Page 15 of The Baby Plan

Sophie laughed.

“I like your garden,” she commented.

“Thank you. It’s not very child friendly at the moment, I’m afraid. I’m thinking of having the patio taken up and turf put down.”

He’s completely serious about rearranging his life for his daughter, Sophie pondered.

They talked about Alana for a while and then Samson served up lunch while Sophie brought the highchair outside and put her niece in. Samson handed the baby a rusk to chew on while they began eating. Sophie had never given Alana a rusk before because of the high sugar content but didn’t say anything. She feared she was going to struggle ‘sharing’ her niece. In the last couple of weeks, she’d become very used to doing things her way with the little girl and not having anyone else to have to fall in with about her decisions.

The food was delicious: roasted chicken drumsticks in sticky ginger, honey, garlic, and soy sauce; coleslaw, new potatoes and a huge green salad. Sophie didn’t often cook. When she was in London, she’d get back from work so late she was too tired to do more than pop something in the microwave or boil some pasta if she was feeling particularly energetic, and now, looking after Alana, and being so emotionally wrung out from dealing with Natasha’s death, she’d continued pretty much the same habits. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a meal made for her. She relished every bite and appreciated that Samson was trying hard to make a good impression in a very peculiar situation.

Alana began fussing and trying to reach for the food, so they put a few bits on her highchair tray for her to have a go at feeding herself with. Both Sophie and Samson did their best to appear unperturbed and nonchalant about it, but in reality, they were both petrified Alana was going to choke on a piece of potato and couldn’t relax until she’d managed to throw it all off the tray and it had been hoovered up by a ready and waiting Mutt.

“Would you like a tour of the house?” Samson asked when they’d finished eating.

“Sure.” Sophie got up and wiped Alana’s sticky hands with some wet wipes from her bag. She was amazed by how peaceful it was, here in this little garden, enjoying the sunshine with this man she barely knew, and a baby whose existence she hadn’t even been aware of three weeks ago, and who her whole life now revolved around.

“You’ve already seen the kitchen,” Samson said, scooping Alana out of the highchair and leading Sophie back inside.

“Here’s the den,” he said, showing them a small sitting room at the back of the house. There was a flat-screen television on the wall and a cream two-seater sofa that looked very comfortable. A beautiful original open fireplace had been restored at the far end. Sophie could imagine relaxing in this room on a chilly winter’s evening, the fire roaring, feet up on the coffee table, and a cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

Next came the utility room she’d spotted earlier, which led to a downstairs loo.

The larger sitting room cum dining room was also beautiful and had an entire wall of books along one side which Sophie was dying to have a snoop through: you could tell such a lot about a person by what books they read, and, in particular, which ones they chose to keep.

They went up the stairs. “This is my room,” Samson pointed out as they passed an open doorway that Sophie couldn’t help peeking through. It was tidy. She reserved judgement there because that could be part of trying to make a good impression. Maybe he was usually a complete slob.

Next to his room was a large bathroom and then Samson’s office.

“This is your bedroom,” said Samson to Alana when they came to the next door. “For when you come to stay,” he added for Sophie’s benefit, seeing uncertainty wash over her face.

Samson opened the door and stepped back to let Sophie enter first. The room had undoubtedly been decorated especially for Alana. The walls were painted pale blue with clouds and bird images stencilled on them. There was a wooden cot, a chest of drawers with changing mat, a selection of teddies, and even a set of bookshelves filled with children’s books.

Alana reached out to the teddies and Samson put her on the soft, colourful rug in the centre of the floor and handed her the toys she pointed to, one at a time.

“How on earth did you get this ready so quickly?” Sophie asked, glancing around and taking it all in.

“I’ve been doing it since I found out about Alana, so she’d have somewhere to sleep when she came to visit.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks. She seems to like it doesn’t she?” said Samson, smiling at his daughter investigating the exciting new playthings.

Alana yawned. “It’s time for her nap, isn’t it?” Samson asked.

“Yeah...” She hadn’t wanted to bring it up in case he was offended they were leaving too soon, but had also been worried Alana might start to get grouchy.

“Why don’t we try her in her cot?”

“Sure,” said Sophie, relieved. She found she didn’t want to go yet. She and Samson had been getting along unexpectedly well and a large part of her was beginning to seriously consider his offer. It would certainly solve some of her most immediate problems. And aside from all that, she was enjoying having some adult company and being with someone as interested in talking about her niece as she was. “I’ll change her nappy, and then we’ll see how she takes to it.”

“Do you mind if I do it?” Samson asked. “I’ve only changed one nappy in my life and that was yesterday.”

“No problem. I’ll pop downstairs and get the changing bag.”

“I think I’ve got everything here,” Samson said, pointing to a wicker basket by the end of the changing mat full of nappies and wet wipes.

“Great,” Sophie said quietly. Samson was being fantastic and she was very much impressed, but part of her was suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed. She’d been caring for her niece for two weeks now and she still didn’t feel she was anywhere near as organised as Samson was for Alana’s needs. The nursery was perfect. In Natasha’s flat, or in her own place in London come to think of it, there wasn’t a spare room for Alana, and there was no space for all this baby stuff. That was all right for the moment as she was only tiny, but she’d definitely need a bedroom of her own at some point.

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