Chapter Four
‘Why don’t I take our little diva out for a walk?’ Lyndsey offered. A solid hour of her sister pacing around the kitchen had failed to placate the unhappy, red-faced baby. ‘The fresh air might help—’
‘So you know everything about babies now, do you?’ Becca turned on her, hollow-eyed and angry.
Since she arrived three days ago, she’d learned to keep her expression neutral around Becca and say as little as possible.
If her sister needed someone to vent her frustration on, Lyndsey would have to take it. That was no novelty, because she’d been forced to do the same thing all Becca’s life. It’d been drummed into her when her sister was born that it was her job to help take care of her. She would’ve been happy to do that, but a kernel of resentment took root when it seemed Becca’s wants and needs always came first. When Becca cried and fussed and threw tantrums — something she unfortunately did on a regular basis — Lyndsey was aggrieved when their parents insisted that Becca was simply ‘sensitive.’ If Lyndsey misbehaved herself, that was considered straightforward naughty.
‘Fine. Help yourself.’ Becca thrust the squirming, tightly swaddled baby at her and Lyndsey settled Nora in the crook of her arm, automatically rocking her from side to side.
‘Oh God, I’m a terrible mother.’ Her sister collapsed on the nearest chair and covered her face with her hands. ‘I’m sure Deke can’t wait to leave tomorrow. Why wouldn’t he?’
‘You know he’s torn up about going, and will miss you all dreadfully.’
‘If you say so. I bet you’ve got your return flight booked already, too?’
‘I promised I’d stay at least a couple of weeks, and I’ve no plans to leave anytime soon. I also think you’re doing an incredible job.’ Becca’s wary look said her sister didn’t trust the genuine compliment. ‘Honestly. It’s tough. My work can be challenging, but it’s nothing compared to what you’re trying to juggle.’
A faint smile lifted her sister’s gloomy expression. ‘Miracle worker with babies, too, I should’ve expected it.’
They’d been too engrossed to notice Nora falling quiet; her tiny face was now slack in sleep.
‘Would you prefer I stayed here and helped get things ready for tonight?’ she whispered. For his last night at home, Deke had invited Griff to join them for a steak dinner. There was an unwelcome flutter of excitement in her stomach at the thought of seeing him again.
‘There’s oodles of time to worry about that.’
‘So, in that case, why don’t you go upstairs and have a rest?’
‘I think I will. I’ll show you where the pram is.’
Becca’s meek agreement shocked her, but she allowed it to slide by and followed her sister through to the utility room.
‘There you go.’ Becca gestured to an impressive navy-blue vehicle wedged in between a mountain bike and a set of golf clubs. ‘It’s a Bugaboo stroller. That’s the same model as all the younger royals. All-terrain wheels and a suspension system to rival a Rolls-Royce.’
She continued rocking Nora while the stroller was wriggled out of its appointed spot. Her niece’s eyes briefly flew open when Lyndsey deposited her gently inside, but fluttered closed again when Becca tucked a soft pink blanket in around her.
‘We’ll be fine. Go lay down.’ She shooed her sister away, and pushed open the back door to wheel Nora outside. Down at the end of the drive she turned right; supposedly there was a path running between two of the houses that looped around a couple of nearby fields and made for a decent walk.
‘Yoo hoo, Becca’s sister, hello there!’
She turned to see a short, plump man with a shock of white hair and red wire-rimmed glasses scuttling towards her.
‘Harold Morton, at your service.’ He shook hands vigorously and hardly gave Lyndsey a chance to introduce herself before he switched his attention to Nora. His cherubic face lit up as he peered in at her. ‘How’s our little poppet, today? She’s such a sweetheart.’
‘You wouldn’t have said that a few minutes ago. She’s been screaming the house down for the last hour. I’m surprised you didn’t hear her.’
‘Griff told us you’d come all the way from England to help out, and we’ve been longing to meet you.’ He pointed to the pretty white house behind him. ‘My partner, William, and I would love you to come and have tea with us one day.’
‘I’d be delighted.’
‘We were so sad about the Queen — such a lovely lady.’ He sighed sadly.
‘I met her once.’ Lyndsey’s confession made his blue eyes sparkle.
‘Oh my, I can’t wait to hear about it.’
Snuffling noises drifted up from the stroller and Nora started to stir. ‘Oh dear, I’m sorry, but I’d better keep moving.’
