At this moment, the bedroom door swung open, and George came in, limping as he managed the plaster cast that was frustrating his every move.He was clutching Maurice under his good arm.He stared in amazement at the scene that met his eyes, before turning to leave, saying over his shoulder, ‘You two seem to be a bit busy.I just wanted to tell you that Maurice has pooed in Mum’s trainers and done some sick on the kitchen floor.Thought you’d want to know.I’m going to give him some more breakfast now; I don’t think he liked the last lot very much.’
21
Mab stayed in bed for the rest of the day, unable to raise much interest in the return of the men.She heard their voices through a haze of pain, until the tablets that the doctor had given her began to take effect.After that, she dozed fitfully, waking every now and again to find one of the others at her bedside, looking anxious.It was usually either Jess or Leo, but Mab felt too sleepy to ask how the visit next door had gone, and when they’d made sure she’d drunk her tea or iced water, she drifted back to sleep again, grateful for the escape from worrying.Several hours later, Nina came into Mab’s room with a tray, placing it gently down on the bedside table.
‘Are you awake, love?’she whispered.‘I’ve brought you a bit of supper.You need to eat if you can.’
Mab sat up, warily, and was surprised to find that she felt reasonably well.Her stomach cramps had ebbed to a dull ache and the dizziness had completely vanished.She peered at the tray, and saw that Nina had made a dainty little snack involving two boiled eggs, thin brown toast cut into soldiers, a buttered scone and jam, and a pot of tea in one of the café’s new blue and gold china pots for one.Mab realised that she was ravenous for the first time in days.Nina fussed around plumping up pillows.
‘How’s it going now?I can tell you’re feeling better, but you still need to take it easy for the next few days.Doctor’s orders as well as mine.’
‘It’s peculiar, I feel like a different person.A bit wobbly, but much more like me.’
‘That’s good.The old “me” is what we’ve been missing.Dr Blake said he’d call in the morning, but until then, you’re to stay put.’
Mab took a deep breath and poured out everything she’d been bottling up about the Crabtrees, their plan and her terror of the future to Nina, who listened with an expression full of concern and not a little horror.‘And I guess… I’m going to lose the baby, aren’t I, Nina?’Her eyes were full of unshed tears.Nina reached out a hand.
‘Well, no.He said that with a bit of luck, the baby will be OK.The next few days will be crucial and you’ll need to go for a scan as soon as you’re well enough, but Mab, I hate to say this, wouldn’t it be better in some ways if…’
‘No!’Mab’s response surprised both of them.Nina smiled.
‘Right.Let’s change the subject for now, while you eat your tea.So, are you ready to hear about the visit to the café next door?’
‘Go on, surprise me,’ said Mab, beginning to tuck into her egg.‘Did Edward confess all and ask for forgiveness, or did he punch Leo on the nose?’She felt slightly detached from real life, as if the earlier traumas had knocked her off track.
‘Neither of those things happened, actually.Edward was outraged at the suggestion that he’d played dirty and was livid to be accused of trying to close us before we opened.He said some odd things though.’
‘Such as?’
‘Well, he kept saying that if he’d wanted to cause trouble, he’d have done it by now, and that he’d have made a much better job of it, and put a smile on people’s faces.What do you think he meant by that?’
Mab flushed.‘Oh, I don’t know.Edward talks in riddles sometimes.Was Beattie there?’
‘No, and there was no sign of her, either.I reckon there’s something funny going on, to be honest.Maybe he’s murdered her and hidden her under the floorboards?If I was married to Beattie, I’d have smothered her long ago.’
‘You’ve got a very lively imagination,’ said Mab.‘There’s no evidence of that, is there?No freshly turned heaps of soil?No handy meat cleavers lying about?’
‘No, but it’s funny that she wasn’t around.Any hint of trouble and you’d think she’d be in the middle of it.’
‘Hmm.She was probably late-night shopping.It costs a lot to get that “coat hanger stuck up your backside” look.So, what happens next?’
‘The rest of them are having a council of war, except for George, who’s researching fish on the Internet and training Maurice to run through a large cardboard tube.’
‘Why?’
‘Who knows?He’s happy, anyway, and you’ll never know what a relief that is to Jess and me.Right, I’m off to load the dishwasher.Are you going to snuggle down for the night now?Would you like some clean warm ’jamas?There are some in the airing cupboard.’
Not for the first time, Mab wished her own mother was more… well… nurturing.It felt so good to be pampered like this.She vowed to herself that if she ever did have a child of her own, she would be a Nina-style mum; she’d use words like ‘snuggle’, and ‘warm ’jamas’ and make toast soldiers, and fresh scones.A huge wave of sadness washed over her.Even if this baby could manage to hang in there, Mab could never keep him or her.But how could she give her baby to Beattie Crabtree?How could she even have considered it?She blinked hard and smiled up at Nina.
‘Oh, yes, please, clean ones would be great.If you just give me a hand to go to the bathroom, I’ll get changed and do my teeth.I’m sleepy again now.Erm… what did you tell the others?Do they know what’s been the problem?’
‘No, I filled Jess in, of course, because she was so worried and I knew you wouldn’t mind, but the others just think it’s one of those mysterious episodes that ladies get from time to time.I think they’re all a bit embarrassed, so there won’t be an inquisition.’
‘That’s a relief.I’ll just avoid mentioning it then.Thanks for everything, Nina, you’ve been amazing.And… congratulations on getting it together with Harry.’
Nina blushed.‘It’s all a bit new and strange after all this time, to be honest, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy and needed.Maybe I’m getting the hang of life after all these years.’
‘So, is it like riding a bike?You never forget how to do it?’Mab laughed at Nina’s embarrassment.
