Of course, Nathan was only joking but as tiredness washed through Bea’s body she’d lost her sense of humour.
‘You try sitting here.’
‘I was joking,’ he hurried over and kissed the top of her head. ‘Will you be alright if I leave Jacob here or shall I get him up and take him with me?’
‘He’s sleeping, leave him here. I’ll try and get a little sleep too. If things get too much I can always give Gilly a call,’ she said, vomiting once more as Nathen screwed up his face ‘Eww, I’m out of here.’
Thirty minutes later, Nathan had left for the deli with a whole bunch of keys, instructions and a promise from Nell that she would be there the minute she spotted him walking up the towpath. Bea was grateful to them both. This morning she didn’t even feel as if she could manage to get changed or even brush her hair. It had crossed Bea’s mind that she might need to lean on Nell more and more if the nausea didn’t settle down soon, but with Nell’s new project on the horizon she didn’t want to become a burden.
She peered around Jacob’s door and smiled. He was tucked up and still sound asleep. He looked so peaceful lying there. She couldn’t believe she would soon be going through all those sleepless nights again and then there was the dreaded potty-training – that was something she didn’t relish, but looking at Jacob she knew it was worth it.
Bea walked downstairs and shivered. Usually first thing in the morning Nathan would light the log burner but with a change to his routine it was stone cold in the living room. She grabbed a throw from the settee and clutched it tightly around her shoulders. She stood and stared around the living room. They’d bought Driftwood Cottage before Bea had fallen pregnant with Jacob and she was excited to bring another little person into it very soon. She wandered into the kitchen, being careful not to step on the numerous trucks and fire engines that Jacob had been playing with yesterday. After kicking a piece of Lego to the side of the room she tossed a teddy bear on to the settee and opened the kitchen door.
Nathan may have prepared dinner last night but the dirty plates, glasses and mugs caught her eye, all still piled up by the Belfast sink. He hadn’t even loaded the dishwasher. Bea sighed. She didn’t have the energy or inclination to deal with it now. She risked a tentative look in the mirror at the bottom of the stairs, her face was pale and her eyes were tired. She wished she’d hadn’t even bothered to look as she trudged back up the stairs to the safe haven on her bedroom.
The next thing Bea knew she was being shaken. She opened her eyes to see a smiley Jacob peering at her. ‘Mummy I’m ready for my breakfast.’
‘Good morning, my little man, do you want to climb inside for a cuddle first?’ she threw back the duvet as a blast of cold air brushed against her body. Jacob snuggled up against Bea and she squeezed him tight.
‘Where’s Daddy?’ he asked.
‘He’s gone to work at the deli for me today.’
‘Why?’
Bea smiled down at Jacob, ‘Because Mummy has been feeling a little unwell.’
‘Was it Daddy’s cooking?’
Bea chuckled.
‘I prefer it when you make my tea. Daddy doesn’t get it right sometimes.’
‘Let’s hope Aunty Nellie does all the baking in the deli today, then!’
‘Have you got that bug that Ellie Hale has got from school? She was sick all over the beanbags. Eww,’ Jacob held his nose.
‘You are funny,’ Bea answered, tickling his tummy. ‘Not quite, but Mummy may be feeling poorly for a little while longer yet.’
‘Why?’
‘Because Mummy has got a baby in her tummy,’ she said softly, waiting for the news to register on Jacob’s face.
He looked directly at Bea’s tummy then cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, ‘Hello in there.’
Bea giggled.
‘Do you think he can hear me?’
Bea gave a theatrical nod, ‘Absolutely, but of course it could be a girl.’
For a second Jacob looked horrified, ‘A girl?’ he said slowly.
Bea pushed his hair back out of his eyes and smiled.
‘Can we send it back if it’s a girl? They will want to play with dolls not fire engines,’ Jacob said, with a very serious look on his face.
‘I’m not sure that would be possible!’ she grinned.
Jacob shrugged, ‘How long do they have to stay in your tummy for?’
‘They have to stay warm in here,’ she patted her tummy, ‘for nine months.’
‘Is it like one of your ovens at work?’
‘A little. When they are fully cooked they will come out and join our family. What do you think?’
‘I think it will be okay if they don’t pinch my toys, and Mummy?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can I have my breakfast now? I’m starving.’
She grinned at him, ‘You can, come on.’ She replied, throwing back the covers and grabbing her dressing gown. On the whole Bea thought that conversation had gone very well.
Chapter 10
It was six o’clock when Bea heard the key in the door and the excited chatter spilling into the hallway.
Jacob swung his head round, ‘Aunty Nellie, what are you doing here?’ he squealed, launching himself straight into her arms.
‘Wow, you are getting heavy,’ she smiled, planting a kiss on the top of his head.
‘No wellies today?’
‘I’m inside Aunty Nellie, you’re silly!’
She steadied him back on the carpet and rattled a white paper bag.
His eyes grew wide like flying saucers.
‘Doughnuts!’
‘Not before tea,’ Bea shot a warning glance towards them both.
‘Not before tea,’ Nell repeated, giving the bag to Jacob, ‘Go and put them in the kitchen.’
He saluted, grabbed the bag and ran off, pretending to be an aeroplane, towards the kitchen.
‘I wish I had his energy,’ Nell said, kicking off her shoes and sinking into the chair next to Bea.
‘Busy day?’
‘You could say that!’
Nathan hung up his coat then popped a swift kiss on to his wife’s cheek, ‘How’re you feeling?’ he asked, inhaling the faint smell of sickness.
‘Exhausted and queasy but I’ve managed to clear up all the pots in the kitchen.’
Nathan looked sheepish, ‘Sorry, I fell asleep last night watching the TV and was going to clean up this morning but then …’
‘It’s fine,’ ‘Bea interrupted, grateful that the pair of them had worked in the deli all day. ‘Put the kettle on and make Nell a drink. Did you both cope today?’
Nell nodded, ‘Nancy and Isabel organised Nathan while I baked and we even roped Mum in for a couple of hours. She was riding past on her bike and stopped when she saw the queue filtering out of the door. Before we knew it, she was behind the counter with your pinny on and had a whale of a time!’
Nathan walked back into the room, ‘She was worth her weight in gold today, and you too, Nell,’ he said, handing her a glass of wine, ‘Thought you might be in need of this more than a cuppa,’ he smiled, snapping open the ring pull on the can of beer before placing it on the coffee table.
Nell’s eyes lit up, ‘You know me so well.’
‘Can I get you anything?’ he twisted his head towards Bea.
‘Just a glass of water would be good.’
He nodded before disappearing once more towards the kitchen, ‘What’s for tea?’ he shouted.
The thought of food made Bea’s stomach turn, ‘I haven’t started tea. Every time I stand up I feel dizzy,’ she looked at him warily as he came back in the room and handed her a glass of water.
‘I’m not sure I can even face any food,’ she sighed.
‘You have to try and keep your strength up,’ Nell said, sipping her wine while balancing Jacob on one knee.
‘Mummy’s cooking a baby in her tummy,’ Jacob suddenly announced, jumping from Nell’s knee and kneeling on the floor to drive h
is cars around the play mat.
‘How did he take it?’ Nell mouthed to Bea.
‘All good.’
‘Will you still have lots of kisses for me, Aunty Nellie, when the baby comes?’ Jacob cocked his head to one side.
‘You’d better believe it!’
He gave her a cheeky smile and carried on playing with his cars.
‘So I’m assuming you aren’t up for a girly night tonight?’ Nell asked Bea.
‘I’m not much use to anyone,’ she smiled, ‘But you are more than welcome to veg out on the sofa with me and watch a film.’
‘And read me a story at bedtime,’ Jacob piped up.
‘Deal!’ Nell winked at him, ‘If that’s okay with you, Nathan?’
‘Of course. Shall I nip out and grab a couple of pizzas? To be honest, after slaving over the ovens all day I don’t feel much like cooking either.’
‘Welcome to my world!’ Bea grinned.
‘Sounds like a perfect plan,’ Nell answered, ‘The diet starts on Monday.’
‘Again!’ Both Nell and Bea bellowed at the same time.
Nathan stood up and grabbed his coat from the hallway. He fished around in his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
‘Any toppings in particular?’
‘Surprise us,’ Bea answered, knowing full well she would barely be able to manage a slice.
‘Oh, I nearly forgot,’ Nathan said, pulling out a crumpled letter from his pocket and handing it to Bea.
‘What’s this?’ she asked, flicking the envelope over.
‘No idea, but it had to be signed for.’
She lowered her gaze to the envelope and tore it open. Her eyes scanned the words on the embellished cream paper, then she gasped. Both Nathen and Nell saw a wide beam spread across her face and her eyes danced with excitement.
‘Come on, don’t leave us in suspense,’ Nathan hovered.
‘I think we need a drum roll,’ she paused, ‘The Melting Pot, my little melting pot, has only been nominated for Delicatessen of the Year!’ she shrieked.
‘No way! That’s bloody brilliant!’ Nathan walked across the room and planted a huge kiss on Bea’s lips. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Fantastic news! It couldn’t happen to a more deserved person, even though I may be a teeny bit biased!’ Nell grinned, pinching her thumb and forefinger together.
‘We need to celebrate when I get back!’ Nathan said.
‘Typical! The strongest drink I can have is blackcurrant squash.’
‘Don’t worry, we’ll make up for it,’ Nell winked at Nathan and Bea rolled her eyes.
As Nathan disappeared out of the door, Bea came over all emotional, ‘Nell, I’m beginning to get a little worried.’
‘About the competition?’ Nell looked at Bea.
‘That and how awful I’m feeling at the minute with the sickness and then when the baby comes along. How am I going to manage?’
‘You are a wonderful mother!’ exclaimed Nell.
‘But how am I going to manage with the deli?’
‘You may need to advertise for help.’
‘What about you? Would you think of taking it over for me while I’m on maternity?’
Nell paused. She’d been thinking about this in the last couple of days. As much as she would help her friend as much as she could, her head was filled with her own dreams of the picture house and she didn’t know how much time she would have to spare.
‘Let’s not worry about that now – one day at a time,’ said Nell.
But Bea was worried. She always thought that Nell would run the deli when she wasn’t there, but now things had changed and she had no idea what to do.
Chapter 11
It was Sunday morning and Nell had been up since the crack of dawn scrutinising her bank accounts, savings and generally looking over her outgoings, which were next to nothing these days.
The sale of the picture house had got her excited about life again. There was nothing stopping her from making an offer on the place; the funds were accessible, with the added bonus of her own savings – all she had to do was win that auction. Nell knew she’d been sitting on Ollie’s insurance for a while, waiting for something meaningful to come along, and in her heart she knew this was it. If she managed to pull this off, it was an opportunity to make something of her life as well as honouring Ollie’s memory.
Forty minutes later, with her bag swung over her shoulder, she’d decided to go for a walk and call in on her mum for a cup of tea. She was surprised to see Guy already pottering about in the boat shed, especially this early on a Sunday. The huge doors were pulled back and he was happily blacking the hull of one of the narrowboats, which had come in for painting. She could hear him whistling along to the radio and Sam was quite happily sniffing around the boatyard. Guy stood back to admire his work and wiped his brow. He must have sensed that someone was watching him because suddenly he swung round and locked eyes with Nell. He smiled, wiped his hands on a rag and strolled over towards her.
‘Good morning, you’re looking lovely,’
‘You sound genuinely surprised,’ she teased.
‘Ha, you always look lovely. Are you off anywhere nice this bright and early?’
It was the first time Nell had bothered to put on a full face of make-up for as long as she could remember. She’d decided it was time to make the effort with herself and she’d definitely felt a spring in her step since Guy had come on to the scene.
‘Why, thank you,’ she answered, stuffing her hands deep in her pocket, ‘Just off to Mum’s. I’ve been going through all my finances, looking at every scenario and generally squealing with excitement into my morning cuppa. Just look at that place,’ she swung her head towards the picture house. ‘I’m going to do everything in my power to win that auction and re-open that place. Eek!’ Aware that she was babbling, she smiled and snapped her mouth shut, ‘Look at me going on and on.’
Guy looked mildly amused.
‘Fire in your belly, that’s what that is!’ he grinned.
‘Forgive me, I’ve not even asked, how’s Ed?’
‘Home, driving me insane. This morning, would you believe, he wanted to come into the yard and sit in the office, for company, he said, but I know he just wanted to keep a close eye on me and his yard.’
‘And you told him …’
‘No! He needs to take it easy. That’s what I’m here for, to take away the stress until he fully recuperates. I have to say, though, I’m quite enjoying it. It’s very therapeutic painting boats and generally getting my hands dirty.’
‘Once Little Rock is under your skin, it’s definitely hard to shake it off.’
They both stared out across the marina.
‘I can’t imagine living anywhere else, I mean, look at that view, it’s like something out of a romance novel, tranquil, peaceful, great ambience, shops and, not forgetting, great people. I’ve always loved it here.’
‘It rather does, doesn’t it?’ Guy agreed with a smile.
‘It rather does what?’ Nell asked in wonderment, losing the thread of the conversation.
‘Have great people.’ Guy’s eyes locked with hers and Nell felt the beam creep over her face. ‘Don’t you forget that, Mr Cornish.’
‘I’ve no intention of forgetting that,’ he said with a twinkle in his eye.
At that particular moment, Nell leant forward, her eyes briefly lowered to his lips but she swiftly kissed him on his cheek, leaving Guy taken by surprise. His skin had felt soft and she smiled to herself. Her heart was fluttering as she turned and strolled up the wharf.
Nell could feel Guy watching her as she walked away and she smiled at him over her shoulder. Once she was out of sight her nerves sprang back into action as she carried on walking towards Bluebell Cottage. Her mind flitted back to her mother’s reaction regarding the picture house, which the more she thought about it, the odder it seemed. Her mum had always supported her in everything she did, so why was this time different? It was alm
ost as if her mum had got something against the renovation of the Old Picture House? Maybe it was just concern about taking on such a big project so soon after Ollie’s death. But, after the unbearable sense of loss in her life, Nell felt that this was the way forward, a project she could really get her teeth into. The excitement made her body surge just thinking about. She just hoped her mum would get behind her once she realised how serious she was and then Nell would know that this was the right thing to do.
Chapter 12
Guy stood with a goofy grin on his face and watched Nell walk up the wharf and disappear out of sight before he turned back towards the boat shed. Her words were ringing in his ears, ‘Once Little Rock gets under your skin.’
Since the night Nell had shared the Chinese with him, he’d found himself thinking about her more and more and he couldn’t deny she was on his mind the second he woke up, and the moment he fell asleep.
In the past week alone Guy had felt happier than he’d been in a long while. Perhaps the change of scenery was doing him good. He made himself a brew, cupped his hands around the mug and stared out over the peaceful marina. Sam came and sat by his side, thumping his tail on the ground. ‘What are we going to do, Sam? I think I’m falling in love with this place. I mean how can anyone not? Everything is just more laid back and there’s no shirt and tie throttling my neck every day. What exactly have we got waiting back for us in Ireland?’
Sam cocked his head to one side and Guy laughed, ‘Jeez, dog, it looked like you were actually listening to me there for a minute.’
Sam gave a woof and stayed by Guy’s side.
‘Right then, Sam, we’ve a couple of options,’ Guy continued to speak, ‘We could find a job and a house to rent here and hopefully live with Ed in the meantime or we could go back to Ireland for a life of misery in the financial world. What do you reckon?’ he laughed to himself.
Sam began to whimper, ‘I take it you’re not keen on going back either? I’m not sure if I want to go back to that situation we left behind.’ Sam woofed again.
Guy turned to him and raised his eyebrows, ‘You neither? Are you actually answering me?’ He ruffled the top of his head. ‘I think I know why Ed loves this place so much. It certainly does have a good feel.’
The Cosy Canal Boat Dream: A funny, feel-good romantic comedy you won’t be able to put down! Page 8
