I smiled to myself as I keyed the reply:
I’m busy that day . . .
The reply came within seconds.
:o(
I laughed.
Oh go on then. x
***
The following Wednesday, we met in a coffee chain on the high street. The strong smell of Italian coffee hit me as I walked in, and I had to pause and take a deep breath to make sure it wouldn’t revive my mostly departed morning sickness. I was okay.
‘Andrew!’ I shouted across three tables when I spotted him and had to squeeze myself through some impossibly tight spaces in between the packed-in chairs to traverse the very cramped coffee shop.
‘I don’t even realise how big my tummy is any more – I still feel like a much slimmer person. I’m sure it changes each day,’ I puffed as I sat down.
‘Well, I’m honoured you fought your way through the chairs to see me.’
He gestured to several cups on the table. ‘I wasn’t sure what you’d want so I’ve got you a decaf coffee, a decaf tea, a berry tea and a water, just in case.’
‘Oh, I fancied a frappe . . .’ I pulled a face of mock disappointment, and he looked crestfallen. ‘Relax, I’m joking! Sorry! That’s so very thoughtful.’ And it was – James could just about remember I couldn’t drink alcohol while pregnant and that was only because he’d realised the benefit of having a designated driver. I took a sip of the berry tea and he relaxed visibly.
‘So, how about these holiday snaps then?’ I said.
He moved his chair around so he was sitting close to me and his arm brushed against mine. I could feel the heat radiating from his body and despite it, I got a chill. ‘I’m not really going to bore you, but there’s a few I’d like to show you because I think you’ll appreciate them.’
He pulled out his phone. ‘This is me on the Amalfi Coast – the colour of the water was something else.’ He was sat on a wall, high up on a cliff overlooking the stunning turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. ‘Embarrassingly, I had to ask an Italian teen to take this picture for me. It took me a while to get my phrases right and after about five minutes, he finally understood what I was saying, at which point, I felt like an utter idiot and wished I hadn’t bothered. Then I had to stand on the other side of the road so he could take it with the view in the background, and I was just praying he didn’t run off with my phone, so I hope you appreciate it!’
I giggled. ‘It sounds like a lot of effort, but you soldiered on! Perhaps buy a selfie stick next time?’
‘A selfie stick?’ He looked visibly pained. ‘Perhaps I’d better just brush up on my Italian. I’m a bit too cool for a selfie stick, don’t you think?’
I shook my head, smiling.
‘Ouch!’ He put a hand on his chest. ‘And I thought my class gave me a rough time!’ He smiled, and his eyes crinkled a little in the corners.
We talked a bit more about his trip and he asked about my pregnancy, looking genuinely interested as I told him about my more frequent loo breaks and odd cravings for salt and vinegar crisps at all hours. I felt so relaxed in his easy company, and I noticed that when he laughed, his eyes sparkled.
‘So, do you have any more plans to travel?’ I asked when there was a comfortable pause in the conversation.
He shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. I loved Italy, but travelling alone isn’t really my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I did it because I have to push myself back into the life I had and loved. It would be nice to travel with someone again, though.’
‘What about any of your friends?’ I asked.
‘They’re all married with children. I’ve been invited along on some of their family holidays – out of politeness or pity, though, I’m sure.’
I gave a sympathetic smile. ‘I know where you’re coming from. It’s going to take me some getting used to. I won’t actually be alone, but travelling with just me and a baby will take some getting used to.’
An absurd idea flashed through my head, and for a moment I had to clench my jaw to stop it coming out of my mouth. Maybe he’d suggest it first if I just hung on. I wanted him to suggest it.
He didn’t.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next few weeks were a blur. Moving day was fairly simple since I had very little, and Megan, Sam, and Kate insisted on being there to help, though Kate’s version of helping was to bring some of the builders who worked for Carl along.
‘Free eye candy.’ She’d winked as the burly, vest-clad men spilt from a white van on the morning of moving day. ‘Sit, sit!’ she’d ordered us all. ‘They’ll sort it out; we’ll drink tea.’
So we drank tea until the van was filled and ready to go. ‘Is there anything you want to pick up from your old house?’ Kate asked.
I thought about it; I’d collected most of my personal items. There was furniture that I supposed I was entitled to and other bits and bobs, but I wanted a clean slate. The cottage didn’t have the grandeur of the house, and the things from there would just look silly and oversized.
‘No, I’ve got everything I need.’
We beat the van to the cottage, and as I pulled up outside, leaving the driveway free, I stared up at my new home. It was just as pretty as I remembered. Some of the plants had died and the odd pot had vanished, but all that was superficial.
‘I know I’d joked about
