Chapter Twenty-Nine
After a belated visit from the midwife, who had confirmed all was well with mother and baby, first Nathan’s, and then Lisa’s parents and brother arrived. Felicity served yet more tea. Following a round of cuddles for Lisa and the baby, and several reassurances that he hadn’t seen anything he shouldn’t, Pete had taken the children home with the promise they would all seethe baby again soon. Upon Nathan’s insistence, Dom had stayed to help finish the bottle of champagne Nathan had stowed away in readiness for the birth. Everybody wanted to offer their congratulations and to have their first cuddle with the new arrival. Lisa watched as her eight pound four ounce, precious bundle was passed from person to person. Having everyone there was wonderful, but also a littleoverwhelming.
While Lisa sat down taking in the events of the day, Nathan’s mum brought her a glass of water. ‘You’ll need this, you have to keep your fluids up.’
‘Thank you.’ Lisa smiled.
Valerie perched on the arm of Lisa’s seat. ‘Lisa. I wanted to say how happy I am you came back and … well … thank you.’
‘Thank you, for what?’
‘For making Nathan the happiest I’ve ever seenhim, and for making me the proudest grandparent alive.’
Lisa glanced at her own parents cooing over the baby and knew Valerie would have a fight on her hands for that title. Having got the words off her chest, Valerie went to move, but Lisa caught her arm. ‘I meant to ask you. What did you mean when you said Uno rescued Nathan?’ The question had remained in the back of Lisa’s mind. There hadn’tbeen a suitable time to ask but while Valerie was opening up seemed an appropriate opportunity.
Valerie turned and hesitated. ‘I shouldn’t have said it … It was just so hard back then, Nathan was so hurt, and lost his direction for a while. But becoming a firefighter and then learning to love that cat made him whole again. Uno taught him it was OK to love, and how to smile again.’
Lisafelt an ache in her chest. She didn’t know what to say.
Valerie placed her hand over Lisa’s and patted it. ‘It’s in the past, Lisa. Look at him now. That little bundle means he’ll always have a reason to be happy. You’ve given him that.’
Lisa caught Nathan’s eye as he looked at her across the room; she welcomed the warm smile he gave her and the love she could see in his eyes.
Whenthe doorbell rang, Felicity went to answer it while Dom looked at Lisa apologetically.
‘I hope you don’t mind. I can’t drive home now I’ve had a drink, so I called Florian.’
‘Of course I don’t mind.’
‘Only, he wasn’t allowed to come alone.’
Lisa looked past Felicity to see Florian and Winnie, and welcomed them both with a big smile. Felicity made the introductions before fetchinga plate for the custard creams Winnie had brought as a gift for Lisa.
‘And this is for the little one.’ With a big smile, Winnie passed Lisa a card and a soft package before taking a seat on the sofa – her feet barely reaching the floor.
Opening the card, Lisa was touched by the beautiful words Winnie had written and read them aloud: ‘Congratulations my lovelies, and when the days feellong remember the years are all too short, treasure every moment with your precious baby!’ As Lisa looked up to thank Winnie and reassure her that she intended to do exactly that, she noticed her mum, Valerie and Felicity were all wiping their eyes and nodding wistfully.
Smiling, Lisa picked up the present and unwrapped the layers of crinkled, white tissue paper. Taking in the sight of thegift she took a breath. ‘It’s … great, thank you.’ Catching her brother’s eye, she dared him not to say a word as she held aloft the slightly wonky teal-green cardigan Winnie had so lovingly knitted.
Dom glanced over, his eyes going wide.
‘I love it!’ Lisa spoke decisively, before he was able to comment, and folded the cardigan, returning it to the tissue paper in her lap.
Florian’spresence reminded Lisa that she hadn’t shown Nathan the mural in the nursery. Leaving the new round of visitors to have their baby cuddles they went upstairs. Taking in the sight of the waterfall at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval Florian had painted Nathan smiled.
‘Wow! It’s amazing.’
Using poetic licence, Florian had surrounded it with cute animals, including a brown and white cow complete with acowbell, a mountain goat, sheep and a marmot. Nathan looked more closely before turning his head as he studied the finer details.
‘That’s funny. I never imagined ducks nesting near a waterfall.’
‘It’s an eagle.’ Lisa giggled.
Nathan looked back at the mural. ‘Oh, God. You let your mum help didn’t you?’
Lisa laughed. ‘Shhh, she’ll hear you.’
Nathan quacked before laughing andpulling Lisa in closer for a hug. ‘It’s perfect.’
