Chapter 16
Hand in hand with Robby, who was carrying a picnic basket, Nina ambled beside the River Lovely, heading towards Lovely’s main park. Veering off the path they crossed the lawns and stood for a minute as Nina tried to make her mind up about a spot for the picnic blanket. After a bit of deliberation, they settled not far from the rose garden and adjacent to a bandstand. Nina flicked out a tartan blanket and smoothed out the wrinkles as Robby put the basket down and took out a flask. A few minutes later, they were sitting with a cup of tea and a little box of chocolates from the chocolate shop between them.
Nina looked over at an ornate, polygonal structure bandstand not far from where they were sitting. Beautiful columns supported a decorative roof showcasing the shell tiles peculiar to Lovely Bay. A beautiful, ornamental railing enclosed an elevated stage area and a bed full of pale pink old English roses looked back at them. Nina sipped her tea and looked around at the goings on in the park. An older couple sat on a nearby bench with a bag between them, throwing bread to the birds. Not far from them, a woman stood with her phone to her ear in her right hand, and with her left, she pushed a pram back and forth, clearly trying to soothe a baby.
Nina popped a chocolate into her mouth and watched as another young mum, looking quite harassed, jiggled a tiny newborn back and forth. Nina watched the baby”s legs dangle and observed how the mum swayed from left to right and wiggled up and down trying to pacify the baby. A bit further away, a couple of toddlers chased around with a ball while a mum with a large bump stood watching on with a smile on her face.
Nina shook her head and wondered whether or not she was seeing things. Ever since she’d been trying to get pregnant, it had appeared as if there were pregnant women or babies everywhere she went and looked, as if they multiplied right before her eyes. She continued to stare at the woman swaying with the newborn and wondered what it would be like if and when she would be doing the same. Via Sophie, she had a tiny bit of knowledge about what it was like to have a newborn. At least she thought she did, but really, she was the first to admit that she didn’t have much of a clue at all. From what she’d gathered from Sophie, she did know that it was far from a walk in the park.
‘What are you thinking about?’ Robby asked, passing her another piece of chocolate.
Nina glanced towards the newborn. ‘I was just thinking about having a newborn, actually.’ Nina laughed. ‘And how hard it is, right?’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’ Robby agreed. ‘Not that I really have a clue.’
Nina gestured around in front of her. ‘It seems everywhere I look nowadays, there”s someone pregnant or someone who”s just given birth, or were they always there, and I’m now seeing them?’
Robby nodded. ‘Yes, I see what you mean.’
‘Has it happened to you too?’ Nina asked as she took a sip of her tea and continued to gaze at the woman jigging the newborn.
‘Has what happened to me?’
‘Seeing babies and pregnant women everywhere.’
‘No, not really.’ Robby shook his head. ‘To be frank, I’m not really looking. Also, last time I checked, there weren’t many newborns or pregnant women hanging off the side of buildings.’
Nina laughed. ‘Good point. True.’
‘How do you feel about it?’
Nina wasn”t sure how to respond. Although she was disappointed that she hadn”t got pregnant, overall, she believed what would be would be, and she wasn’t particularly interested in rushing things. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. Did she really believe it? Debatable. She paused for a moment, considering Robby”s question. ‘I”m not sure how I feel, to be honest. A part of me is disappointed that it hasn”t happened yet, but at the same time, I don”t want to get too wrapped up in it or put too much pressure on ourselves.’
Robby nodded. ‘Good outlook to have. We have plenty of time.’
‘Exactly. Maybe all this baby talk and seeing babies and pregnant women everywhere will somehow make it happen when we least expect it. I can but hope.’
Robby chuckled. ‘Well, if that”s the trick, I”m happy to continue the baby conversations and keep practising the bit beforehand, too.’
Nina giggled. ‘Same here.’
‘I can”t wait, but I’m fine, baby or no baby.’
‘Me too.’ Nina wondered if Robby really thought that. It had been him who had wanted to try for a baby in the first place, and when he’d first brought it up, she wasn”t sure what she thought about it. Now she wondered if, underneath it all, he was somehow disappointed in her for it not happening. She wasn”t sure whether or not to broach her thoughts. She ploughed on. ‘Do you really feel like that? You’re fine either way?’
‘Yep. I am, yes.’
‘You think it will happen of its own accord?’
‘For now, yeah.’
‘Right. Do you think we should make a doctor’s appointment? Maybe consider getting some help?’
Robby mulled Nina’s question over for a second. ‘I think it’s early days, from what we’ve gleaned ourselves, don’t you? Up to you, though.’
Nina nodded. ‘Yeah, I think so, but time is ticking.’
‘Yes, but people have babies well into their forties nowadays.’
‘Hmm. They do. Is that what we want, though?’
‘I guess you’re right in a way.’
Nina took a piece of chocolate. ‘I suppose, for now, we just continue as we have been doing.’
‘Yep.’
‘I actually think it will happen. I can feel it in my bones.’
Robby tapped Nina on the leg and laughed. ‘You never say stuff like that.’
‘I know.’
‘I think it’s going to happen, too.’
‘Yeah. To be honest, though, no one really knows. I’m not really sure what’s around the corner after what’s happened to me over the past few years.’
Robby nodded. ‘Yeah, good point. I suppose you never do know what’s around the corner, do you?’
Nina shook her head. ‘No, you don’t. I mean, look at what’s happened since I moved to Lovely Bay.’
Robby’s eyes widened. ‘Mine too. Here I am, now a married man,’ he joked. ‘Oh, the joys.’
‘Ha.’
‘I do think it’s going to happen,’ Robby said confidently. ‘Get ready for the ride, Neens. It’s just a matter of when.’
Nina smiled and helped herself to another chocolate. She hoped it would be soon.