Chapter Two

      ‘THERE you are, young Becky,’ Ruby said with a smile, ‘you’re nice and clean and comfortable now, and I expect you’re ready for some fun.’ She lifted the infant into the air and gently rocked her from side to side, so that she giggled with excitement. ‘Exactly…that’s just what I meant. You are such a lovely baby.’

      She drew her back down and held her close for a moment, enjoying the soft, warm feel of her and breathing in the light fragrance of fresh soap. ‘I’ll pop you into your bouncer, shall I, so that you can stretch your chubby little legs for a few minutes while I make your tea.’

      Ruby had set up the bouncer in the doorway so that she could comfortably watch the child from the kitchen. Once Becky was happily settled, busy touching her toes to the floor and springing up and down within the harness, Ruby set about preparing her food.

      It had been a very odd sort of day, so far, many happy moments with Becky interspersed with worry about her sister…and, on top of that, she was still reeling from the effects of coming face to face with her new boss.

      How on earth was that going to turn out: working alongside Sam Boyd each day when they were dramatically opposed to each other’s ideas? Added to that, he already had the notion that she resented him for taking the job she had set her heart on, and she had to admit to more than a few niggles on that score.

      After all, she’d worked hard to pass her specialist exams and qualify for promotion. Yet what had she actually managed to achieve? These last few years she’d been driven to succeed, spurred on to do her best for the emergency unit where she’d found joy and heartache in equal measure.

      It was never going to be an easy option, working in A&E. They faced huge challenges every day, and now the whole department was facing the threat of closure. Did she really want to go through dealing with the stress of that on top of everything else? She was confused, restless, searching for something that she couldn’t quite define.

      Perhaps the fact that her body clock was ticking away in the background had something to do with the way she was feeling. There was no man in her life any more, not since her relationship with Tom from cardiology had turned sour, and she was less hopeful than ever that there was ever going to be a man who would turn out to be everything she wanted. Maybe he simply didn’t exist, or perhaps she was just too cautious.

      The trouble was, she had been spoiled by the example of her own extended family. Except for Sophie, who’d had an unfortunate foray into romance with a man who’d left her in the lurch, they were loyal individuals, happy and contented with one another, fulfilled in their relationships. And, as far as Ruby was concerned, no man had ever matched up to the examples she had grown up with.

      A few minutes later, as she was spooning hot baby food into a dish, the outer door opened, and Sophie walked into the kitchen. She looked tired, her features pale and drawn.

      ‘Sophie, there you are, at last. I’ve been so worried about you.’ Ruby abandoned the mix of puréed chicken, vegetables and rice that she had been preparing and went to greet her sister. ‘What happened to you? I expected you back here ages ago.’

      Sophie looked at her anxiously for a moment or two. ‘I didn’t…’ She frowned, trying to get her thoughts together. ‘I had to go out…’

      ‘Yes, you did, that’s true…to the doctor’s surgery, but then you were going to come straight back here, weren’t you?’

      ‘Was I?’ Sophie frowned, putting a hand to her head as though she was trying to make sense of what was going on. Her dark hair straggled across her cheeks, hiding her face for a moment or two. She reached for a chair and sat down, as though fatigue had overcome her whole body. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I can’t seem to think properly these days. I remember there was someone at the surgery…I was worried. I wasn’t sure what to do.’

      ‘Someone? The doctor, perhaps?’

      Sophie frowned. ‘I don’t know. I had to get out of there.’

      None of this made any sense to Ruby, and Sophie wasn’t making things any easier. Giving herself time to think things through, she went to fill the kettle with water at the sink and then set it down on the stovetop to heat. ‘I was supposed to go to a meeting. Did you forget about that?’

      Sophie’s expression was miserable. ‘I’m sorry. It must have slipped my mind. I didn’t mean to let you down, honestly I didn’t.’

      From the doorway, Becky became animated, signalling to her mother in eager baby talk that she was there to be noticed, and Sophie turned towards her.

      ‘Oh, baby, you’re so beautiful.’ Sophie gave her a sweet smile, her heart-shaped features softening as she looked at her daughter. ‘I love you to bits, angel. I’m sorry I’m such a bad mother to you.’ She glanced at Ruby. ‘It’s getting late, isn’t it? I expect she wants her supper. Shall I give it to her? I see you have it all ready prepared.’

      ‘Are you going to be able to manage it?’ Ruby sent her sister a concerned look, worried by the general air of weariness that appeared to have descended on her. ‘Maybe if I sit her in the high chair, you could feed her?’

      ‘Yes, I could do that.’

      Ruby went over to Becky and released her from the harness, lifting her into the high chair by the table. Judging by Sophie’s fragile state, she doubted she would be able to do that safely on her own just now. She drew a clean bib out of a kitchen drawer and handed it to her. ‘Here, you’ll need this for her. I’ll make you a cup of tea, and maybe that will help you to feel a bit better.’

      ‘Thanks, Ruby. You’ve been so good to me, lately.’ Sophie sent her an earnest look. ‘I don’t know how I would have coped without your help these last few weeks. I’ve really appreciated being able to stay here with you.’ Sophie stopped to cuddle her daughter and plant a kiss on her cheek before fastening the bib carefully around her neck.

      Ruby checked the dish of baby food to see if the temperature was cool enough, and then she passed it to Sophie. ‘I phoned the surgery, and they told me you hadn’t kept your appointment,’ she said. ‘What happened?’

      Sophie frowned. ‘I can’t remember. I think I felt sick and had to go out