‘Yep, it's the longest flight I’ll have ever done. Cooped up in an aeroplane seat for all that time! But I've got loads of things downloaded on my Kindle, so I’m planning to spend the whole time reading and putting my feet up if I’m not too squashed and uncomfortable.’
Cally nodded. ‘Oh, that sounds quite nice, actually. A whole twelve hours of reading. What I wouldn’t give for that.’
‘Yes, and a few glasses of wine, I bet,’ Birdie added.
‘Gin and tonic for me,’ Nina said.
‘Will that be half measures?’ Birdie laughed.
‘Yes, it will. I don't want to be turning up at Bangkok airport a bit tipsy, do I?’
‘Probably not a good idea,’ Birdie said as she picked up the mugs, rinsed them under the tap, and placed them in the dishwasher.
‘It all sounds divine and that huge bed! Fabulous,’ Cally said with a sigh. ‘You’re going to have a whale of a time.’
Nina gathered up the plates, rinsed them, and also placed them in the dishwasher. ‘I hope so.’
‘You’ll be more than ready for a lovely trip to Thailand after you spend the day cooped up in the back of the chemist sorting out a drug order.’ Birdie joked.
Cally giggled. ‘Don’t want to be rude, but I think I like the sound of the Thailand trip a bit better than this order. We’ve got our work cut out for us today.’
They all laughed and made their way towards the storeroom. Nina pointed in the direction of the white cardboard boxes and nodded to Cally. ‘I make you right.’
Cally rolled her eyes. ‘And all accompanied by the Shipping Forecast. Oh the joys.’
16
Hand in hand with Robby, who was carrying a picnic basket, Nina ambled beside the River Lovely, heading towards Lovely’s main park. Veering off the path they crossed the lawns and stood for a minute as Nina tried to make her mind up about a spot for the picnic blanket. After a bit of deliberation, they settled not far from the rose garden and adjacent to a bandstand. Nina flicked out a tartan blanket and smoothed out the wrinkles as Robby put the basket down and took out a flask. A few minutes later, they were sitting with a cup of tea and a little box of chocolates from the chocolate shop between them.
Nina looked over at an ornate, polygonal structure bandstand not far from where they were sitting. Beautiful columns supported a decorative roof showcasing the shell tiles peculiar to Lovely Bay. A beautiful, ornamental railing enclosed an elevated stage area and a bed full of pale pink old English roses looked back at them. Nina sipped her tea and looked around at the goings on in the park. An older couple sat on a nearby bench with a bag between them, throwing bread to the birds. Not far from them, a woman stood with her phone to her ear in her right hand, and with her left, she pushed a pram back and forth, clearly trying to soothe a baby.
Nina popped a chocolate into her mouth and watched as another young mum, looking quite harassed, jiggled a tiny newborn back and forth. Nina watched the baby's legs dangle and observed how the mum swayed from left to right and wiggled up and down trying to pacify the baby. A bit further away, a couple of toddlers chased around with a ball while a mum with a large bump stood watching on with a smile on her face.
Nina shook her head and wondered whether or not she was seeing things. Ever since she’d been trying to get pregnant, it had appeared as if there were pregnant women or babies everywhere she went and looked, as if they multiplied right before her eyes. She continued to stare at the woman swaying with the newborn and wondered what it would be like if and when she would be doing the same. Via Sophie, she had a tiny bit of knowledge about what it was like to have a newborn. At least she thought she did, but really, she was the first to admit that she didn’t have much of a clue at all. From what she’d gathered from Sophie, shedidknow that it was far from a walk in the park.
‘What are you thinking about?’ Robby asked, passing her another piece of chocolate.
Nina glanced towards the newborn. ‘I was just thinking about having a newborn, actually.’ Nina laughed. ‘And how hard it is, right?’
‘Yeah, I guess so.’ Robby agreed. ‘Not that I really have a clue.’
Nina gestured around in front of her. ‘It seems everywhere I look nowadays, there's someone pregnant or someone who's just given birth, or were they always there, and I’m now seeing them?’
Robby nodded. ‘Yes, I see what you mean.’
‘Has it happened to you too?’ Nina asked as she took a sip of her tea and continued to gaze at the woman jigging the newborn.
‘Has what happened to me?’
‘Seeing babies and pregnant women everywhere.’
‘No, not really.’ Robby shook his head. ‘To be frank, I’m not really looking. Also, last time I checked, there weren’t many newborns or pregnant women hanging off the side of buildings.’
Nina laughed. ‘Good point. True.’
‘How do you feel about it?’
Nina wasn't sure how to respond. Although she was disappointed that she hadn't got pregnant, overall, she believed what would be would be, and she wasn’t particularly interested in rushing things. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. Did she really believe it? Debatable. She paused for a moment, considering Robby's question. ‘I'm not sure how I feel, to be honest. A part of me is disappointed that it hasn't happened yet, but at the same time, I don't want to get too wrapped up in it or put too much pressure on ourselves.’
