But at least while she had a job, she could scrimp and save from her wages and build up her savings pot again. She could scrape together enough money to pay for everything her baby would need once she was born, and hopefully one day have enough to find a decent place to live where she wouldn’t have to rely on housing benefits to get her through.
But now that her job was gone, so too were those hopes for getting back up on her feet financially.
In the old Bible story, Job was restored to the wonderful life he’d once led because God rewarded his faith. God waved a magic wand and made everything okay again, and restored to Job everything that he had lost.
Courtney knew that was never going to happen for her. Her mother wouldn’t suddenly come back to life, no matter how much Courtney ached for such a miracle.
The home they’d shared was gone, so far out of reach for her financially as to be nothing more than a pipe dream.
And unless everything that had happened this morning turned out to be nothing more than a bad dream, and Ashford Furniture and Furnishings had not gone out of business after all, then Courtney’s job was gone, too.
Things were as bad as they could get.
Except, Courtney realised, that wasn’t true. Her new family had been there to help her today, and had insisted she come home with them, had insisted she let them support her during her time of need.
If it wasn’t for the Austin family, and the new uncle and aunt and cousins she’d only just found out about, things would be far, far worse for her right now. She would be back in that terrible bedsit, alone and wondering what to do next.
Instead, she was back here in Rosie’s pretty guest room. Her job was gone, her finances looked worse than ever, but she wasn’t facing this latest drama all by herself.
A rush of gratitude swelled up inside her as she focused on the fact thatshe wasn’t alone.
Things could’ve been much worse,but they weren’t.
She’d survived everything else that had happened so far,and she’d survive this, too.
Quite what she’d do next or how she’d manage, she had no idea. But somehow, she’d figure it all out.
She’d figure it out for herself and for her baby.
A flutter inside her belly followed by a soft kick made Courtney smile. Rising from the bed, she smoothed down the covers she’d creased and headed back downstairs. It was just as well she’d enjoyed plenty of rest and relaxation at her cousin’s house over the weekend, because, now more than ever, she needed every ounce of energy she could summon in order to keep her spirits up.
Still reeling from the shock waves of losing her job, but now also energised with hope and determination thanks to the mental pep talk she’d given herself, Courtney felt the irresistible urge to get moving. Thinking of the park her Uncle Colin had mentioned before he’d left for work earlier, Courtney grabbedher light cardigan and her bag, then picked up the spare door key her Aunt Lorraine had left for her on the coffee table.
She stepped outside into the bright spring morning. The air was sweet with warm sunshine and the scents of early leaves unfurling on trees in the front gardens along Foxglove Street and flowers opening their petals to greet the new season. The soft blue sky overhead promised a beautiful day and the perfect conditions for a gentle walk to blow away the shock and upset of the morning’s developments.
It was a glorious spring day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and she was here in this gorgeous little South Downs town that she was eager to explore. A walk to the park would be the perfect tonic to stop her mind from racing as she processed this latest drama in her life.
Courtney set off along Foxglove Street with a smile on her face and her head held high, determined to enjoy a calming walk and a moment of blissful escape from all that ailed her.
7
Peartree Park wasa twenty-minute walk from Rosie’s house on Foxglove Street, although Courtney guessed she would’ve got there sooner if she wasn’t heavily pregnant and also slowing down to admire the many pretty front gardens she passed along the way.
People took pride in their homes on Foxglove Street, that much was obvious. Every garden was neat and well-tended, the perfect showcase for the spring flowers and tree blossoms that dappled the street with colour and interest.
Between the beautiful front gardens and the mix of houses that lined the street, it was a pleasure to walk along the pavement, and Courtney was practically gaping as she took in the combination of housing styles, from terraces to cottages, from detached mansions to small apartment buildings, and everything in between. Foxglove Street was long and meandering, twisting and turning towards Riverside Road at the other end, and Courtney decided it was one of the prettiest streets she’d ever seen.
How lucky her cousin, Rosie, was to live here, she thought. And how lucky she was, too, to have the chance to stay here with her, not just for a weekend but possibly for several weeksto come. She couldn’t think of a lovelier place in which to come up with a plan to deal with her joblessness, homelessness, imminent motherhood…
With a wry shake of her head, Courtney stopped the anxious thoughts in their tracks, determined to enjoy the walk and not let her restless mind take over.
Just look at the gorgeous cherry blossoms,she told herself.And just look at the sweet potted tulips outside that house over there, and the wonderful bright yellow pansies in that garden border, and the adorable little garden gnome grinning from beside that doorstep…
The trick worked and Courtney’s mind cleared. A few minutes later she arrived at the wrought iron entrance gates to Peartree Park. Spring flowers tumbled from giant planters on either side of the gates, welcoming her inside to the peaceful oasis beyond.
Once she entered the park, she walked along a wide pathway lined with flower beds and shrubs on either side and dotted with trees filled with songbirds that chirped as she passed by. Slowing her pace again to admire the beautiful water fountain at the far end of the path, Courtney listened to the gentle gurgling of the water and drew in a deep, cleansing breath.
It felt good to have walked this far from Rosie’s house, to get the blood flowing and shake off the shock of the morning’s developments. With less than six weeks to go before she delivered her baby, it was important to keep fit and active. Enjoying the tingle in her legs from the exercise and the injection of energy from the bright sunny morning and the warm spring air, Courtney turned towards the pond she could see off to her right.
