Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
W arren admired the huge cottage pie Holly had made. It was six weeks since the incident with Belle. He still felt gutted about Nina cooling it off. Not that their friendship had ever heated up, but it had certainly been warming. After chatting to Holly about it, he understood that Nina was not in the right place. But he certainly was going to wait. It was only a matter of weeks now until her due date. However long it took, he decided not to give up hope. They’d seen each other in The Eversley Arms, but never one on one.
“That’s my favourite,” Noah said, gesturing at the pie.
“Mine too,” Belle said. The teenager had been in much better spirits, especially since she received her exam results, as she had exceeded her predicted grades. He’d also had good news and been awarded his doctorate.
“How’s your annex coming along?” Val asked Jaz.
Jaz sighed. “It’s nearly finished. We’ve split it off completely from the house with a fence now, especially as Mum and Dad aren’t moving in.”
“No point in them moving, if they’re happy where they are, love,” Val said. “I was born in me house, I’d hate to leave it.”
“Sorry, Jaz,” Belle said.
Jaz laughed. “I keep telling you to stop apologising, I get it. As Holly points out, I tend to take over.”
“But we all love you for it,” Holly said.
Jaz sat up straight. “But on the plus side, the rent will bring money in.”
“So, you’re letting it out?” Mitch asked.
“In the short term. I sold the Wells flat to buy the cottage, so can’t make another capital gain this year else I’ll get slaughtered by the tax man. I was thinking of taking a mortgage on it as Dave wants me to release him from the business and totally buy him out.”
“Are you actually going to allow him to retire?” Holly asked.
“Yes, he’s got two more RVs to shift. But he can go at any time. He’s putting pressure on himself. And he knows the better the sales, the bigger dividend and more chance that I can buy him out. He’ll be free of me,” she added with a laugh.
“Lucky man,” Len said.
“I love Uncle Dave, I’m gonna miss him,” Mikey said.
“Yeah me too,” Noah added.
“He’s not going anywhere. He’s still spending the summers here and the winters in the Canaries. And he always comes back for Christmas with Grace and Brendan living here.”
“When’s Brendan due back?” Val asked after Grace’s boyfriend.
“He’ll be back in the UK full-time in a few weeks. He was already supposed to be here. It keeps being extended,” Jaz said.
Warren listened to them in silence as the family ate and discussed the first day of the new term with the children. He dug into the cottage pie. With it were freshly shelled and blanched peas and a smooth gravy. August had flown by. He’d been busy with the project and the committee he’d joined. He’d spent a lot of time with Sam after the meetings. The guy seemed genuinely interested in environmental issues. And Nina’s father had met with them a few times as well. He was definitely making a difference to Sam. Tony had even been telling his protégé that he had a big future in politics and should start preparing for a career in government. Warren smiled. Tony was certainly someone who liked to push people to do their very best and he could understand why Nina was so ambitious – where she’d inherited it from.
He gave an inward sigh as a picture of Nina came into his mind. He could not contemplate that she didn’t feel the same way about him as he did about her. But if only he could get her alone, for a chat. He’d seen her at the home darts games, but Katie from the store did seem to monopolise him. He was forever trying to egg Rob on to ask the woman out as he knew Rob was keen on her. He was brought out of his thoughts by Jaz.
“Oh no!” she said as her phone dinged. “The computer’s gone down at work and Dave’s stuck trying to put a contract through for an RV. We can’t let this sale fail, it’s worth forty K to us.” She stared at Warren. “You can’t do me a massive favour, can you?”
“Sure,” he said.
Holly looked over at Jaz and lowered her eyes.
“I was supposed to be giving Nina a lift to her antenatal class. It starts at seven. It’s being held in the primary school hall.”
Warren nodded. “Of course, I’ll drop her.” This was his opportunity to spend a short while with Nina. Even if it was for a five-minute drive. He shovelled the cottage pie in.
“Hey, slow down, you’ll get indigestion.” Jaz said. “You’ve still got twenty minutes. It takes me ten to get to the showroom, that’s why I need you to step in. You’ve enough time to eat that and your cherry cobbler.”
“Yeah, the cherries are from our garden,” Mikey said.
“Me freezer’s bursting with them,” Val added.
Warren waited for Nina, wondering whether she would mind arriving at the school in the old van. He got out and opened the door for her as she appeared.
“Thanks,” she said. “I hear Jaz has an emergency.”
“Thousands of pounds at stake, apparently.” He put his hand out to help her up.
“She sells such high-ticket items.” She took his hand. “I used to get nervous selling a dress for a couple of thousand, let alone an item worth six figures.” She settled down on the seat and he closed the door.
Inside the van, Nina continued: “I would have driven myself but my car’s still having its service. Jaz was sorting it for me. She’s been ever so good. I’ve been well and truly taken under her wing.”
“Does it need work?” He started the engine.
“She arranged a full service so it’s in tip top condition before the baby comes. And she’s taking off the tired stickers with my old business logo on. It’s not finished yet.”
Warren thought back to the look Holly gave Jaz across the dinner table. Surely she hadn’t concocted the two stories to get them together? No, she wouldn’t do that, he thought, especially when Holly had told him to give it time.
It was only a short trip to the school and the gates were open. He drew up beside a car and jumped from the van and went around to help Nina out. The baby bump was now prominent, but he thought it suited Nina. He realised he would think anything suited Nina.
“Oh, my goodness. It’s not Nina, is it?” A woman said who was getting out of the car parked beside them.
“Hi, Chloe,” Nina said. “Long time no see.”
“Not since I closed my shop. I saw Something Special folded too.”
“It didn’t fold, as such. I decided not to renew my lease. As I’ve new priorities.”
“Nina’s started a new line in children’s clothing,” Warren said, feeling as if he wanted to cheer her on.
“That’s nice,” Chloe said with a smile. “And you must be her husband. Pleased to meet you.”
“Erm…well…” Nina said.
“We’re not married,” Warren said, stepping in for her.
“Neither are we,” Chloe giggled. “I’d only known Christoph for a matter of months and well…this happened.” She rubbed her bump as Christoph came around the Mercedes.
“My car’s having a service,” Nina said. “Warren’s leading a project over at Booth Farm. He’s just been awarded his doctorate and is overseeing a silvopasture.”
“Wow, pleased to meet you Dr...?”
“It’s Dr Hunter,” Warren said with a laugh. “But I’m not planning on having people call me that. Warren will do.”
“Well, if any of us ladies need a doctor...”
“I don’t think a knowledge of crops will be much help there,” he said.
“Come along and tell me all about this silver thing, it’s intriguing.” She hooked her arm in Warren’s and led him away.
Warren shot a look back to Nina and she opened her eyes wide and nodded. It appeared she was happy for him to go in.
Once inside the hall, they found it set out with chairs, bean bags and mats.
A woman who was not pregnant welcomed them and gestured around the room. “Take a seat, on a chair, bag or the floor. Wherever you feel most comfortable.”
He waited for Nina as Chloe sat on a chair and Christoph took the one beside her. Nina smiled at Warren and gestured towards the chairs.
“Look around the room. Many people make lifelong friends at these groups,” the leader said. “Right, if we can go around the room and introduce ourselves.”
Nina appeared nervous. “Just go along with it,” she whispered to Warren. “Do you mind?”
He smiled. “Of course not.” He listened to the introductions.
“And Nina and…”
“Warren,” he said.
“Just like Chloe and John,” Nina said. “The baby was a complete surprise.”
“Yes, we can’t wait,” Warren added.
“Great. Now that we’re all acquainted, let’s talk about your birth plans. Take these notebooks and between you, write down the things that are important to you. And any things that would upset you.”
Warren felt Nina breathe a sigh of relief and she began to make notes as she chatted to him about her plans for the birth. After the discussion that followed, they focussed on breathing exercises.
Warren cut the van’s engine outside The Eversley. “I’m coming in as it’s training day for the darts team.”
“Oh no! It’s Monday, I forgot about that. I’m so sorry to have taken you away.”
“I messaged Rob to say that both Jaz and I might be late. But they don’t actually start until half eight so we’re only ten minutes late. Are you going to come in or are you going straight upstairs? Has your mind been bombarded with all that information?”
She smiled. “I knew most of it anyway, I’ve been reading up on it.”
“I learned a lot. It was a real eye-opener!”
“I’m sorry for not telling them you weren’t the father. It’s just I saw Chloe... I didn’t even realise she lived in the area any more and I never specifically said you were the father, just that it was a similar situation to Chloe and a surprise. Luckily she didn’t ask me about Ethan.”
“I enjoyed it. Hey, I’m happy to come every week.”
She paused.
He realised this was his opportunity to speak. “I don’t expect anything from you, Nina. You know how I feel. But if you want me there, I’ll come along next week and if it gets awkward, we’ll say I’ve been called away or something.”
Nina looked at him for a while before speaking. “I did enjoy it a lot more than if I was on my own.”
“Great.” He wanted to say more but realised he’d have time alone with her over coming weeks and didn’t want her to change her mind. “Come on, let’s get inside.” He jumped out and then helped her down.
“Ah, here they are,” Jaz called out as they entered the pub.
“I’ll just go upstairs and change,” Nina said.
“Be sure to come back down,” Jaz said, then when Nina was out of earshot she approached Warren. “How did it go? You stayed then?”
“Yes.”
She clapped her hands. “I love it when a plan comes together.”
“You didn’t!”
“She just needs a little push!” She turned and shouted. “Right, you lot, who’s next?”