Summer Loving by Rachel Ennis

Helen in my arms, told me that as I was the expert, I was the best person to deal with it, and went to bed.’
    ‘Had Helen been awake long?’
    ‘A couple of hours. Shelley had bathed and fed her and put her down at half past six. Then she left. Helen woke again at eight.’
    Jess knew better than to take sides or offer unsought advice. ‘At least, having Shelley to look after Helen, when you’re off duty you get a break as well.’
    Rob had always been the more serious of her twins. He brooded. Sam tackled whatever was bothering him the same way he tackled all the sports he loved – head on.
    Letting them know she was always ready to listen if they wanted to talk, she’d never pried. Nan had told her that the most fragile thing about a boy, or a man, was his pride.
    ‘Tell them the options then leave them get on with it,’ she’d said.
    ‘What if they get it wrong?’ Jess had asked.
    ‘Then they’ll know better next time. You pick them up, tell them if they learned from it, it’s not a mistake, and if it breaks your heart to see them hurt, you do your crying in private. They need you strong.’ Jess still missed her wise counsel.
    ‘Ma, she’s a godsend.’ The warmth in his voice brought her back with a jolt. ‘Nothing fazes her. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to see a smiling face.’
    Jess felt a twinge of unease. Meeting Fiona for the first time, she had seen a smart, attractive young woman as serious about her career as Rob was about his. With Helen’s unplanned arrival they had become a family. Yet Fiona was unable or unwilling to alter her career plan.
    Jess realised she was assuming it should be Fiona who adapted to the new circumstances. Yet wasn’t that the most logical choice? Rob was an SHO aiming to make registrar and probably earning twice as much as his wife. But though she sympathised with her son, she was aware she had only heard his side.
    ‘It’s clear Shelley is great at her job. But it’s a lot easier to be patient and sunny when you know that at the end of the day you can hand the baby back and enjoy a free evening and an unbroken night’s sleep. Rob, you know how stressful dealing with the public can be. So for Fiona, coming home to a fretful baby who can’t be comforted must feel like one more demand after a day full of them.’
    ‘Helen’s our child, Ma. She’s not being deliberately difficult. Yet that’s the way Fiona reacts to her. As for being exhausted, that’s her choice. She could take time out until Helen is old enough to go into the nursery class at school then pick up her career again. Damn it, we could even keep Shelley on part-time.’
    ‘You’ve suggested this?’
    He raked his hair again and gave a brief humourless laugh. ‘For all the good it did. I might as well have saved my breath. She says I’m being selfish and unfair. I’m being selfish?’
    ‘I’m sorry, Rob.’
    ‘So am I.’ Leaning forward he lifted the bottom of the bib to gently wipe muffin crumbs from around Helen’s mouth. She beamed, revealing several tiny, pearly teeth and stretched out her arms to him. Jess unfastened the bib and Rob picked her up.
    ‘Apologies for the rant.’ He settled the baby on his hip.
    ‘You’re welcome anytime.’ Jess kissed his cheek, then the baby’s. ‘What are your plans for the rest of the day?’
    ‘Take madam home and give her some lunch, which will probably mean a change of clothes for both of us. Then when Shelley gets back we’ll go to the beach.’
    ‘The sea air should help Helen sleep.’
    ‘It will be fun anyway. If we’re up during the night, I’ll tell her about the time Sam and I walked into a rock pool with all our clothes on. We must have driven you mad.’
    ‘You were boys,’ Jess grinned at him. ‘It goes with the territory.’
    Rob leaned down and kissed her cheek. ‘Thanks, Ma,’ he said softly.
    Waving until they reached the end of the path and disappeared down the road towards the car park, Jess