Birdie had given Nina the number for the carpenter whose work had been highly recommended. Nina had been fortunate to secure his services through a cancellation and it hadn’t taken him long to build a small room which would be the nursery. Now painted, Nina couldn’t quite believe that the room looked as if it had always been there.
Birdie opened the door, walked in, and nodded at what greeted her. A new sash window offered glimpses of the lighthouse and the harbour, the floor was stripped and painted and wearing a beautifully soft wool rug, and a light fitting and shelf were already in place.
Nina walked over to the window and looked out at the lighthouse. She was so pleased it could be seen from the nursery. ‘I think there might be worse places to have newborn babies. I think I love the view more by the day.’
‘Yes, too right there!’ Birdie acknowledged. ‘I thought the same. It’s very nice, I have to admit.’
Nina chuckled as she opened the window. Fresh sea air whooshed around the room. ‘If there’s anything that’s going to put a baby to sleep, it’s this view.’
Birdie agreed, ‘Yep, and the air, too. Can’t be beaten.’
‘I know. I love it.’
Birdie touched her ear and raised her eyebrows. ‘And then, of course, the sound of the sea. That has to be soothing, right? I could fall asleep to that. Oh wait, I do.’
Nina laughed. ‘That’s what they say.’
‘You won’t need womb music or one of those apps or anything when you have this.’
‘Nope.’
‘So, the baby will sleep in here, will she?’
‘No, no. Not at first,’ Nina clarified. ‘She will be with us at first, in the bedroom, obviously. I’m going to have her by the bed for the night feeding or in our bed. I’ll see how we go.’
Birdie looked around at the bare room. ‘You don’t seem to have, err, much stuff. Cot?’
Nina shook her head. ‘I haven’t, really. I’ve been too worried, to be quite honest.’
‘Oh, okay. Worried? Why would you be worried?’
‘It’s a weird thing like I was tempting fate or something,’ Nina explained, touching her bump.
Birdie smiled. ‘I see, yes, understandable, but I think it might be time, by the looks of you.’
‘I know, Robby said the same thing.’
‘So, hang on, let me get this straight – you’ve got nothing?’ Birdie asked, incredulous.
‘Not totally nothing. I have one of those night light lamps,’ Nina admitted.
‘So, you have a newborn on the way and no equipment except for one measly lamp and a newly built room? Oh and a rug.’ Birdie asked with a chuckle. ‘Is that what you’re saying?’
‘Yes, yes, I am,’ Nina confirmed. ‘It’ll be fine.’
‘You'd better get yourself sorted with a few things,’ Birdie advised. ‘I’m all for going with the flow, but…’
Nina nodded. ‘Yes, I know I should. I have got Sophie, though; she has everything known to man, which is one of the reasons I haven't been too concerned about it.’
‘Yeah, right. Makes sense. It would be good to get it sorted out though, wouldn’t it?’
Nina nodded. ‘Yes, especially considering I spend my life organising other people. You would’ve thought I would have done it by now.’
‘There is that.’
‘I know, I’ve been procrastinating likecrazy.’ Nina laughed.
Birdie looked around the room again. ‘What colours are you thinking? Sort of that beige look that I see everywhere? My cousin is having a baby and she was quite insistent about being gender-neutral and wanted to dress the baby that way right from the beginning…’
