Page 59 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

‘You’ll look after Maisie for me?’ she said anxiously.

‘Of course I will.’

As Zak hurried her out to the car, she turned. ‘I don’t want her to worry about me. So can you tell her I’ve got a check-up with the nurse that I forgot about?’

I nodded, while privately thinking that Maisie was far too smart to be fooled by an excuse like that. She was so excited about having a little brother or sister. I’d have to try and convince her that everything was going to be all right.

But would it?

‘I’ll see you later, Ellie.’ I gave her a bright, reassuring smile, but when I shut the front door, after watching them drive off, my heart was in my mouth.

I hurried upstairs to find Maisie.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

I didn’t want to phone for news – they wouldn’t need the interruption – but after an hour or so of waiting back at Bogg House, I was desperate to know what was happening with Ellie.

Was she losing the baby?

I couldn’t show how worried I was, though. Not when I had to keep cheerful for Maisie’s sake and look as if I was really enjoying our game of Monopoly...

Finally, I heard a car driving up the lane and I hurried to the window.

Caleb was back.

Then just as I was opening the front door for him, my mobile rang and it was Ellie.

‘Hi. What’s happening? Are you okay?’

‘I think so. I mean, I had a scan and the baby seems fine.’

‘Oh, that’s such a relief!’

‘I know. But they want to keep me in for a few days to monitor me and the baby. Bed rest, they call it. And I’m what’s known as anelderly primigravida– an ancient first-time mother, in other words, so the risks are greater.’

‘You’re hardly elderly.’

‘Oh, I don’t know, Katja. I really feel it today.’

‘Poor you. But you’re in the very best place, so just relax and let everyone fuss over you.’

She groaned. ‘I’ll try. Zak’s still here with me, so I was wondering if you could possibly look after Maisie until he gets back?’

‘Of course I can. Don’t worry about Maisie. We’re having a great time, playing Monopoly.’ I smiled across at her. ‘No cheating while I’m talking to your mum!’

Ellie sighed. ‘Thanks, Katja. Caleb says he’ll give you both a lift back to your place and Zak will pick Maisie up from yours. Is Caleb back yet?’

I opened the front door and he was walking up the path. ‘Yes, he’s just arrived.’

We exchanged a smile and I immediately slipped into the awkward, galumphing version of me. It always seemed to happen, this weird transformation whenever Caleb was in touching distance – from perfectly sensible to gawky and clumsy...

Smile fixed on my face, I opened the door so wide for him, I managed to simultaneously collide with a wooden shelf that was propped against the wall. It fell to the ceramic-tiled hall floor with an ear-shattering clatter.

‘Oops. No, everything’s fine, Ellie.’ Mortified, I watched Caleb from behind as he bent to rescue the shelf situation.

‘Are you sure?’ she asked.

‘Sorry?’ I was miles away, admiring Caleb’s muscular frame... his big workman hands.

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