Rosie arched an eyebrow, the challenge clear. “Youwillbe fine once you’ve eaten a proper hot meal. That container better be empty when I come home later, or there’ll be trouble.”
Courtney hid a grin, and hid the tears, too, that were threatening to fall. After months of feeling so alone, it was incredibly comforting to feel cared for by someone else.
“Thank you, Rosie.”
“You’re welcome.” Rosie gave her a soft smile. “I just want you to be okay.”
Courtney nodded and gulped back on the emotion building in her throat. “You don’t know what this means to me. The fact you’ve let me stay here this weekend, the fact you’re feeding me like this…” She gestured to the container of chicken casserole as her stomach let out a noisy rumble.
“It sounds like you ought to get this dinner started sooner rather than later,” Rosie laughed, carrying the container to the microwave.
The doorbell rang just then.
“That must be Adrian,” Rosie said, starting the microwave and turning towards Courtney. “Can I love you and leave you?”
“You can and you should,” Courtney laughed, waving her cousin towards the door. “Go and eat pizza with your new handsome man, and I’ll see you later.”
Rosie flashed a smile before pulling Courtney into a quick embrace. “You’re sure you’ll be okay on your own?”
“Positive.”
“Just ring my mobile if you need anything.”
“I’ll do no such thing. You’re going on a date! I don’t plan to interrupt it.”
Laughing, Rosie gave her one final squeeze and then rushed through to the living room, where she shoved lipstick into her handbag along with her phone. Courtney walked her to the door and said a shy hello to Adrian before waving them both off. As they walked along Foxglove Street and disappeared from sight, she heard the microwave ping in the kitchen.
The smell that greeted her when she removed the container from the microwave set her stomach rumbling all over again. Pouring the food into a bowl, she cut a thick slice of bread from the white bloomer bagged up on the counter, then set everything on a tray to carry through to the living room.
She sank down into the sofa with a sigh, her mouth already watering as she anticipated the food she was about to devour. After grabbing the remote control from the coffee table, she turned the television on and found a Saturday evening game show to watch while she ate.
Dipping her spoon into the bowl, she brought the aromatic food to her lips and tasted, then closed her eyes in bliss as her mouth exploded with the flavours of tender chicken and sweet vegetables and rich gravy.
Her cousin could cook, and then some. Courtney had to resist the temptation to guzzle the meal down in one go.
She took a breath, tore some bread from the slice she’d cut, and dipped it into the thick gravy, then took her time savouring the rest of the food. Warmth spread through her as the meal settled in her stomach, and she felt comfortable and cosy parked on the sofa and eating dinner while the bright noise and chatter from the television game show hummed from the corner.
It had been months since she’d spent a Saturday evening this way, curled up on the sofa with dinner on her lap while watching something stupid on television. The recent weeks she’d spentliving at the awful bedsit since her world had collapsed around her felt like they’d lasted forever, and sometimes it seemed that the life she’d led before was no more than a distant dream.
Her thoughts turned to her mother, to the home they’d shared, the lives they’d built, ortriedto build. Feeling emotion catching in her throat, Courtney pushed the memories away and rose from the sofa to wash her dishes in the kitchen.
Pregnancy hormones were already sending her on enough emotional rollercoaster rides without adding to the mix by dwelling on her late mother and the grief into which she’d been plunged by her untimely death. Just as she’d done when she’d woken from her long afternoon nap, she had to remember to focus on what was good, and forget about the chaos for a little while at least.
I’m in a lovely warm house and I’ve just eaten a delicious hot dinner,Courtney told herself as she rinsed her dishes in the sink and switched the kettle on to boil.I’ve found family I never knew I had and they’re all wonderful. I’m about to settle down for a night in front of the television, feeling cosy and safe.
These are all good things and I’m grateful for them.
Inside her belly, the baby kicked. Courtney laid her hand across her stomach and smiled. The baby must like her gratitude exercises. All the more reason to perform them over and over again whenever she felt the weight of the world crashing down on her.
Another kick. Courtney’s heart fluttered as she thought of the baby moving around inside her, spinning and dancing on a cloud of magic fairy dust as she waited to be born.
Comforted by thoughts of her child, Courtney carried a mug of tea into the living room and curled up once more on the sofa. A new quiz show had started on the television and she settled in to attempt to answer the questions.
By the time she’d finished her tea, her eyelids were closing once more.
I won’t let myself fall asleep, not again!Courtney told herself as she blinked and tried to concentrate on the quiz questions. But resistance proved futile.
Moments later, her eyes fluttered closed again as sleep claimed her and pulled her down into the dark.
