She’d taken them both out to the soft play centre, which thankfully had taken up most of the day. Just getting out of the house with two small children needed a project plan.
The play centre was a big eye-opener for Anna. Whilst most of the other women seemed focused on talking animatedly with friends whilst mainlining lattes, their children were running riot like crazed banshees or, as she began to realise, like children at a soft play centre. She’d planned to set herself up with Petal in the baby area while Arlo burned off some of his overflowing energy supplies, but Anna found herself scooping Petal up every other minute as high-speed sweaty children hurdled her. It was incredibly stressful.
They had spent the remainder of the afternoon in the park kicking up the autumn leaves and looking for squirrels. Oddly enough, despite Arlo shouting ‘HERE, SQUIRRELS!’ at the top of his voice, they hadn’t even seen a whisker.
Anna found her eyes were closing when a key in the door made her come to. She crept into the hall.
‘Congratulations,’ she said, meeting Dave and Sophie at the door. ‘Kids are asleep,’ she added, as they slunk inside.
‘Thanks,’ said Sophie. They all cooed over the tiny baby in the overly large car seat. He was sound asleep, his rosebud lips pouting gently.
‘He’s beautiful,’ said Anna.
Sophie angled her head towards the baby. ‘Dave thinks he looks like Churchill.’
Dave chuckled. ‘All babies look like Churchill – it’s a well-known fact. He’s still beautiful though.’
Sophie mouthed, ‘At least he doesn’t look like the Kraken.’
Anna hid her laughter by pulling her into a hug. ‘How are you?’ she asked. Sophie was pale.
‘Okay,’ she said, but her expression told a different story. ‘It was probably the easiest of the births, certainly the quickest. But still, no walk in the park. Unfortunately, they had to cut my rings off.’ She waved her bare left hand sadly.
‘Drinks machine was better this time,’ chipped in Dave and he went to get the bags from the car. Sophie rolled her eyes.
‘He kept turning the radio up to drown me out,’ she said, although Anna could tell she wasn’t really cross about it.
‘Were you being a bit shouty?’
‘You would too if you’d almost delivered your child in a wheelbarrow.’ They both laughed.
Dave reappeared. ‘I’ll put this lot upstairs. You sit down,’ whispered Dave.
‘Not after what they’ve done to my undercarriage. I may never sit down again.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ Anna cut in, keen not to hear about an episiotomy again.
‘Lovely, and you can update me on everything. Still no caffeine for me, I’m breastfeeding.’ Sophie pulled a disgruntled face and shuffled off to the living room.
Anna was struggling to remember anything before the babysitting. Was this what it was like for parents?
She took the drinks through and joined Sophie and Dave in the living room. Anna scooched herself round and peered at the scrunched-up bundle who was now being cradled by his mother. ‘Does he have a name yet?’
Sophie smiled at Dave who was eyeing the scene fondly. ‘We’re thinking of Reuben.’
‘I like it,’ said Anna, failing to hide her surprise at liking the name. She’d been expecting something more obscure.
‘Reuben David Butterworth,’ said Sophie, glancing up and giving Dave an indulgent look.
‘It was my great-grandad’s name,’ said Dave proudly.
‘It’s lovely and it suits him.’ Anna stroked the baby’s cheek and he screwed up his face and for a moment she could see what Dave meant about the Churchill resemblance.
Anna strode into the nursing home day room. ‘Hi, Bert.’ Bert didn’t respond. He had his Mickey Mouse headphones on. She tapped him on the arm and he jumped. ‘Hi, Bert,’ she repeated.
‘Oh, Anna. Hello,’ he said, fumbling off the headphones. ‘Let me pause this,’ he said, running his thumb over the iPod until he found the home key. ‘Sit down,’ he said.
‘Actually, I’ve got someone to see you. Wait a minute.’ Anna put the coffees down on the table and nipped out of the room. A puzzled-looking Bert tidied up his headphone cable and put them carefully on the floor by his feet.
Anna came back in but before she could put the carrier down or explain, Maurice spotted Bert and let out a loud meow.
‘Maurice?’ said Bert, tears springing to his eyes.
Anna put the cat carrier on the floor, opened it up and Maurice leaped straight onto Bert’s lap taking him a bit unawares.
‘Hello, old fellow. How are you?’ asked Bert and Maurice’s deep purr seemed to ask the same question. Maurice resembled a soldier marching on the spot, lifting up his front paws in turn. Bert was trying to stroke him and wipe away tears at the same time.
Bert and Maurice seemed oblivious when other residents came over to see what was going on. A carer put her head around the door and gave Anna a warm smile at the sight of so many residents on their feet chattering excitedly and all trying to get a stroke of Maurice. Anna put the cat carrier out of the way – the last thing she wanted was someone tripping over it and breaking a hip.
Bert’s face radiated happiness and it cheered her deep inside. Maurice was soon over the initial excitement and was now stretched out on Bert’s lap rhythmically kneading his corduroy trousers.
‘Anna,’ said Bert, without looking up.
Anna went to his side and touched his shoulder. ‘Yes.’
Bert’s voice cracked when he spoke. ‘This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.’ He reached for her hand and squeezed it firmly. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome, Bert. Maurice is really pleased to see you too. I swear he’s grinning.’
‘I can imagine,’ said Bert. ‘I think I’ll have that coffee now, please.’
Anna and Maurice didn’t stay too long. If Maurice could have curled up and gone to sleep she was sure they could have stayed longer but it seemed all the residents wanted to come and say hello and eventually Maurice jumped off Bert’s lap and started to explore. Anna had agreed the visit with the care home’s manager and the friendly carer had made sure all doors and windows and any other possible escape routes were secure before Anna had brought Maurice in but they still didn’t want a nosy moggy on the loose.
‘Okay, time to go,’ she said, lifting Maurice into her arms and putting him on the arm of Bert’s chair.
Bert
