He smiled as he stroked down her arm. ‘Just one look at you and Archie, and everything is right in the world.’ He winked, then turned to Berry Blooms, leaving Beth with goosebumps and a smile.
Chapter 29
Spencer
Spencer felt quite chuffed walking into the church hall with Beth and Archie for parent and baby group. It was his first time meeting everyone, and he wished he could introduce himself as Beth’s partner, but seeing how nobody asked, just assumed, he didn’t bring up the subject.
Beth was tugged to one side to browse over the items her friends had brought for the baby bank, and Spencer noticed the man called Edward was almost draped over her.
‘Hello, you must be Edward,’ said Spencer, tapping the man’s shoulder. ‘Beth mentioned something about a playdate one day for our kids.’
Edward smiled. ‘Yes, it would be nice.’
Spencer widened his smile. ‘We look forward to it.’
Beth turned to show him what was on the table. ‘Most of this is from Edward.’
Lola moved to her side. ‘That’s because he’s a shopaholic.’
Edward dramatically slapped his chest. ‘Moi!Never.’
Shelby had everyone sit on the playmats, telling them they could talk all things baby bank afterwards.
Spencer subtly perused the group as they placed their babies before them and started singing something about a floppy scarecrow, which seemed to go down well with Archie, who was wriggling and smiling.
Beth got him involved when it was time for the parents to stand to do a few yoga moves to help realign the spine. He had to laugh when one of the older babies crawled off. Shelby quickly lifted the giggling boy so his mother could carry on stretching.
Archie kept his eyes on his dad, and Spencer thought it best not to show him up by toppling over while attempting the tree pose, especially as Edward looked as grounded as a mountain.
They sat back down, and Shelby asked if anyone had any concerns they’d like to talk through, which came as a surprise, as Spencer wasn’t expecting group therapy. He remained silent, listening to a woman speak about all things organic and how she felt a failure because she used the readymade food in jars.
Spencer wondered if he should be researching organic diets? He was sure he could secure a window box and grow something. Lottie was the one to ask. She practically had a whole allotment in her garden now. He’d have to start popping over more often to see what was on offer.
‘Spencer, do you have anything you’d like to add?’ asked Shelby, interrupting his thoughts on red bell peppers.
‘Hmm?’
Beth offered an encouraging smile.
Spencer looked from her to Archie, then at Shelby. ‘Oh, erm, I don’t think so.’
‘That’s okay,’ said Shelby. ‘But feel free to bring any topic to the mats when you’re here.’
Lola joked, ‘Yeah, like Moira talking about haemorrhoids for a solid twenty minutes the other week.’
Moira frowned. ‘Erm, excuse me, but we were talking selfcare after labour, thank you.’ She pointed at Edward. ‘More relevant than Ed going on about designer baby clothes.’
Spencer glanced at Lester to see what he was wearing. The baby’s dark romper looked like any other to him. Surely this wasn’t something he had to look into as well.
Lola changed the subject. ‘Ooh, I have a question. Has anyone put their baby’s name down for the nursery yet?’
‘Oh, I’ve never bothered until my kids turn two,’ said a woman, opening her blouse to breastfeed.
‘Two!’ gasped Edward. ‘I was told you should register with a school straight away.’
Lola raised her eyebrows. ‘What, like as you come out of the registry office, nip straight to a school?’ she said sarcastically.
Edward shrugged. ‘Lester is enrolled in Clairmont.’
