‘Our pleasure. We enjoyed doing it.’
‘And you should be able to get back into the community room from next week if you don’t need power and probably by the end of the week if you do.’
‘We’ll be there.’
Just then Xander came in. He quickly gave Immy a kiss on the cheek and passed her a bag.
‘I got you a sandwich, you need to eat.’ He passed one each to Etta and Max too. ‘Etta, Nanny and Grandad want you to come over and stay with them tonight. They want to paint eggs and do Easter activities with you. Do you want to go?’
‘Oh yes please.’ Etta clapped her hands together excitedly.
‘Great, they’ll pick you up about four.’ He gave Etta a kiss on the head, gave Immy a kiss on the cheek, glared at Max when he offered his cheek for a kiss, nodded to Lizzie and Diya, and left, running back across the street to the sweet shop.
Immy smiled after him and then turned her attention back to Lizzie and Diya who were practically bubbling with excitement at this show of affection from Xander.
Diya leaned forward, her eyes wide. ‘We heard rumours about you and—’ She stopped when Lizzie elbowed her and gave a warning shake of the head. They clearly didn’t want to gossip in front of her or about her after last time.
Immy felt sorry for them. They clearly wanted to talk about this with her and she and Xander weren’t exactly hiding their relationship or their baby.
‘We’re together,’ Immy said and they both let out a squeal of excitement. ‘And we’re having a baby.’
Immy thought Lizzie was going to pass out with excitement as she and Diya did a little victory dance. She glanced at Max and Etta, who were watching the proceedings with much bemusement.
‘Are you getting married?’ Diya blurted out before Lizzie could stop her.
‘They don’t know if they love each other yet,’ Etta said, solemnly, then took a bite out of her sandwich.
Lizzie and Diya’s faces fell. ‘You don’t love each other?’
‘We don’t know,’ Immy said, wishing she hadn’t said anything now.
‘It’s very early and the baby was a surprise,’ Etta said.
Oh good lord.
‘Daddy gave her a seed which she liked very much but he didn’t know she would make a baby from it. But she did so now they keep cuddling in bed to find out if they love each other and want to be together forever.’
Immy’s eyes widened at the blunt summary of their relationship. Max was clearly trying not to laugh.
Immy cleared her throat. ‘Yes, something like that.’
‘Right,’ Lizzie said, clearly unsure how to respond to that.
‘We’re happy,’ Immy said. ‘Very happy and that’s enough for now.’
Diya smiled. ‘We’re happy for you.’
Lizzie reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Yeah, you deserve it, and he’s a good man.’
Immy nodded. ‘I know he is. The best.’
A customer came in then with her twin boys, who looked around the chocolate shop with wide eyes.
‘I better go,’ Immy said, standing up.
They nodded.
‘We’ll see you on Sunday,’ Diya said.
