Chapter 4 #2
The following week Mia cooed to the baby as she snuggled him back into his blanket and returned him to his mother’s arms. ‘I know, Peter, it’s all so undignified, isn’t it?
He’s looking really good, Natasha. Gaining just as he should be.
And I agree, the rash does look a lot better. How’s Ellie liking being a big sister?’
‘Well, she’s hardly that big.’ Natasha smiled at the toddler tucked against her side. ‘But she’s wonderful. She adores Peter.’
Ellie nodded around the thumb stuck firmly in her mouth.
‘And how are you doing with feeding? Any discomfort or difficulties?’
‘The usual sensitivity.’ Natasha stroked her son’s cheek. ‘Nothing I can’t handle.’
‘Good. But how are you, Mama? Are things settling down from the birth?’
‘Yep. I had some cramping and spotting, but nothing I can’t handle – or didn’t expect.’
‘Yep. You’re a real pro at this now. Your mummy’s brilliant, isn’t she, Ellie?’
‘I have a brilliant team looking after me and helping make sure I don’t mess anything up.’
‘Nah, you do all the hard work. I just turn up for cuddles.’ Mia stroked Peter’s soft cheek again. ‘How’s Eric?’
‘Loving being a dad again. He does at least one of the night feeds, if I’ve been able to express enough – otherwise he gets up and brings Peter to me in bed. He does the night nappies too, which almost makes up for the fact that he’s already bought him a football kit.’
‘You’re not into football?’
‘Not when it’s blue! I’m red through and through.’
‘Oh dear.’ Mia laughed. ‘Not a sport I follow, myself.’
‘Probably smart. It can get expensive, and stressful. Especially when you’ve got opposing teams in one house!’
‘I’ll bear that in mind if ever I decide to pick a team. So, is there anything else you wanted to discuss?’
‘No. We’re doing well. Thank you.’
‘Thank you.’ Mia smiled again. ‘You’ve been wonderful help, Ellie. And thanks for the tea, Natasha, and the cuddles, Peter. You were a very well-behaved young man. Didn’t even try to wee on me, unlike some patients. Clearly you’re being brought up as a gentleman already.’
‘I’m not sure that wasn’t more luck than anything else.’ Natasha laughed as she let Mia out.
Back in her car, Mia cranked up the radio and started to sing along.
With the sun streaming through the window, she could almost pretend she hadn’t had to bundle up in a coat and scarf that morning.
Tulips and bluebells were already starting to join the golden daffodils decorating a lot of the verges, and buds were appearing in hedgerows, heralding spring’s arrival.
Thoroughly enjoying the weather, she took the longer route that skirted round the top of the valley that Hudsbury sat in – planning to stop by the big farm to the north of the district and check how the farmer’s leg was healing.
She didn’t regret the decision until she was so far from Hudsbury that she was almost in the next county.
There was a massive bang and her car veered to one side.
Panic clawed at her throat and she yanked her foot off the accelerator while fighting the wheel which seemed determined to steer her into a ditch.
‘Ophelia.’ Aiden flicked through the shop diary again. ‘I’ve got a note here that the water bill should have been paid three weeks ago. But I’ve not seen it, have you?’
‘No.’
‘And I’m guessing you didn’t decide to set it up as an online bill and forget to tell me?’
‘Did you decide to grow wings and attend a fairy ball? It’s about as likely.’
‘Right, sorry.’ He chuckled.
Mist mewed and Ophelia nodded. ‘You’re right. The postbag has probably eaten it again.’
‘I’m sorry, the what has what?’
‘The postbag. That the postwoman carries mail in. It’s probably eaten it. It does that with letters it doesn’t like. Bills, fines, bad news.’
Aiden sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ‘Do we need to have another conversation about inanimate objects?’
Ophelia ignored him, continuing tying her spell bags.
‘OK, I’ll play along. Let’s suspend reality for a few seconds and pretend I believe the postbag really did eat the bill. How do we get it back? Because I don’t think the water company will accept that as an excuse.’
‘Mist, will you see if you can catch up with the postie please?’
‘Mwow?’
‘I don’t know. Ask it nicely. And if that doesn’t work, remember you have claws.’
‘Mwow-epp!’
‘I know you wouldn’t, but postbags aren’t the smartest of creations. Just see what you can do, please.’
‘Nuh-weep,’ Mist muttered, and Aiden had the strong impression she was complaining – which was ridiculous, because that would mean the crazy one-sided conversation his boss was apparently having was actually… real.
‘Because I asked nicely, and I did buy you a tin of tuna for dinner. I suppose I could always make tuna casserole and give you dry food…’
Mist grumbled again but trotted towards her catflap, tail high in the air.
‘Where’s she going?’
‘Weren’t you listening? To find the letter.’
Any answer he might have given – along with the questions bubbling in his mind – vanished when Katie rushed into the store. ‘Has anyone seen my power bank?’
‘Is everything OK?’ Ophelia asked. ‘I thought you were meeting Mia for lunch?’
‘I’m supposed to be. But she didn’t show, which is very unlike Mimi, and then my phone died.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m convinced I charged it last night.’
‘Roughly the same time the fog rolled in?’
‘Of course it was.’ They exchanged knowing looks.
‘Here it is.’ Aiden held up the power bank. ‘I found it this morning. What does the fog have to do with phones dying?’
‘Magic.’ Katie grinned, winked, and headed for the till, leaving him confused.
‘What does she mean by that?’ He watched Ophelia closely. ‘She’s a schoolteacher. Surely, she doesn’t believe in folklore and superstition.’
‘What exactly do you think we sell here, Aiden?’
‘Crystals, some homeopathy. Complementary therapies and trinkets.’
‘And that’s it? Really?’
‘Uh-oh.’ Katie peered at her phone. Her worry immediately stopped their conversation.
‘What’s wrong, sweetie?’
‘Messages from Mia. She’s having car trouble.’ She flicked down the screen quickly. ‘Something about tyres, ditches and a four-hour wait. I need to call her. Hopefully the fog will let the call through.’
‘This will get through.’ Ophelia was confident.
‘Come on, pick up. Mimi! Are you OK? My phone conked out on me – bloody fog! What happened? Oh, hang on a sec. I’m putting you on loudspeaker. I’m in the shop with Phe and Aiden, and he’s doing the looming thing, which I guess means he’s worried about you too.’
Aiden chuckled but stepped back.
‘I’m sorry for worrying you.’ Mia’s voice was echoey. ‘I’m fine. I think the car’s fine. It was just a bit scary.’
‘What happened?’ Katie repeated.
‘Tyre blew out, but I’m OK. I got my car into a farm gateway. Just waiting for the tow-truck.’
‘And that’s going to take four hours?’
‘Apparently so.’
‘Why?’
‘Not a priority call.’
‘That’s bollocks,’ Katie snapped.
‘Mia?’ Aiden rested a hand on Katie’s arm. ‘Have you got a spare wheel?’
‘Yeah.’
‘And the wheel brace?’
‘Yeah.’
‘And the special socket thing for the funny-shaped nuts.’
‘You mean the locking wheel nut key? I do know how to do this… in theory. I just can’t get one of the nuts to turn. Even standing on the wheel brace didn’t move it.’
‘Oh. I see. Hang on a second.’ He hit the mute button. ‘Any chance I can abandon the shop to you, boss? Leaving Mia sitting there in the cold and fog for hours seems wrong. Especially when there’s a chance I can get that wheel off in a lot less time.’
‘Go.’ Ophelia nodded.
‘I just need to grab a few things. And maybe borrow your vacuum cleaner pole.’
‘Should I ask?’
Aiden shook his head. ‘Just find out exactly where Mia is. Get her to drop me a pin or something.’
‘Hey, Mimi, the cavalry is on the way.’
Mia shivered. The warm sun promising of spring had disappeared, and she’d watched, miserable, as fog had bubbled out of the valley and spread. She’d flicked on the car’s lights for safety, but the heavy miasma of mist seemed to swallow them, turning everything as dark and gloomy as her mood.
She was irritated at having to wait to be rescued.
While her friends teased her about her love of Disney, she’d always thought of herself less like a damsel in distress like Aurora or the old-school Rapunzel and far more of a Merida or Rapunzel of the Tangled era.
An independent type. Or so she hoped. But she was aware she was currently kicking her feet, trying to stay warm, waiting for a rescue.
And not the preplanned, prepaid one she’d organised with her recovery service.
But as much as it annoyed her, she felt a flutter of relief when she heard the roar of a motorbike and Aiden rode out of the fog, glowing in her headlights.
He pulled in by her car, swung his leg over the back of the bike, and kicked the stand down.
He took off his helmet and peeled off a thin balaclava then ran his fingers through his hair before catching her eye and smiling at her.
He unhooked something long and shiny from the side of his bike and leaned it against his shoulder.
Great. If she was the modern-day damsel in distress, he was definitely the modern-day hero-knight.
‘Hey, Princess.’ He opened her car door. ‘Heard you needed a hand.’
‘I could have waited for the recovery truck.’ She stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, hoping it would hide her shivering.
‘You could have. But I feel like that would be attracting bad karma, leaving you sitting here when I could help. Not to mention Katie’s wrath.’
‘Do you really think you can?’ She couldn’t supress a shiver. ‘Help, I mean?’
‘I can try.’ Aiden dropped his rucksack off his shoulders, catching it in his empty hand. ‘Hold this please.’ He handed her the shiny metal pole and unzipped his bag.
‘Is this a vacuum cleaner stick?’
‘Yup. I’m improvising. Here.’ He pulled a fluffy blanket out of the bag and draped it around her shoulders.
‘I didn’t think of you as a fuzzy, rainbow blanket type.’