With Isaac being back in work, I was finding myself feeling increasingly isolated from the world. I was constantly on my own with Sera, which isn't terrible, but it was fast becoming exhausting being a full-time parent and constantly stuck in the house. The doctors had told me that I couldn't drive until six weeks after the c-section and I was missing the freedom and independence having a car gave me; Sera and I were limited to what we could do so we visited the park opposite our street a few times and we even managed to get to La Petite on Friday but now, we were once again stuck indoors.
The health visitor visited on Thursday to check up on us and she was happy with the progress Sera was making. She hadn't put on as much weight as we'd hoped due to her heart condition but it could be worse, I was told. They would monitor her weight gain carefully and see if Sera improved, otherwise, we'd need to look at having a feeding tube fitted. The announcement freaked me out slightly and I got straight on the phone to Ben, the paediatric doctor, who told me that he didn't think that would be necessary. We had an appointment booked in with him in a few weeks, anyway, and he'd be able to see for himself how Sera was doing but he reassured me that everything was fine. He wouldn't lie to me, he said, because Bob would fire him on the spot for lying to his favourite surgeon's girlfriend. I had to smile at that.
Today, however, Sera and I were stuck at the house and I was thoroughly bored. There was only so much I could take of nursery rhymes and watching Cbeebies programmes. I'd been told that having a baby was amazing because you could legitimately watch Tom Hardy do the bedtime stories on the channel but so far, I'd yet to see one and apparently he only had one more story to air before he'd stop reading them out. So much for it being a highlight of motherhood.
My biggest problem, it seems, is that I am bereft of friends who have children. Since becoming pregnant, I've lost touch with a lot of my friends from before and none seem that interested in meeting with me now that they'll know that I'd have a baby in tow. It's their loss, really, because my baby is freaking gorgeous. That said, I miss having grown up conversations.
There were a few mother and baby groups nearby but I'd been warned that they were full of nannies looking after the children of wealthy mothers who have somehow wandered into Harrods on the way to the group. While I have nothing against nannies, they weren't going through the same experience I was; they didn't have any insight into how I was feeling and while they could give me some hints and tips, was it really the same? I needed mothers. I needed first-time mothers.
"Ok, this looks promising," I tell Sera as I scroll through my Google search results. "Fancy going to something called Jellybabies?"
Sera stared at me and then turned away, her darkening eyes fixated on something else. She's far more aware of her surroundings now than before and she likes to watch things with the utmost interest. With me, she stares at my earrings but is far more interested in Isaac's nose. Sera can never take her eyes off Martha's lips and if my father is around, Sera sleeps. With everyone else, though, Sera loves to just look at their eyes which is perfect as everyone loves to look at her eyes just as much.
Reading what Jellybabies is about, I decided that it's not for us. After some more searching, I close the browser and turn off the laptop. "How about we go and visit Uncle Sam and see Martha, yeah?" I suggest, not that Sera has much say in the matter.
We get ready in record time. Having had enough practice recently, I'm able to get dressed, change Sera's outfit, make sure that her bag is packed and call for a town car all in thirty minutes. By the time the car has arrived, Sera is still placid enough that we can transport everything to our destination before she decides that the London air doesn't agree with her. Thankfully, when we arrive at Courtenay Galleries, Sera still hasn't cried once. Not even a gurgle. I'm impressed.
We're aided by the driver from the car company and he expertly sets up the pram for us so that Sera can go straight inside and I'm able to strap her baby bag on the handle. I tip the driver as it was above and beyond his remit to help me with the baby and tell him that I will be able to get home without the need of the car coming back. He tips his head, tells me that I have a beautiful baby and then gets back into the car before driving away.
"Charlotte!" I hear someone practically shout out my name as soon as I enter the art gallery. One of the curators who is busy with a potential client turns to see the commotion but turns her nose up at us once she notices the pram. Not that I care because Evelyn Harrow is walking towards me with the biggest smile I've ever seen. "How are you, sweetheart? I've been meaning to come and see you but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate. Martha and Sam have been telling me that it's ok, but I remember how it was after I had Ewan so I've kept away."
"You can visit us anytime, Evie," I reassure her. Even though she was Sophie's sister-in-law, I considered Evelyn and all of Daniel's family to be my family too, especially as Sam is one of my closest friends. Noticing how Evie is staring at Sera, I tell her that she can pick the baby up from the pram is she wants. Not a second later, Evelyn has Sera in her arms. "She may cry in a bit. She'll want to feed soon."
Evie nods. "That's ok," she speaks in a melodic voice. "Baby-wabies cry all the time, don't they, little one? I don't mind. How could anyone mind when you look as adorable as you do! Yes, you do. You look adorable."
After that, Evelyn began to walk away while still cradling my daughter. I was half tempted to follow her but a movement in the corner of my eye had me frozen in my place. A man with dark hair and incredible green eyes were staring directly at me, much to the annoyance of the gallery curator. When the man smiled at me, I felt my stomach twist in irritation.
Of all the places I had the misfortune to bump into Clark Reiss, it had to be here. I hadn't seen him in months, not since I point-blank refused to sell my business to him and I partly hoped that he'd buggered off back to the back end of nowhere in Texas from whence he came, but alas, I had no such luck. Here he was in Sam's gallery and his smug lips were twisted in a sadistic smile.
Alright, it wasn't that bad, but he did wear a look that I wanted to slap off his face.
"Well, well, Miss Delaney, what a pleasure it is to see you again," he said, mild amusement dripping in his words. I think we were both in agreement that this was not at all a pleasure. "How is your company doing these days?"
"Better now that we're rid of you and your claws," I respond, not caring that it wasn't the least bit polite. "Dare I ask why you're still here? I thought you would have gone back to Texas already."
Clark laughed. "I forgot that you have quite the fire within you. To answer your question, I did go back to Texas but then I returned. My business in London isn't yet complete. Actually, that reminds me, I was going to come and see you but I'd heard on the grapevine that you're on maternity leave. Congratulations."
"Thank you," I choked out. I didn't want to have to say anything nice to him but whenever someone congratulated me on Sera's birth, I automatically thanked them. Having let my defences down enough to accept his nice words, I cross my arms over my chest and stare the man down. "I'm not sure why you wanted to see me but I can assure you that my accounts are far healthier now that they were last year and if you're trying to buy me out-"
"Buy you out?" Clark laughed. Shaking his head, he held up his hands in a truce manner and swiftly bridged the gap between us, leaving the curator in his shadow. Literally. "Charlotte, I've watched how you've grown your business and I must say, I'm very impressed. So much so that I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to buy you out. No, the very opposite. I want to go into business with you."
Confusion clouded my face and I think Clark noticed that. He asked if there was somewhere we could go to discuss his proposal and just as I was about to say 'no', Evie came back and announced that we could use her office upstairs. Before I even got the chance to argue, Evie announced that she was going to take Sera out for a walk and that they'd be back in thirty minutes.
I led the way to Evie's office, the one she occupied part-time. She still worked for Daniel as his personal assistant for three days a week but on the other three days, she was here with Sam, overseeing the running of the company they'd inherited from their late father. Her office at the gallery was bare, only a desk and a few chair filling the space. We had to pass Sam's office to reach Evie's and I saw the way he and Martha watched curiously as I was followed by a man.
"Hey, Lottie," Martha's voice caught up to me just as we entered Evie's office. When I turned to her, she spied Clark Reiss with clear distaste. "Is everything alright?"
"Martha, meet Clark Reiss," I being to make the introductions. "Clark, meet Martha Fletcher."
Clark's eyebrows rose in curiosity. "Martha Fletcher, huh? I've heard many good things about you. It seems your boss likes to let everyone know that he has the best executive assistant around. If you're ever looking for a new job, give me a call."
He seamlessly hands Martha a business card and winks at her. Just a little, Martha's coldness thaws and she offers him a smile in return as she starts to back out of the office and returns to Sam. Clark, meanwhile, sits in one of the chairs and reclines backwards, his eyes imploring me to sit and listen to what he has to say.
"As I mentioned earlier," he begins, once I take my place opposite him. "I've been thinking of a way that you and I could go into business together. You have the ambition and determination to get a good thing going and I have the funds-"
"I also have the funds," I remind him.
He smiles. "Oh, I know you do. You and I come from privileged backgrounds but just because we have the money, it doesn't guarantee success." He pauses and shifts uncomfortably in his chair. Clark hates talking about his family's money just as much as I do. "Anyway, I think between us, we could be successful. All we need is an idea."
I nod. "Alright."
"I sense that you may have one in the pipeline," Clark deduces correctly. "Let's hear what you got, Miss Delaney."
For those of you who may have forgotten who Clark Reiss is, he appeared in Chapter 3 of the story as a man who wanted to buy Charlotte out of La Petite. This is who I chose as Clark-
Just because Clark and Charlotte may be going into business together, that doesn't mean anything will happen between them. Charlotte and Isaac are the only pairing I have and as you know, they're going to have three more kids so they have to stay together!
Any guesses on what type of business Clark and Charlotte may start up together?
Hm, so Sam's been bragging about Martha, huh?
You've been asking for a Danphie update/re-visit and I am in total agreement here- it's time we delve into their world again!
You also asked about the possibility of a Danphie baby and as most of you know, I'm an 'Ask and Ye Shall Receive' kind of writer. (If you don't ask, you don't get!) So... here's the cover for a short story I'm in the process of writing!
I'll let you know when the story is ready but it will definitely be up in the next few weeks!
Also, I'll shortly be writing a pre-chapter of Girl Friday. It'll be a little like this story, how I posted a chapter way in advance of the actual start date. Again, I'll let you know when that's up. As a taster, it'll involve Sam and Martha babysitting Seraphina from the last update in this story. (It'll make sense over in Girl Friday.)
That's about it from me. I'll see you mid-week.
Sarah xx