Chapter 19
Perry and Bunty were sailing serenely down the Chester canal. A slight frost had dusted the trees and banks.
‘It’s a magical wonderland,’ sighed Bunty, hugging a hot chocolate for warmth. Her eyes couldn’t take enough in, having so much to see by the canal side. There was a lovely community spirit about it, with fellow narrowboaters waving up and greeting them.
‘It certainly is,’ agreed Perry as he steered the boat with one hand and sipped his drink with the other. He was glad Bunty had not only agreed to come away onThe Merry Perry, but that she’d fully thrown herself into the experience. To look at her, you would assume she’d been boating all her life. She’d soon picked up the terminology of the narrowboat and instinctively worked it. Bunty had quickly mastered the tiny kitchenette and woodburning stove, not to mention adjusting to the cramped bathroom and cassette toilet. Perry admitted it wasn’talltwee glamorous living on a narrowboat. There were many practicalities to adapt to, like replenishing water, keeping an eye on fuel and being mindful of electricity use. Not to mention emptying the toilet! But Bunty was taking it all in her stride.
However, he still couldn’t help but detect something was bothering Bunty. She had an air of… well, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. She was just acting a little odd. When he’d questioned her about it again, she’d dismissed it as excitement for their holiday, but he wasn’t convinced. He glanced sideways at her now, all bright eyed and rosy cheeked. There was no doubt she was in her element, enjoying herself, he was pleased to see. Bunty must have felt his stare as she turned to smile at him.
‘Everything all right?’ she asked.
‘Everything fine with me,’ he grinned, then narrowed his eyes, ‘and you?’
‘Ah, perfect,’ she breathed in deeply.
Truth be told, allwouldbe fine, once he’d accepted her proposal. What seemed like a good idea at the time was playing on her mind now. But, she’d gone through with it. His birthday card was written, with the words, ‘Perry, will you marry me?’ inside it. Now all she had to do was give it him.
Robin had stayed over at Jasmine’s all week, not wanting to leave her whilst she was unwell. The nausea hadn’t left her; it still kept coming and going in waves. But the fatigue was lessening and she had actually risen before Robin that morning.
Robin woke and rolled over in bed to find Jasmine not there. He got up and went downstairs into the kitchen to join her. She was sat at the kitchen table drinking tea, staring into space.
‘Hi, you OK?’ he asked.
She looked up and smiled at him. ‘Yeah, just couldn’t sleep.’
He came to sit down opposite her, sensing something was afoot. Not surprising really, as something was definitely troubling him. Ever since Jasmine had first taken to her bed exhausted, then had begun to feel bouts of sickness, his mind had spun into overdrive. But he had kept quiet, not daring to address the matter. Instead, he’d been waiting for her to approach him. He sat, preparing himself.
‘Robin,’ she gulped, ‘I think I may be pregnant.’
There was a moment of stillness as both digested the news. Jasmine looked searchingly into his eyes. His hand reached out for hers.
‘Well… I’d be very happy, if you were,’ he answered tentatively. ‘What about you?’
She broke into a slow smile. ‘I… think I would too,’ she replied in a small voice.
Robin came round the table to hug her. They embraced, taking it all in. Robin pulled back and held her face.
‘We better make sure. I’ll get a testing kit today.’
Jasmine nodded.
Then, looking sheepishly at her, he added, ‘I’m sorry for not being careful enough—’ but she shook her head to silence him.
‘No, I wasn’t prepared, Robin. To be honest, my body clock’s been all over the place. It’s only just returning back to normal,’ she explained.
‘Even so, I should have made sure, when we were in London—’
‘Do you think that’s when it happened? In London?’ she cut in.
They exchanged a knowing smile, remembering the passion they’d shared.
‘Without a doubt,’ Robin said with a wry grin. Jasmine gave a tinkle of laughter.
‘Right, I’m going to attend to your every need, starting with breakfast. What do you fancy to eat?’ he asked.
‘Nothing at the moment.’
‘Feeling sick again?’ Robin’s face etched with concern.
