‘How does she know about him?’
Samuel gestured towards the flat. ‘Why don’t you go find out.’ He grabbed some more bags and headed upstairs.
Spencer took some breaths, inhaling the fresh salty air from the sea. There was something about the scent that always calmed him. It reminded him of his aunt. He glanced in the direction of Berry Hill, looking up at the pastel-coloured harbour houses.
It wasn’t scary the first time Rebecca brought him to her home to live. She’d decorated his room in light blues and white, giving him a safe space to call his own. He didn’t have to lift a finger for Lottie or himself and didn’t know what to do with himself for a good few weeks.
His aunt’s neighbour, George, used to take him down to the harbour to look at the boats, but it was of little interest. Still, the air smelled nice and the view was peaceful.
He knew what his aunt would say about Archie. If Rebecca was around, the baby would have so much fuss made of him, he’d never shed another tear again.
The thought made Spencer even more determined to care for the baby, just as his aunt had for him.
Marching up the stairs, arms full with shopping, Spencer forced a smile towards his friend. ‘Hello, Jan, and what brings you here?’ As if he didn’t know, and Jan’s reaction said exactly that.
Lottie went to speak, but Spencer got in first, playing it cool.
‘Archie all right?’ he asked Lottie.
She smiled as she gestured to the spare bedroom. ‘Sleeping, bless him. I think he finally got fed up with Sam singing.’
Samuel frowned. ‘Hey, he liked my voice. Eventually.’
Ignoring Jan, Spencer started to unpack.
‘Do you want a cuppa, Jan?’ asked Lottie as Samuel edged towards the open plan kitchen.
‘No, ta. I think it’s time I spoke to Spencer.’
Spencer stopped faffing with a pack of yellow bibs. ‘Who told you about the baby?’
‘His mother,’ replied Jan.
He caught his sister’s sympathetic smile before turning all his attention to Jan. ‘Is she all right?’
Jan looked surprised that was the thing he asked. Perhaps she thought he’d be angry. Well, part of him was, but that could wait.
‘She’s okay. Well, she will be.’
‘What happened?’ asked Lottie. She looked at Spencer. ‘Jan wouldn’t tell us until you got back.’
They all stared at Jan, wanting answers.
Jan linked her fingers on her lap. ‘I can only tell you what Beth has allowed me.’
‘Beth?’ questioned Spencer, earning him a disappointed glare from Lottie. Ignoring his sister, he went back to listening to Jan.
Jan continued. ‘The short version is, she had a rough time of it at the end of her pregnancy, and it has affected her mental health.’
Spencer watched Lottie and Samuel look to each other. He wasn’t quite sure what they were thinking. He didn’t know what to think himself.
Jan added, ‘I know leaving Archie on the doorstep suggests otherwise, but I want you to know that Beth is stable. She was having panic attacks but didn’t know what was happening to her. And a problem with her pregnancy left her with trauma. Having a newborn baby while suffering with her mental health has been difficult, but she’s going to be fine now she’s getting the help she needs.’
Spencer clenched his fists. ‘What the hell happened during her pregnancy?’
‘That’s her story to tell,’ replied Jan.
‘Is Archie sick at all, Jan?’ asked Lottie softly, holding Samuel’s hand.
