Maddy’s Christmas Wedding (Little Duck Pond Cafe #37)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

There was a shocked silence for roughly three seconds, and then we all started exclaiming at once how amazing it was and how happy we were for her and Zak, and firing off a list of excited questions.

When did you find out?

How far along are you?

Was it the IVF or did it happen naturally?

Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?

I bet Maisie can’t wait to have a little brother or sister. Zak must be over the moon, is he?

Laughing, Ellie held up her hands. ‘Whoa! Steady on there. I don’t know who to answer first.’

‘Just tell us everything, Ellie,’ I urged her. ‘This is such exciting news!’

‘Well, as you know, we’d given up on the IVF after all those failed attempts and I was trying to get on with my life. But it was hard. And then . . . well, it was back in September. I’d been feeling a bit nauseous for a while but I assumed it was just because of all the anxiety I’d been feeling over the past year. I was considering making an appointment to see a doctor and I knew they’d want to rule out pregnancy, so as I already had a test kit in the house, I thought I might as well save them the trouble. So I did the test, fully expecting a negative, and I honestly could not believe it when that wonderful blue line appeared! Zak was in London at a meeting with his agent so I texted him to phone me when he was free, but he didn’t see the message for a whole hour, by which time I was absolutely bursting with the longing to shout my news from the rooftops.’

‘I’m amazed you didn’t,’ laughed Katja.

‘This happened back in September and you never told anyone except Zak?’ asked Jaz, sounding incredulous.

‘I know. It was hard, believe me. But we agreed not to break the news until I’d had my twelve-week scan and everything was all right.’

‘So you got pregnant naturally, without any help.’ I shook my head, smiling at the irony of it.

‘Yes, apparently. The day I did the test, I was at the garden centre with Maddy and Katja and I was trying to stay calm, although inside, I was leaping around with joy and terror!’

‘Was that the day you spent a fortune on that Christmas tree for the café?’ Maddy asked.

Ellie laughed. ‘It was! I guess I was feeling so elated, I wanted to celebrate by treating myself, even though I couldn’t tell you why I was splashing out like that.’

‘I remember the day you put the tree up in the café,’ said Maddy. ‘I brought some baubles over for you, and you were so . . . happy. Your face was glowing and I remember wondering why you were being so sentimental, desperate to see what the tree would look like all decorated, even though it was only September.’ Maddy grinned. ‘I guess I know why now.’

‘So you’ve had the scan now?’ asked Laurel.

‘I have. And thankfully, everything looks fine. At my age, I’m obviously a primigravida – an ancient first-time mother, in other words – so they’ll be keeping a close eye on me, which is good. So now I’m going to have to try and keep calm for the next six months, which is going to be quite hard I think.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘And by the way, the house Maddy mentioned does actually exist. Sorry for pretending I didn’t know what you were talking about, Maddy. You caught me on the hop there. It’s actually the house of my dreams and I really think it could be the perfect family home for when the baby is born.’

‘Wow. Where is it, Ellie?’ I asked.

‘Not far from Sunnybrook, out past Brambleberry Manor?’

‘Right.’ I nodded. So she’d be reasonably close to my old family home.

‘It’s a bit off the beaten track but I think that’s part of its charm.’ Ellie smiled sheepishly. ‘It’s all just pie-in-the-sky, really. It’ll probably never happen, so please, please, please don’t mention it to anyone else? Especially not Zak. I went to see it with Maddy while he was away and then he had this London meeting, so I haven’t even broached the subject with him yet.’ She grimaced. ‘I suspect he’ll think I’m crazy for even looking at the place.’

‘You are crazy,’ said Jaz, laughing affectionately. ‘You can’t move house when there’s a baby on the way. It would be much too stressful.’

‘I know. You’re right,’ she admitted cheerfully. ‘I’m a bit unhinged at the moment. I blame the hormones. I really wish I could have come with you all, but I had the scan appointment to go to and I couldn’t miss that.’

‘Ah, I thought it was odd that you couldn’t come because you were too busy at work,’ said Maddy.

‘Hey, there’s no way on earth I’d have missed your hen party if it hadn’t been for this. You know that, don’t you?’

‘Well, we’ve still got the spa day, you, me, Primrose and my sisters. We can make it a double celebration now, with your exciting baby news as well.’

‘Can’t wait.’ Beaming, Ellie stuck up her thumb. ‘I’ll be on the orange juice, obviously. Which I hope you’re not. I’m assuming much celebratory fizz has already been drunk in Lapland, you lot?’

‘Oh, yes. You can rely on us, Ellie,’ I laughed.

‘Right, better go. Zak is already treating me with kid gloves, like I’m a priceless piece of china, and he’s insisting I stop dashing around and tiring myself out. I’m told I have to lie on the sofa for an hour and listen to some relaxing music while he bakes me a chocolate cake.’

‘Oh, shut up,’ said Jaz, grinning. ‘We all know Zak’s the perfect man. You don’t have to rub it in.’

Ellie laughed a little self-consciously. ‘He’s probably more imperfectly perfect. And since he’d probably say that about me as well, I guess we’re very well matched.’

‘You’re already great parents,’ said Maddy, sounding wistful. ‘But you’re going to be an amazing mum to that little one.’ She pointed in the general direction of Ellie’s tummy.

‘Thanks, Maddy. That’s so lovely. You’re going to make me cry in a minute.’

Maddy smiled, her own eyes glassy with unshed tears.

When we ended the conversation a moment later, Maddy stood up abruptly. ‘Listen, girls, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make the trip after all. I didn’t sleep too well last night and I’m seriously shattered.’

We all stared up at her.

‘Oh, but you have to come, Maddy. It’s your hen party,’ cried Laurel.

‘We’re having dinner there,’ Katja pointed out. ‘The food looks amazing from the photos.’

Jaz touched Maddy’s arm. ‘Yes, why don’t you just come and relax in the sauna and have some food? We’ll be back before ten so you can still get a reasonably early night.’

‘It won’t be the same without you,’ I said, thinking she really did look tired.

Maddy hesitated. Then she shook her head. ‘Sorry. I wouldn’t be much company tonight. But a good long rest and I’ll be raring to go in the morning. Have fun, you lot.’

She picked up her phone and walked out, leaving us all staring after her in bemusement.