Page 32 of Mistletoe Kisses at Cwtch Cove

‘He said early afternoon.’

‘Excellent.’

‘Are you seeing Jack today?’

‘He’s working. One of the busiest days and nights of the year.’ Lucy shrugged. Jack’s job was part of who he was. Besides which, as much as she liked him, they were still not even officially dating, so having space was important. As much as she’d have liked to spend more time with him over Christmas.

‘Is he working tomorrow?’

‘Yes.’ Lucy sighed. ‘All over the holidays. He volunteered months ago when they were staffing the Christmas rotas because he’s single and doesn’t have children. He said he’ll have dinner with his parents tomorrow after his shift but apart from that, he’ll be busy.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘Well… it’s early days and we’re still getting to know each other and… it’s fine. I can imagine it would be tough if I was home alone and he was working like this, or if we had children and they wanted their dad home for Christmas but—’

‘Wait! What?’ Ellen was grinning at Lucy.

‘What?’

‘You just put yourself into a marriage with kids.’

‘Did I?’ Lucy giggled self-consciously. ‘So I did. That’s getting way ahead of myself. I was simply trying to explain that I’m not in a position to criticise the hours he works. Goodness knows we need our emergency services, and someone has to work over Christmas.’

‘It’s true.’ Ellen waddled to the table and Lucy noticed that she was frowning.

‘What’s up?’

‘Oh… nothing. More of those Braxton Hicks, probably.’

Lucy sucked in a slow breath. It was all OK. Billy would be home today, and Ellen was only a week off her due date. It would all be fine.

Absolutely fine!

* * *

‘Lucy, can you fill the pool now, please?’ Ellen asked an hour later.

‘Pardon?’ Lucy looked up from her laptop. ‘Now?’

‘Yes. I’m just going to ring the midwife.’

‘Are you in labour?’

Ellen gripped the doorhandle to the kitchen and panted. ‘Think… so.’

‘Shit!’ Lucy slammed the laptop shut and jumped up. ‘Shitty! Shit! Shit! Billy’s not home yet.’

‘Tell that to your niece.’

‘Oh… Right, no problem. Uhhh… you phone the midwife and I’ll fill the pool.’

Lucy went through to the lounge and dragged the pool from behind the one sofa where it had been on standby for the past week. They’d practised this routine like a drill, so she knew what to do and now she went into automatic pilot.

When the doorbell rang, she let the midwife in. ‘Hi, Sarah, Ellen’s in the lounge.’

‘All right, dear.’

Lucy thought that Sarah Kennedy was lovely. She wasn’t much older than Ellen and had a calm manner and reassuring air that made Lucy feel at ease. She could also see that Ellen trusted her and that was important because Sarah would be there for one of the most significant moments of Ellen’s life.

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