Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Tweed Heads
Kate stood outside the small office building in Tweed Heads, pushing the pram back and forth, to and fro.
If she stopped the see-sawing, Noah would let out a squawk even though he was close to falling asleep.
In the distance, there was a grumble of thunder.
Kate squinted at the sky. Dark clouds huddled on the horizon, but overhead, the sky was clear and bright.
The sun was hot, and sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her spine beneath her floral dress.
Two automatic glass doors swished open and Reeda strode through them, then skipped down the stairs to where Kate waited in the shade of a bus stop.
“How’d it go?” Kate asked. She fell into step beside Reeda.
“We should get coffee. I’m dying for some caffeine.”
“Okay, let’s do it. Of course, I can’t have caffeine or Noah will be up all night. But I can drink juice.”
They walked until they found a café, then sat at a small table inside the air-conditioned space.
It was cramped but gave some respite from the heat.
And besides, Kate was starving. She hadn’t eaten anything all day long, and she had forgotten to drink water before she left the house as well.
However, the nappy bag that hung from the pram handle had everything Noah might possibly need during their outing or even in an apocalypse.
He was well fed and currently napping happily in his chariot.
If only someone would push her around in a soft bed so she could take a nap.
She ordered a large juice smoothie and a piece of vanilla slice.
Reeda asked for a cappuccino, and the waitress hurried away as she wrote their order on her notepad.
“Candle in the Wind” played on the radio, and Kate hummed along to it.
Then she stopped herself when she realised everyone in the café could hear her.
She was so sleep-deprived, she’d become socially inept in public.
She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath, willing her mind to focus.
“So… how did it go?” she asked again.
Reeda frowned. “I met with Noreen. I don’t know if it was good or I came across as a complete bimbo. I’m such a mess when I’m nervous. I blathered on about all kinds of irrelevant things. I kept thinking that I should stop talking, but I couldn’t seem to pull myself up.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad,” Kate replied as she checked on Noah, who was still sleeping soundly. “They know you’ll make good parents. Haven’t they already approved you?”
“Not yet. Not exactly. They’ve already interviewed Duncan, since he couldn’t make it today.
But they have a few more pieces of paperwork to file, and then she’ll call us in for a final meeting.
She said that once approved, we should be able to start soon, since they have an overwhelming caseload and not enough foster parents in the system.
But she couldn’t tell me anything else, since it will all be so last minute. ”
“You’re going to be really good at this,” Kate replied.
Reeda looked at her with panic behind her eyes. “I honestly don’t know if I can do it.”
“Of course you can. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
“Besides Bindi? And Jack? And Mima?” Reeda asked with a grin.
“No, not besides them. You’re strong too, the way they are, but you show it differently.”
“You’re so diplomatic. When did that happen?” Reeda snorted.
The waitress brought over their drinks and Kate’s slice.
She immediately used her fork to cut a piece and slip it into her mouth.
The custard was thick and creamy, the icing was deliciously sweet and whipped to perfection, and the pastry was fresh and crisp.
Her eyes drifted shut as the flavours burst across her tongue. She groaned.
Reeda huffed. “You sound like you’re having a moment. Don’t let me interrupt.”
Kate opened her eyes. “You should try this. It’s divine.”
“No, thanks. I couldn’t possibly get between the two of you. That would be unfair.”
“I haven’t eaten a thing all day. It’s possible this tastes better because I’m so hungry.”
Reeda sipped her coffee. “Why haven’t you eaten? It’s almost three o’clock.”
“I barely got any sleep last night, and then when I woke up this morning, Noah was crying and needed me to feed him, burp him, change and hold him. I didn’t even get a chance to shower. There was a half glass of water beside my nursing chair, so I drank that. But otherwise, I haven’t had anything.”
“Where was Alex?” Reeda asked.
Kate gulped down another mouthful of vanilla slice. “He was on the phone and then had to leave. He’s been busy, I guess.”
“Why isn’t he helping?”
Kate shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought he’d be more useful, given the fact that he’s a teacher.
Don’t teachers love kids?” She tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a whimper.
The truth was, she didn’t want to talk about Alex’s lack of involvement with Noah because she might start crying, and she wasn’t sure she could turn off the waterworks once they began. She choked back the tears.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. He should be there. He should be doing more. Maybe he’s feeling uncertain about how to get involved, but I can’t understand why he’d allow you to drown this way. I didn’t realise it was so bad.”
“It’s not bad,” Kate objected, blinking back the tears. “He’s a good dad. At least, he will be. I know that. It’s hard for him to know how to contribute with a baby—I’m sure that’s all it is. But I’d love for him to give me some respite so I can at least take a shower.”
“You should be eating, drinking, showering and even getting some rest. This isn’t okay, Katie. Alex is on holidays. It’s summer. He has nothing else to do.”
“I know you’re right. I don’t know what to say to him, though, because if I start talking to him about it, I’m going to shout at him and say things I’ll regret. I can feel it welling up within me.”
Reeda set down her coffee cup. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing. We’re going home, and I’m going to take the baby with me for a few hours. You can feed him, then hand him over, and I’ll whisk him away for some Aunty Reeda time while you take a shower, eat a meal, and get some sleep.”
“Really?” Kate asked, her throat tightening further still. “I’ve got some bottles in the fridge.”
“I’ll take a bottle, and if he gets hungry, I’ll feed him.”
“Can you handle a dirty nappy?”
“I’ll figure it out.” Reeda placed a hand over the top of Kate’s. “It’s going to be okay.”