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They were engrossed in conversation, not touching but the closeness was palpable. Then Clara smiled at her husband and turned, walking towards Raina.
‘Hi, I’m Clara.’ She held out her hand, her smile frank and open. Raina liked her already.
‘I’m Raina. What do you think?’ She swept her finger, pointing at the display boards that had been fixed to the walls.
‘I think it’s great. I was looking at them just now, and it’s just the right mix of information, along with a little something to stir the imagination.’ Clara grinned, pointing towards the image of Anya, using her prosthetic hand to play with her bricks. ‘That’s your daughter?’
‘Yes. Anya...’ The one little piece of light in the gloom. Raina had held onto her little girl, trying to subsume her sadness into a determination for a brighter future. That future was for Anya alone, though.
‘She’s beautiful.’
‘I hear you’re expecting twins. Congratulations.’
Clara grinned. It was nice to see someone so happy. ‘Thank you. Gabriel just happened to mention it, did he?’
‘Once or twice. He seems to be doing pretty well with the father-in-training routine.’
‘Just wait until he finds out about changing nappies.’ Clara chuckled. ‘Gabriel says that it’s Anya’s birthday in ten days’ time, and that you’re planning a party.’
Planning a party wasn’t quite the description. Gabriel had asked what Raina would be doing for Anya’s birthday and she’d told him that she’d asked a few friends to the house.
‘I haven’t really decided what to do yet.’
‘That’s what I wanted to ask you about. We’re having a party this weekend, and we’ve had a marquee put up in the garden. As it’s there, we wondered if you’d like to use it for Anya’s party.’
‘That would be great but—you don’t want half a dozen kids with their sticky fingers all over your house, do you?’
‘I don’t mind. And as you say, Gabriel’s in training. He hardly flinches when I drop jam on the carpet these days.’
The image of red wine stains on the carpet hit Raina from nowhere. Alistair’s bedroom and making love. He’d dropped his glass and they hadn’t noticed the stain on the carpet until the following morning. Alistair had just smiled, telling her that they’d just made a memory.
One that hurt now. Raina took a breath. ‘How big is the marquee?’
‘It takes forty people. And there’s room for a bouncy castle as well...’ Clara was clearly making plans.
‘There are a few extra people I could ask. Heidi and the Dream Team have been so good to Anya.’
‘That’s great. Ask them all.’
‘I’ll come and help decorate the marquee...’ Raina was beginning to get excited about the prospect.
‘Let me.’ Clara leaned forward. ‘I’m already a bit fed up with this bee that Gabriel’s got in his bonnet about my resting all the time. It’ll be my pleasure.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive. Give me your number and I’ll call you if I have any questions. I expect I’ll have plenty.’
‘Thank you, Clara. This is really nice of you and Gabriel.’ Raina suspected that this was a plan that they’d cooked up between them to cheer her up. But Anya would love a party in a marquee, and Raina was already beginning to look forward to it.
‘I’m so glad you’ve agreed.’ Clara reached into her bag, locating her mobile phone immediately. Raina would have to mention that when she became a mother, her handbag might be less organised. Another jab to the heart, as she remembered the joke about the safety pins in Alistair’s mother’s bag on their wedding day.
Leave it. Don’t think about that, just look to the future. Raina found her own phone, the screen smudged with sticky finger marks where Anya had been playing with it. She’d made a friend today, and if Gabriel and Clara were close to Alistair, then they seemed to both understand the situation and were tactfully working around it.
‘You’re really sure about this? When I give you my number it’s a done deal.’ Raina grinned.
‘Quick, then. Give me the number.’
* * *
