‘Interesting,’ Nina replied.
‘Oh yes, yes, it’s all the rage now, isn’t it?’
‘Right, yeah. Is it? I’m not really sure what to think.’
‘Just go for whatever you like, to be honest.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Why don’t you go for nice bright primary colours with loads of numbers and letters around the wall?’ Birdie suggested with raised eyebrows.
Nina laughed. ‘Actually, I’m going to go for pretty pastels and that sort of look.’ She flourished her hand around the rest of the attic room. ‘I’m keeping it simple. I’ll add some pale pinks, yellows, and greens with soft furnishings. That’s about it. I can tell you it won’t be beige.’
‘Ooh, yes, pastels.’
‘Actually, I saw a few things recently when I was over on Darling Island.’
‘Right.’
‘There’s a little children's boutique that has absolutely beautiful bits and bobs in ditsy fabric. I bought a throw for the sofa. I’ll show you when we go downstairs. Then I had a look on the website, and they have lots of little bits and pieces for babies and children. I’m going to order a few things from there. I think that will be it. I don’t really need to do too much.’
‘What about a cot?’ Birdie inquired.
‘I’m sorted with that from Sophie. It’s done her three well enough,’ Nina said.
‘I love that idea. It’s so sweet and lovely that you’ve been friends for such a long time and your baby will be sleeping in the same place as hers have.’
‘I know, I feel really lucky to have her. She has been with me through so much, especially with Andrew passing away, and then, you know, Lovely Bay and now with me being pregnant. She’s happy for me. I’m so grateful.’
‘Good friends are important; you need to keep them close,’ Birdie agreed.
‘I know and now I have more than one since I’ve moved here. I have you and Nancy, too, and everyone here just seems like your friend.’
‘They do, actually. I’d never thought about it like that before. It’s a great thing about living in Lovely Bay.’
‘I’m lucky to count myself as a Lovely now,’ Nina said with a smile.
Birdie nodded. ‘And so are we.’
37
Nina felt as if she had moved into the waddling zone of being pregnant. She was, in fact, doing just that as she made her way to the riverboat jetty. Once she arrived, she smiled as she stood waiting and watched as the boat pulled up. Colin waved from the back, and as she stepped on and sat down, she settled in for the ride. Taking the boat here and there around Lovely Bay had become one of the favourite parts of her day.
As the boat puttered along, Nina inhaled what she’d come to think of as the Lovely Bay smell – a mix of briny sea salt, seaweed, fresh coastal air and home. From her seat, she gazed out over the rooftops of Lovely Bay and stared at the river path, where various walkers strolled along, and the odd flash of wildlife came into view at the water’s edge.
Nina flicked her phone open and read through the information regarding the antenatal classes she’d booked herself in for. It had been a last-minute decision to attend a few classes and she’d snagged a spot, wondering what to expect. She was on her way to the class, where she would be attending a small, intimate group of mums-only. The group had come recommended by Lovelies. She chuckled to herself at the setting; only in Lovely Bay could an antenatal class be held ina lighthouse, the same set of buildings where she’d first met Robby and where he’d proposed.
As the boat pulled up to a jetty, she watched a young mum with a pram and wondered how she was going to cope in the same position. As the boat pulled away again, Colin turned and chatted.
‘Hello. How are you?’
‘Good, thanks, you?’
‘Can’t complain, can’t complain.’
‘Same.’
Colin glanced at Nina’s bump and smiled. ‘Looking well on your way there.’
