‘Just a little bit of research?’ Jay says, raising an eyebrow. ‘I’ve watched you this afternoon. You’ve been on an absolute mission. It’s been pretty bloody impressive.’
Their eyes meet and they share a smile that speaks of all the years they have spent together. They’ve had their ups and downs, but he knows her. Over the past few months, she’s felt as though she has lost herself, but throughout it all, he’s been there, his faith in her never wavering.
‘OK, maybe I have done alotof research.’
And God, it had felt so good. Following the trail of information on and on, deeper and deeper … It always sent her into a sort of meditative state, giving her a buzz unlike anything else. Well, actually,notunlike anything else. When she is stuck into researching and writing a story, she feels the same way she does when she is swimming. As if everything else disappears.
‘I think there might be a story here.’
The others look at each other, expressions shifting from anxious to intrigued, and maybe even hopeful.
‘Go on?’ urges Sandra. Jay nods at her too.
‘Well, it seems that there’s this whole underground thing happening where water companies and factories are illegally dumping into rivers, but there’s nothing really being done about it. It’s a lot bigger than just the River Avon. Very few rivers in the whole of the UK could be classed as clean or in any way ecologically sound. And it’s not just sewage but pesticides and microplastics that are polluting the waterways too. The pollution isn’t just bad for humans but awful for wildlife. The whole thing is one massive scandal. And I think theHeraldcould be interested in covering it. In fact, I know they are. I spoke to my boss just now.’
‘Aren’t you on maternity leave?’ asks Jazz.
Her eyes find Jay’s again.
‘I am. But I think I’m ready to start easing myself back into work. Just a few hours a week at first. My colleagues Emma and Leonie are going to help me. We’re going to cover the story together.’
When the idea came to her earlier, she’d felt initially hesitant. ‘Maybe it’s mad that I’m thinking about getting back to work when Rosie is so little,’ she had said, glancing guiltily down at her daughter, who slept soundly in her arms. The moment they’d shared at the baby swimming class had been wonderful and Kate can already feel that connection that had been lacking start to grow, little by little. But while she’s determined to do what’s best by Rosie, she’s starting to realise that doing what’s best for her daughter might also mean doing what’s best forher.
‘It’s not mad at all,’ Jay had said. ‘It’s just you. And it’s one of the reasons I love you. Having a baby hasn’t changed the person you are. You’re still Kate, a swimmer, a campaigner, a journalist. You’re just a mother now too.’
‘Jay’s going to drop to part-time so he can help out more with Rosie,’ Kate explains.
Ever since her social media post using his photographs, he has been inundated with bookings for his ‘unfiltered’ parent and baby photo shoots. It’s given them the confidence to think he can scale back his hours. He’s excited about the prospect of more time with Rosie and Kate already can’t wait to get herteeth into a story again. And Emma and Leonie were beyond excited when she told them. The story will be something that brings them together again. Even if they will probably end up doing the bulk of things, Kate will still be involved.
It’s a set-up that feels like it’s going to work for her family, and for once, Kate is letting herself shake off the guilt of how she feels sheshouldbe doing things.
‘That all sounds great,’ says Phoebe. ‘But what does it mean for our river swimming spot? None of us wants to stop swimming there. And my patients … They’ve only just fallen in love with the place. I hate the thought of what this could do to them.’
The mood falls sombre again.
‘Oh yes, of course,’ says Kate, flicking to another section in her notebook. ‘I did research on that too and I think I have an idea …’
At that moment, her phone begins to ring on the coffee table. She glances down to see her stepfather’s name on the screen. Her heart flips over inside her chest. When she calls home, she might hear her stepdad in the background, or her mum might put the call on speakerphone so he can chip in, but he never calls her by himself. Ever. Her thoughts return to the message she saw on her mum’s phone that has slipped from her mind with everything else that’s been going on.
‘Sorry, everyone, I need to take this.’
She grabs the phone and disappears into the garden. The air smells of roses as she heads under the arbour and to the shade of the apple tree.
‘Brian? Is everything OK?’
‘Hi, Kate, sweetheart. Are you free right now? If you’re not busy, it would be great if you could come over. Your mum and I have something to tell you. I’ve called your sister too and she’s on her way.’
‘Is everything OK?’ Panic scratches at her voice.
Brian clears his throat.
‘I think it might be best to talk in person. If you’re free? I know you’ve got a lot going on, what with the little one …’
‘No, no, it’s OK. Of course I’ll be there,’ Kate replies, her heart hammering against her ribs. ‘I’ll be there soon.’
‘Sorry, everyone, but I’m afraid I’ve got to go,’ she says once she’s back inside. They all look up at her in concern.
‘Is everything OK?’ asks Phoebe.
