Page 44 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
‘Are you sure? Thanks, Alice.’ Max was already removing a key from the bunch in his hands. ‘Please don’t say too much to them, other than she’s having a check-up because the baby’s late and it could be a long time until there’s more news. It might be nothing and they might send Ella home again. Don’t tell them that; let’s wait and see.’
‘Of course.’ Alice knew the primary school was right next door to Sandy’s church. ‘Shall I bring them home to yours?’
‘Please.’ He passed her the key. ‘I don’t want to concern them unduly and they’ve still got school tomorrow so they should go to bed as normal. Prim’s there; she’ll help keep them calm and Arlo will want to see the sheep before dark. Ella’s mum and dad are moving over at the weekend, so they’ll be here soon. Thanks so much, Alice, I really appreciate it. I’ll call the school and let them know to expect you.’
‘Max?’ He was halfway out the door and looked back. ‘I’m sure everything will be fine. We’ll all be thinking of you and if there’s anything else…’
‘I know. Thanks.’
And he was gone. She heard his feet racing across the cobbles and the roar of an engine before his pickup tore off down the drive.
Chapter Thirteen
Alice let herself into Max and Ella’s cottage to collect Prim, who greeted her happily and didn’t seem to mind the change in personnel. She knew that Ella usually took Prim to meet the children and thought it would be a good idea to do the same to help distract them from the sudden swerve in Ella and Max’s day.
At school, the children’s first concerned questions were for Ella and why she wasn’t here, and Alice reassured them as much as she could without alarming them. She explained that more check-ups and hospital visits were normal this close to a baby arriving. She’d already messaged Zac on the way to school to let him know she probably wouldn’t be back for the dinner he’d promised to cook. He’d replied to say that he’d join her with the children if she wanted and would pick up something to eat on the way, and she accepted at once. Lily and Arlo knew Zac better than they did her, and they might prefer his company.
Back at the cottage, the family’s four chickens needed putting to bed and afterwards they checked on the guinea pigs and fed them too. Lily was less interested in seeing the sheep than Arlo, who, in wellies and holding the shepherd’s crook made for him by Stan, strode confidently into the field to check on them. He informed Alice proudly that they were all expected to be in lamb and should give birth in the spring. For such a small boy, she thought he was very knowledgeable, even though he was barely bigger than the grey ewes, who came trotting to meet him, eyeing her warily.
After their walk, as Alice was unlocking the cottage – while surreptitiously checking her phone for word from Max, even though she thought it would be too soon – Zac pulled up on the drive.
‘Zac!’ Arlo ran across, still clutching his shepherd’s crook, to share a merry high five.
‘Hey, buddy. How are the girls? All looking good?’
Arlo assured Zac the sheep were all fine and Zac smiled at Alice. She was happy to see him, more for the children than for herself as Arlo chattered on. Lily wanted a hug and Zac obliged, bending down to scoop her off her feet, making her giggle. Prim sat obediently until Alice opened the front door and she trotted inside. The children ran in after her, and Alice hung back to speak with Zac.
‘Any news?’
‘No.’ He’d returned from the van holding pizza boxes. ‘Doesn’t mean it’s a bad sign; it’ll probably be hours before we know any more. There might not be much to say yet.’
‘I know.’ She still couldn’t ease the niggling worry; she desperately didn’t want anything to go wrong for Ella and Max.
‘Come on, let’s get the pizzas in the oven and keep these two happy.’ The touch of Zac’s hand on her back was brief. ‘Ella’s mum is on a train on her way; she didn’t want to wait for the move, not now the baby might be born any day. I told Max I’d collect her from the station.’
‘So she’ll be here to look after the children?’
‘Yeah, but I’m happy to stay with them until then.’
‘Me too.’ Alice nodded firmly; she wasn’t going anywhere until she wasn’t needed. ‘What about a meal for your dad?’
‘Guess.’
‘Sandy?’
‘Yep. She’d heard the news about Ella and knew you were here, so she said she’d pop in and sort something out for him.’
‘That’s very kind of her.’
‘Well, he’s already promised to reciprocate when he can.’
The combined kitchen and family room in the cottage was cosy, and Lily set the table while Alice poured drinks and Zac put the pizzas in the oven. The children had a bit of homework to finish, so she went through spellings with Lily and helped Arlo with his reading. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t done before with her own nieces, and it felt both strange and very ordinary.
Zac was checking his phone as often as she was hers, and after they’d eaten, he drew Alice to one side so the children couldn’t overhear. ‘Max has just messaged to say Ella and the baby are okay but she’s being induced so it could be ages yet. Her mum’s due at the station in forty minutes so I’ll head off now. Back soon as I can.’
‘Okay. Thanks for letting me know.’
She followed him to the door to lock up, recognising the red pickup tearing up the drive in the opposite direction. Stan was scattering gravel as he pulled up and clambered out as fast as his stocky legs could carry him.
