Chapter 28
Gilly
Champion Someone and Share their News
Gilly found Kirsten kneeling on the grimy carpet in the front hallway of her cottage, scrubbing the walls with sugar-soap.
‘Can Wednesday Night Wine be earlier this week?’ Gilly asked, holding the bottle of prosecco and two plastic flutes aloft. ‘We can drink to your exciting news. Congratulations again.’
Kirsten sat back on her haunches. ‘Definitely! Thanks. I still can’t believe it.
’ She’d texted earlier to share she’d been approached by a national bridal magazine to make a cake for inclusion in a wedding photoshoot at a stately home in Wiltshire.
It was an amazing opportunity for lots of exposure.
‘Is Rosie with Harley?’ Gilly threw a checked picnic blanket onto the swirly carpet and sat down. Hard to believe she was the same uptight woman who used to need everything so pristine and controlled.
‘Yep.’ Her friend settled beside her, wiping her sweat-dampened forehead with a floral towel.
‘He overheard me telling Albie I need to get this done for the decorators tomorrow. I put her to bed but because she knows he’s babysitting, I’m sure she’ll get up and demand he watch something, or plait her hair. ’
Gilly chuckled. ‘Seeing them together, I think he’ll cope, though I can’t imagine he knows how to do a proper fishtail plait.’
‘Me neither.’ Kirsten snorted. ‘You’re good with her too, you know.
Thanks again for taking over grammar homework, you’re far better with both the subject matter and being patient.
The other day, she told me she really likes you even though you’re a teacher and look bossy sometimes, before asking if you could come round more often.
Think our weekly slot needs to start an hour earlier to incorporate Rosie time. ’
‘High praise indeed.’ Grinning, Gilly opened the bubbly and poured them both a cup. As they tapped the rims together, she declared, ‘Cheers! Here’s to you and your continued success.’
‘Cheers. Here’s hoping.’ Kirsten took a few deep gulps. ‘So, are you going to be allowed to teach more? I know how much you enjoy it.’
‘Yes, good news on that front. It’s been agreed I can cover an English session three times a week around my headship commitments, although I’ll probably end up planning in my own time.
I’m looking forward to it. There’s something so satisfying about helping children learn, and the idea you’re helping shape the minds of the next generation. ’
Kirsten wrinkled her nose. ‘Sounds scary to me. Is that why you want children? You know they come out as beings who can’t walk or talk, right? Not fully functioning five-year-olds?’
Gilly put the plastic flute down. ‘Hmm. To be honest, I’ve never pinpointed it.’
‘Not everyone does.’ Kirsten sighed, drawing her knees up and putting her chin on them.
‘My husband certainly didn’t give it proper thought, and it was only when the sleepless nights, colic and expenses hit that the reality hit.
Ha-ha, no wonder he bailed. I’m joking of course, because I love Rosie more than anything and wouldn’t be without her, but the baby years are incredibly tough.
Are you and Ariel ready for all that? She seems free-spirited, and your job is so demanding…
Parenting completely takes over your life.
You have this new little person you can’t reason with, or satisfy a lot of the time, and they just cry or shout at you.
’ Her gaze was mirthful, but there was a serious undertone to her words.
‘Sorry if I’m overstepping, and there’s nil judgment here, I’m just sharing my honest experience. I’m sure it’s different for everyone.’
Gilly laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘I appreciate it, and you’re not overstepping. The truth is, we’ve always been focused on trying to get pregnant, not what comes after. The only thing I’m sure of is not wanting to be pregnant myself, because I don’t want to take a year out from my career.’
‘You’re worried it would set you back? You know that’s sex discrimination—’
‘No, because I’d miss it too much,’ Gilly replied instinctively.
‘Do you think it’s possible,’ Kirsten mused, ‘that you want a baby because society tells women it’s what they should want? Or, because Ariel wants one so much, and you’re trying to please her?’
‘Wow, hit me with the big questions, why don’t you?
’ Lifting her flute, she tilted back her head and drained the prosecco.
‘I don’t know. Maybe. Although, I’ve researched adoption as a potential option and taking on an older child was appealing.
Fostering could be a good way into it, like providing emergency care.
’ She dropped her voice. ‘But it doesn’t matter. ’
‘Why?’
‘Ariel’s against it, because she’s desperate to do more rounds of IVF. Won’t even consider adoption unless we try again.’
‘I know how difficult your journey’s been, and felt bad when you shared some of what you’ve been through.
It sounds heart-breaking, but surely it shouldn’t all be on her terms?
A partnership means compromise, not one person sublimating their hopes and dreams to make the other person happy. You’ll end up unhappy that way.’
‘I know,’ Gilly confessed, a roller-coaster sensation in her stomach, ‘you’re right. I spend a lot of time thinking about all this.’
‘Argh, I’m sorry! You came to celebrate with me and I’m bringing us down with all this serious talk. Let’s change the subject and have another of these.’ Kirsten picked up the bottle and topped up their drinks.
‘No, it’s okay, I need to talk about this. It’s useful to have someone else’s view, and you’re a good friend.’
‘Phew. In that case, I’ll say one more thing and then we’ll talk about other stuff, like hot men and what TV series we’re watching next.’
‘As long as it’s not something scary or disturbing this time.’
‘Can’t make any promises,’ Kirsten said, eyes sparkling.
‘But what I wanted to say was, I know you feel you shoulder a lot of the grown-up responsibilities in your relationship, but they should be shared, and you should also be sharing happy times. Lasting love requires effort, but it shouldn’t be so hard it feels like work.
I’m not telling you to give up on Ariel, I’m just asking you to think about yourself, and what you want.
We may only have been friends for a few months, but I know you’re a good person and deserve to be happy. Just think about it, okay?’
‘I will.’ Gilly took a deep draw of her drink. ‘Now, which hot men do you want to gossip about?’
‘We can chat about hot women too. Have you seen the photos of Jenna Ortega for that fashion shoot?’
Gilly nodded. ‘Beautiful, though way too young for me.’
As Kirsten pursed her lips, considering her next suggestion, Gilly experienced a surge of gratitude to have such a warm and insightful person as a close friend.
Beaubrook Manor, the village, their community and Albie’s rules for living, had given her that.
It was something else worth celebrating, along with the exciting news Ariel had recently received.
‘Wow.’ A week later, Ariel paused in the lounge doorway, staring at Gilly’s floor-length, tight-fitting navy dress with a thigh split. ‘You look sensational. The shopping trip with Kirsten was worth it.’
‘Thanks. You look stunning too.’ She took in the low-cut strapless turquoise dress doing amazing things for her fiancée’s hourglass figure.
Curly brown hair in a half-updo, she looked like a pre-Raphaelite muse.
Whatever Kirsten might think about their relationship, Gilly wasn’t ready to give up yet.
‘I’m so excited for you. Your first show as the main exhibiting artist!
’ Ariel had gotten the call only a few days after visiting the gallery with a few pieces, meaning she’d spent the last couple of weeks frantically getting everything ready, around working on the cottages.
Gilly had barely seen her, and she’d been unusually close-mouthed about the new paintings, refusing to share ahead of time. ‘Nervous?’
‘Yes, but excited too. I just hope some sell.’ Ariel smoothed her dress over her hips.
‘They will.’
‘We’ll see. Thanks again for sending out the invites. I’m so glad people can make it. Most of the association are coming.’
‘We need to celebrate your successes. And a swanky party is what everyone needs, especially with the increased stress of the shortened timelines.’ Ethan had called Albie yesterday with news that the developers and interested parties would be visiting the village next week, so they’d gathered pace on the cottage works.
It was funny, she’d not been able to get hold of the finances since offering to help, Albie oddly evasive about handing them over.
‘Right, the minibus is arriving any minute, we’d best get ready.’ Sitting to fasten her block heels, she added, ‘Shame Kit isn’t coming.’
‘Don’t think he trusts anyone but Kirsten to look after Ezra, but at least nowadays he’s showing paternal instincts.’ Ariel slid her feet into silver stilettos and grabbed a matching clutch from the sofa.
‘He’s always loved Ezra, he was just overwhelmed.
Kirsten said he and his ex weren’t together long before she got pregnant, and then she ran off to Spain with the personal trainer who was supposed to be helping her lose baby weight.
Kit was a high-powered criminal lawyer, who suddenly found himself a single dad. ’
Ariel huffed. ‘How could she just abandon her baby? In a choice between my child and a partner…’
‘I know.’ Gilly straightened, striding to the front door. ‘I’d be second.’
Ariel flushed. ‘I just meant—’