Page 65 of Be More Capybara

Nancy showed the photo to Nigel. There was a lot of scribbling involved, but it looked like a capybara - much better than his own children’s efforts at drawing animals when they were Bobby’s age. Nigel had often had to adopt the “tell me all about this one” tactic to find out exactly what they’d drawn. Mind you, he’d had to do the same with most of the pieces that Madison had shown in her art gallery. He didn’t miss those awkward private viewings at all.

‘Do you like capybaras, Bobby?’ Helen asked.

Bobby nodded again, still manfully trying to finish the mouthful of potato.

Helen carried on. ‘I love them. They look so sweet and knowing at the same time. I wish I could be as chilled out as them.’

What did she mean by that? ‘I wouldn’t describe you as that hyper,’ Nigel said.

‘You haven’t seen me when I’m stressed about a project that’s not going well. Anyway, the capybara enclosure was my boys’ favourite whenever we went to Dashford Zoo. Have you seen them, Bobby?’

Bobby shook his head vigorously. Nigel half expected a piece of potato to come flying out, but he’d managed to swallow it now by the look of things.

‘We’ll go to the zoo soon, darling,’ Em said.

‘We could take Bobby to the zoo when we’re looking after him on Friday?’ Mark said to Lucy. ‘Assuming that’s alright with you two,’ he added, looking at Em and Jack.

‘Absolutely fine with me.’ Jack appeared to be relieved that he didn’t have to go.

‘And me,’ Em said.

Lucy looked nervous. ‘That sounds like advanced parenting to me.’

Em grinned at her. ‘You’ll be fine. It will be good practice.’

Lucy laughed. ‘Easy for you to say. You’ll be swanning around at a fancy wedding.’

‘It will be the first opportunity I’ll have had for relaxing for months, and probably the only one for ages,’ she said, rubbing her round belly. ‘Once Bobby’s sister or brother arrives, I’m not going to have time to do anything else.’

Lucy patted her stomach. ‘My only concern is I’m not sure I’m up to running around after you, Bobby, when I’m this size.’

‘You’ll have to cope with a toddler when we’re producing Junior Farnham number two,’ Mark said.

From the look on Lucy’s face, it was news to her that he wanted more children. ‘Let’s concentrate on producing this one first, as you so delicately put it.’

Nigel had a feeling they might have some heated words later.

Helen put her knife and fork down. ‘I’d be happy to join you, if you want?’

Lucy looked relieved. ‘Seriously? That’d be great to have an experienced mother on hand.’

‘It’ll be fun - I get to say hello to the capybaras again, and there will be another adult who can look after you, Bobby. No need for you to do any running at all, Lucy.’

‘Going to come with us, Nige?’ Mark asked.

A zoo visit hadn’t been on Nigel’s To Do list, but spending Friday with Helen definitely had. ‘I’d be delighted to.’

49

NIGEL

‘Are you enjoying it?’ Helen asked.

‘More than I thought I would,’ Nigel said, as he finished reading the information board on the red pandas who were refusing to show themselves in public. ‘Though perhaps not as much as some of us.’

He nodded towards Bobby, who was skipping along while clutching the large giraffe that Mark had bought him.

‘There’s nothing to stop you skipping along the path as well.’