Page 58 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

Still silence. But then I heard what sounded like the loo lid being put down.

Now I was starting to panic.

‘Ellie, love? Can you let me in? . . . No? Right, I’ll go and get Zak . . .’

I turned away. And just then, I heard the door click open.

She was standing there, looking so forlorn my heart lurched with worry. Her eyes were puffy with tears.

‘What’s wrong?’ I gazed at her in dismay. ‘Are you bleeding again?’

She nodded. ‘It’s happened again. But it’s worse this time. I was hoping it might stop and I wouldn’t have to worry Zak, but... oh, Katja, what if I’m losing it? What if we’re losing our baby?’

As tears started flooding down her face, I pulled her into a hug and she sobbed on my shoulder.

‘Ellie, you have to go to hospital... A&E,’ I murmured into her damp hair. ‘Come on. Put some loose clothes on and I’ll go down and tell Zak to bring the car round.’ I guided her into the bedroom. But when I turned to go, she called my name.

‘What, love?’

‘Will it be all right?’

I swallowed, a lump in my throat like a golf ball. She and Zak had been through so much trying to have a baby. She couldn’t lose it now, surely? Life couldn’t be that cruel.

I nodded. ‘It’s going to be fine,’ I told her, sounding far more certain than I actually felt. ‘Let’s just get you to a doctor. They’ll be able to put your mind at rest. You said yourself that spotting can happen in otherwise perfectly normal pregnancies?’

She nodded and attempted a smile. ‘I’ll get dressed. You go down.’

I ran downstairs and told Zak what was happening.

Immediately, he switched everything off. But then he glanced at the punch on the table. ‘Oh, no.’ He dug his hands into his hair. ‘I’ll be over the limit. I’ve sampled so much of that bloody punch trying to get it right!’ He stared at me in horror. ‘Taxi! We’ll get a taxi to A&E.’

At that moment, Maisie ran into the kitchen through the back door, closely followed by Caleb.

‘I’m going up to my new bedroom!’ she called, as she ran for the stairs.

‘What’s going on?’ Caleb asked, seeing the panic in our faces.

I explained the situation and he nodded. ‘I’ll take you in my car. Where’s my keys?’ He looked around and I spotted a set on the table.

‘Here.’ I lobbed them over to him.

‘Thanks.’

Zak had bolted upstairs to get Ellie.

‘I’ll go and get the car started.’ Caleb paused at the front door. ‘Will you stay with Maisie? And I guess explain what’s happened to the guests when they arrive?’

‘Of course. Of course.’

He smiled. ‘She told me you’re her favourite auntie.’

‘She did?’

‘Honorary auntie, I assume?’

I nodded, feeling a warm glow inside at Maisie’s lovely comment. I wanted children of my own one day, and I’d really thought Richard would be the father...

‘They’re coming.’ I glanced towards the stairs and Ellie appeared, supported by Zak.

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