Page 40 of My Husband's Wife
She glances back at the cottage, watching Buster standing on the top of the lounge chair, barking at them from the other side of the window. ‘Be back in a bit,’ she shouts to him, knowing full well that he can’t hear or understand. She checks her watch. ‘We have time to pop to the salon first.’
‘Really?’ Theo begins to reverse the car to get out of their tight drive.
It’s then she notices how overgrown the ivy and shrubs have become around the house. All the daffodils in the world won’t make the exterior look better given the mess it’s in. They were never tackled in the winter and with Emily coming early, it had slipped both of their minds. Theo spent far too much time in the cabin and out in the woods filming the wildlife to sell to his network of wildlife YouTubers. What he really needs to do is make the cottage look nicer. She’d do it herself but managing the salon and most of Emily’s needs has been all-consuming. ‘I just want to see how Orla and Tammy are coping today. I know we’re overbooked.’
‘I thought you sorted that yesterday?’
She shrugs. It’s her salon and it’s down to her to keep it going. Times have been tough and if she didn’t keep a close eye on spending, it could easily get out of hand. Orla is terrible with figures and Tammy is worse. Besides, she’s had an offer on the salon, again, and she’s considering selling in the near future, but there’s no need to mention that to Theo yet because she’s still not sure about whether to go ahead. He will only get excited and she has to be sure before properly considering a move to Scotland with him. She doesn’t even know if she’ll ever take the offer, but it is a good one and she knows that Theo would be overjoyed at it. Besides, she hopes the familymoon will help her make a firm decision.
‘I ended up cutting hair and doing nails yesterday. I just want to check the purchase orders today. I’ll literally be five minutes.’
‘You should be enjoying some maternity leave.’
She presses her lips together and smiles at him sarcastically. ‘I work for myself. It’s not as easy as that and you know it. If it was that easy, why are you in the cabin most of the day working? You could take more paternity leave instead.’
‘Point taken.’
‘See, we both value our businesses, and Camille has been great at looking after Emily for us.’ She’s become reliant on Camille when it comes to being able to get back to work. As a childminder and mother of two under-fives, Camille welcomed her baby niece into the fold and Madison knew the extra money helped her lovely sister out. She’d find it hard to tell Camille if they decided to move.
* * *
Within minutes they arrive at the salon. Madison runs in, checks the purchases and runs back out. Everything was okay and she was worrying over nothing. ‘Let’s get to the Sea Horse.’ She rubs her hands together with excitement.
Theo takes a few breaths and undoes the top buttons on his polo shirt.
‘Are you okay?’
‘I don’t know. It’s coming out to a hotel. It’s a big venue and there will be lots of people and the sea.’
She should have known how hard this would be for him. The therapy had been going well and he was able to come to the salon and go out for the day with her – at a push; but is this a push too far? ‘I’m proud of you, Theo. We have to get used to the Sea Horse because we’re getting married there. It’s going to be the happiest day of our lives’ – she glances back at baby Emily – ‘except for when that little one was born, of course.’
‘You’re right, as usual.’ He steers with one hand and places the other on her knee.
She gives it a reassuring squeeze. ‘Just keep breathing like you were shown. You can do this. We can do this. Okay?’
As he pulls up outside the hotel, he stares at the sea beyond the main building. ‘It’s vast, isn’t it? The sea?’
‘It is, and it’s also exciting and beautiful.’
‘I’m ready.’ He steps out of the car and gets the pram from the boot. ‘Let’s get you in your pram, Pumpkin,’ he says to Emily.
Madison leans in and gently lifts Emily from her car seat. She inhales the lingering scent of milk caught in the creases of her baby’s neck. Emily’s lips pucker into a pink rosebud before she yawns and goes back to sleep. Madison places the little one into the pram and then Theo pushes her towards the entrance. He uses the pram like a crutch as he grips it tightly.
A young woman called Hallie leads them to a pretty room where she makes drinks while Madison casts reassuring looks Theo’s way. If she could place a hand on his heart, she knows it would be thrumming. ‘Eva will be with you in just a minute. Take a seat. If you need me, I’ll be at reception.’
‘It’s stunning here.’ Madison glances at the very gardens she’d dreamed of getting married in as soon as they saw them at the wedding fair. With the sea view in the background, they are perfect.
Emily fidgets in her pram. Theo leans in to check on her. ‘She needs changing.’
Madison goes to grab the changing bag that hangs over the pram handles.
‘It’s okay, I’ll do it. Make a start without me.’ He picks up Emily and leaves the room.
She knows he’d rather not be here, and she also knows that he has to keep facing his fear. He’s been doing well but she has no idea why today of all days seems so challenging for him. It’s like he’s regressed. In her mind’s eye, she pictures him behind a locked door doing breathing exercises as he changes Emily, dreading coming back out.
Madison’s sundress is crumpled already. She sits and waits for Eva, the wedding planner, to arrive; it feels like forever. Maybe her own anxiety is acting up because all she wants to do now is run to the toilets and see if Theo is all right.
Eva makes her flinch as she breezes in from behind. She offers them another drink and asks about their wedding plans. Madison isn’t listening properly; she’s half listening out for Theo and Emily. Eva seems nice, like a perfect wedding planner. Her suit is charming, if not slightly tight around the bust, and her smile is welcoming. Her blonde hair frames her face though her ends are a little split. Being a hair stylist and beautician, Madison can’t help but notice these things.
