“Fine. Rory and his housemates are besotted with him. They’ve been a big help.”
“That’s great.” She folds her arms.
“Hi,” Rory says as he joins us. He puts a drink in front of me. “I’m Rory.” He holds his hand out to Niamh.
She stares at his hand for a few moments before accepting it. “Niamh.” She turns to face us more fully. She looks at me, her expression fierce, her eyes full of hurt. “I need you to have Aidan for a bit longer. These last few days have been a good break, but I’m still not in the right headspace to care for a baby alone.”
“You’re not alone,” I say softly.
“I didn’t think you’d bring someone along.” She glances at Rory.
“Do you want me to sit at a different table?” he asks.
“There’s no need. I’m sure Callan has already told you I’m a terrible mother.”
My heart sinks. “I haven’t.”
“I don’t need either of you judging me.”
“We’re not,” Rory assures her.
Aidan makes a snuffling noise. His eyes open, and he gazes at me for a second before scrunching them shut and wailing. Niamh flinches. Rory gets the bottle I’d made up before leaving the house as I get Aidan out of the baby carrier. He hands it to me. Our fingertips brush. I can’t help but stare into his eyes. The brief moment of contact gives my sinking heart buoyancy. I smile my thanks. For the bottle. For his support. For being him. Aidan quiets the moment I offer him the teat. His hands grip the bottle, and he looks into my eyes as he gulps the milk. For a few moments, he is my entire universe. Only when he breaks eye contact do I realise Niamh is watching us.
“Niamh?”
She shakes herself. “He loves you.”
I flick my gaze back to Aidan. “He loves you too.”
She snorts. “I doubt that.”
“Do you want to finish feeding him?”
“I don’t think he’d appreciate being disturbed.”
“You could cuddle him after, then.”
She shakes her head, hugs herself, and looks out the window again. “Rory, how long have you known Callan?”
He makes eye contact with me. I nod.
“We grew up together in Wexford. But we hadn’t seen each other in a long time. We reconnected when Cal came to London to help out with Aidan.”
“What has he told you about me?”
Rory shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “You were together for a couple of years, but things didn’t work out.”
“It must be cramping your style, having a baby in your house.”
“Not really, no.”
“Do your housemates mind? Callan tells me you live with seven other people.”
“Aye, I do. And no, they don’t mind.”
She glances at me. “You’re lucky. Is it a nice house?”
“It’s a big Georgian house,” I tell her.
