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“And it’s going well?”

“Yes, really well. There have been a few bumps in the road, Bob’s dad died last year and it hit him hard, but we’ve learned to face everything together.”

“I’m really happy for you,” said Maddie, sounding like she meant it. “How are things going with the B&B?”

“It’s been tough since I started teaching, but it’s going from strength to strength. Bob’s building us a summer house at the top of the garden so we can start renting the whole house out during the summer holidays. We’ll go back to B&Bing in the winter. I’d miss meeting all those interesting people if we stopped it completely.”

“The house of many lives,” said Maddie, smiling.

“Yes, it is. Anyway, tell me about your life. Anyone special on the scene.”

“Fred, why don’t you go and play with your car?” The little boy jumped off his mum’s lap and ran across the grass. “There is someone at work, but it’s early days. I haven’t introduced him to Fred yet.”

“Is he kind?”

“So kind,” said Maddie, a far off look in her eyes. “He’s dying to meet Fred, but respects my decision to take things slowly. It’s tricky though, we don’t get the chance to go out much, and I wonder how long his patience will last.”

“If he’s as kind as you say he is, he’ll stick around. You know, we’re in town for two nights and Bob will be busy with his conference. How about I babysit for you tomorrow night?”

“That’s really kind, but I couldn’t ask you to do that while you’re on holiday.”

“Maddie, it’s what I should’ve been doing for the past five years.”

Maddie looked at Kate with tears in her eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that? Are you sure you’re sure?”

“It would be good practice for me,” said Kate, putting a protective hand against her stomach.

“You’re not?”

“I am.”

Maddie screamed, and Fred came running across to see if she was all right. She picked him up in her arms, and drew Kate into them. “Mummy’s fine,” she told him. “I’m just excited because you’re going to have a new cousin.”

Fred dragged Maddie off to play with his car, and Kate sipped her coke, stroking the small bump beneath her dress.Fill the house with love and laughter. Her grandmother’s instructions floated through her mind. Kate thought about her family: Bob, the baby, Joy, Flo, Maddie, and the people who stayed at her home, sharing a little piece of themselves before they continued on their way.I think I have, Moira, she whispered,I think I have.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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