Page 25 of Back in the Saddle

Victoria waved with a flourish and ran out of the room.

Clara settled comfortably in her office chair, looking into the camera. ‘Sorry about that. She has so much energy, some days I wonder how we’re going to keep up with a second one.’

‘Are you pregnant?!’ Caroline opened her mouth, delighted.

She knew Clara and Sean had been trying for a secondbaby, but it had been a few years now. They had initially wanted to have both children in quick succession –‘so we only go through the nappy phase once and it’s done!’, as Clara used to say. They got pregnant when Victoria was two. Sadly, they lost the pregnancy at only eleven weeks.

‘I wanted to tell you before you went to Oklahoma, but it was still early and … Well, we wanted to wait until we were further along. Dad, Nora and Caitlin don’t know yet. We’re going to tell them on Saturday. They’re coming over to celebrate Sean’s promotion.’ Clara’s cheeks were red, pure happiness written all over her face.

Caroline felt her eyes watering, smiling from ear to ear. ‘I’m so, so happy for you. And Sean. Vic’s going to be an excellent older sister.’

‘Thank you. She doesn’t know, we’ll tell her after we tell the family. You know how she is – she’d just blab it out to everyone she meets, including the postman or Amazon delivery driver.’

They both laughed because this was exactly what Victoria would do.

‘How far along are you?’

‘Only eight weeks. I honestly can’t wait to find out if it’s another girl or a boy this time. Sean hopes it’s a girl, he says that boys are nothing but trouble. But then I’m sure Dad would disagree.’

‘Oh, I’m sure he would. He’s always said that four women in the house would drive him to an early grave. I wish Mum was here to see what an amazing mother you became.’

Clara sniffed and pressed a hand to her face, covering her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was thick with emotion. ‘She’d ask Vic to call her “auntie” because she’d think she’s too young to be a grandmother. But she’d secretly love it.She’d encourage her to take ballet lessons and introduce her to the opera. And she’d make sure she read all of Jane Austen’s novels, in “the correct order”. Of course, she’d make sure everything was age appropriate. She wouldn’t buy a new copy ofMansfield Parkuntil Vic was at least ten years old.’

‘Don’t worry, Clara. I’m going to make sure Vic knows who Edmund Bertram is. And Mr Darcy, asPride and Prejudiceis the best Austen novel.’

Clara must’ve been feeling pensive as she didn’t jump to her usual protests thatPersuasionwas so much better. She dabbed a few lonely tears away with a tissue and tried her best to smile. ‘Anyway, putting my daughter’s literary education aside, where were we before Vic came in? Ah. You were meant to tell me about your work.’

‘Well, no day is really the same,’ Caroline started, pausing to check if the footsteps she heard behind her didn’t head into the office. ‘I’m involved in preparing screening questions for potential participants in these trials and interviewing them. So, it’s checking if people who want to take part in the trial are eligible for it. Each trial has very specific criteria,’ Caroline said. ‘I must check that they fit all of them. I also do some lab work on pre-clinical studies, and last week, Anna asked if I’m interested in teaching pre-med students.’

‘But that’s great! It sounds right up your street. You always said you wanted to spend some of the time teaching, right?’

Caroline smiled. ‘I did. Really excited for that.’

‘Who else do you work with?’

‘Jake and Amira. The rest of the team are oncologists. They both have a PhD and want to work in research. They—’ she turned back to check that she was still alone in the office, ‘aren’t thrilled that I’m here. I think they think I got the job just because I’m Anna’s niece.’

‘Pfft, screw them.’ Clara’s raised voice startled Caroline. She was always very protective of both her and their youngest sister, Caitlin.

‘I mean, I get it. Their colleague flew over to the UK to spend a year working on clinical trials in London, and they got me. I think they both applied for that exchange, too. They must think I somehow cheated, or Anna just fast-tracked my application,’ Caroline said.

Clara’s brow twitched. ‘But youdidn’tcheat. There were like, what, a hundred applications?’

‘A hundred and thirty-four,’ Caroline said without thinking. The research assistant position came with a one-year employment visa, and it was paid at a good rate.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Just as Finn had said.

Clara folded her arms over her chest, leaning back in a high leather chair. ‘Well, exactly. And they chose you.’

‘And how’s Dad doing? Still seeing his physiotherapist, I hope?’

Clara let out a roaring laughter. ‘Oh, that is a true carry-on. You know how he is. Keeps grumbling about it but I do think he’s getting better.’

‘So, he keeps saying he won’t be going?’

‘After every session. Then Nora tells him off, and he still goes,’ Clara said.

Nora was their father’s second wife. She was a lovely woman, and the marriage had been good for Ronan. Together, they were a personification of a ‘grumpy and grumpier’ romance trope.

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