Page 63 of A Wish For Wilma
‘It’s certainly original,’ said Jinnie, twisting the plain silver band Sam had given her many moons ago. Jo’s ring reminded her of her first failed engagement and the enormous rock Mark had given her. Oh, the delight she’d taken in dumping it into his coffee in front of his new fiancée!
‘We haven’t set a date yet, but I’ve warned Harvey that if I’m not married before I hit fifty, he can find a new bride-to-be.’ Jo attempted to look stern but her sparkling eyes rivalled the gleam of the diamond.
Jo had turned the café sign to ‘closed’ to allow them to catch up, but a hammering on the door interrupted their chat.
‘Can some folk not read?’ Jo huffed, peering through the glass panel. ‘Ah, it’s Janette and Alison. I popped into the boutique earlier to say that the dress had been a hit and mentioned you were dropping by. Shall I let them in, or pretend we’re not here?’
Jinnie grinned. ‘Bit late for that, seeing as you’re clearly visible through the glass and Janette’s flapping like a demented pigeon.’
Jo opened the door and Janette charged in as if the hounds of hell were snapping at her heels. ‘Let me see her! Ach, she’s a wee dote and no mistake. She’s got your chin, Jinnie, and Sam’s nose.’ Janette crouched beside Dahlia’s car seat and stroked her cheek. The baby’s eyes pinged open.
‘She’s beautiful,’ said Alison, looking elegant as always. ‘Sorry to intrude, but Janette insisted we come and say hello to Cranley’s newest resident.’
‘That honour goes to Angela and Ed’s baby, who arrived just hours after this one.’ Janette, decidedly dapper herself in a knitted scarlet dress, looked fit to burst with the news. ‘I got the skinny from Ken just a couple of hours ago. A lad, name to be decided, but weighing in at a whopping ten pounds.’
Jinnie winced, both at the weight and the fact that she hadn’t been in touch with Angela and Ed. ‘Dahlia weighed seven pounds. Three more, and I swear I’d never walk again! How can babies end up so different?’
Alison laughed as she joined Janette next to Dahlia. ‘My boy came very early and barely weighed more than a bag of sugar. Now he’s well over six feet tall and built like a rugby prop forward.’
‘Hmm. I don’t mind if she takes after Sam height-wise, but I hope she stays off the rugby pitch,’ said Jinnie, with a shudder.
‘Women’s rugby is quite a thing these days,’ said Janette. ‘I prefer the footie mysel’, and her ladyship’ — she winked at Alison — ‘is partial to a bit of golf and tennis.’
Tired of all the attention, Dahlia whimpered, and Jinnie swiftly undid the straps and held her close.
‘Can I get you two a cuppa and something to eat?’ offered Jo.
‘Very tempting,’ said Alison, ‘but we need to get back to work. We just wanted to drop off a little gift for the baby. Janette ordered it a while ago and we hope you like it.’
Janette produced a neutrally wrapped package from her capacious handbag. ‘I spent hours on the internet. Who knew there was so much choice for a tiny tot?’
Dahlia quietened and Jinnie passed her to Jo. She carefully untied the silver ribbon and peeled back the layers of paper. ‘Oh, it’s gorgeous!’ She unfolded a cream baby bear snowsuit, complete with fluffy ears and little leggings. ‘Thank you so much.’
With more cooing and congratulations, Janette and Alison departed.
‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ said Jo, once the door had closed behind them.
Jinnie nodded, tempted to swaddle Dahlia in the cute bear outfit immediately, but scared she’d induce a howling fit. ‘I’m pretty sure they’re a couple. I’ve seen how they are together, and it’s lovely.’
‘Good for them. People should find happiness wherever they can. We struck lucky with Sam and Harvey, but many people never do.’
Jo rocked Dahlia in her arms, murmuring soothing nonsense. Talking to a baby didn’t require much thought, Jinnie decided. Talking to a grown-up, though — or a genie — could mean treading on eggshells. And Jinnie had a feeling that more eggshells would be cracked before life got back on an even keel.
Jo looked up. ‘Dare I ask what the status quo is at home? I can only imagine it’s mayhem multiplied. They’re all still there, right?’
‘Oh, yes. Completely besotted with Dahlia and still figuring out what their WIFI data means.’
On Jinnie’s return from the hospital, she’d been greeted by pink balloons and party poppers, courtesy of Dhassim, and some pant liners big enough for an incontinent elephant. Huge thanks to Aaliyah for being practical.
DJ — looking like DJ, for once — had got all emotional when Jinnie and Sam revealed Dahlia’s name and its inspiration. ‘That is … that is… I am choking up.’ He’d fanned his face while his parents frowned in confusion.
Amazingly, Dhassim twigged first. ‘Oh! Da as in Dhassim, Ahlia, as in— You have made this family very proud. Honoured. I will now sob for a short time. Please excuse me.’
With Dhassim excused, Jinnie had allowed Aaliyah to hold the baby, though she had Dahlia the wrong way up at first. She’d sniffed the rear end and declared it an abomination. ‘I am so relieved that I did not have to deal with this when darling DJ entered the human world. Wilma deserves kudos for not barfing at the nappies. Poo containers — yuck.’
‘Jinnie…’ Jo’s voice pierced Jinnie’s reverie. ‘What do you mean about the WIFI data?’
Over mugs of tea — the café still closed — Jinnie filled Jo in on the supposed error and the subsequent partial about-turn, as well as Wilma’s decision not to make a wish, which left the jury out on how the story ended.
