In the end, sick of not hearing, Dawn rang her brother. ‘What do you mean, you had a go at her?’ he said from the other end of the phone.
‘Well, not so much a go, I just pointed out she needed to pull her socks up. Didn’t Rebekah mention it?’
Dawn would have thought the first thing Rebekah would have done would be report to David what she’d said. It used to be like that, the sense the couple needed to be more unified than she ever was with her twin. Like there was competition between them.
‘She hasn’t said anything. If I’m being honest, she’s become a bit withdrawn. She says she’s okay when I ask, but I get the feeling she’s just saying what I want to hear.’
‘Maybe I was a bit harsh. I just didn’t like the fact she was making a joke of me going off with Harry for longer. He’s her responsibility. And yours,’ Dawn added.
‘I know that. She obviously didn’t mean it and things seem to be going a bit better this week. I’m convincing myself she’s showing signs of being more content, as is Harry.’
‘That’s good. Maybe I’ve been overthinking it.’ If it was only a joke with no reality to it, then Dawn’s comments would have been water off a duck’s back. ‘Did you still want me to look after Harry on Wednesday morning?’ She didn’t want to. She felt like she was owed an apology in some ways, but it wasn’t going to help matters if she turned her back on them when they needed her.
‘Of course. I think half the problem with her not communicating is that she’s a walking zombie. The chance to catch up on a few hours’ sleep will do her the world of good. If it’s still okay, that is?’
If Dawn was being honest, it wasn’t, but she figured it was better to grit her teeth through these early months and put her foot down later. ‘Just as long as Rebekah doesn’t make any more jokes about me taking him for longer. It wasn’t my fault she didn’t get any sleep last time.’
When Dawn came off the phone, she had another half hour before Jane would be over for wine and pistachio night. The summer holidays were passing by too quickly and between trips to the forest, some local museums and the zoo, they were already halfway through. In the upcoming week, alongside the regular visits to the zoo, they had a trip to the pet shop to restock on bits for Norman and a space exhibit that would probably be heaving with other schoolchildren.
The thought of the excitement that lay ahead made Dawn ring Joel. Even if learning to draw a meerkat took up one afternoon, it was another activity to amuse her son and she hoped it would prove to be relatively inexpensive.
It didn’t take long for Dawn to find out Joel’s days off were Tuesdays and Thursdays and she arranged to take Archie to Joel’s house for an art lesson. She might even learn something herself given that she’d only describe what she did as doodles compared to his work. They were far more than that really, otherwise she wouldn’t be doing something to try and take that talent further. It was hard to believe that, in just a few weeks, she would be starting her apprenticeship. She just needed to find the faith within herself to believe she might one day consider herself as more than just a doodler.
When Jane arrived, Dawn told her about Rebekah’s remark and how it had made her feel.
‘That’s a bit much, isn’t it?’ Jane agreed. ‘Hasn’t she got anyone else who can help? What about her own mum?’
They were already a quarter of the way through the pistachios and Dawn was currently struggling with a particularly resistant shell. ‘Her mum passed away when she was younger and her parents were divorced with no contact from her dad. Her auntie raised her, but she lives over in Wales and Rebekah left as soon as she was old enough as they didn’t get on very well, so there’s no one on her side of the family to help out. So I’m the only relative they have on hand.’ Her mum was hardly going to fly back from Spain to help out, especially when she wasn’t even planning on visiting until Harry was a bit older. It was a wonder she’d managed with twins, but it was very much a case of feeling she’d done her time. She didn’t appear to want to rekindle any caring instincts now she was a grandparent.
‘That’s sad that Rebekah doesn’t have anyone other than you to turn to.’
‘It is, but I wasn’t much different when it was me. I only really had my brother for help. I had to go out and meet people. I went to the young parents’ group and some of the playschool groups that were available. You have to be a bit proactive as a parent and that’s what I did. As far as I know she’s spent the best part of the first couple of months of his life at home.’
‘Maybe she could do with a bit of help and encouragement to get her on her way? Could David or you go with her to one of the groups? Maybe once she’s over the initial reluctance, she’ll be more willing to get out and about a bit more.’
‘I suppose that might work. She’s just never struck me as the nervous type.’ Rebekah wasn’t backwards in coming forwards; she was a manager for a supermarket, but then it was a different set of circumstances. On one hand, going to that type of group was helpful in terms of advice but, on the other, there was a sense of being judged as a parent. Maybe that was what was putting her off. ‘I’m not sure David would be able to get the time off work. And I’d prefer it if she could go with a friend. I feel too involved as it is.’
‘Is there anyone else she could ask? Maybe someone from that antenatal class you went to?’
Rebekah hadn’t mentioned any contact with the woman she’d taken details from. But what about Caitlin? Maybe she would be happy to befriend Rebekah to help out. ‘I could ask Caitlin. They’re both first-time mums. They might be able to support each other.’
‘That’s a good idea. I’d love to see Caitlin again as well if possible. Maybe we could suggest meeting for a coffee as a way of introducing them? It’s not a baby group, but it’s a start. And once Caitlin and Rebekah are introduced, hopefully they’ll consider doing it again.’
It was better than any of the solutions Dawn had in mind and it wouldn’t be too difficult to arrange. ‘I’ll try and sort a date and time that we can all make.’ If it was going to improve the situation it was worth doing.
‘I forgot to say I met up with Caitlin at the zoo. I wanted to clear up the whole thing about her thinking I was a new mum again.’
‘What did she say?’
‘She was surprised, especially as I had Harry with me at the time. But she’s suggested we still meet up. She called it a sanity check, which seems quite apt, all things considered.’
‘That sounds good. It would be nice to see her again.’
‘I’m sure she’d love to see you as well.’
Wanting a change in subject she told Jane about Archie and the summer project.
‘Wow. So this Joel is going to occupy Archie during the summer holidays and is prepared to give him some art lessons. He sounds like a keeper,’ Jane said.
‘I’m pretty sure that’s his job title.’
‘You know what I mean. Is he hot? Should I be encouraging you to take art lessons with him as well?’
Dawn shook her head. ‘Don’t even start.’ Why did everyone love trying to set her up?
‘Well, it has been a while. You deserve to meet someone after this last year of sacrificing yourself for other people. It’s about time you did something for yourself.’
‘In that case, I’ll go on a spa day. Far less complicated.’
‘You shouldn’t be so closed to the idea,’ Jane said, as she peeled another pistachio.
‘I’m not. I just don’t think this is it.’ Joel was a genuinely nice guy, but he had to be at least ten years older than her and likely to have lots of children and a wife at home. She’d not even thought about him that way.
‘Fair enough. But now Archie is a little older, maybe we should both try online dating again.’ Jane was as single as Dawn and last time they’d both agreed to give it a try it had been pretty disastrous. That was the problem with living in an area where everyone knew everyone else. Jane still wasn’t over her ex, Matt, and she bumped into him far too regularly to get over it any time soon.
‘Maybe.’ It was a polite no. Since having Archie, Dawn’s love life just wasn’t a priority. She’d dated, but never felt strongly enough to want to complicate her life. She was happy enough with it just being her and Archie. It might be a fairly simple equation, but it worked for her. Life was easier without complications.