Page 51 of Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings

‘Best woman,’ said Jay in a passable imitation of Owen from last night, and I giggled.

Then I looked at Jay and made my face all serious. ‘Looks like it’s up to us on the day then.’

‘Interesting.’ He nodded.

I caught myself thinking that it would be interesting, as traditionally, didn’t the best man and the chief bridesmaid get together? I stopped the thought after a quick glance at Jay. Why would he even entertain that idea? I was just Rosie’s friend. That was all.

Oh well.

I gave myself a mental shake and picked my art stuff back up. I needed to go up to my room, get sorted out and prepare for the onslaught of excitable customers, all wanting to know more about baby Elin.

‘Oh — Jay, should we put a note up on the door as well?’ I asked. ‘To stop people asking about the baby? Time she was born, weight, name — that kind of thing? We could even print that picture you have of her, if we can find a printer to link your phone to.’

‘That’s a damn good idea, Matilda Matthews. There’s one in the office. I’ll get rid of these ladders and get it sorted.’

‘Super. Let’s do it then, before it gets busy.’

* * *

The note on the door caused a little bit of a bottleneck for people coming in, but it was still better than people bottlenecking at the bar in our opinion . . .

And the pinkness, reminiscent of bubble-gum nightmares as it was, was a huge hit too.

The Spatchcock was even busier than the night before. Probably, I assumed, because everyone was hoping for a peep at the new baby, when Sam and Cerys came through the door.

The customers’ patience was rewarded when, at about seven o’clock, the new little family appeared.

Someone let out a cheer, and suddenly there was a tsunami of customers all hurrying forward to catch a glance of Elin. Cerys looked remarkably perky for someone who had recently popped out a 9-pound-7-ounces baby, and Sam, who was carrying the baby seat containing his new daughter, just looked stunned. I had to wonder whether there was still a considerable amount of drugs in Cerys’ system, as she looked extremely cheerful.

‘Oh wow! Look at the balloons!’ cried Cerys. ‘Whose idea was that?’ she asked, delighted.

‘That would be Matilda’s,’ said Jay. ‘Congratulations, guys.’

‘Thanks Matilda!’ replied Cerys. ‘How utterly lovely. Lovely.’

‘Oh, I just suggested it.’ I said modestly. ‘Jay was the one who got them and put them up. And yes. Congratulations.’

‘You helped with the banner,’ Jay said.

‘I guess I did.’

‘Well, it’s lovely,’ repeated Cerys, grinning broadly. ‘What a shame Edie’s not here to see it. She came to the hospital, but she said she couldn’t come down here this weekend. What a shame.’

‘I think she would have been in the delivery room with you,’ said Sam wryly, but not without fondness, ‘had Ninian not deliberately kept her away until Elin was born.’

‘Edie’s very excited,’ Cerys told us.

‘And it’s not a show without Punch, as far as Edie’s concerned,’ added Sam, smiling.

I didn’t know Edie that well, but I guessed that might be the case. They did seem like very good friends. I felt my cheeks burn a little. Rosie and I were as close as that — weren’t we? Yet I’d run off when, maybe, just maybe, she needed me around.

I brushed the idea away, and instead leaned over the baby seat. Elin was asleep, but I had a horrible feeling that her eyes would snap open and she’d see me there and scream. So I didn’t hang over her for too long. Logic told me she probably couldn’t even focus, having just been unwrapped, as it were — but I didn’t want to take the chance.

I backed away carefully, holding my breath, just in case, and let a wave of villagers bypass me and take my place at the front of the queue.

Sam and Cerys lingered in the bar for a few moments longer, while people looked adoringly at Elin and some of the older residents popped silver coins into the baby seat next to her “for luck”. But, eventually, Sam and Cerys managed to move through the bar and disappear through the door to their flat.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.