering’s good,’ said Rebecca. ‘Hello, Kate! Come and give me a kiss and then you can see Nell.’
‘Could I hold her?’
‘Of course, but we’re doing it sitting on the sofa at the moment, until the under-twenty-ones are better at it,’ Rebecca explained. ‘Oh, here’s your dad.’
Emily’s eyes flew to Alasdair and caught him looking at her. There was a flash of something – desire? Passion? Possibly even regret? – in his expression and she hurriedly turned her gaze to Kate, fervently wishing she hadn’t told Rebecca they’d slept together. But Rebecca didn’t let her down.
‘Hi, Al! Lovely to see you. Come and see your niece and then we’ll go to the sitting room and Kate can have a hold.’
Alasdair negotiated his way past the table and chairs until he got to Rebecca. He kissed his sister-in-law and then came round and kissed Emily.
‘Have you heard the bad news?’ said James.
‘No, what?’ said Alasdair. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Nothing – yet,’ said Rebecca gloomily. ‘But my mother is coming to stay. And Emily’s going.’
Emily felt like a traitor. She’d said she’d stay as long as Rebecca needed her but she hadn’t realised she’d still need her now the baby was safely here.
‘Well, that’s easily sorted,’ Alasdair said. ‘Why don’t you ask Emily to stay for a bit? She can help keep off the mother-in-law from hell.’
‘Al!’ said Rebecca. ‘That is a genius idea! Em, would you? Do you have to go back immediately?’
Emily thought for a moment. She could probably ask to delay her start time – especially as she hadn’t yet had a chance to tell anyone she’d decided to accept the job. She had a couple of weeks anyway. ‘I could probably stay for a little bit … But where would I sleep? I may think the sofa bed is perfectly comfy, from what little I’ve slept on it, but—’
‘No!’ said James, pouncing on this offer. ‘We’ll fix up the bothy, put you in there. It’ll mean sleeping on the sofa for a few days, but—’
‘Mum would really not like that,’ said Rebecca. ‘She’d say it was slummy having a guest on the sofa.’
‘Emily could stay with us,’ said Kate. ‘We’ve got a spare room.’
‘That’s a brilliant idea!’ said Rebecca. ‘Just until the bothy’s finished.’
‘It’s too far away, really,’ said Emily, embarrassed at being forced on Alasdair by his daughter. ‘Unless there’s a spare car going it would mean getting lifts. No, I’ll manage on the sofa until the bothy’s done. It’s first thing in the morning you’re going to need me,’ she said to Rebecca, who seemed about to protest. ‘Your mother will just have to cope with it being slummy.’
‘Had an idea,’ said James. ‘Why doesn’t Emily go and stay with Alasdair and Kate at least for tonight? She can have a good night’s sleep and then come back before Bec’s mum gets here.’
‘Goodee!’ said Kate. ‘Emily’s coming to stay at my house!’ she said in a sing-song voice.
Her male cousins regarded her darkly. Had Kate stolen the star guest even before she’d really settled in? ‘Not fair,’ said Henry.
‘Fair!’ said Kate. ‘I knew her before you did and she’s stayed in my house before.’
‘Guys!’ said Emily. ‘Before you start treating me like your favourite toy, how am I going to help out in the morning if I need a car to get here? Is there a bike I could borrow?’ She was thinking how well Lizzie had managed with her bike.
‘We haven’t got a bike and you’re right about the lifts, but what about this for a plan?’ said James. ‘After lunch, Alasdair and Kate will take Emily to their house where she can have a long sleep. Mum will take Nell to bed where she can have a long feed and a long sleep. And the boys and me will start on the bothy. How’s that?’
‘Perfect,’ said Emily, suddenly longing for sleep.
‘But lunch first,’ said Rebecca. ‘There’s soup in the freezer—’
‘I’ve already defrosted it in the microwave and put it on the Aga,’ said Emily. ‘And I found some rolls.’ She saw the boys looking at her and realised they hadn’t taken in an important fact. ‘The electricity’s back on, by the way.’
‘Telly!’ shouted the boys and all three children ran out of the room.
Emily went to Rebecca’s bedroom for a minute and sent the email accepting the job. She was worried that if she didn’t do it now, she’d keep making excuses not to, and she knew it was the right thing to do.
Chapter Sixteen
EMILY FELL ASLEEP in the car although it wasn’t a long journey. When she woke up, as they drew up in front of the house, she said, ‘I’m so sorry. You’ve been through everything I went through and you’re still awake.’
Alasdair laughed. ‘I did fit in a quick power nap and I expect James is in front of Scooby-Doo or some such, with the boys.’
‘Power Rangers,’ said Kate. ‘They like Power Rangers.’
It was soon obvious that Kate and Alasdair intended to treat Emily like an honoured guest. Kate pulled her into the house. ‘We made a cake. But it’s all right, there are no dog hairs.’
‘That’s good,’ said Emily, ‘although the odd dog hair can add a bit of flavour, I think. But before cake, I’ll just go and wash my hands.’
‘You don’t have to. Dad doesn’t mind!’
‘I need a wee, love,’ said Emily. ‘It’s just a polite way of saying it.’
When she came back to join them in the kitchen Kate was saying, ‘So why don’t people say they’re going to wash their feet?’
‘Becau
se they’d have to take their socks off,’ said Alasdair, ‘and people maybe don’t want to do that.’
‘But if they’re really having a wee—’
‘It’s just old-fashioned manners,’ said Emily. ‘And they don’t always make sense.’ She smiled apologetically on behalf on the incomprehensible adult world.
‘Let’s have tea,’ said Alasdair. ‘It’s all ready. I hope you don’t mind having it in the kitchen.’
‘It’s the only place to eat in my little cottage,’ said Emily, pulling out a chair. ‘I’ve turned the dining room into a study.’
‘Do you miss your house?’ asked Kate.
‘I was thinking about it,’ said Emily, ‘but I don’t think I do. It’s there and it’s lovely, but I’m here and that’s fine.’
‘Are you happy with builder’s tea? Or would you rather have Earl Grey?’ said Alasdair, interrupting Emily’s philosophical meanderings.
‘Builder’s, every time.’
After tea and cake – which was indeed very good – they went to the sitting room and Alasdair lit the fire.
‘We’re going to watch a DVD,’ Kate announced. ‘One that’s suitable for me and not boring for adults.’
‘Sounds lovely,’ said Emily, putting a cushion into the small of her back. She managed to stay awake for half the credits and then fell asleep again.
Kate was frowning at her when she woke up. ‘You missed all the film! Daddy said I wasn’t to wake you but it’s a waste!’
‘Not really, sweetheart,’ said Emily. ‘If you really liked the film and I haven’t seen it, it means we can watch it again, together. It’s always nice to have a good film for when the weather’s horrible.’
‘But you’re going away! You won’t be here!’
‘I’m not going for a little while, Kate. We’ll probably have time to watch it.’ Although she was trying to comfort Kate, Emily found she was just as sad at the prospect of leaving the little girl.
‘Come on, you two. Beans on toast then it’s bedtime.’ Alasdair looked at Emily ruefully. ‘I’m afraid I used up today’s supply of cooking on the cake.’
‘Beans on toast is my favourite – well, second to toast and Marmite, but that’s not supper really, is it?’
‘Not really. But you can have it for pudding if you insist.’
‘Toast and Marmite isn’t pudding!’ said Kate indignantly, leading the way to the kitchen.
‘OK, Katkin, bath and bed,’ said Alasdair.
Kate’s mouth turned down but before she could protest Emily said, ‘Would you like me to come and talk to you while you have a bath? Maybe play with your boats – have you got boats?’
Kate nodded. ‘I have. Uncle James made me one out of wood when I was little. And I’ve got one that’s a bit like the puffer.’
‘And then, maybe I could read you some stories while you’re in bed? I haven’t read anyone a story for ages.’
It was only when Emily saw Kate’s teddy wearing his tam-o’-shanter that she remembered the Fair Isle scarf she had started for him what seemed a lifetime ago. ‘Oh my goodness! I forgot all about it and I’ve left it at Rebecca’s but I’ve got a surprise coming for Ted. He’s going to love it. He’ll be matching.’
‘Is it a scarf?’ said Kate, excitedly.
‘How did you guess?’
‘It doesn’t take a genius,’ said Kate, sounding about fifteen.
‘You’re so nice to Kate,’ said Alasdair when Emily emerged from Kate’s bedroom some time later.
‘I like spending time with her. I hadn’t read Milly-Molly-Mandy since I was little. My grandmother had the books and I loved them then and I still do.’
Alasdair laughed. ‘I’m afraid I could never get my head round Milly-Molly-Mandy. Catriona’s mother gave them to Kate but we don’t read them often. Ever, really. I’m more of a Katie Morag man.’
‘Each to his own. I could never get on with Little Grey Rabbit myself, although the pictures were wonderful.’
‘Come on through to the sitting room and have a well-deserved dram.’
Emily took a breath. ‘Actually, I think I’ll just go to bed myself. I’m so tired and you must be too.’
He looked at her questioningly.
Emily went on, ‘There’s an elephant in the room, here. I really don’t think we should sleep together.’
He raised an eyebrow. She persevered. ‘Supposing Kate found us? It would be terribly confusing for her when we know it can’t last. It’s just a sort of holiday romance. Real life is going to start very soon.’ She cleared the gathering tears from her throat. ‘I’ve got a new job to go to.’
He frowned. ‘What new job is that?’
Emily shrugged, not wanting to talk – or even think – about her new job. ‘The maternity unit is going to be refurbished and expanded and they want me to run it. It’s a really great opportunity.’
‘I see. Well, if I can’t take you to heaven and back, can I offer you a drink? It’ll help get you off to sleep.’
‘That would be very nice if I can take it to bed with me. I’ll be off in no time, then.’
‘I’ll get it for you.’ He paused. ‘Of course you’re right about us not sleeping together – it would be confusing and possibly upsetting for Kate – but I am disappointed.’
Tears threatened more sharply now and Emily couldn’t speak. She just nodded and looked at him. He reached up and put his hand on her cheek for a few seconds before going to fetch her whisky.
Alasdair dropped her off at Rebecca and James’s house at eight the following morning, on his way to take Kate to school and to go to the surgery.
Rebecca was sitting at the breakfast table feeding Nell while James harried the boys into eating their cereal.
‘They don’t want to go to school,’ said James, ‘but I’m going to be really busy getting the bothy ready—’
‘And I’ll have to clean for my mother,’ said Rebecca. ‘If they don’t hurry up they’ll miss their lift and then James will have to take them.’
‘OK, boys, tell you what, I’ll make your favourite cake for when you come home,’ said Emily, trusting that the way to hearts via stomachs rule applied to boys as well as men.
‘Chocolate cake with Smarties!’ they yelled in unison.
‘It shall be yours!’ said Emily. ‘Now eat up. And off you go. Have you got your homework? Packed lunches?’
‘We have hot school dinners,’ said Henry. ‘Although sometimes it’s cold.’
‘Life, eh?’ said Emily. ‘Isn’t it just baffling sometimes?’
When at last the boys were off to school and James could be heard banging in the bothy, Emily took Nell out of Rebecca’s arms. ‘So how are you? Milk coming in?’
‘No problem there, she’s been tugging away at me all night.’
‘Well, she’s asleep now. Why don’t you get a shower and maybe get dressed? I’ll look after her.’ She peered at the bundle that was Nell. ‘Golly, you are sweet! Your grandmother is going to go wild with excitement!’
‘She won’t,’ said Rebecca. ‘I think deep down she thinks my children are too much for me and I shouldn’t have so many of them. It’s ironic. I’m not saying the kids aren’t exhausting and hard work but she’s much worse. At least I can be myself with the boys. And Nell now, of course.’
‘OK,’ said Emily briskly. ‘Off for a shower and then a nap. You’ll be fine if you get enough rest. I’ve got Nell and we’ll be very happy together. And I’ll do any cleaning that’s required.’
Emily found that Nell liked the sound of the hoover – or at least didn’t complain about it. While she couldn’t do a brilliant job, Emily did get round the house giving it a lick and a promise while Rebecca had a nap. She knew it wouldn’t be good enough for Rebecca’s mother but deeper cleaning could go on when Emily didn’t have a sleeping baby in her arms.
When Nell woke up properly and couldn’t be fobbed off with jiggling and singing, Emily took her back to Rebecca, who accepted her warmly. ‘When I�
��ve got her down again I’ll clean.’
‘I’m doing it already,’ said Emily firmly. ‘And cake-making. Does your mother have a favourite cake? Or will she fight the boys for Smarties?’
‘She likes lemon drizzle,’ said Rebecca, ‘and always opens my fridge and asks me when it was last cleaned out. Which is probably when she last came.’ Rebecca wrinkled her brow. ‘It’s funny, I’m so meticulous about hygiene on the puffer but here, I’m a bit of a slob.’
‘OK, I’ll make both cakes and clean out the fridge. Are we OK for ingredients? And if we’re not, where do I go for them?’
‘There’s a lovely little shop in Tayvallich. They’ll have everything you want.’
‘So what would you like to eat tonight? And what about your mother? If we have a menu plan it’ll make it less stressful.’
‘Having you here is making it less stressful. Honestly, Em, I can’t thank you enough for staying.’
‘Honestly, Becca, it’s an absolute pleasure. Really it is. I love spending time with you guys.’
‘And Alasdair? Did you have a nice time with him last night?’
‘Calm down. We did have a very nice time indeed but I was mostly with Kate, who may be my new best friend – after you, of course.’
‘You’re so good with children,’ said Rebecca, admiringly.
‘I’m not. I have no idea how to be with children.’
‘Well, we couldn’t have managed without you, whatever you say.’
‘Say thank you to Emily for the cake, boys,’ said James, eyeing the sweetie-covered mound eagerly. He had collected his sons from school and brought them home to a kitchen scented with chocolate and lemon.
‘I had so much fun doing it,’ said Emily. ‘I made it my challenge to get the entire tube of Smarties on it and I could only get one of those big tubes. And I didn’t have to do any piping or writing or anything. Brilliant fun.’
‘Thank you very much indeed,’ said Henry solemnly. ‘Mum? Will we be able to eat it when Grandma is here? She doesn’t let us have sweets.’
Rebecca looked anxious. ‘Well, it’s a cake, darling. Maybe only eat it in the kitchen? Grandma can have her tea in the sitting room, with her lemon drizzle. In fact, we’ll have an eating-in-the-kitchen-only rule while she’s here. OK, guys?’