Chapter Sixteen
Sitting in her van, having bought the daffodils she wanted for the table, and collected the parcel containing the gifts she and Nathan had decided to give their parents with the baby announcement, Lisa read her dad’s text and sighed. She had tried to FaceTime her mum to wish her a happy Mother’s Day, but she hadn’t answered. Her dad’s response to Lisa’s subsequent text askingwhere her mum was, thanked Lisa for taking the flowers to her Granny Blake and confirmed her mum was at her art class.
Lisa loved the fact her parents were enjoying their retirement in France, but she missed them too, especially now that she was pregnant. Thinking of them returning home for six months from Easter made her smile; she was glad they would be around when the baby was born – evenif that did mean sharing a house with them. She knew moving in with Nathan made sense, but with his flat being on the top floor and the rest of the house still being renovated, she reasoned that staying at her parents’ house, at least for the time being, made sense. As she went to leave her van, Lisa paused; and there was the other reason she didn’t want to move in to Nathan’s place.
Sam ranacross the road from Nathan’s building towards the tennis courts opposite.She looks like a bloody gazelle!Lisa attempted to slink down in her seat but realised thanks to the proximity of her baby belly to the steering wheel, her slinking days were over. Breathing in wasn’t an option; it did nothing to alter her size. Instead she sat very still, attempting to hold her breath as if that meantSam wouldn’t be able to see her. Lisa watched, waiting for Sam to disappear behind the line of fir trees. She didn’t have the patience for polite conversation today, not when she had the impending meal with Nathan’s parents to think about, and certainly not while she needed the toilet and had to make it to the top floor before she could go.
As Lisa watched, she realised that Sam was talkingto someone.Ah ha, she’s distracted!Lisa got out of the van; as she glanced round to check that Sam was still otherwise engaged, she realised she was talking to a boy. The same boy Lisa had seen at the door to Sam’s flat.So surely that has to be Alex, blimey! She really did have him young.As Lisa stood watching, longer than she intended to, she realised there was something familiar about theboy. She couldn’t quite work it out, but he reminded her of someone. She decided she should ask Nathan more about him next time the opportunity arose. As Sam turned and waved, Lisa felt her cheeks blaze red. Automatically, she went to lift her hand but realised neither Sam nor the boy were looking at her. Instead they were looking up, towards the top of the building. Not wanting to be seen by them,or Nathan if he was looking out waving back, Lisa hurried inside.
Seven o’clock was racing around all too quickly. Lisa had tried on all of the outfits she had brought with her before she settled on the dress she had worn for Valentine’s Day. It still fitted loosely round her stomach, and with her bolero buttoned at the chest, she was able to hide some of her increasingly ample – for her –cleavage. She looked in the mirror. Although her stomach wasn’t huge compared to some of those she had seen at her midwife’s clinic, there was no doubt there was a bump there. Nevertheless, the outfit did a reasonable job of disguising it. She didn’t want Nathan’s parents to take one look at her and guess she was pregnant; that would spoil the surprise she and Nathan had planned for the announcement.
Undecided whether to do her hair the way she had on Valentine’s Day too, Lisa tried lifting it and then let it go. Usually straight, it had recently gained a kink, which she could only assume was down to being pregnant. She found it, along with her brown nipples, the line down her stomach and her changing food preferences exciting, as they were all signs her pregnancy was progressing, but alsocompletely bizarre. Hormones clearly had a lot to answer for.
‘You look lovely.’
Lisa turned to see Nathan looking at her from the door.
As he walked towards her, Lisa noticed his hair was a little tidier than usual and his face shaved more closely; she missed the ruffled hair and stubble look.
‘Arghh, seeing your hair like that and the fact you’ve shaved makes me more nervous.’
‘Don’t be. I was just making an effort.’
‘What, and you don’t usually make an effort for me?’
‘But I know you like the rough look.’
Lisa kissed him and then felt his cheek. ‘Hmm, smooth isn’t bad either.’
Nathan stepped back and kissed her hand. ‘Now, before anyone gets here, I’ve got something for you. That is, Flick and I have got you something. Really, it was her idea.’
Lisa went to speak, but Nathan continued, ‘We know it being Mother’s Day has been playing on your mind, and I want you to know, we … I understand – probably not understand …’ Nathan rubbed his hand through his hair, creating his normal ruffled look as he did so.
Lisa smiled.
‘That is, I get it … kind of … I think. Anyway. Oh bugger. I thought this might be weird, I’m sorry. Maybe Flickshould have given it to you—’
‘Nathan, stop, I’m sure whatever you’ve got will be lovely.’
Nathan went to the drawer and took out a white organza bag. As he turned, she could tell he was hesitant. ‘If it’s not OK, or not my place, then it’s all right to say.’
Lisa took the gift and slid its contents onto her hand. She looked at the charm, small and precious against her palm. She bither lip, attempting to stop it trembling.
‘Sorry. Would you rather we hadn’t? It’s just Flick mentioned it and I thought …’
Lisa’s heart thudded. Nathan’s words faded, and for a moment all she was conscious of was the object in her hand. She felt overwhelmed, not only by the beautiful gift but also by the fact Felicity and Nathan had got it for her. Her two best friends knowing how shefelt about this day, even without her confiding in them. ‘Nathan, it’s beautiful. Thank you.’ She wrapped her hand around the white gold pip and welcomed Nathan’s hug. As he stepped back, Nathan took Lisa’s wrist and attached the charm to her bracelet.
She spoke past the lump that had formed in her throat. ‘Is that OK, Pip being on my bracelet? You said it was for our memories.’
Nathanplaced it before the other charms. ‘You said Pip would always be a part of you. I wanted you to know I understand that. We both have pasts, Lisa, things that affect who we are now.’
‘Thank you.’ Lisa’s heart was still racing as tears slid down her face.
Nathan passed her a tissue and pulled her closer for another hug.
‘I’ll mess up your shirt.’
‘I don’t care.’
