Page 94

“What?” asked Carys.

“Nothing,” said Ellie. But she’d had the uncomfortable feeling that she was being watched.

“Talk to Jem. Do it tonight. Do it before things can spiral out of control.”

“Right,” Ellie said, her legs a bit shaky at the thought. “Right, I will. I promise.”

“And they’re all out of shrimp at the buffet table,” Carys said.

“I’ll deal with that too,” Ellie said, rushing off to talk to the caterer again.

???

Rosie’s belly was stretched tight as a drum. “I can’t believe youeven came,” Jem said, dropping a kiss on her sister in law’s cheek.

“She’s not due for two weeks yet, and everyone says the first is always late,” said Rosie, beaming and glowing.

“The first? That implies there’s going to be more,” teased Jem.

“Hmm, let’s see how this one goes, shall we?”

“And see whether Jasper behaves himself or not.”

Rosie sighed. “He’s been trying, I know he’s not perfect. But he has been trying. He’s alright at home, and I hope you’d tell me if he wasn’t alright with you. Whatever he does or says outside the house though, I can’t be responsible for that.”

Jem smiled at her. It had taken a month for Jasper to scrape back into his wife’s good graces, and even now Jem wasn’t entirely sure he’d been forgiven for being so prejudiced. On the other hand, it was very clear that he and Rosie loved each other, and for her future niece’s sake she hoped that Jasper and Rosie could sort things out.

“Rosie, so glad you could make it.” Jem stood back so that her father could kiss Rosie’s cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Perfectly fine,” Rosie said.

“Rosie, why aren’t you sitting down?” Jasper appeared at his wife’s side. “Sorry, family, but she’s under orders not to overdo things.” He turned back to his wife. “You promised you’d spend the evening on a chair.”

“Fine, fine,” grumbled Rosie, letting herself be escorted away while flashing a grimace at Jem and Alistair.

“It looks like those two are getting their acts together,” Jem’s father said, watching them go.

“I hope so, for the baby’s sake. Even if Jasper is slightly put out that it’s a girl.”

Alistair chuckled. “Just you wait until she’s born, it won’t matter a jot to Jasper that it’s not a boy, mark my words.” He looked down at his daughter. “And speaking of getting acts together, girl, you’ve been busy, I see.”

Jem shrugged.

“No, don’t be self-deprecating, it doesn’t suit you. Two university acceptances, have you decided which you’re going tochoose?”

“I think the business program,” Jem said, heart leaping a little at the idea of it. “That seems the most flexible. I’d like to be able to help Ellie out when I can, and honestly, I think I like the idea of being my own boss, starting something of my own.”

“There’s always a place for you at Darlington’s,” her father said.

She smiled, knowing that he meant it, knowing that however hard the past few months had been, it had brought more truth to her life which had resulted in a better relationship with her father. “I’m not sure that’s for me.”

“I’m not so sure it’s for Jasper either,” Alistair said, watching his son fuss over his pregnant wife. He turned to Jem. “I was planning on announcing my retirement tonight.”

Jem’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? I had no idea.”

“Mmm. To be honest, I think that announcement’s going to have to wait a few more years, given Jasper’s behavior I’m not sure he’s ready.”

“Because of what he did to me? What he said?”