Page 98 of The Winter Bride

Annie flushed. She hadn’t expected to be so taken with Alex’s little girl and it had confused her. She was so like Adam to look at and had his good nature too. Adam had clearly taken a great liking to Alex as well, and seeing them together anyone might have thought they had known each other for years.

‘Alex is clearly very smitten with Adam, non?’

‘I, er . . . suppose they did get on quite well,’ Annie admitted reluctantly. ‘But as you know, Adam is a friendly child and gets on well with most people.’

Marie grinned before taking Adam’s hand and leading him off to pay a visit to the cook.

Left alone, Annie stared into the fire as her hand rose to touch the scar on her cheek. She was still very conscious of it. But why am I worrying? Alex was clearly only interested in seeing Adam. She was beginning to wonder now, after what Marie had said, if she had been wrong not to tell Alex that he had a son. Adam and Alex were clearly already developing a bond and it would be hard to deny him visiting rights, although it would be difficult for him when she and Adam moved back to Nuneaton. She realised with a little jolt that she would miss seeing Lucy too.

Still, she decided, they would have to cross that bridge when they came to it. She still had to rest her ankle for at least another couple of weeks before moving.

Later that week, Peggy and Levi paid Annie an unexpected visit. She was thrilled to see them.

‘Do you have to go back today? Couldn’t you stay for a while longer?’ Annie pleaded. Seeing them again had made her realise more than ever just how much she had missed them.

Peggy shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not this time, pet,’ she said. ’We’re right busy back at ’ome. But I ’ad to come to check you were on the mend. We’ve been worried sick about you.’

Marie stepped in and insisted they stay for dinner before catching the train back to Nuneaton, and when they’d gone Annie realised that she wasn’t looking forward to going back as much as she had been.

Alex continued to visit at least every couple of days, sometimes after he’d finished work and sometimes during the day with Lucy, and they were all becoming more at ease in each other’s company. Before she knew it, it was the end of January and Annie was able to put some weight on her foot, although she still couldn’t walk too far. But it wouldn’t be long until she and Adam could leave to start their life in their new home.

Marie was beginning to waddle and getting very excited about the birth of her baby. The nursery looked fit for a prince or princess and she was hopeful that this baby would be the first of many.

‘Have you never dreamt of ’aving more children?’ she asked Annie one day over morning coffee.

Annie frowned. ‘I suppose because I haven’t got a husband, I’ve never given it much thought,’ she said. ‘But I admit seeing you blossom has made me feel a little bit broody. I suppose if things were different, I would have liked to have had more.’

‘You still ’ave plenty of time,’ Marie pointed out.

Annie shook her head. ‘What? Looking like this?’ Her hand rose to trace the scar on her cheek. ‘I don’t think there’s many would want to take me now.’

Marie wagged a finger at her. ‘Rubbish. You are still a very beautiful woman and the scar is getting less noticeable by the day. And anyway, even if it wasn’t, I can think of one man at least who would take you just as you are. Surely you ’ave seen the way Alex’s eyes never leave you?’

Annie scowled. ‘Now it’s you who’s talking rubbish.’ She tossed her head in denial and stared towards the window. ‘Alex only comes to see Adam.’

‘If you think that, you are not as intelligent as I thought,’ Marie replied primly. ‘And I know you still ’ave feelings for ’im too! You are just too independent and stubborn to acknowledge it.’

Annie clamped her lips shut and refused to answer and eventually the conversation moved on to other things.

Chapter Forty-Nine

‘So, tomorrow is the big day?’ Alex said one evening in early February. ‘Would you like me to give you a lift to the hospital to get your check-up?’

‘That’s very kind of you but I can get a cab if John is unavailable,’ Annie told him.

He frowned. ‘But why would you do that when I’m offering to take you? Isn’t my car good enough?’

‘Of course it is, but . . . Oh, very well, if you’re sure it isn’t any bother, yes please.’

‘I thought we might go for a meal afterwards to celebrate you being able to get out and about again,’ he went on.

She flushed. ‘Er . . .’ She didn’t quite know what to say. She’d been cooped up inside for so long now that the offer was quite tempting. ‘I’d have to check with Marie that she didn’t mind looking after Adam.’

‘I already have and she thinks it would do you the power of good,’ he said with a grin.

And so bright and early the next morning, Alex arrived and helped her out to the car. Two hours later they walked out of the hospital, Annie leaning heavily on his arm. The bandages were gone but her leg would have to build its strength back up after being strapped up for so long.

‘There’s a rather nice little restaurant not far from here,’ Alex told her as he helped her into the car. ‘I took the liberty of booking us a table. I hope you don’t mind?’