The Brighton Guest House Girls by Lesley Eames

Author:Lesley Eames [Eames, Lesley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2019-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Eight

Thea opened the door to find Max on the doorstep.

‘I’ll take no offence if you tell me this isn’t a convenient moment for me to call,’ he said.

His grey eyes regarded her steadily, free from awkwardness. Clearly he was considerate enough to understand that a visit might be mistimed and confident enough to accept a rebuff without feeling slighted.

‘If you’d called ten minutes ago, you’d have found me up to my wrists in pastry,’ Thea admitted. ‘Now I’m about to put the kettle on so you’ve timed your arrival perfectly. But nothing’s wrong, I hope?’

‘Not at all.’ He stepped through the door and followed her down the basement stairs. ‘I had business in Brighton and thought I’d take the chance to let you know that Night Warrior’s still doing well. It’ll be a cool day in Hell before he turns docile, but he hasn’t eaten me yet. I’ve got great hopes for him.’

They reached the kitchen where Anna was sitting sewing. ‘Good morning, Anna,’ Max said, and Thea liked the way his voice softened to a quietly respectful tone.

Anna needed as much kindness as possible now. She was as uncomplaining and hardworking as ever, but grief over Piers and the strain of becoming an unmarried mother were showing in her wan face. Thea was worried about her.

‘What are you sewing?’ Max sat down beside Anna and smiled when she held up a tiny white nightgown. ‘Have you decided on a name for the little one?’

It was an innocent enough question but Anna looked stricken. She bent over her sewing as though trying to hide her face. ‘I haven’t,’ she said.

Max gave Thea a questioning look, as puzzled by Anna’s response as Thea was.

‘I thought you’d decided on James for a boy,’ Thea said. ‘Piers’s middle name.’

‘I had thought of that,’ Anna admitted.

‘But now you want to wait until the baby arrives before you name him? Or her?’ Max suggested. ‘That makes perfect sense to me. One of my cousins was set on the name Samson for his son because he thought his son would be a strapping young article. But Samson was a tiny scrap when he was born and he’s a tiny lad now. They’ve had to start calling him Sean – his middle name – to stop the teasing.’

Anna nodded but didn’t look up.

‘Is that what you’re doing?’ Thea questioned. ‘Waiting to see the baby face to face?’

Anna didn’t answer immediately. Then she got to her feet. ‘I’m just not sure I’m the right person to name the baby. If you don’t mind, I’ll just…’

‘Who should name the baby if not you?’ Thea’s unease was growing.

Max stood too and blocked Anna’s way. ‘Yes, who?’ he asked.

Anna dashed away tears. ‘I just want what’s best for the baby,’ she said.

‘Of course,’ Thea acknowledged. ‘But I don’t see what— ’A thought struck her and a glance at Max told her it had struck him too. ‘Anna, are you thinking of giving the baby up?’

Anna sat back down and, elbows to the table, put her head in her hands.

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