Page 45 of Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings

‘I don’t think I want to go back either. Just yet,’ I whispered.

I only had three days off work. I didn’t really want to go back to the hideous Rosie and Damien love nest I’d built the flat up to be. I wanted to stay “runned away” and avoid leaving here as long as possible.

Also, I realized with a jolt, I wanted to spend more time with Jay. And more time in Padcock.

But I had a job.

‘Well?’ he asked.

‘I’d do it. If I could.’

‘I’m really glad to hear that.’ We leaned in a little closer, my heart fluttering like mad. I know exactly what would have happened . . . had Jay’s phone not beeped suddenly with a text message.

I heard him swear under his breath, and sit back to read it. ‘Bloody Rosie,’ he said, looking at the phone, then back at me. ‘Asking me if there’s any news from Cerys before she goes to bed. She’ll have been on the list to contact. Sam would tell her if there was anything to tell.’

And just like that, we were catapulted back to earth. And I realized that, however long I stayed down here, and however long I spent in Jay’s company, there’d never really be any escape from Rosie, so long as she and Jay were blood relations.

Oh well. At least I knew I could spend a couple more days down here at the tea room, even if it could never be a proper long-term escape plan from being a third wheel in my very own home.

Chapter Sixteen

The next day, we woke up to the wonderful news that Cerys and Sam had had a little baby daughter.

Jay had received a text in the early hours, and banged at my door at 8 a.m. to let me know. I know he’d stayed in the room next to mine, and even though I didn’t hear a peep from there all night, it was still rather comforting to know he was here if I needed anything. Not that there was anything particularly sinister at the Spatchcock — quite the contrary. It still had that lovely friendly feel to it, even with all the lights out and the building silent. In fact, I looked out of my window for a little while after I went to my room, churning over the events of the day, untangling it all in my mind. But instead of feeling stressed and upset and disbelieving, as I had done earlier in the day, I felt a calming peace, just gazing at the darkened countryside, seeing the diamond-studded sky above us, noticing the odd light glimmering as cars drove on the country roads around the village, at distances impossible to judge in the velvety night . . .

So yes, after the star-gazing and the deep, sleepy peace that swamped me, I slept like a log. But I was still grateful Jay was there.

I was not so grateful when I heard the 8 a.m. banging — I may be an early-bird at home, but I’d had a very late night here. I sprung awake, for a split second thinking it was Rosie or even Damien before my brain thankfully reset. I was grateful that it was Jay and not one of those two.

I stumbled over to the door and opened it a crack, peering bleary-eyed at Jay. He looked disgustingly fresh and cheerful, a definite sparkle in his eye.

‘It’s a girl!’ he proclaimed excitedly.

Again, it took a moment to process. ‘What’s a girl?’ I asked. Then: ‘Oh! The baby. Cerys and Sam?’ I brightened at the news, even though I’m not usually au fait with babies.

‘Yes!’ Jay beamed at me, looking almost like one of Mrs Pomeroy’s hounds bringing me a treat (or a rosette at the Fayre) and wanting a pat on the head for doing it.

‘And?’ I asked.

‘And what?’ Jay blinked, confused.

‘And what are the details? Name? Weight? Time of birth?’

‘Oh!’ Jay consulted his phone. Typical man.

‘A woman would have known all that off by heart,’ I told him sternly.

‘Yeah, yeah,’ he said, still scrolling. ‘Here we go. 4.25 a.m. Nine pounds seven ounces.’ He looked at me, pulling a face uncomprehendingly as I sucked my breath in, thinking that was quite a large baby. ‘Elin Cariad. That’s E-L-I-N.’ He looked up at me again. ‘Is it Welsh?’

‘Crumbs, Jay,’ I said, pulling the door further open. ‘Yes. Yes it is.’ Then I felt my mouth turn upwards into a smile. ‘That’s a sweet name.’

‘They sent a picture too.’

‘What? Let me see!’ I almost grabbed the phone from him, but he had already turned it so I could look at the screen. It was filled with a red-faced, squalling baby — but who was I to judge. ‘Cute,’ I said.

‘He reckons they’ll be home later today, all being well. I guess everybody will know by now. Ummmm.’ Jay paused. ‘I don’t suppose I can ask you to give me a hand again tonight, could I? It could be busy in the Spatchcock.’

I folded my arms and stared up. ‘You know it’s going to be busy. Because if they are back, everyone will be wanting to come in. I also suspect that Sam will be taking a week or two’s paternity leave. In an ideal world, where I didn’t have to go back to my day job on Tuesday, would that mean you’d want me behind the bar every night of his leave? And, in my very limited time in Padcock, I’m also supposed to be calling in on Polly, aren’t I? To see how she’s getting on. I suddenly feel,’ I sniffed self-importantly, ‘that there is a certain danger that this weekend will become more of a busman’s holiday for me, than an escape to the country.’