The following morning, Catherine went to visit Maggie and the new baby. She had popped into Newquay first and bought a small teddy bear, a pretty little outfit and a helium balloon with It’s a Girl! in big pink letters.
Maggie lived in a cliff-top development that overlooked Penhallow Sands. It had been built two years previously and Catherine knew that the houses there weren’t cheap, but Maggie’s husband had a good job and they had saved for years. Maggie had confided this to Catherine when they’d put their village cottage up for sale. She’d said that she didn’t want people to think she had become a snob by moving to the new housing development, but that she and Fred had saved every spare penny ready to move into a bigger property. They needed the room too, with five children.
Catherine had decided to walk to Maggie’s, seeing as how it was a beautiful day and she wanted to enjoy some fresh air. She’d dressed in navy linen trousers, a white vest top and white plimsolls so she’d be comfortable for walking and hopefully not too warm. She’d also pulled her long hair up into a bun high on her head and put sunglasses on to protect her eyes.
She sent Maggie a text to check that it was a good time to visit and Maggie had replied that it was perfect, seeing as how Fred was home too and he could watch their brood for an hour to allow her and Catherine to catch up.
The walk was wonderful and Catherine savoured the sunshine on her face and the breeze that caressed her skin. Being outdoors always gave her immense pleasure and lifted her whenever she felt a bit low or disconnected from things. On her way she passed a few children from school and waved at them and their parents and exchanged pleasantries with other familiar faces from the village. She was looking forward to seeing Maggie and her new baby. It was always delightful to welcome a new life into the world and comforting too, as it was a reminder that life went on and that the next generation would be there to take over the world one day. It was one of the things that Catherine loved about teaching, knowing that she was helping to shape the future by educating children and helping to prepare them for the life ahead.
‘Catherine!’ Maggie opened the door and smiled. ‘So good to see you.’
Catherine accepted her friend’s hug, handed her the gift bag then followed her through the sunny hallway and into the lounge at the rear. She’d been to the house before but every time she came, she was amazed by the incredible view. The floor to ceiling windows at the back of the property overlooked the sea. There were ten properties on the development in total but only five had the panoramic sea view, while two had the view of Penhallow Sands and the three at the other side looked out over the next bay along.
Catherine peered out at the sea, admiring how its surface sparkled in the sunlight as if it was filled with millions of diamonds.
‘If I lived here, I’d just stare out of the window all the time,’ Catherine said.
‘I would too if I didn’t have so many children to deal with,’ Maggie replied laughing. ‘Coffee?’
Catherine turned back to the room.
‘Yes, if that’s what you’re having.’
Maggie rolled her eyes. ‘Mint tea for me. I’m breastfeeding and can’t have too much caffeine at the moment. Not if I want the little one to sleep that is. But you can have coffee.’
They walked through to the large open-plan kitchen-diner with its sleek cream cabinets and marble work surfaces, and Maggie made the tea and coffee while Catherine sat on one of the barstools at the island.
‘You look incredible, Maggie,’ she said as she eyed Maggie’s slim frame in black leggings and a T-shirt.
‘Well, thank you. But the secret is that I’ve tucked my saggy belly into my big knickers.’ Maggie smiled and patted her tummy. ‘However, I didn’t put on too much baby weight because running around after the other four stopped me piling on the pounds this time. I don’t know about eating for two… I was eating for five.’ She flicked her long black hair over her shoulder.
‘Are you getting enough rest?’ Catherine asked, ‘Because I’ll help out if I can.’
Maggie nodded. ‘I’m fine, honestly. Fred is fabulous and my mother-in-law will take the children whenever I ask. I know I joke about her but she’s good as gold really. And number five has turned out to be angelic.’ She paused the added, ‘Thus far, anyway. Could be that once she starts teething, she’ll give us hell.’
Catherine smiled. ‘I doubt it. You’re always so calm that your babies emerge with perfect inner peace.’
‘Ha! I wish.’ Maggie placed two mugs on the island then sat opposite Catherine. She opened the gift bag and unwrapped the teddy bear and outfit. ‘These are lovely, thanks so much.’
‘My pleasure. It’s only something small. I figured you’d have a lot from family and people in the village.’
Maggie nodded. ‘Everyone has been so generous, as always.’
‘Well you’re an important local figure and lots of people want to show their appreciation for what you do.’
Maggie blushed. ‘I only run the library.’
‘And look how important a role that is.’
‘I just hope Felicity will manage while I’m off. I’m wondering now if we should have considered employing another part timer.’
‘You’ve trained her well so I’m sure she’ll be fine.’ Catherine nodded. ‘Although… I might know someone if you are looking for more help. She’s new to the village and has a son who’ll be attending our school.’ The idea that Lucy could help at the library had popped into her head and now it seemed like a really good one. Even if Lucy did get some hours at the salon, she could also do some at the library. It would be a good way for her to earn money and integrate into the community.
‘That is worth considering.’ Maggie chewed her lip. ‘Let me think about it and have a chat with Felicity. She’d be able to train her while I’m off.’
Felicity Browning had moved to Penhallow Sands the previous summer. She was in her mid-fifties, well-read and sharp-tongued, but she had a heart of gold. Maggie had employed Felicity as a library assistant and the two made a good team.
‘I’m just glad Felicity wasn’t there when I went into labour because she’d have had a fit seeing my waters break in the reading corner.’
‘I still can’t believe that happened.’
Maggie’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, it happened. It’s a good job Mark was there to help me.’
Catherine sighed inwardly at his name and realised she was keen to hear more about how he’d saved the day.
‘Was he very helpful then?’
‘Extremely. He said he’d researched it for one of his books.’
‘It?’
‘Oh, sorry, labour and childbirth. He certainly knows plenty about it now.’
‘He mentioned that he writes but I didn’t ask what.’ Catherine chewed her bottom lip. ‘I guess I should have.’
‘You two getting along then?’ Maggie asked as she eyed Catherine over the rim of her mug.
‘He seems like a nice person.’ Catherine was as non-committal as possible but the heat that was crawling up her throat and into her cheeks was sure to give her away. ‘I’ve seen him a few times.’ She raised her own mug to try to hide her face.
‘Oh, he’s nice all right.’ Maggie chuckled. ‘Poor man saw far more of me than he ever expected though. I told him to check if the head was coming, which he wasn’t keen on doing, but it all happened so quickly that I had no choice.’
‘Goodness!’ Catherine gasped. ‘But I guess that when it happens, it can’t be stopped.’
‘Nope. Little Molly was coming then and there and nothing was going to prevent her. Mark was, all things considered, pretty calm even when I asked him to look at my… nether regions.’
They laughed together then.
‘Poor man.’
‘He’s coming to visit this morning too,’ Maggie said. She glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘He’ll be here any minute I should imagine.’
Catherine stiffened. Mark was coming here? Now?
They’d had a good time last night after letting the intruder, now known as Lucy, go. Catherine had gone to the pub with Jamal and Mark and they’d met up with Bradley then filled him in with the whole story from start to finish. Bradley had heard the potted version of the story from Jamal on the phone, but he’d wanted to hear it again, especially after Catherine mentioned that Jamal had gone in with the hairdryer as a weapon. They’d agreed not to broadcast what had happened though, because they didn’t want people thinking badly of Lucy or her little boy, Ben. Lucy had acted desperately in desperate circumstances and she needed support not local condemnation. Catherine just hoped that she’d keep her side of the agreement and not do anything so reckless again.
As for Mark, he’d been amazing. He’d fixed the window as easily as if it was something he did every day. If he hadn’t known that the sash cord was jammed, Catherine and Jamal would definitely have been forced to call the fire brigade or the police and things would have turned out very differently for Lucy. It was a funny old life; no one had an easy time of it and Catherine was a firm believer in helping others as far as was possible. Kindness was so important.
‘Here she is.’ Fred walked into the kitchen holding a small bundle in his arms. Catherine put down her mug and gazed down at the baby as Fred gently put her in Catherine’s arms.
‘Congratulations, Fred.’ Catherine held the baby carefully. ‘She’s so beautiful.’
Molly had a head of black fluffy hair and dark eyelashes that fluttered on her cheeks. She was warm and surprisingly solid in Catherine’s arms and she realised that she had expected such a tiny baby to feel fragile. But this little girl was perfect.
‘While you have her, I’m going to pop to the bathroom,’ Maggie said, easing herself off the stool. ‘Fred, I think I just heard a car pull up.’
Catherine was left alone in the sunny kitchen with the baby. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the peaches- and- cream skin or the little nose that turned up slightly at the end. Emotion rushed through her, making her sigh and blink hard as her vision blurred. She had always insisted, to herself and others, that she was not cut out to be a mother. She had denied ever feeling remotely maternal, except towards the children at the school, and they were already walking and talking by the time they got to her. But when things like this happened and she got to hold a newborn – which she had on a variety of occasions, when local women and old friends had given birth – she was always amazed by the way it made her feel.
As if she was seeing the world anew.
As if she was seeing something she had missed out on.
As if a part of her had some regrets that she had never done this.
It wasn’t that Catherine believed that a woman’s life had to involve finding love, getting married and having a family, because she didn’t, not at all. But holding a baby like this, breathing in that sweet fragrance of baby shampoo, milk and… whatever it was that made babies smell so good… made something in Catherine waver. There was a yearning deep inside her that she usually didn’t notice, that she effectively suppressed, that she would outwardly deny to all who would listen.
But not now, not today, not while this precious infant was in her arms.
She let the feeling envelope her and went with it, allowing her maternal instinct to rise to the surface and make itself known.
‘Catherine?’
She started at her name and looked up, wondering if her feelings had been written all over her face as she gazed so intently at the baby.
‘Hi, Mark.’ She smiled easily, glad to see him.
‘I thought it was you.’ He coughed. ‘What am I on about? I meant that I knew it was you but it’s strange seeing you with a baby.’
Something inside her smarted. Did she look strange holding a little one? Was he trying to say that it didn’t suit her?
‘She looks like an expert, doesn’t she?’ Fred asked as he walked in behind Mark.
‘She does,’ Mark nodded. ‘Like a natural. Perfect.’
Catherine met his eyes and something flashed there. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared but it echoed through her, making her heart beat faster. So she looked right holding a baby then and Mark had approved of seeing her like that.
‘Would you like a drink, Mark?’ Fred asked as he walked through and opened the bifold doors that opened out onto a verandah surrounded by a very high childproof fence.
‘Water would be perfect, thanks.’ Mark rubbed his throat. ‘It’s hot out there now. Lovely in here though with the sea breeze.’
‘We’ve been keeping the doors closed to avoid drafts but the place needs some air.’ Fred got a glass out of a cupboard then ran the tap.
Mark took the stool closest to Catherine. She could smell his fresh lemony cologne, warm skin and a hint of toothpaste. It made her stomach flip.
‘Beautiful,’ Mark said as he leant towards her.
She held her breath, wondering what he was doing, what he meant, then he gently stroked the baby’s cheek.
‘She is, isn’t she?’ Catherine scolded herself. He was talking about the baby – of course he was! ‘Do you want to hold her?’
‘Uh… okay.’
Catherine shuffled forwards on the stool and leant closer to him then gently slid the baby into his arms. As she did so, their knees touched and their heads bumped together.
‘Sorry,’ she said.
‘It’s okay. I have a hard head.’
‘I know.’ She rubbed her head but it hadn’t really hurt, just made her more aware of his close proximity.
He held the baby as if she were made of glass and Catherine found herself touching his arm as she peered at little Molly. She was even tempted to rest her head on his shoulder; it all felt so natural in that moment.
‘She’s incredible, isn’t she?’ Mark asked. ‘A perfect tiny person. I love babies at this age. They have so much potential. She could grow up to be anything at all.’
‘She could.’ Catherine accepted a fresh coffee from Fred, swallowing her delight that Mark had said he loved babies. She shook herself as she sipped her coffee. Had her hormones gone completely haywire today?
‘Well, I hope it’s something successful because I need her to keep me in style when I’m an old man,’ Fred teased. ‘That’s the only reason we had five children, see, Mark.’
‘Sorry?’ Mark looked up.
‘We had five children so they’d look after us when we’re old and grey.’
‘Oh.’ Mark looked shocked.
‘He’s teasing you, Mark,’ Catherine said.
‘Of course I am.’ Fred nodded. ‘I don’t expect them to look after me or Maggie in later life. We’ll be off cruising around the world.’
‘Will we, darling?’ Maggie walked into the kitchen. ‘Sorry about taking so long but there was an incident in the playroom upstairs. Something to do with one of our lovely children threatening to do a poo on another one’s head if the Xbox time wasn’t shared properly.’
‘I’ll go up now.’ Fred kissed Maggie’s forehead then left the kitchen.
‘There you are, my impromptu midwife!’ Maggie smiled at Mark.
‘I’m actually thinking of retraining,’ Mark said. ‘Midwife Mark. What do you think?’
‘You’d be great.’ Maggie got carefully onto a stool. ‘And it would be inspiration for your books.’
‘What do you write?’ Catherine seized the opportunity to ask.
Mark looked down at Molly and smiled.
‘I’ve written thrillers and romantic comedies and I actually write as—’
Just then, Molly let out a squawk and Mark jumped.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
‘No.’ Maggie shook her head. ‘She probably wants feeding again. Honestly, she has a better appetite than any of the others did.’
Mark slid off the stool and carried Molly to her mum.
‘I’ll… uh… give you a minute.’
‘There’s no need. I’m not shy.’ Maggie laughed. ‘This is all perfectly natural.’
‘I know.’ Mark averted his eyes. ‘It’s just… I get a bit… embarrassed.’
He walked over to the open doors, leaving Catherine and Maggie with Molly.
The baby gulped loudly as she drank, which Catherine found surprising.
‘I didn’t realise they were so noisy when feeding.’
‘Molly can be. And wait until you hear her belch!’ Maggie settled herself more comfortably on the stool, holding the baby to her chest with ease.
Catherine sipped her drink, marvelling at how amazing Maggie was with her tiny daughter. If she ever had a baby, Catherine doubted she’d be so relaxed about it. She’d probably have been a nervous wreck. But then, it had never happened to her, so how would she know? Once upon a time, she’d thought that she’d be too nervous to stand in front of a class of twenty-five children, let alone a whole-school assembly, but now it was something she did without even thinking twice about it. Things that could seem daunting often became part of life when you did them every day. So perhaps Catherine would have made a good mum. It was something she couldn’t imagine ever happening though, seeing as how she’d only been in one proper relationship and she knew that she didn’t have the time or energy to maintain another one as well as working and being there for her own mum.
Some things just weren’t meant to be.
But that didn’t stop her daydreaming about having them, or occasionally wishing that things could have been different. Being around Mark also made her feel that these things were possible, that they weren’t just dreams. It was silly really, as she didn’t know him that well, but she did have a gut feeling that there was a connection between them.
Another week of the holidays had flown past and Catherine couldn’t believe that there was only one week left. She’d been swimming and reading and napping and the days had started to melt into one as they often did during the summer. Most mornings, after her swim, she played with Bob and Ginger, made lunch for her and her mother, then read for a few hours before taking a nap. It was bliss to be able to relax.
Most days, admittedly, her thoughts strayed to Mark and what he was doing, but something held her back from contacting him too often. She knew it was fear of being hurt, of liking him too much and of ending up wanting all the things she’d thought for so long that she couldn’t have. It had filled her mind that day after she’d visited Maggie and her new baby, when Mark had been there and she’d felt that intense connection between them. At that point, she’d felt as though things between them could go either way, as if they could continue as they were or dive into something deeper. The latter thought was the one that left her with doubts. Could she really open her heart to love and vulnerability?
This evening, Jamal had arranged a costume fitting for Beach Waves at the haberdasher’s shop, which was a fifteen minutes’ drive from Penhallow Sands. From outside it looked like a clothes shop, but as Catherine pushed the door and entered, the inside made her think of Aladdin’s Cave. Everywhere she looked, she saw rolls of material in all colours of the rainbow and everything in between. There were plastic containers piled up in the corners of the shop and they appeared to be filled with buttons and cotton, and at the rear of the shop, behind the counter, were two headless mannequins wearing tape measures around their necks. The smell of dyed fabrics and coffee permeated the air and her stomach rolled as she approached the counter.
‘Hello, there.’
The voice from behind her made Catherine jump and she turned to meet the grey eyes of a tall, thin woman with a blunt black bob and bright red lips. She was wearing an orange jumpsuit and gold platform boots that looked as though they had come right out of the seventies.
‘Hi. I’m here for a fitting.’
‘And your name is?’ The woman went around the counter and opened an A4 book then flicked to the middle.
‘Catherine Bromley.’
‘Ahhh… You’re with Jamal.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘He’s out the back with Bradley and a very cute guy with a posh accent.’ She grinned at Catherine, revealing fixed braces on her top and bottom teeth.
‘Mark?’
‘Yes, that’s right. Follow me. I’m Libby, by the way.’
Catherine followed Libby to a curtain behind the counter that she slid aside, then they went through a short corridor and into a brightly lit back room. Jamal and Bradley were sitting on a maroon velvet sofa and they looked up as Catherine approached them.
‘I told you to get a lift with us.’ Jamal stood up and hugged Catherine.
‘I know, but I had a few things to do before leaving so it was easier to make my own way here.’ Also easier to leave if she felt the need to escape, as she had no idea what Jamal had in store for her and Mark.
And where was Mark?
‘How’re you getting on?’ Libby asked outside one of the changing rooms. The curtain slid open and Mark stepped out.
‘Hi, Catherine. What do you think?’
She pressed a hand to her mouth then pretended to cough.
‘What… uh…’ She looked at Jamal and he was smiling from ear to ear.
‘Perfect! Exactly as I envisaged them.’
Libby glowed at his praise but Mark shifted uncomfortably.
‘Do you always get your models to wear costumes?’ he asked.
‘It’s part of the fun.’ Jamal walked around Mark.
‘Really?’ Mark asked.
‘Come on then, Catherine,’ Libby showed her to a changing room. ‘Your turn. Your costume is hanging up in there ready and waiting for you.’
Catherine met Mark’s eyes and his widened. If his costume was that… flamboyant, she wondered what hers would be like. She knew that Jamal liked to make a statement at these competitions, but this might be going a bit far, and judging by Mark’s costume, perhaps she should have waxed her bikini line before coming here today. In fact, perhaps she should have waxed everything…
Five minutes later, Catherine and Mark stood side by side under the bright lights, both trying not to fidget, but it was difficult to keep still as the sides of the costume that covered her hips kept riding up and she was worried that her friends and Libby were seeing far more of her than they would want to. Mark appeared to be having a similar problem but with the part that covered his bum.
‘Don’t they look gorgeous?’ Jamal asked Bradley.
‘They really do. With the styles you have planned, these costumes will go down well.’
‘I’ll let you have a chat, then if you want any alterations, let me know.’ Libby said to Jamal. ‘I can drop the costumes at the salon for you tomorrow afternoon, Jamal.’
When Libby had gone, Catherine sighed.
‘Did you have to choose spandex, Jamal? I mean… I can hardly move because this keeps riding up and it seems like poor Mark is suffering with a constant wedgie.’
Mark blushed but nodded. ‘Sorry, I have to pull it out because it feels like it’s crushing my ba… man parts.’
‘Don’t worry about that!’ Jamal laughed. ‘I’ll ask Libby to put in a bit more material to allow for your man parts, Mark, and to cover your rather unruly bikini line, Catherine.’
‘Jamal!’ she scolded. ‘There’s no need for that, is there?’ Heat rose up her neck and raged on her cheeks.
‘Sorry, honey, but you know I can’t help telling the truth.’ He winked at her. ‘Anyway, you can wear some of those thick opaque tights if you like and Mark, don’t worry, we can get that crotch adjusted. Go and get changed the pair of you.’
Catherine and Mark shuffled into their respective changing rooms and Catherine leant her head against the cool surface of the mirror. It seemed that she was to be spared no humiliation in front of Mark and that he now knew more about her personal grooming than she was comfortable with. But then, he was in a similar boat really, as his costume hadn’t left much to the imagination.
Or rather, it had left Catherine with plenty to entertain her imagination while she got changed. She giggled, surprised by her own wicked humour. Laughing at awkward times was important, and she did suffer from a nervous giggle, so from now on, she would try to take herself less seriously. Hopefully, it would make the whole experience of Beach Waves less painful.
But for now, she had more pressing concerns to deal with.
‘Jamal?’
‘Yes?’
‘Can you come in here a minute please?’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve got the costume stuck on my head and I can’t find the way out.’
‘Oh, Catherine,’ he sighed as he opened the curtain. ‘What am I going to do with you?’
And as he tried to help her to get the spandex over her head, the pair of them huffed and puffed and giggled and swore. Catherine had a feeling that there were plenty more good times ahead, especially if Mark, Jamal and Bradley were involved in them. If Mark decided to stay in Penhallow Sands long term, that was.
She hoped with every fibre of her being that he would because life was far more interesting and exciting when he was around.