Page 6 of Daydreams & Doughnut Cake

Jaz had rushed over at that moment, waving a bag of muffins from the café. ‘You two seem deep in conversation,’ she laughed. ‘I hate to interrupt.’

‘We were just talking about keeping a diary,’ I’d explained. ‘How it can really help to pour out your feelings on paper.’

‘Oh, it can.’ A sentimental look had settled on Jaz’s face. ‘I owned a lovely pink diary with a golden lock on it when I was your age, Maisie.’

‘There, you see.’ I’d smiled encouragingly at Maisie and when she went off with Jaz, she turned and grinned and stuck up her thumb at me.

Now, as I put the plate of scones under a glass dome on the countertop, I smiled across at her when she looked up from whatever she was doing – her homework, maybe.

‘Is Ellie here?’ I asked Maddy, who was busy clearing tables in the café.

‘Not yet. Jaz just dropped Maisie here and Ellie’s collecting her.’ She glanced over at Maisie, who was frowning over her workbook, concentrating hard. ‘She should have been here a while ago... oh, here she comes now.’ She moved across tothe window and peered out and I saw Ellie’s car drive up. ‘She’s bringing baby Isla.’

‘Oh, lovely! I haven’t met the new arrival yet.’

We lingered by the door, waiting for them to emerge.

The café was relatively quiet. The customers who were in were regulars who knew Ellie well, so they would no doubt be happy to join the eager little welcome party!

Ellie was leaning into the back seat for quite a while, obviously seeing to Isla. Then she looked back and waved at us standing in the doorway. Straightening, she carefully lifted out the baby carrier, slipping the handle over one arm and closing the car door.

‘Doesn’t she look amazing?’ Maddy murmured in awe. ‘I love her sunglasses and that pale blue trouser suit she’s wearing.’

‘Incredible.’ Katja grinned. ‘And very daring, considering babies tend to throw up at all the wrong moments. Practical trainers on her feet, though. Very good,’ she noted.

I chuckled. ‘I doubt she’ll be wearing heels again until Isla has left for uni,’ I joked.

‘Yeah.’ Maddy grinned. ‘Too much chasing around after her until then.’

‘Absolutely. I lived in the same comfy stuff for years after Amelie was born. In fact, nothing much changes. As soon as I get home, the bra’s coming off and it’s casual all the way.’

They both laughed, and Maddy ushered in Ellie and the baby. ‘We’re just saying you seem to be bucking the trend,’ she said. ‘Because you donotlook like a woman who gave birth so recently.’

‘Well... thanks.’ Ellie smiled. ‘I thought I’d make the effort. It’s not every day you introduce your new daughter into café society.’

Chuckling, we gathered around as Ellie placed the sleeping baby in her carrier on a table in the window and sank down in achair with a sigh. She drew a deep breath in and looked around the café. ‘She fell asleep on the way over so I’m afraid she’s not being very sociable at the moment.’

‘Oh, she’s absolutely gorgeous,’ breathed Katja.

I nodded. ‘She really is. Look at those perfectly formed, tiny little hands, and that rosebud mouth of hers is just adorable.’

‘I don’t want to wake her but I’d love to have a hold of her,’ whispered Maddy.

‘Oh. No, no. Another time?’ Despite the sunglasses, I could feel Ellie’s alarm and I smiled to myself. I knew from experience that babies’ sleep times could be a little erratic and you certainly didn’t want them disturbed once perfect peace had briefly fallen!

‘Absolutely.’ Maddy nodded. ‘Anyway, what can I get you? Your usual cappuccino with lots of chocolate flakes on top?’

‘Er . . . no. Just a double espresso please.’

‘I relied on caffeine to help me through,’ I admitted ruefully, sitting down briefly to chat. ‘I found it all really tough at first, being a first-time mum, and eventually I was diagnosed with postnatal depression.’ I smiled. ‘Things got better after that. How are you finding it, Ellie? The new routine?’

‘Oh, fine, thanks.’ She waved her hand airily. ‘No problems at all, really. A bit tired, of course, but nothing to complain about.’

‘That’s good.’ I nodded, thinking back to my own experience. ‘You look as if you’re coping much better than I did.’

Ellie laughed. ‘Well, you just have to keep going, I suppose. I mean, if I stop to relax, I might never be able to get up again!’

‘But you do need to find time for yourself,’ said Katja. ‘Are you able to do that?’

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