Chapter 9
Jasmine slowly and steadily made her way up the stairs. They seemed to be getting harder to climb, she thought, pausing for breath halfway. She finally reached the top when there was a knock at the back door. Typical. Refusing to go back down and answer it, she went into the bedroom and looked out of the window to see Bunty. Jasmine tapped on the glass and waved, mouthing for her to come in.
Moments later she heard Bunty huffing and puffing up the stairs too.
‘Hi!’ she called, meeting her on the landing. Bunty grinned.
‘Hello, darling, how are you feeling?’ Her eyes automatically homed in on Jasmine’s large bump.
‘Tired,’ came the faint reply. Jasmine refrained from saying she was just about to have a lie down. Instead, she directed Bunty into the nursery, eager to show it off.
The walls were painted a warm cream, and a matching Roman blind hung in the window. Not knowing the sex of their babies, Robin and Jasmine had gone for a fresh, neutral shade, brightening the room up with vibrant accessories; a large multi-coloured rag rug lay on the wooden floor and cheerful nursery pictures dotted the walls, plus various soft toys sat waiting patiently on shelves.
‘Oh, it’s wonderful,’ trilled Bunty, taking it all in. She walked over to the matching cots, stood side by side, and looked at Jasmine. ‘Excited?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I’ll be glad when they’re here, safe and sound,’ she replied, rubbing her swollen stomach.
‘Of course you will.’ Bunty assessed her friend. Although Jasmine was undoubtedly tired, she still glowed. Her blue eyessparkled, her complexion was flawless and her blonde hair positively shone. Jasmine looked the picture of good health. ‘Make the most of your free time,’ Bunty advised, chuckling.
‘Everyone keeps saying that,’ said Jasmine, knowing how busy she was about to become as the mother of twins. But how was she supposed to sleep when she felt so uncomfortable? It was impossible to get in an easy position being the size she was. She was officially due in August, but had been advised to prepare herself for an earlier birth. It was very common for multiple births to arrive sooner than a single one. This hadn’t come as a shock to Jasmine, who already felt like she was about to go into labour. Now, at this later stage in her pregnancy, she was being monitored extremely closely by the maternity clinic, not to mention Robin, who watched her every move. Jasmine’s parents, too, often rang and visited, understandably so. But what she really craved was peace and quiet, to be left alone, calmly getting on with things, like she usually did.
There was no denying that Jasmine was a coper. After what life had thrown at her, she’d learnt to be. Even so, as Robin had pointed out, this wastheirpregnancy, not just hers. Yes, she was the one carrying the babies, but as their father, Robin couldn’t wait to be hands-on once they were born.
‘We’re a family now,’ he’d told her, ‘It’s you, me and our babies. That’s what counts.’
Jasmine couldn’t have wished for a more supportive, loving partner. He’d wanted to be married before the twins were born, but Jasmine didn’t want a rushed wedding.
‘Why not take our time after they’re born?’ she’d said. It seemed so pointless to her to have the pressure of a wedding on top of everything else. Robin had agreed, reluctantly. Secretly, Jasmine would be quite happy to have a low-key registry office affair, but knew damn well how that would go down – on all fronts. For a start, her mum would never forgive her, and Robin?Well, she couldn’t deny him a big, fat wedding, could she? After all, he hadn’t been married before, whereas she had…
Thoughts turned to her and Tom’s wedding day. She really had had the full works there, a huge, traditional family wedding. For a moment her eyes misted over.
‘You all right, darling?’ Bunty asked, snapping Jasmine out of reverie.
‘Hmm? Oh, yes… Sorry, I was miles away.’
‘Come on, let’s sit down. I’ll pop the kettle on. You,’ Bunty said and pointed at her, ‘are going to put your feet up.’
For Jasmine, it was lovely having Bunty as a neighbour. Although there was such an age gap between them, it didn’t stop them from being close friends. They shared the same sense of humour and Bunty often had Jasmine in peals of laughter. She was a gifted mimic, with an ear to imitate people’s voices. She was also good fun. Last year, while still living in her old house, she held a dinner party and had requested formal dress. Bunty had worn one of her mother’s old 1920s dresses, resembling a flapper girl, really getting into the spirit of things. Jasmine couldn’t help but compare Bunty to her own mum; they were poles apart.
Once sat on the settee with her feet up, as ordered by Bunty, Jasmine closed her eyes and listened to her singing in the kitchen.
‘…where babies float by, just counting their toes…’
Jasmine smiled to herself and drifted off into a peaceful nap.
Meanwhile, Robin was working flat-out at the warehouse. He was overseeing where a partition wall was to be erected when Jack joined him. Robin turned to face him with a smile.
‘Hi, Rob, how’s it going?’
‘Everything’s under control.’ Robin nodded confidently, pleased to see his work mate.
‘Good. I’m coming back to work,’ Jack stated, looking around at the progress that’d been made since he’d damaged his hand.
‘Sure?’ said Robin.
‘Yeah, my wound is healing nicely.’ He lifted his hand for Robin to see the stitches that had neatly matted together. ‘As long as I keep it clean, wear gloves, it should be fine.’
‘Yes, as per the doctor’s orders,’ Robin said with a smirk. They exchanged knowing looks. ‘Talking of which, have you made your move yet?’
Jack laughed, knowing full well what his friend was referring to.
‘Give us a chance, mate,’ he grinned. ‘But I’ll be on the case.’ He winked, making Robin throw his head back and chuckle. Same old Jack.
