“I’m sure. I’d enjoy the company after a day of writing, and there’s too much pasta in here for just one person.” He glanced at her tote bag. “Did you have other errands to run before you go home?”
“Nope, I’m all finished. Actually, I only planned on window shopping, but ended up lured into the baby shop at the bottom of the high street to buy the most gorgeous little baby outfit you could imagine.”
“Let’s see it.”
As they began walking, Courtney reached into her tote bag and pulled out a tiny onesie in a soft primrose yellow and embellished with sweet embroidered ducks. Travis saw how Courtney’s face lit up as she turned the tiny outfit this way and that so he could admire it.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “It must be fun buying lots of nice things for when your baby arrives.”
“Itisfun. Now that I’m living with my cousin, I have space at last for all the things I’ll need, and Rosie and her family have been incredibly generous and have helped with the purchases. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank them.” She returned the little onesie to the tote bag. “It was hard to behave myself in the baby shop and not buy a tonne of gorgeous little outfits, but I reminded myself that babies grow fast and anything I buy won’t last long before it’s too small for her. But this little duck onesie”—she gestured with the shopping bag—“I just had to have it.”
Travis smiled, seeing once again the light that shone in her eyes when she talked about her baby. It was a thing of beauty, to see her expression transformed by love.
“So,” Courtney said, “how’s your writing been going since we saw each other a few days ago?”
“It’s going great. Lots of progress, today especially. Hence the lazy dinner option.”
She laughed at that, and they fell into easy conversation as they walked back to Foxglove Street. Once back at the house, Travis set pans on the hob to boil the pasta and warm the tomato sauce, while Courtney set the table, following his directions around the kitchen to find the cutlery drawer and the cupboards where the plates and glasses were kept.
While Travis stirred the pasta and Courtney set out the carton of marinated peppers and the bread rolls, arranging them on the kitchen table and adding the butter dish from the fridge while chattering away, he couldn’t help but think about howrightit felt, to be here with her, preparing a meal together as they talked about everything and nothing.
How could it feel right when heknewit was foolish to have brought her here, yet again?
“Dinner’s ready,” he said on a silent sigh as he drained the pasta and served the meal.
Then, unable to help himself because he was obviously a complete idiot, he pulled out a chair for Courtney, prompting a smile at the gesture that just about made his entire day.
“Thank you kindly, sir,” she said with a fun affectation in her voice as she angled herself into the chair. “Gosh, I can just about reach the table over my bump. If I get any bigger, I’ll have to be fed through a straw because I can’t see my plate anymore.”
The image made him laugh. “Are you comfortable enough in that chair? We can use trays and sit on the sofa if you prefer?”
“This is fine, and a tray on my lap is probably a bad idea at this juncture. I can only imagine the mess I’d make, trying to lean over my bump to get to my food while wedged into the soft sofa cushions. Ugh.”
She gave him another grin and picked up her cutlery before twirling spaghetti with her fork and spoon. Sampling the food, she wiggled her eyebrows. “This is delicious.”
“Agreed,” he replied, tucking into his own plate. The pasta ribbons were soft and silky, the pasta sauce rich and savoury, and the combination was a million times better than anything he could have rustled up by himself. “I’m not much of a cook, and when I’m in the middle of my busiest writing days, I tend to fall back on sandwiches and frozen pizzas for dinner. This,” he added, nodding to his plate, “is a nice change.”
“Thanks for inviting me round for dinner. My cousin is working this evening and then meeting her new boyfriend straight after to go to the cinema for a late screening of some film they’ve been keen to see, so I would’ve been on my own tonight. It’s nice to have some company instead.”
“You mentioned you’ve spent time with your aunt and uncle since you came here to Hamblehurst. I’m sure they would’ve been happy to see you tonight, too, if you didn’t want to be by yourself.”
She gave an easy shrug. “I popped round to their house for lunch yesterday, so I don’t like to impose two days in a row. They’re already doing so much for me and being so kind. I’d hate for them to think I’m taking advantage, turning up day after day and expecting to be fed.”
“I’m sure that’s the last thing they’d think. From what you’ve told me, they sound like good people.”
Her smile returned. “They aresuchgood people. I don’t know where I’d be without them. Considering they didn’t even know I existed until a few weeks ago, the way they’ve welcomed me into the family… well, what can I say? It’s amazing, really. Things would feel a lot darker right now without the Austins in my life. Especially considering…” She waved a hand and gave him an apologetic look. “Never mind.”
“Especially considering what? Tell me what you were about to say.”
“It’s just another instalment in my endless sob story. You don’t want to hear about it.”
“First, it’s not a sob story—it’s yourlife. Second, Idowant to hear about it. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She considered his expression, her eyes scouring his face as if checking to be sure he meant what he’d said.
“A couple of days ago, I spoke with the housing officer at the local council who’s dealing with my case. She said it’s unlikely they can find me a flat of my own for at least two or three months, maybe longer. Apparently, the fact that I’m staying with relatives who’ve had the decency to give me a roof over my head means I’m not considered an urgent priority, even although I’m so close to having a baby. I’d have to actually be technically living on the streets before my case can be re-prioritised.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Travis considered what she’d told him. “But you’re okay staying with your cousin, aren’t you?”
