But it wasn’t Tom. It was Willow.
‘Hi Martha,’ her sister said, ‘you might think I’m being silly, but I had this weird feeling that I should ring you.’ She laughed in Martha’s ear. ‘I know, it sounds bonkers, doesn’t it, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you? Is everything okay?’
‘Funny you should say that,’ said Martha.
‘And help is definitely on the way?’ asked Willow when Martha had explained that she was stuck in a lift.
‘I certainly hope so.’
‘Hey, it’s a bit spooky-woo-woo of me thinking I should ring then, isn’t it? It’s not like we’ve ever been telepathic or anything like that before. Had I better ring off if you’re waiting for Tom to call?’
Martha hesitated. It was good having the distraction of her sister chatting with her, and who knew when Tom might check his voicemail and call her back? ‘No, don’t ring off,’ she said. ‘You’re keeping me from worrying that I’ll never get out of here.’
It was then that she realised the Braxton Hicks contractions had stopped. The only movement inside her now was her hiccupping baby.
‘So, what are you up to?’ she asked Willow. ‘Are you at work?’
‘No, I go in this afternoon. Actually, this is my last day.’
‘How do you feel about that?’
‘Sad, if I’m honest. I think motherhood is going to be a lot harder than begging people for more money.’
‘You are looking forward to being a mother, aren’t you?’ Martha asked.
‘I would if I thought I’d be any good at it. When you think about it, what have I ever been good at?’
‘You’ll be fine.’
‘That’s what Lucas says.’
Does he, thought Martha. ‘And how is Lucas; have you heard from him recently?’
‘Yeah, he’s in touch every now and then.’
‘Does Rick know?’
‘Umm … not really.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It means I don’t tell him. It’s better that way.’
There was so much Martha wanted to say in answer to this, but should she? Even as a bossy older sister, it really wasn’t her job to police Willow’s relationship with Rick. It wasn’t as if she would be that upset if things did go wrong between Willow and Rick, would she? And wasn’t being attracted to somebody else a symptom of a relationship that wasn’t working?
As much as her common sense told her to leave well alone, Martha couldn’t resist asking the one question she wanted to ask.
‘Willow,’ she said, ‘do you love Rick?’
‘Umm … I think so.’
‘You don’t sound very sure.’
‘I want to love him. I really do. But it’s all happened so fast between us.’
‘Too fast?’
‘Yes.’
