‘Don’t go to bed on an argument. Talking is the key. You will get through this.’
All Molly could think was, get through what? ‘But you said health issues. Is there something wrong with my baby?’
Martha looked up and smiled. ‘Your baby girl is just fine.’
‘A girl, you’re predicting a girl?’ Molly had brought her hands up to her chest and gave a tiny gasp.
Martha gave Molly a knowing smile. ‘It’s a girl and…’ Martha concentrated on the crystal ball. ‘Her name will begin with L … and that’s all I have for you,’ she said, standing up and disappearing out of another door behind her, leaving Molly sitting there, perplexed.
She wasn’t sure what to think or whether she should take any of it seriously. Leaving the room, she parted the beaded curtain that hung in the doorway and blinked. She hadn’t realised how dim the lights had been in the snug until she stepped back into the living room. All eyes were on her.
‘Anything to report?’ asked Allie, patting the empty chair next to her.
‘No, just the usual – there’s going to be a new arrival, etcetera.’ Molly looked around the room and smiled. She knew Martha’s words were worrying her a little but was that daft? ‘However…’ She looked down at her stomach. ‘Martha has predicted a girl.’
There was a loud whoop around the living room and Dixie clapped her hands.
‘A girl, we are having a girl.’
‘Martha has a fifty-fifty chance of getting this right,’ said Rona.
‘We need to think of names,’ Dixie added excitedly.
‘Let’s not get carried away,’ said Molly, smiling at Dixie’s enthusiasm. Martha’s words were turning over in her mind. The baby’s name begins with “L”. She picked her drink up from the table and took a sip as Felicity stood up. It was her turn next.
‘There’s absolutely nothing going on in my life whatsoever, so this should be quick,’ shared Felicity, as she walked through the door.
Molly watched Dixie brimming with excitement while she chatted with Rona and Aggie. ‘A girl, I can’t believe it. It’s always been boys in our family. My George would be so chuffed.’
But Dixie’s words were washing over her because there was one thing that Molly couldn’t get out of her mind. Secrets and scandals. She thought about the flashbacks of her mum. What did all that mean? Then she thought of Cam. From the outset of their relationship, she knew she’d had a confidence-boosting effect on Cam, encouraging him to believe in himself and reopen The Old Bakehouse when he thought he wasn’t good enough to step into his great-uncle’s shoes. Cam described her as his rock and Molly was always praising his work ethic, his dedication to learning how to bake bread perfectly. Yet she could sense there was something wrong and for a split second it had crossed her mind to question whether Cam was truly happy. She gave herself a shake. Of course he was happy, they were about to have another baby! It was his suggestion they expand their family and the excitement on his face when the pregnancy test confirmed she was indeed carrying their second child was infectious. He’d literally picked her up and spun her around. So why was she feeling like he was holding something back?
Feeling a wrench in her stomach, Molly looked at her watch. There was no way she could make a move to go home just yet as they’d been there less than an hour.
‘Penny for them?’ Isla slid in the chair next to her. ‘You don’t seem your usual self.’
‘I’m okay,’ replied Molly, not wanting to bring any attention to herself.
‘I’m not convinced. Was it something that my grandmother said? Honestly, you have to take what she says with a pinch of salt.’
Molly looked towards the window. ‘It’s just been one of those days and I’m shattered.’
‘As long as that’s all it is. Just remember that I’m always here with a shoulder or two to cry on. A problem shared and all that,’ said Isla, gently bumping her shoulder against Molly’s.
‘I know, thank you.’
Hearing her phone beep, Molly quickly rummaged in her bag. She saw it was a message from Sam and her mood slumped a little further when she read the text. Bree had not made it to the shelter and she had not been in touch. All Molly could do was hope she was somewhere warm and dry.
As Felicity returned to the room with a grin on her face, Molly dropped her phone back into her bag. ‘I have the winning lottery numbers but as I’m going to run off with a multi-millionaire and am moving to the Maldives, I need to go and pack my case and say farewell to you all.’ She bounced back on to the chair looking pleased with herself.
Aggie looked horrified. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Of course not, Aggie! Your son doesn’t get rid of me that easily. He’s been trying for years and hasn’t been successful so far.’
Everyone laughed.
‘Me and Fergus are together for ever. In fact –’ Felicity looked around the room ‘– I think us youngsters have all been lucky in love.’
‘Unlike us oldies,’ Martha said as she appeared in the doorway. ‘Tinder at my age … be careful what you swipe for, is all I can say!’ She chuckled.
