The policeman stood back and let them have their reunion and then, once everyone had exclaimed how much Bear had grown in a fortnight, the officer told them about the court date, and the other witnesses; men across the country taken in by the mother–daughter con artists.
Mutt had grown quieter then, holding Bear close and scratching his ears, and Nina was finally able to relax for the first time since she’d flown home from New York.
She watched Murray shake the officer’s hand, hearing the embarrassment in his voice that told her there was a long road ahead of adjustment for all of them, and it wouldn’t be easy for him to forget the way Polly had dragged down his self-belief, but at least now they could make a fresh start, now that the three of them were together, they had all the ingredients needed for a new family.
Chapter Forty
Easter Sunday
The day had dawned soft and mellow bringing in a baby-blue sky with cotton-wool clouds; the very weather Beatrice had ordered for her Port Willow Bay Arts and Crafting Festival.
‘Got everything?’ Atholl asked back in their bedroom after an early breakfast.
Beatrice sat on the bed and rummaged through her bag. ‘Clipboard, mobile, exhibitors’ information, the key to the village hall, yep, got it. Could you,um, help me get my sandals on?’
Atholl laughed, but not too much; he knew Beatrice wasn’t exactly loving this stage of pregnancy, thirty-one weeks, and counting down the days until their daughter arrived in June.
‘You can smirk, you’re not the one goingoofevery time you roll over in bed or try to bend over. Do you know I had to pee four times last night? Four! Echo followed me to the loo each time. If I wasn’t before, I amdefinitelyfeeling forty.’
Atholl strapped her shoes onto her feet, crouching on the floor in front of her.
‘Did I mention the indigestion?’ Beatrice added and Atholl told her that, yes, she’d mentioned it once or twice.
‘You’d think I’d have learned some patience waiting for this baby – through all the grief and loss – but it’s made me worse. If anything, I’m more impatient.’
Atholl looked like he was in full agreement but didn’t like to say so.
‘Thanks,’ she told him, looking over her bump at her toes. ‘I have no ability to console myself that she’ll be here when she’s ready, instead I’m just grumpy and fed up.’
‘You’ll get plenty of rest when the festival’s over, I’ll be seeing to that,’ Atholl informed her.
‘I don’t mind the idea of having my own personal butler,’ she told him as he pulled her to standing and she tried to hug him, feeling ridiculously far away. They both smiled down at the baby between them. Beatrice had a new maternity sun dress especially for the big day and she’d been careful to slather on the sun cream.
‘Midgey repellent?’ Atholl asked.
‘I think I’ll risk going without.’
‘Tsssh,’ Atholl inhaled through his teeth, tipping his head. ‘I dinnae think that’s too wise,’ and he dowsed himself in the citronella spray.
‘Come on, waddle with me round the village. Let’s make sure everything’s set up and ready for the grand opening at ten.’
Atholl took her hand and Echo jumped up from his spot by Beatrice’s legs. He’d been stuck to her like glue for three days now and nobody could account for it. If his head wasn’t pressed against her thigh he wasn’t happy, and so everyone had accepted Beatrice had a sheepdog as an appendage as well as a taut, round baby bump.
Once out on the waterfront, Beatrice wielded her clipboard.
‘Does Gene have the barbeque coals going down on the beach?’
The smoke rising from over the sea wall told her he was already at his station. Beatrice shuffled over the road to take a peep and, sure enough, there he was down on the sand in his full chef’s whites, Kitty by his side pouring them each a coffee from a flask. Patrick the fishmonger had already dropped off the two big iced crates of seafood ready for cooking. They waved to one another and Beatrice happily put a tick on her clipboard.
‘Next the village hall,’ she said, just as the church bells of St Magnus’ peeled for Easter Sunday service.
‘Hold up, Atholl, can you go a bit slower?’ Beatrice puffed, keeping a tight hold of Atholl’s arm, Echo still trotting by her side, his obedient eyes fixed on her face.
All along the front the little gardens that interrupted the sea wall were in full spring colour. Tulips and daffodils, grape hyacinths and crocuses bobbed their heads cheerily.
‘It’s going to be a perfect day,’ Atholl said, slowing his steps and looking out at the still waters of low tide.
Behind them the crunch of tyres told them they’d better get onto the pavement, and they stepped aside to let a big silver vehicle pass.
