Page 20 of A New Family at Puddleduck Farm (Puddleduck Farm #6)

Max had agreed to take on the challenge of learning some more about African pygmy hedgehogs once they’d had a proper discussion about it.

Phoebe would have liked to have done the course herself too, but maybe she could do that at a later date when Lily was a bit bigger.

Organising the Voice for Wildlife campaign was enough for her to do for now.

Besides, it didn’t matter if Phoebe wasn’t a specialist. Seth wasn’t either but he could pick up the slack. He already knew more than she did so there should always be someone around who could treat the little hogs should the need arise.

Tori had got in touch with the owner of the hedgehog sanctuary that had taken Bumble and asked if she could interview her, and she’d agreed happily.

‘I’ll run it by you before it gets printed,’ she promised Phoebe. ‘It’s high time we had a catch-up anyway.’

Tori brought the feature round to show her on the penultimate day of November.

She brought Vanessa-Rose too and although there was quite a big age gap between their daughters – Lily was barely four months old and Vanessa-Rose was a month away from being two – it was really exciting seeing them both together.

When they’d arranged the afternoon meet-up, Phoebe had envisaged the two babies engaging with each other.

She’d had a rose-tinted fantasy of how the time would play out, but the reality wasn’t quite the same.

Vanessa-Rose had just started walking and she was very active.

Every time Tori put her down, she was off across the flagstone floor of the kitchen, and she was much more interested in Roxie, the dalmatian, than she was in Lily.

‘Spotty dog,’ she yelled excitedly as soon as she saw her. ‘Spotty dog.’

‘She’s met Roxie before,’ Phoebe said curiously. ‘Why is she so fascinated now?’

‘I think that might be Harrison’s fault. There’s a really ancient children’s programme called Wooden Tops . He came across it when he was browsing YouTube and there’s a spotty dog in it. Vanessa-Rose loves it. I should have realised she’d be excited to see a real life spotty dog.’

Roxie, clearly alarmed at the toddler’s determined attempts to stroke her, kept moving out of the way. ‘I’ll put her in the other room,’ Phoebe said. ‘I can’t guarantee she won’t snap.’

As soon as Roxie was removed from the room, Vanessa-Rose began to yell. ‘Want spotty dog. Want spotty dog!’

Tori finally managed to distract her with the production of Mr Ted, a blue bear, and promises she could see spotty dog again later if she was quiet and good.

But as soon as Vanessa-Rose calmed down, Lily started yelling.

‘I’m really sorry,’ Tori murmured. ‘It was probably Vanessa-Rose setting her off.’

‘It’s all right, she just needs changing.’ Phoebe grinned as she sniffed her daughter and fetched a nappy. ‘The joy of motherhood.’

‘Blissful,’ Tori said with a wink.

Finally, both of their daughters were quiet.

Vanessa-Rose was absorbed with her teddy, and Lily was semi-dozing.

Their mothers exchanged glances. ‘It won’t always be like this,’ Tori said, her green eyes full of relief.

‘When they’re a bit older I reckon they’ll be the best of friends.

The age gap won’t seem like anything at all then.

While they’re quiet I’ll show you the article. ’

She opened her laptop on the kitchen table and clicked a few buttons so Phoebe could see she’d done a double-page spread. ‘I hope it’s what you wanted.’

The piece was headed up ‘A Voice for Wildlife’ to tie in with their campaign name.

Tori’s feature had several illustrating photos.

There was a tawny red fox, crossing a field, a pale coloured ghostly barn owl in flight, and a wild grey rabbit sitting up on its haunches washing an ear.

But the biggest – and by far the cutest – photo in the centre of the page was of a tiny white hedgehog.

It was being held in the palm of someone’s hand and had the cutest little pink face that peeped out from a mass of prickles.

Two brown eyes, a tiny brown snout and little brown ears.

To emphasise the size of the hoglet, it had been photographed beside a box of paracetamol, and despite the fact it was in the forefront of the shot, it didn’t look much bigger than the box.

‘Oh my God, that’s so cute,’ Phoebe murmured. ‘Is that Bumble?’

‘No, it’s a younger one. I took it myself.’ Tori beamed as Phoebe scanned through the text.

It was written in Tori’s usual concise style, warning of the dangers of making wild creatures into pets. It was exactly what she’d hoped for – Tori had spelled out the pitfalls of keeping wildlife in captivity loud and clear.

She read the accompanying text aloud. ‘The African pygmy hedgehog, also known as the four-toed hedgehog, is not native to England and will die if it’s kept in the wrong conditions. The RSPCA don’t recommend them as pets.’

‘It’s fab,’ Phoebe said. ‘I’m sure that will help. When does it go to print?’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘Great timing too. Thank you so much.’

Vanessa-Rose had stuffed Mr Ted into a gap between a kitchen cupboard and the fridge and was now fussing because she couldn’t get him out. Tori went to rescue him for her and discovered she needed changing too. Lily started crying for attention and Phoebe picked her up for a cuddle.

By the time Phoebe and Tori had sorted out their daughters, the subject of hedgehogs and other wildlife was no longer uppermost in Phoebe’s mind. ‘What are you doing for Christmas?’ she asked her friend.

‘We’re spending it at home. It’s easier than being in someone else’s house with a little one.

My family are popping over on Christmas Day to bring presents.

Harrison’s are coming Boxing Day. We’re not even attempting to all eat together.

We discovered last year that it’s just too much.

Short bursts of family are enough. I’m looking forward to Vanessa-Rose knowing more about what’s going on this year though.

That’ll be fun.’ She bounced her daughter on her knee.

‘Who comes down the chimney at Christmas time, Vanessa-Rose?’

‘Santa Claus, Santa Claus,’ Vanessa-Rose chanted. ‘Santa Claus with lots of presents.’

‘Yes, lots of presents for good girls. Are you a good girl?’

Vanessa-Rose nodded vehemently.

‘And what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?’

‘Spotty dog,’ Vanessa-Rose said instantly.

‘Oh my God. That’ll teach me to ask her. We’re definitely not getting a dalmatian.’

‘Why not?’ Phoebe asked, widening her eyes as innocently as she could.

‘Because getting the magazine out every month and looking after madam here is quite enough. The last thing we need is a dog.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know how you and Sam manage with a whole rescue centre full of them. Not to mention a vet practice.’

‘Natasha does a lot of the work and I’m not back at work full time yet,’ Phoebe said promptly. ‘Ask me again when I am.’

‘Are you still planning that for January?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

‘Crazy girl.’ Tori looked at her keenly. ‘So what are you and Sam doing for Christmas? Is it open house again, like last year?’

‘Yes. The whole family are coming over. I can’t believe we’ve been here a year.’ Her eyes misted slightly. ‘This time last year I didn’t even know I was pregnant, and here we are with Lily coming up to her first Christmas. It’s unbelievable.’

‘It really is.’ Tori’s eyes were soft too. ‘I’m so glad you and Sam are happy together. And I’m so glad you’ve got Lily now.’

There was a poignant pause and Phoebe wondered if they were both remembering the miscarriage. She hadn’t told Tori about her recent sadness about the baby she’d lost. Since she’d spoken to Maggie and Sam it had faded again, and she was reluctant to stir it up once more.

She and Sam were OK again too. She never had mentioned Judy Barker’s call and neither had he, so presumably it had just been a one-off. She wasn’t about to tell Tori about that either. She still felt guilty about deleting it.

‘It does get easier,’ Tori was saying now. ‘Being new parents, I mean. Having a baby is a massive upheaval. Your hormones are all over the place for one thing. You’re not sleeping properly – there’s an adjustment period. I was exactly the same.’

‘Were you really? I don’t remember you finding it that tough.’

‘That’s probably because I just put a brave face on it. It’s crazy. Everyone pretends they’re coping wonderfully even if they’re not. It’s a shame we’re not all more honest about our feelings.’

Phoebe blinked away an unexpected tear. ‘Thanks. Thanks for saying that.’

‘It’s true, honey. You’re doing great. And while we’re on the subject of Christmas, do you and Sam and Lily fancy coming to see the lights at Blenheim Palace with us?

We took Vanessa-Rose last year and it was wonderful.

They have this light trail with music which takes about an hour and a half to go round.

There’s a Christmas market there and you can see Father Christmas on the trail.

Everyone says it’s one of the best light shows in the south and it’s only about an hour and a half from us. It’s just north of Oxford.’

‘It sounds brilliant. I’ll ask Sam.’

‘Ask me what?’ Sam came into the kitchen at that moment, with Roxie at his heels. ‘Hi, ladies. Had you shut Roxie out on purpose or was it an accident?’

Phoebe started to tell him but her words were drowned out by Vanessa-Rose yelling, ‘Spotty dog. Spotty dog,’ and wriggling to be put down.

Roxie did a swift about turn, clearly deciding discretion was the better part of valour, and legged it back the way she’d come. They all laughed.

‘Ah, I see,’ said Sam. ‘Good to see you, Tori. And definitely yes to Blenheim Palace. One of my customers mentioned that the other day. I’m just making hot chocolate. Anyone else want one?’ He headed for the Aga.

‘No, thanks, it’s time we got going. It’s nearly her teatime.’ Tori got to her feet and started gathering possessions while Vanessa-Rose toddled determinedly in Sam’s direction.

Sam turned to greet her. ‘Hello, sweetheart. She’s walking well.’

‘They grow up faster than you think,’ Tori remarked. ‘If that’s any consolation?’

‘If you’re telling me that they don’t keep you up all night forever, then yes, it is. So thank you.’

They all laughed. There was a huge warmth in the room and it wasn’t just the heat of the Aga.

‘I’ll check out the slots for Blenheim Palace,’ Tori went on, ‘and message you the details. They’ve started already and they go through to 3 January, I think, but it’s nicest to go in December.’

‘Sounds great to me,’ Phoebe said.

‘We can maybe do cards and presents then as well.’

‘Oh, Jeez. Christmas shopping. I haven’t even thought about doing any of that.’

Tori grinned. ‘You’ve got twenty-four whole days left if you start tomorrow.

’ She blew Phoebe a kiss from the doorway.

‘No one will care what they get for Christmas this year. They’ll all be far too busy fussing over Lily.

You wait and see. That’s what my family were like on our first year.

Make the most of it and accept every bit of help you can get. That’s my advice.’

‘That sounds very sensible,’ Sam said. ‘And we will, won’t we, Phoebe?’

‘Yes, we will.’ Phoebe blew a kiss back to her friend. ‘That’s a promise.’