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Evanna thought of her mortgage. Of her new bathroom. ‘I already have a perfectly good wardrobe.’
‘But whenever you meet up with my brother you’re either in uniform, because you’re working, or you’re in jeans, because you’re looking after Kirsty. That red top looked fabulous on you, but let’s make it a red dress.’
‘I wear jeans because they’re practical.’
‘True. But how about forgetting the practical for once and going for the glamorous?’
Evanna stared at her. ‘If I turn up to babysit Kirsty in a tiara and diamonds, Logan will have me locked up.’
‘Saturday isn’t about babysitting. It’s a party and I’m not talking about a tiara and diamonds, just something more sexy and frivolous than you would normally wear. Let’s just try it. Anyway, shopping is always fun. I’ll pick you up from your house.’
‘Kyla—’
‘Just try it, and then if Logan still doesn’t notice you, I’ll back off.’
‘He won’t notice me,’ Evanna said flatly. ‘It wouldn’t matter if I turned up to the barbecue stark naked. He still wouldn’t notice me.’
‘Trust me,’ Kyla said smugly. ‘He’s going to notice you.’
Evanna dropped in to check on Lucy on her way home from the surgery and was pleased to see her outside in the garden with the pram.
‘I thought she might enjoy being out of doors,’ Lucy explained as she walked up the path to meet Evanna. ‘I’ve kept her in the shade but she’s been crying a bit and being pushed around seems to soothe her.’
‘It often does and I quite agree that taking her outside is a good idea. Janet said you’re worried about her cord.’
Lucy pulled a face. ‘It looks a bit gooey. Do you mind taking a look?’
‘Of course not. That’s why I’m here. And I’d like to take a look at you, too. How have you been feeling?’
‘Excited. Nervous. Being a mum is scary. Knowing that I’m completely responsible for her keeps me awake at night.’ Lucy carefully lifted the baby out of the pram. ‘Her eyes are a bit sticky, too. Logan gave me some gauze and told me to use that and boiled water to clean them.’
‘That sounds like a good strategy. Let’s go inside so that I can have a proper look at her.’
‘It’s so hot today, I’ve had all the doors and windows open because none of us can sleep at night. I’m really worried that the baby will overheat.’
‘Lay her on her back and keep the window open a crack,’ Evanna advised, carefully placing the baby on the couch and undoing the poppers on her vest. ‘Hello, you gorgeous thing. Can I look at your tummy?’ She spoke softly to the baby and Lucy sighed.
‘You’re so confident when you handle her. I wish I was like that. I’m all fingers and thumbs and I’m terrified that I’m going to drop her or do something wrong. I feel completely ignorant.’
Evanna’s eyes slid to the stack of baby books on the coffee-table and she suppressed a smile. ‘You’re not ignorant, Lucy,’ she murmured, turning the nappy down, ‘just naturally apprehensive. Mothers should be mothers.’
‘I keep ringing Logan,’ Lucy confessed. ‘Any day now he’s going to scream at me for bothering him with trivia.’
‘Logan’s never yelled at a worried patient in his life. Her cord looks fine, Lucy. Just keep cleaning it the way I showed you in hospital.’
/> ‘It isn’t infected?’
‘No. But try to fold the nappy over so that it doesn’t rub.’
‘She’s so tiny the nappies swamp her.’
Evanna smiled and closed the poppers on the little vest. ‘She’ll soon grow. How’s the feeding going? Are you feeding her yourself?’
‘Yes. I really wanted to, you know that. It’s hurting quite a bit, though.’
‘Is she latching on properly?’
‘I suppose so. I don’t know really. We’re both amateurs.’ Lucy gave a helpless shrug. ‘She’s due a feed now. Could you watch and tell me if we’re doing it right?’
