Page 16 of The Baby Plan

Everything here was so clean and new. Samson must have spent a fortune and worked like crazy to get it all ready in such a short space of time. She felt a little inadequate if she were being completely honest with herself.

Samson had picked Alana up and was putting her on the changing mat as she jabbered away happily to him in baby talk. Sophie tidied the teddies, feeling increasingly like a spare part, the contentment of a few minutes ago steadily evaporating.

“You’re a bit stinky, aren’t you?” Samson said, taking off the nappy. This was swiftly followed by, “Oh my Lord! Sophie, come and see this, is this normal? It’s everywhere! It’s up her back!”

“I’m afraid that’s completely normal,” Sophie said, laughing. “She’s probably had a bit too much fruit.”

“But it’s everywhere!”

“Yep. Do you want a hand?” she asked.

“No,” he said, determinedly. “I need to be able to do this by myself.”

“Shall I go and get her a spare change of clothes?”

“I got her a couple of vests and some babygros. They’re in the top drawer, could you pass me one of each?”

“Of course.”

Sophie came over to the chest of drawers, Samson moved to the side as best as he could while holding Alana’s legs in one hand, and attempting to clean her with wet wipes using the other. Alana herself found the whole situation rather amusing and was giggling uncontrollably to herself.

Sophie’s arm touched Samson’s for a second. She felt a tingle run right through her body and stepped back suddenly.

“Are you all right?” he asked, taking his gaze off his daughter for a second and locking eyes with Sophie.

“Yeah, sorry, I’m fine.” Sophie, feeling flustered, handed him the clothes.

“Let me show you your room,” Samson suggested, his attention now back on Alana, but still talking to Sophie. “That’s where you’ll sleep, if you decide you’d like to stay for a little while. It’s next door, the guest bedroom.”

“Sure.” Sophie was glad to have the opportunity to put some space between her and Samson. She was feeling a bit freaked out by her body’s reaction to touching his. At her age, was she seriously unable to control herself around a handsome man?

What could be her bedroom was as lovely as the rest of the house. Its wooden floorboards and white walls were gorgeous, and the large window with fitted Venetian blinds looked out over the garden. The double bed was made up with crisp white cotton linen, and the wardrobe and large chest of drawers would give her plenty of space for her clothes. She stood staring out of the window, contemplating the frankly bizarre situation she found herself in.

Was it ridiculous for her to be considering moving in here, even temporarily? She didn’t know Samson, and she was grieving for her sister as well as learning how to be a parent to Alana, and now setting up her own business. She’d be crazy to add more change and readjustment into the situation. There was also the additional problem that the more time she spent with this man, the more she realised she was attracted to him. Anything happening between them would only serve to make her life even more complicated, and, from previous experience, any man her sister had been interested in would be an absolute nightmare as a boyfriend. Not that she wanted Samson to be her boyfriend! That would simply be too weird. How had her ordered life ended up like this?

On the other hand, taking herself out of the equation, there was no denying this house would be a wonderful home for Alana and had advantages for the baby which Sophie herself wouldn’t be able to provide: her own bedroom and a garden to name just two. Sophie couldn’t help comparing Samson’s beautiful home with Natasha’s flat. She trusted her sister had been a good mother, and she was sure her niece had never wanted for love, but her little flat was noisy and draughty, and Sophie and Alana weren’t able to stay there long term. If she moved back to London she wasn’t sure she could afford the mortgage payments on her flat if she didn’t start getting work in quickly, and it also had no garden or bedroom for Alana.

Whether she liked it or not, Samson was serious about playing a large part in his daughter’s life and was more than happy to go out of his way to do so. Sophie needed to be accommodating; both so that Alana had a relationship with her father, and because she didn’t want to antagonise Samson while her guardianship of Alana was officially unresolved.

If she and her niece moved into Samson’s house, even if it was only a temporary fix, both Samson and she would be able to see as much of Alana as they wanted. Plus she’d have the support of someone to help her with Alana while she set up her new business.

Samson came in and joined her. “I’ve put her in the cot and she seemed happy. Now we have to wait and see if she’ll sleep in it.”

Sophie smiled. “Fingers crossed.”

“I set up the baby monitor I bought as well, which seems to be working fine.” He held up the device in his hand.

“Great.”

“Do you like the room?” Samson asked tentatively. “I know you’ll need more time to decide about staying, that’s fine. I’m not wanting to rush you.”

Sophie took a moment to think: she knew very little about Samson, and this was the first time they’d been together without an undercurrent of animosity being very present in their conversation, but they did seem to be getting on better now. She had misjudged him, and she was able to see things from his point of view: of course he wanted to get to know his daughter properly. Perhaps this was a way to prevent a custody battle between her and Samson, or at least delay it until she was better prepared? It would certainly be convenient, and she wouldn’t necessarily know a flatmate any better before moving in with them.

She decided to take a gamble, to stop stressing, and do what felt right at the moment. “I love it, and if the offer still stands, it would be brilliant if we could stay here. As a short-term thing, until I get myself sorted.”

A huge grin spread across Samson’s face. “That’s brilliant! Stay for as long as you like!”

“I’d want to pay rent,” Sophie said.

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