Page 45 of His Best Friend's Baby

Oops.Polly hadn’t imagined anyone else seeing the huge card she’d posted. ‘I hope it didn’t cause you too much embarrassment.’

‘No, not embarrassing. They thought it was sweet.’

Sweet?

‘My parents and Mandy have fond memories of you, Polly. They were very interested to hear how you’re doing these days.’

Seth’s family had fond memories?Curled in her armchair, Polly pictured his parents and his tall, attractive and super-confident sister. She supposed Seth’s parents might be grey haired and looking more elderly these days. But Mandy would be in her prime as a wife and mother and no doubt a career woman as well.

In Polly’s schooldays, the Ramsays had always been cheerful and friendly and they’d made her feel she was almost a part of their family. ‘So you told them about Summer?’ she asked.

‘Of course. They were thrilled for you, Polly. Sorry, I should have mentioned that earlier. They said to pass on their congrats.’

‘Thanks. And did you tell them how you delivered Summer so beautifully?’

There was a beat of silence before Seth answered this. ‘I only told Mandy about the way Summer arrived. Thought it might be too much info for the oldies.’

‘Yeah, I guess.’

‘Mandy sends you her very best wishes, by the way.’

From through the bedroom door, Polly could hear the sounds of Summer stirring. Soon she would have to finish this call, but it had been so good to be chatting again with Seth.

‘So, tell me about your hair,’ he said unexpectedly. ‘I’m curious to know how the stripes turned out.’

‘Oh, I only went with one stripe.’

‘And it’s pink?’

‘Yeah. Hot pink and it kinda frames my face down one side.’

‘You’ve got me intrigued.’

‘Oh, it’s just, you know—a bit of fun. After I asked Celia about stripes, she wouldn’t let up until I tried at least one.’

‘We should be FaceTiming so I can see it.’

Chatting with Seth face to face? As things were, Polly thought about Seth way too often. She blamed the regular email updates he’d demanded, and she suspected there was every chance that FaceTiming could lead to an unhealthily obsession.

‘Anyway, you’ll have to send me a selfie,’ he said.

‘Okay.’ She could manage a selfie, although she would probably spend way too much time trying to get the right angle, the right smile, the right lighting.

Now, from the bedroom, Summer let out a small yelp. Polly jumped from her chair, taking the phone with her, not quite ready to hang up.

‘I suppose you’re getting ready for the big move to the US,’ Seth said.

Gulp. ‘I still haven’t quite finalised that decision.’

‘Oh?’ There was no missing the surprise in Seth’s voice.

‘It’s a very tempting offer, of course, on so many levels.’ Polly opened the bedroom door, nudging it wider with her shoulder. Summer was awake and kicking. Soon she would be straining against the seat belt in her pram, desperate to be free. ‘They’ve given me a generous time frame. I have till March first to make a final decision.’

‘Right. That’s very obliging.’

‘I know. It kinda makes the decision harder in a way.’ Polly realised she should probably hang up and attend to her daughter, but there was another matter she wanted to run past Seth. ‘Can you hang on a minute, Seth? I just need to get Summer out of her pram.’

‘I can go.’

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