‘Isn’t he something?’ Her dad shook his head, as if unable to believe that this new addition was here. ‘And a boy, Cass! How lucky did we get, a boy!’ he boomed.
Domino caught Cleo’s eye and the two shared a look that was one part bemusement and two parts despair.A boy!Those two words heralded with such joy and confidence as if any other result would have been second best, a failure. Cleo smiled at her, and Domino, despite her tender years, shook her head with a maturity and understanding that made Cleo realise that her niece was growing up.
‘He’s called Tommy boy!’ Georgie announced.
‘Well, just Tommy,’ she corrected, although quietly enough so as not to put a dent in her husband’s pride.
‘Hello, Tommy boy!’ Cassian cooed and Cleo bit her lip.
‘So, Cass, you’re now the oldest grandson, so you’re going to need to take this little fella under your wing. He’s going to be a footballer, I can tell!’ Lawrence stared at the now sleeping baby with an obvious lump in his throat. ‘What do you reckon, centre forward?’
Cleo knew that it was vital to get this little boy away from their constant commentary, best to take him somewhere he could grow up away from their influence, free to be whoever and whatever he wanted. Yes, her mind was made up.
‘Maybe.’ Her nephew sighed with obvious irritation.
‘Who’s hungry?!’ Winnie laughed, walking into the sitting room and placing a crystal tray loaded up with tiny crustless sandwiches on to the coffee table. ‘There’s also cheese and crackers on the counter in the kitchen, help yourselves. Although the Brie is a little depleted.’ Cleo saw her mother’s eyes dart briefly towards Julie. ‘Well, Domino, what do you think of your new cousin?’
‘He’s very cute, Nan.’ Again, she looked at Cleo as if at a loss at what else she was supposed to say. Sixteen, that awkward age between child and woman. Cleo winked at her, remembering what it felt like in the time before she had grown into herself, when the world of boys and babies was alien and extreme self-consciousness cloaked her. She hoped Domino would find her feet soon enough, come out of her shell a little.
‘We got you a small gift.’ Julie stepped forward and handed her a pretty box. ‘It’s a bubble bath for you. I think those little moments like taking a bath become so precious when you’re a new mum.’
‘Oh, Jules, thank you, that’s lovely!’
‘I know that when I had mine, the babies got lots of presents and yet it was me who had done all the hard work.’
‘Are we doing gifts now? I’ll go grab mine!’ Winnie said with enthusiasm.
‘No, Mum, I don’t think so, not now. We’ll be off in a mo.’ Cleo put the gift by her feet. ‘As I said, we’re not staying long, just popped in really and then I got tempted by this.’ She lifted the empty bowl before setting it on the coffee table next to the sandwiches, which only Cassian seemed to be eating. ‘But we couldn’t wait to let you all meet Tommy.’ She couldn’t help but enunciate his name. ‘But I’m honestly knackered and I want to get home and get settled so I can feed him – still navigating the whole sore nipple, leaky boob, baby’s little gob thing.’ Her mother winced, although she suspected it was more at her turn of phrase than the topic in hand. ‘So, we’ll push off if that’s okay.’ She edged to the corner of her seat. ‘But I promise, give us a couple of days to get straight and then all come over to ours or, better still, we’ll all come over here and you can cuddle him to your heart’s content and we can do gifts and whatever – not that we expect gifts or anything! I mean, I’m not haggling for a Daisy-sized tip!’
‘What do you mean a Daisy-sized tip?’ her mum echoed loudly enough for Lawrence to look up and Julie to visibly bristle.
‘Lawrence gave Daisy a whacking great tip last night after dinner.’ She thought it was common knowledge.
‘Course he did!’ Winnie smiled at her son. ‘Such a generous boy.’
‘Yes, course he did!’ Julie echoed, but there was no mistaking her sarcasm.
Cassian stopped eating sandwiches and stared at his mum. The atmosphere was suddenly a little weighted and Cleo tried to catch Georgie’s eye, signalling with a jerk of her head towards the door that it was time to go.
Her mum did her best to steer them back to calmer waters. ‘I find it hard to know what to buy for babies. In my day we used to make blankets and knit matinée jackets, but nowadays it’s all baby monitors, organic facecloths, whale music and mini sleeping bags – another world.’ She clapped with delight. ‘Anyway, I’vedecided that for this little fella, we are going to plant a tree or a shrub, something to signify new growth, new life.’
‘That’s a lovely idea, Winnie!’
‘Glad you approve, Georgie, although it won’t be me caring for it, it’s my darling husband who has the green fingers.’ She smiled at Bernie and it warmed Cleo to be here in the thick of it, witnessing the great love her parents still shared, knowing that despite their flaws, this was the family who would help raise Thomas Welland. Although they would do so from afar, with the occasional visit, the odd phone call, even holidays where they might join her by the sea ...
‘Flattery will get you everywhere!’ Bernie walked over and kissed his wife on the forehead.
‘I think it’ll be lovely to all get together in a few days. I’ll send out invites, do it properly.’ Her mother, she could tell, was already in planning mode.
‘Of course, you will!’ Cleo, despite her ever-growing tiredness, chuckled at the idea.Ilfracombe...fish and chips and choppy seas, real fires, great pubs, sailing boats, beach walks, shell collecting, surfing when he’s older...She couldn’t wait to lay her plans bare to Georgie, knowing he would love it as much as her once he got his toes in the sand.
‘It’ll be a “Welcome to the world” party. I’ll get a cake made!’ And just like that her mum was up and running. ‘I’ll call the lady who did one forGardeners’ World. It was all over the local paper – she presented it to Monty Don and he ate it with his soil-covered hands. I remember at the time thinking a quick whizz with a nailbrush wouldn’t have done any harm. Anyway, a famous cakemaker for our Little B! It’ll be fabulous.’
Cleo felt the rise of irritation and reminded herself that this was a day for thanks and celebration, not for verbally jousting with her mother over a nickname that was likely to be quickly forgotten. Atleast she bloody hoped so. Besides, it wouldn’t matter what Winnie called him if they were in north Devon. Her mum was loud, but not that loud ...
‘Where have you parked the Merc?’ Lawrence looked out over the driveway.
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Julie replied a little curtly, her smile tight.
