NYA WOKE UP, disorientated and confused.
She was in bed, almost fully clothed—just her shoes missing—but in a room she didn’t recognise.
And...
She sat up abruptly.
Where was Hope?
She scrambled to get up, her brain whirring, trying to figure out how she’d slept through the night feedings.
Then it came to her, as she found her shoes neatly placed beside the bed and saw her handbag on the dresser.
She was at Theo’s house.
‘Oh, Lordy,’ she groaned to herself, as she ran her fingers through her hair the best she could, trying to remember what, exactly, had happened the night before.
Theo had insisted on driving her and Hope to his house, stopping on the way to pick up some of The Dolphin Inn’s famous fish sandwiches for dinner. Once here, they’d eaten first, and then set about decorating.
Theo had called a halt when Hope had started grizzling for her supper, but when Nya had said, ‘I’ll get her bottle ready,’ Theo had objected.
‘Just sit with her, and I’ll get it.’ He’d given her a cheeky smile, adding, ‘I know where everything is.’
‘Throwing my words back at me, are you?’ she’d asked, putting her nose in the air, even as she’d settled into a corner of his couch, cradling Hope.
‘Whenever I get the chance,’ he’d called back, from the kitchen.
She’d handed Hope over to him some time thereafter, and recalled doing a teenager-like swoon over just how precious Theo always looked feeding the infant, and then...
Nothing.
Obviously she must have fallen asleep, and he’d carried her to bed.
That thought made her stop with her hand on the doorknob, heat working its way through her torso and up into her face.
Why was it that she regretted not remembering that bit of the evening?
She nipped out into the hallway and could hear Theo’s voice in the distance—that sweet, crooning tone he used with Hope—before she went into the bathroom to wash her face.
Ridiculous to feel so nervous, she thought, staring at her reflection for a long moment. It wasn’t as though they’d slept together.
Taking a deep breath, berating herself a bit for being silly, she opened the bathroom door and made her way into the living room. Stepping quietly into the doorway, she paused, her heart melting at the sight of Hope lying on a play mat on the floor. Theo was sitting cross-legged beside her, singing softly along with the tune playing on the mobile above her head.
Maybe she made a sound, or he’d been listening for her, but Theo looked up before Nya had a chance to get her emotions under control, and he froze.
Was it her imagination, or did his gaze turn hot for an instant, before it was veiled, and he smiled?
‘Good morning.’ His voice sounded normal, and he glanced down at Hope, giving Nya a chance to catch an elusive breath. ‘I hope we didn’t wake you.’
‘You definitely didn’t,’ she said tartly. ‘Why’d you let me sleep like that, and make you get up with Hope in the night?’
He shrugged slightly, one finger caught securely in Hope’s little fist, his thumb stroking over the back of the infant’s hand.
‘You were exhausted. There’s tea on the hob, or coffee in the cupboard, if you prefer.’
Nya huffed, but his concern for her warmed her straight through, nonetheless.
‘At least let me make breakfast.’
Theo laughed, shaking his head. ‘If you can find anything in there worth cooking. I told you, I’m rubbish in the kitchen. Why don’t you let me take you out for a meal?’
Nya was already looking through the cupboards, and, despite his protestations, had a menu in mind. Clearly when Femi had moved out, she’d left all or most of the tinned goods behind, and there was a loaf of bread in the box, which she determined wasn’t too old.
‘No need. Breakfast will be ready in a jiff.’
‘You must be a miracle worker,’ Theo said, his amusement clear.
‘I can teach you to cook, if you like,’ she replied absently. Then, realising what she’d offered, and how it might sound, added, ‘You can teach old dogs new tricks.’
‘Did you hear what she said to me, Hope? She called me old.’
And having reset the casual, teasing tone she felt most comfortable with around him, Nya set about making them a meal.
Clearly, with no one to corral his paperwork, Theo had spread it out over the dining table.
‘Do you mind if I move some of these things so we can sit here?’ she asked, tapping a pile.
‘Not at all. There are place mats in the drawer behind you, if you want them.’
Nya shifted a couple of piles of paperwork, but when she picked the third one up, a couple of sheets fell to the floor. Bending, she picked them up and glanced at them, then went still as she realised what they were.
Property sales brochures. One for a house for sale in Luton, another in Chelmsford.
She remembered Theo had spoken about feeling as though he didn’t fit in any more, but she hadn’t really taken it seriously. In her mind Theo and Carey Cove were synonymous.
Was he really thinking of moving away? Giving up working at both the cottage hospital and St Isolde’s too?
She wanted to ask, but the words stuck in her throat. Looking across at him, she allowed herself the luxury of taking him in, fully. Of acknowledging how handsome he was, how much he meant to her, and just how desperately she didn’t want him to leave.
Yet hadn’t she made the same type of big change when she left Andover and came to Carey Cove? It was impossible not to understand why he might feel the need to go somewhere new, where the past wouldn’t keep rearing its head, keeping him in a state of perpetual mourning.
So, instead of bringing it up, she carefully put the brochures back under some other papers and tried to pretend she hadn’t seen them.
But although she tried to act normally, the ache around her heart wouldn’t go away.
‘What are your plans for the day?’ Theo asked as they were finishing up breakfast. ‘I thought we could go for a drive along the coast, if you’d like.’
Torn, she stared down at her plate for a moment, pretending interest in her last bite of salmon and toast. One part of her wanted to spend as much time with Theo and Hope as possible, knowing this lovely idyll would soon end, but the other part—the wounded heart of her—needed some time alone.
‘Although Kiara has been doing so well since she came, I try to stay close to home when she’s on call at the hospital, in case she needs me.’ That much was true, although Kiara knew she could also call on Sophie, or any of the others if necessary. ‘Besides, I have all my usual chores to get done too.’
‘Okay,’ he said easily, as though it made no difference to him. ‘I’ll drop you at the clinic to get your car, and probably just come back here with Hope, then.’
No offer to stay and hang about at her cottage, which was how they’d spent the previous Sunday, which, she told herself stoutly, was fine by her. Hadn’t she just decided she needed time to get her head around the thought of Theo leaving?
Before she could answer, his phone rang, and he got up to answer it.
From his end of the conversation, she realised he was needed at the hospital, so she quickly gathered up their breakfast things and took them into the kitchen to wash up.
‘That was Kiara,’ he said, after he hung up. ‘Roman’s on his way to pick up Molly Chalmers from Scilly. Her husband called to say he was worried about her, and Kiara dispatched the helicopter right away.’
Familiar with Molly, who had type one diabetes, Nya nodded in agreement. ‘That was a good call.’
Theo was across the room when he stopped, ‘What about Hope?’
‘Don’t worry,’ Nya told him. ‘I’ll keep her as long as you need.’
He thanked her and rushed off to change. Nya went to where Hope was sleeping in her travel cot, and gently touched her hair, glad not to be going home alone.
Wondering how she was going to manage when they were both gone.
Then she set about collecting Hope’s things, and making sure they were ready when Theo was.
Silly as it might be, she felt slightly surreptitious as she got out of his car at the clinic and transferred Hope into hers for the short drive home. It took everything she had not to look around to see if anyone had noticed the transfer, or that she was wearing the same clothing as the day before.
She’d heard about the ‘walk of shame’ but never thought she, at her age, would ever know what it felt like.
Her mother came by, bringing a tiny multicoloured hat she’d knitted for Hope, using a variation of the floral aso oke pattern she’d developed.
‘Mum, it’s gorgeous!’ The rich pinks, purples, and yellow glowed like jewels.
‘Hope needs something lovely, and I’m guessing you’ve been too busy to make her anything.’
‘Not true,’ Nya said, with feigned annoyance. ‘I put your Christmas gift aside to make her a layette set. It’s almost finished.’
‘Good,’ her mother promptly replied. ‘Then you’ll have time to get mine done before the day.’ She sat on the couch and pulled a mask out of her pocket. After putting it on, she held out her arms for the baby.
‘She’s been a bit grizzly this morning,’ Nya warned as she placed Hope in her mother’s arms. ‘Her nose is still stuffy, but it hasn’t got any worse.’
‘I’m sure we will be just fine,’ Mum replied, with her usual assurance. ‘Now, what’s happening between you and Theo? I heard you spent the night at his house.’
‘Mum.’ She felt too raw to talk about it, and tried to infuse a Stop it now tone into her voice. ‘All that happened was that I fell asleep on his couch.’
But her mother’s raised eyebrows spoke of scepticism. ‘I’m not suggesting your...involvement with Theodore is a bad thing,’ Mum replied at her autocratic best. ‘It’s time you enjoyed some companionship. But I just thought I should warn you that he may still be on the rebound after his divorce.’ When Nya started to reply, her mother’s raised hand forestalled her. ‘I just don’t want to see you hurt, Nya.’
And, in the air between them, she heard the word ‘again’, although her mother hadn’t said it.
Later that morning, after Mum had left, Theo called to say he was transferring Molly to St Isolde’s by ambulance.
‘I don’t like how uncontrollable her diabetes has become,’ he told Nya. ‘And I’ve given the doctors there my opinion that they should do a caesarean as soon as possible.’
Surprised, Nya asked, ‘You’re not going with her?’
‘No.’ There was a bit of terseness in his tone, but then it softened. ‘My locum is on hand, and I’ll leave it to him. As soon as I’m squared away here, I’ll come and get Hope.’
‘Okay, but just a warning, she’s been fussy all morning.’
‘She is all right?’
‘I think so,’ Nya replied. ‘No fever, and I haven’t had to suction. Sometimes babies just want a bit more cuddling than usual.’
‘She’ll certainly get all she needs from me,’ he said, in that fond, loving tone he so often used when talking about Hope. Then she heard him blow out a breath, and say, ‘Hey, if you’re not too busy, can we still go for that drive along the coast? I feel like getting out for a bit, and I’d love the company.’
Silly heart, to do that little stutter step, and Nya knew she should refuse, but in his voice she heard his continued annoyance at being sidelined at St Isolde’s, even if it were for his own good.
And she found herself saying, ‘Sure. I’ll dress Hope warmly, since it looks like rain.’
The truth was, Theo didn’t want to go home without Nya, even with Hope.
The night before, when he’d looked up and realised she’d fallen asleep curled up on his couch, the wave of need that swept him had rocked him back on his heels.
With her face softened with sleep, those all too knowing eyes veiled, she’d looked as soft and tender as the infant in his arms. Yet, there was no ignoring the lush curves and generous mouth that he longed to explore again.
He’d been reluctant to pick her up and carry her to bed, because he just knew that holding her that way would be torment. And it had been—sweet torment, and almost overwhelming temptation.
Nya had hardly stirred, just murmured under her breath as he’d picked her up, and snuggled her face into his neck, causing a cascade of gooseflesh over his skin.
Oh, how he’d wanted her just then.
And when he’d put her on the bed in the guest room, he’d stood looking down at her for a long moment, trying to work through the complex emotions battering him.
There’d been no answers forthcoming, and he’d swiftly removed her shoes, then left the room before he gave in to the desire to simply lie down beside her and pull her close.
Going back into the living room, he’d pulled up some of the house listings he’d saved on his computer and begun going through them again. He’d been playing with the idea of leaving Carey Cove for months, and now he knew doing so would be the right thing.
If being with Nya and Hope for one week could unsettle him this way, make him care so much, what would happen to him when it was all over?
When Carey Cove once more went from being a homey haven to a place of tormented memories?
Yet, there was a part of him that was determined to enjoy this found family as long as he could. And perhaps, in spending time with Nya, he would figure out that it wasn’t the big emotional deal he was making it out to be.
He went to pick them up and couldn’t help laughing in appreciation when he saw Hope’s jaunty new hat.
‘Iona’s been hard at work, I see,’ he said, and got a grin from Nya.
‘Oh, you know her so well.’
He drove down towards Land’s End, planning to circle around and back to Penzance for an early tea.
There was something a bit different in Nya’s mood, but it didn’t make the day less enjoyable. In fact, she seemed more relaxed than she’d been that morning.
Which was surprising, once she said, ‘I have to warn you: it’s already being spread around the village that I spent the night at yours last night.’
Thankful that they’d stopped for dinner and he wasn’t driving, he watched her face as he asked, ‘How did you hear that?’
She snorted. ‘Mum. When she came by this morning.’
‘What do you want to do about this?’
Nya shrugged. ‘Nothing. If anyone asks me, I’ll tell the truth—that I fell asleep on your couch. It’s not that big a deal, and no one’s business, to boot.’
‘It looks like, between us, Hope and I are ruining your stellar reputation,’ he joked, only to have her turn those dark, somehow shadowed eyes his way.
And although she was smiling, he didn’t believe her light-hearted tone when she replied, ‘It’s about time, don’t you think? After all, all work and no play make for a dull life, right? And who wants to be known as boring?’
What on earth could he say to that?
‘Anyone who calls you dull is an idiot,’ he said, shaking his head.
She wrinkled her nose, rocking Hope back and forth against her bosom. ‘I know myself, Theo. I work, knit, do a little gardening, volunteer occasionally. I haven’t travelled much, or done anything exciting, and have no interest in going outside my comfort zone, really. If that’s not the definition of boring, I don’t know what is.’
It didn’t sound boring to him, and he said so.
‘We live in a time when everything is online and visible—faraway places, exciting adventures, every material thing you can imagine. So many people get sucked into wanting more and more, often at the cost of their peace of mind.’
He stopped, wondering if somewhere along the line his ex-wife hadn’t got sucked into that very trap. Then he mentally shrugged the thought away. Femi was no longer any of his concern.
‘Contentment is difficult for most people to find,’ he went on, smiling across at Nya, who had gone still, and was watching him with an intensity that held his gaze on hers. ‘You’ve somehow found that—found a life that I think you’ve been happy living. There’s nothing truly boring about that, is there?’
Her eyelids drooped, so he could no longer see the expression in her eyes, and just then the waiter came to ask if there was anything else they needed, and they somehow never resumed the conversation.
Leaving Theo wondering if she agreed with his assessment or not.