Page 97 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Adam frowned ‘I thought she wore a nappy?’

She snorted. ‘Not because she needs to go, but because I never leave her with people.’

She never left Ivy alone with anyone, let alone a relative stranger.

Adam nodded slowly. ‘I understand. You don’t trust me with her.’

Clare shrugged awkwardly. ‘It’s not that. OK, it is that a bit. But what if she wakes up and freaks out because her mummy isn’t there? She might look cute now, but, honestly, those lungs can wake the dead when they get going.’

‘Then I’ll lift her out of her buggy, gatecrash the ladies’ and dangle her over the cubicle door.’

‘You’d do that?’ She looked at him, amused.

‘If it helps keep the peace, then yes.’

‘OK, how about you come as close as you can so I can still hear you?’

‘Deal. Let’s go.’ Adam pushed the buggy right to the entrance of the ladies’ toilets and Clare went inside.

‘Everything OK out there?’ she yelled out to Adam, hoisting her dress up. She’d got the hang of one-handed toilet trips now. The key was loose clothing without any fastenings and comfy underwear which lifted and lowered without snagging anywhere, or, as in the case of today’s outfit, a bikini with a triangle top with ties and a pull-on sundress.

‘Tickety-boo,’ Adam called back. ‘And the aroma is to die for.’

Clare giggled to herself; she was having a good time. Just like their first date, even without Sexy Saskia’s help.

She wriggled back into her clothes, washed her hands and re-joined him outside.

‘Still asleep,’ he replied, pointing at Ivy. ‘Crisis averted.’

‘Thanks for being patient with me,’ she said. ‘I’m used to doing everything for Ivy without help from anyone.’

He regarded her curiously. ‘Not even from her father?’

Her face flamed; she’d walked right into that. ‘Not even him,’ she said in a quiet voice. ‘I had it drummed into me from an early age to be self-sufficient.’

He held her gaze thoughtfully as if there was more he wanted to say, or perhaps ask.

‘Ice cream time, what do you reckon?’ He pushed the buggy away from the public toilets.

‘Good idea,’ she said, happy to change the subject.

They’d only gone a few paces when two tiny socks, one after the other, were flung from the buggy, making them both laugh. This time, Adam picked them up and shoved them into one of the many bags hanging from the handles.

‘Hello, sweetie. We’re at the beach!’ said Clare, peering into the buggy to see Ivy’s blue-green eyes wide awake.

‘Obviously she heard the magic words – ice cream. A girl after my own heart.’

‘Either that or being parked in the doorway of the toilets acted like smelling salts in front of her delicate nose,’ she replied.

‘I prefer my theory. Let me guess your favourite flavour.’

‘OK,’ Clare smiled smugly. He wouldn’t get it. No chance.

‘OK, let me think.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Definitely not chocolate, or strawberry, or coffee. I’m going to say cherry.’

She shot him a look of surprise. ‘How did you know?’

‘Your dessert choice the night we met.’