‘We literally haven’t had a look in since we got here,’ she laughed.
‘Don’t moan.’ Kat jabbed her, playfully. ‘I’m enjoying the rest!’
‘How’s your dad doing?’ Victor took the empty chair and asked in earnest.
‘Oh.’ Evie swallowed. ‘Okay, I guess, but it’s certainly scared him.’
‘Heart attacks will do that,’ Ruthie piped up with almost comic precision.
‘Leni’s running around doing everything, and he’s grumpy because she’s now in charge of his diet – no wine, no croissants! He eats them every day, always has, loaded up with butter and jam, and does very little exercise. Can’t be good.’
All those croissants, no good for him! Who knew?It was a churlish thought. Ashleigh of course took no joy from the fact that Archie had been sick, hated that it had caused Evie an ounce of worry.
‘Hello?’
Midge’s voice came from the front door. He walked in, followed by Remy, who looked a little older, a little frailer than when she had last seen her. Ashleigh hoped she was okay, making a note to remind her of the importance of her annual check-ups.
‘Hello, Nana.’ Remy stood close and peered at the face of her sister’s beloved grandson.
‘Is he the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?’ To show him off to her sister was a wonderful, wonderful feeling!
Remy laughed and smiled at Kat and Evie. ‘I think he might be. Can I have a hold?’
Her sister rubbed her hands together.
‘Nope.’ She took a step away, and inhaled the scent of her grandson. ‘You’ll have to wait your turn.’
‘Hi, everyone!’ Ashleigh turned to see Elio walking in hand in hand with a pretty girl who looked a little shy. ‘This is Pia!’
She smiled at the girl who clung to Elio, leaning on him like he was the anchor in a stormy sea. Remy caught her eye and the two shared a knowing look. There was something about the way the two youngsters held each other that was full of promise, so lovely to see.
Remy
‘You’ve actually let someone else hold him?’ Remy smiled at her sister, who sat, baby free at the kitchen table.
‘No, he’s asleep, so no one’s holding him, but I’m keeping an ear out for the monitor, so the moment he wakes ...’
‘You’re obsessed, Ashleigh!’
‘I actually am.’ She beamed. ‘Is it like this with all of your grandchildren?’
‘No.’ Remy shook her head. ‘I only really like the first one. The novelty wears off, so I can kind of take or leave Clemmie, Topsy and the new baby. It’s all about Elio for me.’
‘Really?’
‘Of course not, you idiot! I adore them all! Each one a tiny miracle, a magnet that pulls me to them and means I can’t get enough of them.’
‘You’ve always been funny.’ Her sister laughed.
‘Funny weird,’ she quipped. ‘Pia seems very nice.’
‘They are clearly smitten!’
‘I said to Midge before we came that they’re very young and so ...’ She let this trail.
‘Well, in my humble opinion, they might be young, but they’re not messing around. Did you see the way they looked at each other?’
‘I did.’ She beamed, happy that Elio seemed to have found someone as lovely as him. She knew Sophie approved, and she’d always been a great judge of character.
