Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
E arly the following evening, Nina heard the doorbell ring and sighed. It was as if her mother had a constant stream of guests. She assumed that during her month of isolation, her mother had put her friends off visiting and now there was someone visiting every day. She knew she couldn’t remain there for much longer. She was someone who appreciated privacy at home and was used to living in the remote Shepton Mallet house, where no one ever just popped by for a cup of tea. Her mother had also been ordering so many things for the baby. Whilst she was grateful, she’d wanted to choose the items herself. She knew that she needed to focus on finding a place soon, before she was swallowed up in her mother’s excitement.
A waft of chicken biryani floated up the stairs as she left the room. As she stood at the top, her mother was at the bottom, and she put her hands to her cheeks.
“You look beautiful. So beautiful.”
Nina smiled. “I’ve inherited my looks from you Ma.” She got to the bottom of the stairs and hugged her mum who appeared stiff. Nina stepped back. “Are you okay?”
“Um, yes, we have a guest for dinner.”
“Again?” Nina asked nervously.
“Debjani, a friend of the family. Come along we don’t want to keep her waiting.”
She followed her mother into the living room.
“This is Debjani.” Sumitra nodded at her. “She’s over from India to visit her son, who’s a doctor at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
“Hello Debjani,” Nina said. “You’re in for a treat, my mother loves to cook up a storm!”
Sumitra waved her hand at her. “Let’s go to the dining room. Nina’s father is at a business meeting this evening.”
“How long are you in England for?” Nina asked.
“A few weeks. My son Rohan has been working very hard. I am very proud of him and he gets very lonely. So, I am spending some time with him. He’s in the respiratory department and has saved many lives. He’s also doing a research paper on oxygen therapy.” She thrust her hand into her bag. “Here he is.”
Nina looked at the picture of Rohan in his graduation robes, realising it must be an outdated photograph.
“What a handsome man,” Sumitra said. “Isn’t he dear?”
“Um. Yes,” Nina said. “And how has he found the UK? He must miss his family in Mumbai. India is such a beautiful country, and a lot warmer.”
“He’s settled in well.” She lowered her voice. “Rohan is shy, he’s spent most of his time on his studies and he’ll soon be a consultant.”
“Let’s eat,” Sumitra said quickly.
Sumitra was serving up Nina’s favourite Indian dish. The rest of the meal consisted of conversation between Sumitra and Debjani and they often diverted into snatches of Hindi. Nina imagined they were speaking of her.
After dessert, they drank coffee and finally their guest prepared to leave.
“I hope to see you again,” Debjani said with a grin.
Nina got the impression Debjani wanted her to meet her son, but she would probably change her mind if she knew she was carrying another man’s child. Once she’d left and climbed into a taxi, Nina turned to her mother.
“I’m going out this evening.” She needed to get away for a while and knew the darts team practised on a Monday.
“Where to?”
“The Eversley Arms.”
“To the pub on your own in your condition?”
“I’m pregnant, not sick!”
The front door opened.
“What’s the raised voices for?” her father asked as he came through the door.
“She’s driving all the way to Eversley village at this time of the day.”
“I’ll give you a lift, angel.”
“So you can keep an eye on me?”
“Look, humour us. I can pop in and see David and Florrie. I want to ask them about a motorhome.” He looked at Sumitra. “We might go travelling when I retire.”
“Ma in a caravan?” Nina laughed and as she did so, she softened. “Okay, you can drive me. But I’ll get a taxi back.”
“Nonsense, I’ll come into The Eversley Arms and wait.”
Nina realised it was not worth protesting. She freshened up and left with her father fifteen minutes later. She was even more determined to find a place of her own.
The pub was quieter than it had been the day before, and only one couple sat outside on a bench, with it being a Monday. When she walked in, she found it was a lot busier in the far corner where the dart board was situated with the team congregated around it.
“That’s right,” Warren said to Carl. “Much better.”
Nina smiled, instantly feeling happier at the sight of him.
“Hi Nina,” Grace said as she approached. “Jaz said you messaged to say you were coming in. I’m so pleased, we’ve all been thinking of you.”
Helen Kelly came over as well. “It’s great to see you. Are you joining the team?”
Nina laughed. “No! And thanks for the flowers you sent. I went over to the farmers’ market on Saturday and was here yesterday for lunch. I’m feeling a lot better.”
“Nina,” Jaz called out and then approached her, reached up and gave her a hug. “You look amazing!”
“Grace,” Warren called out. Then he stopped as he caught Nina’s gaze.
Her heart skipped a beat and she gave him a small wave.
Grace turned to her. “Warren seems to think I’m going to make a great darts player and wants me on the team.”
“And I agree,” Jaz said. “Get over there.”
Jaz lifted the bar hatch and went behind it. “I take it you want your usual sparkling water?” she asked.
“Can you put some orange juice into it?” Nina asked smiling. “I need to get my vitamin C up, which apparently will help with the absorption of iron. Dr Gupta has been even more annoying than Ethan was about supplements.” She smiled, pleased she could mention his name without an emotional reaction.
“Are you okay?” Jaz asked.
“Yes, that’s the first time I’ve said his name aloud without feeling ill.”
“I feel for you, I do. If Julian left me, I’d be done for.”
“I’ve come to terms with everything. It was intense, the way it had happened with all of those emotions tumbling out at once. But I feel lighter, much lighter. In fact, lighter than I have for years.”
“You seem bright, and as I said, you look amazing.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” she said with a laugh. “Ma and Dr Gupta were trying to get me to continue with therapy, but I said I’d see how I go. They said it was burnout from the work I’ve done over the years, but that’s nonsense. I thrive on work.”
“Me too, hun! I feel worse when I’m not working.”
“You could be right. I probably need a distraction to keep me busy. I’m not sure what the new me wants to do but I’m taking each day as it comes. My most pressing issue is needing to find a place to live as Ma has a constant stream of visitors. There’s no way I want to be parading my baby in front of them every single day. I’ve made it quite clear I’m leaving, but I don’t think Ma’s listening.”
Jaz handed Nina the drinks then came out from behind the bar. “Let’s sit this end.”
Nina sat down at a table with Jaz. “I’m going to release some of my savings and visit the letting agent tomorrow, I’ve enough for a year’s rent. But without an income, I’ll need a guarantor. Would you mind? I wouldn’t put you in the position of having to pay my rent, but I don’t want to ask my parents. I’m feeling too much like the dependant adult child at the moment.”
“It’s simpler for you to be over here, there’s no need to be in Wells now with the shop closed.”
“You know someone who’s letting a place out? Don’t tell me it’s Holly’s caravan. I’m not the camping type.”
Jaz laughed. “No, that’s her office now and she uses it for meetings. You can live here. Upstairs. For free. While you find somewhere more suitable for you and the baby. Rob will eventually move in here if he works out as manager, but I’m not ready to put my trust in him just yet. He’s a lot to prove and he’s only been sober for just over a month, although he does drink here on his night off. He’s not addicted to the stuff, just really annoying when he’s had a few.”
“Are you sure? I’d pay you something.”
“No. Just focus on finding somewhere to live. You’re my friend and we all want to support you in any way we can.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She felt the usual emotion brimming to the top again.
“You just need to say yes.” Jaz clinked her glass of cider with Nina’s orange and water mix. “Now come over with me, I need to bash that team into shape.”
Nina smiled and followed Jaz over to the dart board. Right then the pub felt a warm place and somewhere she could stay. She knew there were separate stairs to the flat above, so she would not have to go through the bar if she was not feeling sociable.