The next morning, I’m under strict instructions to do as little as possible. Scott sets me up on the couch with blankets, pillows, snacks and Netflix before heading to work.
‘Remember, you’re supposed to be relaxing today,’ he says as he’s about to head out the door. ‘No baking batches of brownies or rearranging the living room furniture, OK?’
I frown. ‘Are you saying there’s something wrong with the way I’ve got the living room laid out?’
‘No, I’m saying I know what you’re like when you’re supposed to be taking it easy,’ he replies with a grin. ‘But now you come to mention it, I think the TV would look better on the opposite wall.’
I pick up a cushion and throw it at him as he ducks behind the door and dives into the hall.
‘I’ll bring you some food later if you’re nice to me,’ he says. ‘See you later!’
I wait until I hear the door close then blow a loud a raspberry. Surely he can’t expect me to lie here all day, even if I do still have a whole series of Riverdale to watch. Lisa said I had to take it easy, not cease physical activity altogether. I didn’t even have a chance to change out of my pyjamas before Scott set me up in my blanket-and-pillow fort. Surely going for a shower and getting dressed won’t cause any problems?
Just then, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Scott: Sit your arse back down Cleo. At least pretend you’re going to relax today.
How the hell does he do that?! I fire back a quick reply: You’re not the boss of me anymore, remember? I’m an independent woman these days.
His response reaches my phone within seconds: Don’t make me come back there. I’ll wrap my arms around you and watch Netflix with you all day if I have to.
I let out a little gasp. The thought of having his strong arms wrapped around me sends a familiar heat creeping over my skin. I almost want to test him to see if he’ll keep to his word. I type back I dare you and stuff the phone in my dressing gown pocket.
I get up and make for the staircase until I see the front door handle turn. I freeze in place as I wait to see who’ll walk through the door. Is it Scott, come to wrap his arms around me and drag me onto the couch for a day of Netflix bingeing?
‘Hiya love,’ Mum says, casually breezing into the hall. ‘Why aren’t you dressed yet?’
I let out a groan of frustration and hope my excitement at the flirty banter with Scott goes away soon.
‘We’ve talked about you just showing up like this,’ I reply. ‘I’ve told you to phone me first.’
Mum shakes her head. ‘Don’t be ridiculous Cleo, I’m your mum! Now I’ll ask you again: why aren’t you dressed or at work yet? I went over to the bakery to get some morning rolls and Fred said you’d called in sick.’
I sigh and bite my lip. Although my relationship with my mum has vastly improved over the last year, I’ve no idea how to tell her this.
‘I … I had a scare with the baby last night. I started cramping and bleeding so Emma and Scott took me to the hospital. Everything’s fine, I just have to take it easy for a couple of days. I’m going for another scan tomorrow just so they can double check nothing’s wrong, but the midwife said she thinks it’ll be OK.’
Mum lifts a hand to her mouth and her eyes widen. ‘Oh Cleo … you must’ve been absolutely terrified. Come here.’
She draws me into her arms and hugs me tightly to her chest, kissing the top of my head. It’s a little odd at first because she’s never been much of a hugger, but I relax into her embrace and give her an affectionate squeeze.
She pulls back to look at me, worry etched into her face. ‘Why didn’t you phone me, sweetheart? I’d have driven you to the hospital and stayed with you.’
She puts a finger under my chin to bring our eyes level. ‘I didn’t want to worry you,’ I reply. ‘I was terrified I was going to lose the baby and … I panicked, so I called Emma.’
I see some of my mum’s trademark fire leave her eyes. Her shoulder slump and she sighs. I can tell I’ve really hurt her and my heart wrenches.
‘Tea?’ she asks.
‘I’ll make it,’ I say, taking a step towards the kitchen. ‘You go and sit down.’
Mum grabs my arm and blocks my path. ‘No, darling, you go and sit down. You need to rest.’
The look on her face tells me not to argue with her and I slink back to the living room without protest. She returns a few minutes later with two cups of tea, passing me one and keeping the other for herself.
‘How are you feeling?’ she asks. ‘Have the symptoms gone?’
I nod. ‘I’m not bleeding or cramping anymore, so that’s good. My midwife said to give her a ring if it got worse, but I think the worst of it’s over.’
‘You know, Cleo … I know I’ve not always been the best mum.’ She puts up a hand when I open my mouth to protest. ‘I’m overbearing at times, I don’t know when to mind my own business and I haven’t always given you the support you deserve. That’s probably why you called Emma last night when you needed someone instead of me. And that really hurts, but I understand it.’
‘Mum, not calling you wasn’t a bad reflection on you. It doesn’t mean that I don’t trust you to be there for me, or that you’ve been a bad mum. You’ve been brilliant, even if you do drive me up the wall sometimes. I panicked when I saw I was bleeding and didn’t know what to do. I called Emma because I needed to get to the hospital quickly and I know she doesn’t mind breaking the speed limit on the odd occasion.’ I joke. I smile and go over to give her a hug. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I know you would’ve floored it as well. You know how to use that right foot when you want to! I just panicked and called the first person that popped into my head. It just so happened to be Emma.’
Mum pulls me down onto her lap and wraps me in another tight hug. This definitely isn’t standard procedure for her, but I can’t pretend I’m not enjoying it.
‘It should’ve been me,’ she says, pretending to be in a huff with me. ‘I’m going to be the grandma, not her!’
My eyes widen and I burst out laughing. ‘I’m sorry, did you just say grandma?! I thought you wanted the baby to call you Nina?’
‘Yes, well I’ve had a change of heart,’ she replies with a small smile. ‘Maybe I could get used to being called Grandma after all.’
‘I’m going to mark this on the calendar! Today, Mum finally decided she doesn’t want her grandchild to call her Nina.’
‘Very funny. You know I love you, don’t you? Even if I wasn’t your first choice of emergency contact.’
I sigh and chuckle. She’s not going to let me forget this in a hurry. ‘What did I do to deserve you?’
‘Something wonderful, no doubt. Now, get back under that blanket and I’ll make you something to eat. You won’t be lifting a finger today.’
I’m about to point out that I’m absolutely fine and haven’t been confined to bedrest, but she shoots me that infamous look of hers. The one that says don’t mess with me, Cleopatra Jones.
So I do as I’m told, snuggling under the blanket and reaching for the remote to indulge in a Netflix binge. Maybe a duvet day on the couch won’t be so bad after all.
*
Mum spends most of the day treating me as though I’m recovering from a serious illness. She makes her famous chicken soup for me, along with numerous cups of tea, and even goes over to the bakery to buy me some red velvet cake. We snuggle up together on the couch and watch some films on Netflix while she strokes my hair. It’s a lovely, lazy sort of day and I don’t want it to end.
She heads home just as it’s getting dark. I walk her to the door and hug her tightly as she prepares to leave.
‘We should do this again soon,’ I say into her hair. ‘Today’s been amazing.’
‘Well, you’ve still got to get started on baby shopping,’ she says. ‘Why don’t we go to Manchester soon and make a day of it?’
I smile and feel tears well up in my eyes. ‘That would be brilliant!’
A pair of headlights to my left almost blind me until the driver turns the engine off. A moment later, Scott steps out onto the street, carrying two huge pizza boxes. He smiles in my direction as he approaches the cottage. A swarm of butterflies release themselves into my stomach as he draws nearer. Our flirty texting from earlier pops into my mind and suddenly I can’t take my eyes off his arms. The ones that have held me tightly so many times and made me feel safe and wanted …
Calm yourself down, Cleo!
‘Hi Nina,’ he says with his trademark grin. ‘Been taking care of Cleo today then?’
It amuses me how he can be so flirty and almost sexual with me yet he plays the perfect boy-next-door with my mum. I can see her start to blush, although she hides it well.
‘Yes, we’ve been having a mother-daughter bonding day. Are you here to take over?’
He looks at me; his dark eyes are glittering and a playful grin lights up his face. I can tell he’s thinking about our texts from earlier too.
‘Yeah,’ he says. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.’
I’ve got no idea what that means, but if there’s pizza involved and the possibility of him holding me, I’m down for it.
‘Well I’ll leave you two to it,’ Mum says, raising her eyebrows at me in a knowing gesture. She heads off back towards her cottage, leaving Scott and I standing outside in the cold.
‘Let’s get inside,’ he says, his voice slightly huskier than usual. ‘It’s freezing out here.’
We go inside, shutting the door behind us to keep the world out. Instead of heading through to the living room to devour our pizzas, we stand in the hall looking at one another. The only noise I can hear is the sound of our breath getting heavier by the second.
‘So …’ he says, putting the pizza boxes on the floor. ‘… You dare me, do you?’
My head tilts to one side. ‘You’re a bit late to pick this up now, don’t you think?’
He chuckles and shakes his head, putting his hands up in defeat. God, I love those hands. I’ve forgotten just how much until now.
‘Fair enough,’ he says. ‘I’ll back off. Now, what are we watching on Netflix?’
A part of me wants to slap him for being such a smartarse, while the other part wants to pounce on him and kiss him. Our gazes lock and it’s clear what we’ve started here: a war of wills to see who’ll kiss who first.
It’s a game I intend to win.