Page 60 of Seashells at The Summer Hotel Lovely Bay
‘How is it up there?’
How do you know I’m up here? I might be down there,the imaginary Andrew said.
Nina laughed as she took a sip of her tea. Pregnancy was obviously messing with her head; there was no way she could have done anything similar when she had been completely grief-stricken and sad. The funny thing was that she realised that she’d always chatted to Andrew in her head anyway, ever since she’d got the news that he had passed away.
How are you?Imaginary Andrew asked.
‘I’m good, actually. I have something to tell you. I’m having a baby. After all the times we talked about it, do you remember?’
Imaginary Andrew replied. Of course,I do. I’m so happy for you, Neens, you know that, don’t you?
Nina felt tingles in her nose and bit her lip as she felt her eyes fill up with tears again. ‘Yes, I do.’
…the most beautiful baby,imaginary Andrew continued.
‘I hope so.’
Of course.
‘You won’t be the dad.’ Nina gulped. ‘I never thought…’
Yeah, bit of a tough ask for me to do that from up here.
Nina chuckled. ‘I just hope I’m going to do a good enough job.’
You will, don’t worry about that. Must go now, take care of yourself. I’ll be with you every step of the way.
‘Yeah, love you.’
Love you, Neens. A lot.
Nina swallowed a few times and then just stood in the wardrobe, looking out at the bed with more hot tears rolling down her face. At the same time, she smiled and thought about all the times she and Andrew had talked about having a baby. All the names, all the little conversations, all the pondering. Howthey’d imagined this and that, and how none of it had turned out to be.
Her mind rolled on and on as she continued to stand in the wardrobe. She stared at the bed. In that very place, she’d cried and cried as grief had grabbed her by the neck and suffocated her for years on end. She’d stayed awake all night in the bed for a very long time. She’d never thought she wouldeverbe happy again. She’d thought she would forever be sad and low and at a dead end.
Now here she was, just Nina, standing in a wardrobe, drinking a cup of tea, possibly happier than she’d ever been.
36
Nina, who was following Birdie up the stairs, let out a sigh of relief as they reached the attic floor of Nina's house. The Shipping Forecast played away to itself from the direction of Birdie’s left shoulder.The general synopsis at one eight double oh. Biscay thundery, showers good, occasionally moderate. North-west Trafalgar, south-east Fitzroy, variable three or four.
Birdie rolled her eyes. ‘Wow, you wouldn’t want to have too many of these stairs to climb, would you? It’s like a workout in itself getting up here.’
‘I know,’ Nina replied, letting out a breath as she got to the top.
Birdie stood at the top of the stairs, shaking her head as she looked over in the direction of the window. ‘Wow! That view. I know why you moved here, stairs or no stairs.’
‘I know, it’s lovely, isn’t it?’ Nina agreed. ‘Can’t knock it.’
‘Yes, it is. It really is.’ Birdie replied. ‘The whole place is utterly gorgeous. I’m actually jealous.’
‘Funny.’
‘I am!’
Nina pointed over to the far corner where Lovely Bay's local carpenter had built a small room into the empty space. ‘So, there it is. You’re looking at the baby’s room.’
Birdie smiled. ‘Great.’
