Page 23 of Christmas Games
‘Rob Roy Macbeth for a dude, or Heather Loch Leary for a dudette!’
‘No,’ said Rory.
‘And I’m going to give birth in Raigmore hospital in Inverness,’ added Zoe.
‘Very well,’ his mother replied, her lips thinning.
Rory knew just how much of an effort she was making to be nice.
Brad deflated for a moment, then recovered like a puppy distracted by a new toy. ‘We got you some books!’
His mother took two books from her bag and gave them to Zoe.
One had a picture of a baby and was titled ‘The New Contented Little Baby Book’. The other had an elaborately illustrated cover with children and animals and was called ‘The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care’.
‘Bradley’s contribution has a more alternative approach to proceedings, but, as you said, this isyourpregnancy and you must make the right decisions for you.’
Zoe pushed her chair back, her eyes filling with tears as she embraced his mother. ‘Thank you, Barbara.’
Barbara looked startled at the sudden affection, patting Zoe stiffly on the back.
‘You guys!’ cried Brad, enveloping them both in a hug. ‘Bring it in!’
Zoe pulled away.
‘Bradley!’ snapped Barbara.
He sat back.
Barbara got to her feet. ‘We’ll stay at the castle tonight, then take the jet back tomorrow afternoon. This is just a flying visit to check in with you both.’ She paused and fiddled with the clasp on her bag. ‘Unfortunately, due to Bradley’s commitments, we may not make it back before the birth.’
Brad stood and put his arms around her. ‘Babe,’ he said, softly.
She gave him a little nod, then lifted her head. ‘Bradley, the castle.’
He straightened. ‘Yes, Countess.’
6
July. Twelve weeks + five
Zoe never knew how fascinating a tiny sleeping human could be until she met Fiona’s daughter. Even though she knew a pregnant belly contained a baby, now Isla was on the other side of her friend’s tummy, the whole process seemed completely unreal.
Fiona had given birth two days earlier, and this was the first time they’d met the latest addition to the Sinclair household. Rory had held Isla as if she was an unstable bomb for thirty seconds, before going outside to play football in the garden with Duncan and Liam.
‘I know I probably sound like I’m mental or something, but now she’s here it’s like part of me doesn’t understand where she came from,’ Zoe said quietly. ‘It’s like you’ve performed some kind of magic trick.’
Fiona smiled. ‘I know what you mean. Ten minutes after I squeezed this little munchkin out of my vagina, I wondered if the stork had brought her.’
Zoe clenched her thighs together. ‘How was it? The birth?’
‘It was fine. Much quicker than with Liam. That lasted a week.’
‘A week?’ Isla stirred and Zoe rocked her back to sleep.
‘Yeah,’ Fiona continued. ‘I was bloody exhausted. I was in and out of Raigmore more times than a sex addict doing the Hokey Cokey.’
‘Why didn’t they let you stay?’
