Another Glass of Champagne

by Jenny Kane

  ‘Eight thirty this morning? Not last night?! Oh hell, that was ages since she went into labour.’ Megan looked horror struck.

  ‘Little mite got its arm stuck on departure, apparently.’

  ‘Hang on,’ Peggy was almost bouncing at the good news, ‘what flavour was it?’

  Kit laughed. ‘Flavour?’

  ‘Yes. A raspberry or a blueberry?’

  ‘I’ve never heard of babies coming in flavours before! I don’t know.’

  ‘Was Jack being all mysterious or something?’

  ‘Apparently Paul called him on his way out of the hospital. Paul will be here, at Pickwicks, at five o’clock with all the details and some photos. Amy is too tired for visitors today, but we can go and see her tomorrow.’

  Megan dashed off to serve some new customers, calling over her shoulder, ‘I bet she’s totally wiped out.’

  ‘Shame we don’t know the flavour though, I was going to nip out and get a card.’

  ‘We can do that tomorrow.’ Kit glanced up from her novel manuscript, ‘So exciting. I didn’t think I’d get to cuddle a baby again until either Helena or Thomas had kids. I can’t wait!’

  Peggy laughed, ‘Don’t tell me you’re all broody, Mrs Lambert?’

  ‘Not at all!’ Kit thought back over her recent worries about the twins leaving home, and knew that wanting more children had never factored in her feelings of displacement. ‘I’ve done all that, and although I miss it, I have new things ahead of me; but grandchildren might be nice one day.’

  ‘Good job it is Helena’s day off. She’d have freaked out if she’d heard that.’

  ‘And they aren’t saying if it’s a boy or a girl?’

  ‘Not a word.’ Jack was enjoying being the purveyor of the good news, and as he told Rupert that Amy and her child were safe and sound, he felt warmth fill him. ‘Paul called me a little while ago. He was so kind. Thanked me for looking after Amy. I have to admit I’m a bit relieved about that.’

  ‘You didn’t think he’d hold it against you, did you? That you were there at the start and he wasn’t?’

  ‘It crossed my mind.’

  Rupert paused, before saying, ‘Are you OK then?’

  He didn’t have to say more for Jack to understand what he was really asking. ‘Yes, thanks. And thanks for listening to my self-pity last night.’

  ‘Likewise.’ Rupert paused again, fiddling with the scroll button on his mouse as he did so. ‘Were you serious? You know, about meeting my parents?’

  ‘Yes. Providing you’d like me to. If it would make things more difficult for you, then obviously I won’t. But if you want morale support next time you go, then I’m happy to come along.’

  ‘Well, actually ... I’ve been asked to go for lunch this coming Saturday. Mother said I was welcome to bring a friend.’

  ‘You mean a date – as in a future wife?’

  ‘I suspect that is what she meant.’

  ‘I’ll come on two conditions.’

  ‘Which are?’

  ‘You tell your mother in advance that the friend you are bringing is a colleague from work. That way, me being a bloke won’t be too much of a surprise. And when you talk about work I think we should use your official title of Educational Liaison to Kew Gardens, rather than saying you’re a shop assistant!’

  ‘Agreed. And second?’

  ‘Second, you pass on the baby news to Rob, assuming Kit hasn’t beaten us to it, and then shut the shop early and come to Pickwicks with me at five o’clock to hear Paul’s news.’

  Rupert suddenly felt unsure. ‘But I’m not part of the group, Jack. I mean, I ought to keep the shop going while Rob comes over.’

  Jack felt an odd constriction in his heart when he realised that Rupert might not be there to hear about his new godchild for the first time. ‘Rupert.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘You’re with me, so you are part of the group. I need you to be there when I find out if I have a godson or a goddaughter. I’m not sure why it matters to me, but it does.’

  Rupert’s cheeks glowed as a blush started to form. ‘I’ll be there.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re alright about me doing this without you?’

  Amy smiled at Paul as he handed their baby into her open arms. ‘Of course I am. They have to know, they’ve been very patient waiting for news. I bet Jack’s getting worried!’

  ‘But you should be there as well.’

  ‘I’ll be there the first time they meet our beautiful baby – and anyway, I’m done in, and so are you! Go to Pickwicks, show off the photos, fill them in on our news, then get some food and go home. You’ve only had two hours’ sleep since yesterday. You’ll need to be full of life when we come home the day after tomorrow.’

  Kissing his wife and his child, Paul picked up his tablet, which had about a world record number of photographs on it, and with lots of backward glances and waves, left the two of them behind him.

  ‘You’re very quiet, mate, are you alright?’

  Rob looked anxiously at Rupert as they walked along Richmond’s main street on the way to Pickwicks.

  ‘Fine. I’m just not very good at meeting people I don’t know.’

  ‘You know Kit and Phil, they’ll both be there, and Jack of course. Megan, Peggy, and Scott are lovely. In fact, it’s a miracle you’ve been working at Reading Nature for so long without coming across them before.’

  Footsteps running up behind them made them turn to see Jack racing to catch them up.

  ‘Hi, guys, good timing!’

  Rob said nothing about the glance that Rupert and Jack exchanged, saving it to tell Debbie about later. ‘You honestly don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, Jack?’

  ‘Not a clue. Amy told Paul she wanted us all told at the same time. Beyond knowing that everyone is fit and healthy, I’m as much in the dark as everyone else.’

  Pushing the door to Pickwicks open, the boys found Kit, Peggy, Scott, and Megan sat with cups of coffee, and Phil cradling his eternal pot of tea, all looking expectantly at the door.

  Kit smiled. ‘Any sign of Paul out there?’

  ‘Didn’t see him,’ Jack glanced at his watch, ‘but we’re a few minutes early, and I bet it was difficult for him to leave Amy and the baby in the hospital.

  Rob and Phil nodded at the same time, as Phil said, ‘I hated leaving Kit and the twins, but the blokes get more or less booted out of the door after the birth. Or they did when we had our two.’

  Noticing that Rupert was looking a bit awkward, Jack began to introduce him to the Pickwicks team members he hadn’t met before just as the door opened, and a tired but beaming Paul came in.

  ‘I don’t suppose there is another cup of tea in that pot, Philip?’

  Immediately Paul was ushered into an empty seat, tea was poured, and when no one could stand it any longer, Kit blurted, ‘Well, come on? Boy or girl? Is Amy OK?’

  Paul reached into his rucksack, and placed his tablet on the table. Opening an album of photographs, he announced, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my daughter: five pounds in weight exactly, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, a month early but fit and healthy in every way. This magnificent mini miracle is Poppy Rose Donahue.’

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Thursday 28th July

  Jack, a bunch of flowers in one hand and a lemon yellow teddy bear in the other, walked into the hospital’s postnatal ward, and searched along the row of beds for Amy. At last he spotted her, baby Poppy discreetly feeding under the copious folds of her mum’s oversized shirt.

  ‘Amy? Can I come in?’

  Looking up from her child, Amy’s face broke into a wide grin. ‘Of course – but aren’t you already in?’

  ‘You know what I mean! I didn’t want to disturb you mid-feed. That looks as if it needs concentration.’

  ‘You aren’t kidding! This is one of those things that you definitely need to practise beforehand, but simply can’t. Luckily, Poppy seems to know what to do.’

  Ja
ck drew up a chair and sat down. ‘Does it hurt?’

  ‘It does a bit. Everything is tender right now, as you’d imagine. It’s OK though.’ Amy smiled towards the gifts Jack was carrying. ‘Which is for me and which is for Poppy?’

  ‘Well, the bear is obviously for you.’

  ‘As I thought.’ Amy laughed. ‘They’re lovely flowers, thanks, Jack. And while we’re about it, thanks for everything you did for me on Tuesday. Seems a lifetime ago, but I couldn’t have managed without you.’

  ‘Yes you could. You’ve always been the strong one, but thanks anyway. I’m glad I was there for you.’

  Amy laughed again. ‘Strong one? Hardly! Hang on; this little miss has fallen asleep on the job.’ A few deft moves later, Poppy had been lifted away and Amy’s dignity was intact under a re-buttoned shirt. Holding her baby out to Jack, she said, ‘Fancy being the first person apart from Paul, myself, and the nurses to give your latest goddaughter a cuddle?’

  Jack, who’d been looking forward to a cuddle since he’d woken up that morning, said, ‘You sure it’s OK? I mean, she’s only just eaten.’

  ‘She may well puke down your back, but then she could do that anytime. Don’t tell me you aren’t dying to have a snuggle, because I won’t believe you. I happen to know you love babies.’

  Taking the offered bundle with extreme care, Jack swallowed back the emotion lodged in his throat as Amy tucked the yellow bear into the cot next to her bed. ‘Doesn’t he look cosy? Poppy will be able to cuddle up with him at bedtime.’

  ‘Him?’

  ‘Poppy’s my daughter, isn’t she? The chances of her giving any of her teddies a female name, when the time comes for her to make such big decisions, are remote.’

  ‘True.’ Jack couldn’t stop looking at Poppy. Her fine blonde hair was so soft, and as he held her, a tiny hand escaped from the blanket she was wrapped in and gripped his finger with a strength that could have broken a lesser man. ‘Did you manage to get any sleep last night?’

  ‘Some, which is better than the “none” most of the mums in here got last night, so I’m not complaining. I’ve been pretty much napping along with Poppy.’

  ‘You could doze now if you want. We’re OK here, aren’t we, tiny one.’ Jack settled back with Poppy resting on his chest.

  Amy’s heart constricted for him. ‘You look so comfortable.’

  ‘We are, aren’t we, Pops?’

  ‘Pops?’

  ‘Yes. Don’t tell me you haven’t shortened her name to Pop already. You always shorten names. I’ve always been stunned you don’t call me Ja.’

  Amy laughed. ‘Yes, I’m already calling her Pop sometimes.’

  ‘When are you going home?’

  ‘Tomorrow.’

  ‘But you’ve only just given birth! They can’t ship you out that fast, can they?’

  ‘I’m doing OK. Poppy is eating well and she’s putting weight on, so they don’t need to keep me here. It isn’t like the old days, Jack. They don’t keep you in for the full week after the birth unless you aren’t well. And to be honest, although I won’t get that much rest once I’m home, I’d like to get no sleep in my own bed rather than no sleep in this one. It is so uncomfortable!’

  ‘Really? We aren’t uncomfortable, are we, Pops?’ Jack waved Poppy’s hand towards her mum as the baby opened her eyes and seemed to looked directly into his, her blue gaze meeting his brown one.

  His whisper of ‘Oh!’ was almost unnoticeable, but Amy heard it.

  ‘You alright?’

  Full of wonder, Jack murmured, ‘Your daughter has your eyes. Sorry, Poppy caught me by surprise. She is so like you.’

  ‘I know – but she’s also very long, so she’ll probably be tall like her dad.’

  Quiet again, Jack sat up straighter now Poppy was awake, cradling her on his arm. ‘When is Paul coming in? I thought he’d be here.’

  ‘Not for an hour or so. He’s filling the house with food and stuff. Pop’s early arrival caught us out a bit. We didn’t even have a car seat until last night.’

  ‘Anything I can get for you? The flowers and bear were just treats. I’d like to get you a proper present.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that! It’s not like a birthday or a wedding or anything.’

  ‘It’s exactly like a birthday!’

  Amy giggled. ‘So it is. Told you I was tired! Lack of sleep is making me stupid.’ She looked around the busy ward at all the other mothers, their visitors and the collection of quiet, crying, or grizzling babies, ‘Lots of birthdays. But honestly, Jack, you’re doing enough right now. How is the restaurant coming on? I’m sorry I won’t be around to help as much as I’d have liked.’

  Kissing the top of his goddaughter’s head, Jack smiled. ‘You’re forgiven in the circumstances. It is all coming together nicely at last. The sign for the front is arriving this week, the menus are in place, I’ve secured the local food suppliers I wanted, and a local warehouse has a standing order for the alcohol now that the licensing bench has agreed my drinks and entertainment licence.’

  Taking a cup of fruit tea for herself and a coffee for Jack from the ever-happy orderly, who was pushing her drinks trolley through the packed ward, Amy inclined her head toward her friend’s beverage. ‘I can’t wait to get back to that stuff.’

  ‘You still off the liquid black gold?’

  ‘A bit. I love the smell of coffee again already, but I can’t quite face drinking it yet. I’m sure I will want one desperately the second I push Pops into Pickwicks and get hit with the aroma of Peggy’s coffee.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it.’ Jack gazed lovingly at Poppy, who’d gone back to sleep in his arms. ‘This little angel is going to be fussed to bits the second you walk through the café door.’

  ‘We won’t be short of babysitters.’ Amy rested her head on her propped up pillows, ‘Anyway, you were telling me about the restaurant. Are you going to let me know the name yet?’

  ‘Nope. Not until our welcome to the world party for Poppy – which will also be my launch party now she’s made an early appearance.’

  ‘Are you sure you want us to crash your pre-launch party?’

  ‘One hundred per cent sure. The actual critic’s launch will be terrifying! If I get bad reviews for my food I’m doomed. Well, not doomed, but the better that first week goes the better for me long term. It’ll be good to have a lighter event to look forward to.’

  ‘I’ll talk to Paul, but I’m sure he’ll be up for it. Thanks, Jack. So,’ Amy twinkled her eyes at her friend, ‘enough of the small talk, what’s the current situation with Rupert then?’

  Rupert knew he should have called his mother earlier. A lot earlier. He’d lost count of the number of missed calls and texts she’d sent him over the past few weeks.

  With mixed feelings of guilt and foreboding, he took advantage of being the only person in the bookshop, and called her number. Leaning against the counter, Rupert half hoped the phone would go to voicemail, but he knew it wouldn’t. His mother always answered the phone, because his mother was always free.

  ‘Rupert!’

  The joy in her voice instantly added to Rupert’s guilt. ‘Hello, Mother, how are you?’

  ‘All the better for hearing your voice. How are you? Busy, I assume, as it’s been so long since we saw you.’

  Not for the first time, Rupert found himself wishing his mother would be less accepting about his lack of calls, and maybe even a bit cross with him. He knew that years of saying the right thing had become second nature to her; and that no matter how much she minded the neglect from her only child, she’d never mention it. Sometimes, Rupert hated himself for having inherited some of his father’s characteristics.

  ‘I have been busy. Actually, I wondered if I could come over to see you. You mentioned a meal on Saturday in your last message. Is that offer still open?’

  ‘Of course it is. This is your home!’

  ‘I know, but ... Look Mother, I’m sorry. I know I haven’t been in touch as m
uch as I should have been. As much as I’d have liked to have been, even, but the thing is...’

  Rupert’s mother, as if sensing something was about to be said that might cause trouble, cut across him, ‘It’s alright, dear. I know how it is. You’re young and have a busy life. Are you working at the moment?’

  ‘Yes. I have a job I love.’

  ‘That’s good. Well, you can tell us all about it at the weekend. Your father will be pleased to see you.’

  ‘Will he?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Right.’ Rupert willed a book buyer to come through the door so he could legitimately say he had to go. ‘Umm ... would it be OK to bring a friend along?’

  ‘A girlfriend?’

  ‘Sorry.’ The hopeful pleasure in his mother’s question cut Rupert to the quick, but determined not to show it, he calmly replied, ‘Jack is just a good friend.’

  ‘A good friend?’

  Rupert ignored the uncertainty in his mother’s question, ‘He used to own the business I work for, but now he’s moved on to pastures new.’

  ‘Not for any unsavoury reason, I hope?’

  ‘Not at all. Jack came into an inheritance and decided to travel for a while.’ Rupert winced at his need to please. He’d only mentioned Jack’s inheritance because he knew it would lift his status from a friend to a worthwhile acquaintance in his father’s eyes, when his mother reported back on their conversation.

  ‘Well, I look forward to meeting Jack. What’s his proper name? You know your father will ask.’

  ‘Jack Brown.’

  ‘Brown? Not related to the Hampshire Browns, I suppose?’

  ‘Not to my knowledge.’ Rupert sighed. ‘I know that isn’t a grand enough name for Father, but if it helps you can tell him that Jack is wealthy, works hard, is the owner of an excellent restaurant, and is generally strong in wind and limb.’

  ‘No need to be sarcastic, Rupert.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘We’ll say no more about it for now.’

  Mercifully, the bookshop door swung open, and a collection of young children and two parents came in. ‘I’m sorry, I’m needed. Shall we say 1.30 on Saturday?’

  ‘Come at one. We can chat while lunch is cooking.’