Chapter 24
Beth
Beth wasn’t sure what time Spencer would be home from camping, and as she hadn’t heard from him all day, she decided to make a cold dinner of hard-boiled eggs, ham, salad, and potato salad. At least if he’d already eaten, it would keep in the fridge for the next night.
Archie was settled on a spongey mat in a small round playpen, staring up at a musical mobile. He’d been fed and bathed, and Beth hadn’t once felt stressed or pressured to meet any deadlines she’d created. In fact, since living with Spencer, she’d stopped trying to make Archie fit into routines, finding working around him instead slightly easier.
Beth started to hum along to the baby music as she chopped lettuce. It was nice to have a proper appetite back, and her energy. She was enjoying cooking again, pottering around Spencer’s small kitchen.
She’d had a good day spending time at Ginny’s, then seeing Jan for a chat. She’d popped back to her flat to pick up some more clothes, and while there contemplated doing her own decorating. After seeing the farmhouse, and dreaming of such a cosy home, inspiration had hit. If she just poured some love into her own place, she was sure she’d feel better about living there.
‘I think it’s because we haven’t been there long,’ she told Archie, peering his way. ‘I’ll speak to your dad about helping make the place homely.’
She put the chopping knife down and went over to the playpen. If only Archie could tell her what would make him happy. He seemed happy. His eyes shifted from the mobile to her, and all she saw was Spencer for a moment.
‘Do you prefer living here?’ she asked quietly, as though someone might overhear.
Archie went back to staring at the dangling teddy bears.
Beth glanced around the room. It was silly to think she could stay with Spencer forever. Maybe she was just nervous about being on her own again. She decided to bring up the subject with Jan at their next session.
Feeling proud about having coped quite well while Spencer was away, Beth practically skipped back to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. It was so nice to feel alive again. Wow, what a difference the last few weeks had made. She was starting to believe going back to work after maternity leave was doable, as she was sure at one point she would quit her job and spend the rest of her life curled up in a ball in the corner of the bedroom.
Beth smiled at the pastel-blue jug filled with pink tulips on the windowsill in front of her. She couldn’t look at a flower now without thinking of Spencer. Speaking of which . . . She turned to the door on hearing it open.
Spencer entered, dropping his holdall on the spot while kicking off his boots. He smiled, but it looked as tired as the rest of his pale face.
‘You okay?’ Beth stepped closer, inspecting him from head to toe.
His shoulders hunched as he sighed. ‘I’m whacked.’
‘Long drive, was it? Traffic bad?’
‘No. We actually came back earlier than expected, but I’ve been at the centre . . . forever.’ He flopped onto a kitchen chair, and Beth went to the fridge to fetch some orange juice, thinking he needed a boost.
‘You don’t look very well, Spence.’ She placed the glass in front of him, then put one hand on his forehead.
Spencer’s head dipped slightly as he closed his eyes. ‘I’m okay,’ he mumbled.
Beth removed her hand and sat to his side. ‘Drink your juice.’
He sat up a bit and took a sip. ‘Ryan bruised his arm.’
‘Oh no. How did he manage that?’
‘Slipped.’
Beth sat in silence while Spencer explained what had happened at rock climbing. She was relieved Ryan was okay. Spencer, not so much.
‘Let’s get some dinner in you,’ she told him, moving to the worktop to plate up some food. ‘Put some energy back.’
‘Thanks,’ came a feeble reply.
Beth quickly sorted their food while Spencer went over to say hello to Archie.
‘Oh, he’s asleep.’ Spencer sat on the sofa and pressed his head back, closing his eyes. ‘Seems like a good plan.’
Without trying to disturb him too much, Beth draped a blanket over his legs, then went to fetch their food. She sat by his side, plate on lap, and placed his to her side.
