It was six o’clock when Bea heard the key in the door and the excited chatter spilling into the hallway.
Jacob swung his head round, ‘Aunty Nellie, what are you doing here?’ he squealed, launching himself straight into her arms.
‘Wow, you are getting heavy,’ she smiled, planting a kiss on the top of his head.
‘No wellies today?’
‘I’m inside Aunty Nellie, you’re silly!’
She steadied him back on the carpet and rattled a white paper bag.
His eyes grew wide like flying saucers.
‘Doughnuts!’
‘Not before tea,’ Bea shot a warning glance towards them both.
‘Not before tea,’ Nell repeated, giving the bag to Jacob, ‘Go and put them in the kitchen.’
He saluted, grabbed the bag and ran off, pretending to be an aeroplane, towards the kitchen.
‘I wish I had his energy,’ Nell said, kicking off her shoes and sinking into the chair next to Bea.
‘Busy day?’
‘You could say that!’
Nathan hung up his coat then popped a swift kiss on to his wife’s cheek, ‘How’re you feeling?’ he asked, inhaling the faint smell of sickness.
‘Exhausted and queasy but I’ve managed to clear up all the pots in the kitchen.’
Nathan looked sheepish, ‘Sorry, I fell asleep last night watching the TV and was going to clean up this morning but then …’
‘It’s fine,’ ‘Bea interrupted, grateful that the pair of them had worked in the deli all day. ‘Put the kettle on and make Nell a drink. Did you both cope today?’
Nell nodded, ‘Nancy and Isabel organised Nathan while I baked and we even roped Mum in for a couple of hours. She was riding past on her bike and stopped when she saw the queue filtering out of the door. Before we knew it, she was behind the counter with your pinny on and had a whale of a time!’
Nathan walked back into the room, ‘She was worth her weight in gold today, and you too, Nell,’ he said, handing her a glass of wine, ‘Thought you might be in need of this more than a cuppa,’ he smiled, snapping open the ring pull on the can of beer before placing it on the coffee table.
Nell’s eyes lit up, ‘You know me so well.’
‘Can I get you anything?’ he twisted his head towards Bea.
‘Just a glass of water would be good.’
He nodded before disappearing once more towards the kitchen, ‘What’s for tea?’ he shouted.
The thought of food made Bea’s stomach turn, ‘I haven’t started tea. Every time I stand up I feel dizzy,’ she looked at him warily as he came back in the room and handed her a glass of water.
‘I’m not sure I can even face any food,’ she sighed.
‘You have to try and keep your strength up,’ Nell said, sipping her wine while balancing Jacob on one knee.
‘Mummy’s cooking a baby in her tummy,’ Jacob suddenly announced, jumping from Nell’s knee and kneeling on the floor to drive his cars around the play mat.
‘How did he take it?’ Nell mouthed to Bea.
‘All good.’
‘Will you still have lots of kisses for me, Aunty Nellie, when the baby comes?’ Jacob cocked his head to one side.
‘You’d better believe it!’
He gave her a cheeky smile and carried on playing with his cars.
‘So I’m assuming you aren’t up for a girly night tonight?’ Nell asked Bea.
‘I’m not much use to anyone,’ she smiled, ‘But you are more than welcome to veg out on the sofa with me and watch a film.’
‘And read me a story at bedtime,’ Jacob piped up.
‘Deal!’ Nell winked at him, ‘If that’s okay with you, Nathan?’
‘Of course. Shall I nip out and grab a couple of pizzas? To be honest, after slaving over the ovens all day I don’t feel much like cooking either.’
‘Welcome to my world!’ Bea grinned.
‘Sounds like a perfect plan,’ Nell answered, ‘The diet starts on Monday.’
‘Again!’ Both Nell and Bea bellowed at the same time.
Nathan stood up and grabbed his coat from the hallway. He fished around in his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
‘Any toppings in particular?’
‘Surprise us,’ Bea answered, knowing full well she would barely be able to manage a slice.
‘Oh, I nearly forgot,’ Nathan said, pulling out a crumpled letter from his pocket and handing it to Bea.
‘What’s this?’ she asked, flicking the envelope over.
‘No idea, but it had to be signed for.’
She lowered her gaze to the envelope and tore it open. Her eyes scanned the words on the embellished cream paper, then she gasped. Both Nathen and Nell saw a wide beam spread across her face and her eyes danced with excitement.
‘Come on, don’t leave us in suspense,’ Nathan hovered.
‘I think we need a drum roll,’ she paused, ‘The Melting Pot, my little melting pot, has only been nominated for Delicatessen of the Year!’ she shrieked.
‘No way! That’s bloody brilliant!’ Nathan walked across the room and planted a huge kiss on Bea’s lips. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Fantastic news! It couldn’t happen to a more deserved person, even though I may be a teeny bit biased!’ Nell grinned, pinching her thumb and forefinger together.
‘We need to celebrate when I get back!’ Nathan said.
‘Typical! The strongest drink I can have is blackcurrant squash.’
‘Don’t worry, we’ll make up for it,’ Nell winked at Nathan and Bea rolled her eyes.
As Nathan disappeared out of the door, Bea came over all emotional, ‘Nell, I’m beginning to get a little worried.’
‘About the competition?’ Nell looked at Bea.
‘That and how awful I’m feeling at the minute with the sickness and then when the baby comes along. How am I going to manage?’
‘You are a wonderful mother!’ exclaimed Nell.
‘But how am I going to manage with the deli?’
‘You may need to advertise for help.’
‘What about you? Would you think of taking it over for me while I’m on maternity?’
Nell paused. She’d been thinking about this in the last couple of days. As much as she would help her friend as much as she could, her head was filled with her own dreams of the picture house and she didn’t know how much time she would have to spare.
‘Let’s not worry about that now – one day at a time,’ said Nell.
But Bea was worried. She always thought that Nell would run the deli when she wasn’t there, but now things had changed and she had no idea what to do.