Page 80 of From Best Friend to Bride
He grinned and got up, grabbing the handles of Nana’s chair. “Come with me.”
17
DELILAH
There was a baby fluffy cow in front of us.
A tiny, newborn fluffy cow.
And I had never seen anything so fucking cute in all my life.
“Oh, my God,” I breathed, kneeling down in front of the pen where mum and baby were. “I’m going to die.”
“Not before me you’re not.” Nana bopped me on the head. “Much cuter than newborn humans, that’s for sure.”
Well.
It wasn’t exactly a difficult feat.
Newborn babies were ugly at the best of times. It definitely took a while for them to grow out of their ‘prune’ stage.
“She was born in the early hours of this morning,” Fred said, kneeling down beside Nana’s wheelchair. “I was down here at half-five helping Marigold labour.”
My eyes widened. “I wondered where you were sneaking off to.”
His lips curved into a smirk. “Not enough to wake up and ask though, eh?”
“At that ungodly time? I figured you could handle it, Mr Early Bird.” I sniffed and turned back to the calf. “Is it a girl?”
“Yep,” Fred answered brightly. “She’ll stay with us, but she needs a name. If I have to look at one more Mumsnet forum for cute names I might pass out, so…”
I glanced at him.
“Nana? Would you do the honour of naming her?”
Nana’s face lit up as if he’d offered her the world.
“I can’t tie the cows to your wheelchair and let them drag you through the village,” he said dryly.
And thank Heavens for that.
“But I can let you name one,” he continued. “Marigold is our tamest girl, so you can consider this new one yours.”
Nana’s eyes welled with tears, and she patted his hand. “Thank you, Freddie.”
I dipped my head.
I was not going to cry.
“Her name is Judy, of course!” She laughed, wiping her cheeks. “What else could I name her but after myself? This way, when I’m gone, you’ll think of me every time you see her.” She pinched Fred’s nose. “And remind you to treat my girl well.”
“I don’t need reminding of that.” He smiled, then looked at the calf. “Judy. What do you think, Marigold? That’s a nice name for your new little one, isn’t it?”
Marigold snuffled as if to agree. I stood up, swallowing back the lump in my throat, and turned away.
“Probably her allergies again,” Nana said airily. “They do tend to flare up when something nice happens.”
“Just… need some air,” I said quietly, scurrying out of the barn. I walked around the side of it and buried my face in my hands as the overwhelming urge to let go of my tears overtook me.
