‘Wednesday morning is fine. But I’m going to pay you,’ I carried on, before he could protest. ‘No. I mean it. None of the other parents feel the need to provide free labour in return for the sessions. That’s the deal.’
I told him how much I would pay him for two hours’ work, and after spluttering for a few seconds, he made a counteroffer.
‘You know, Courtney’s right. You won’t make much of a living if you don’t value your services.’
He looked sheepish. ‘Mates rates or nothing.’
I made a final offer, and we shook on it. I liked Toby. In contrast to his own father, he was determined to be a good dad. Being an older brother to four siblings probably helped. He’d clearly done his fair share of nappy-changing and bottle-feeding over the years. I only hoped his positive attitude would help Courtney get through her bumpy start. Her lack of engagement with the morning session hadn’t eased my concerns.
‘How’s Courtney doing?’ I asked, while we were out of earshot of everyone.
His face instantly dropped. ‘I dunno. She’s still dead tired. I thought now I was doing the night feeds it would help, but she wakes up anyway because I don’t get up fast enough.’
‘You’re doing all the night feeds?’Andgoing to college?
‘Yeah. Hazel’s sleeping better, though. It’s only once or twice, now.’
‘What about during the day? How is Courtney coping then?’
‘It’s tough, isn’t it? Every new mum finds it hard, like you told us. Marnie loves being an auntie, she’ll cuddle the baby and change her nappy, give her a bottle when she gets home from school. Mum watches her on Monday mornings, and I’m around at weekends so Courtney can see her friends or go out or whatever.’
‘It sounds like she’s got some fantastic support.’
‘Yeah.’ He sighed, glancing back at where she was sitting with a plate of food, once again scrolling on her phone. ‘I guess so. It doesn’t seem to make any difference, though.’ His voice dropped lower. ‘I know she’s not going to love every second of being a mum. But sometimes I wonder if she likes any of it. If she even likes Hazel.’
I waited for him to pull his eyes off the ground and look at me. ‘You remember when we did the postnatal-depression session?’
A bleak nod.
‘Do you still have the leaflets we gave out?’
‘They’re in the folder.’
‘Have a read, show them to Courtney, see if she thinks any of it might relate to her. It can affect some mums’ ability to bond with their baby, so is worth considering.’
It broke my heart to see this hulking great lad blinking back tears. ‘Thanks, Libby. For everything.’
‘No problem. It’s what I’m here for. Now, let’s get some lunch. You don’t want an empty stomach for Nicky’s discussion on sex and relationships after childbirth.’
8
On Thursday my private class wasn’t until eleven, so I took the long way home after dropping the kids at school and called in at Bigley’s hair salon, Snips. Shanice, the manager, was flipping the sign to ‘open’ as I arrived.
‘Hey, Libby!’ Shanice had been one of my first Bloomers. She’d been living in a children’s residential unit in Manchester when a drug dealer got her pregnant. After being relocated to a farm called the Green House, not far from Bigley, where two couples provided a home for older teens, Shanice had started an apprenticeship at Snips, completing it once her twin boys were born.
Shanice had thrived as a mother and a hairdresser, and I was beyond proud when she was promoted to manager a few months ago. She always looked immaculate, and today was no exception. Her thick braids were twisted neatly around her head, the ends a vibrant pink to match her shift dress, heels and bejewelled nails.
‘Are you looking for an appointment?’ After giving me an enormous hug, she ushered me inside. ‘We’re pretty busy today, but you know I can always find space for the woman who got me through the worst day of my life.’
Shanice’s labour had been beset with complications. I’d been there from start to finish, and she’d not let me pay for a haircut since – I had, however, been exceedingly generous with my tips.
She took a closer look at my hair, eyes narrowing. ‘Yep. I can definitely fit you in. Hazel, can you take my nine o’clock with Sue? I’ve had an emergency walk-in and it might take a while.’
‘Thank you, but I’m not here for a haircut.’
‘Are you sure?’ Shanice wrinkled her nose. ‘Because, and I think I can speak freely given that you’ve seen me naked from the waist down, you really need one.’
‘Okay, I’ll book myself in soon, I promise.’ I ran a self-conscious hand through my mass of tangles. ‘You know it always goes mad in the heat. But for now, I was hoping for a quick chat with Hazel?’
