Chapter 2

Trudy stopped by her niece’s workplace with the intention of seeing Iris, but also seeing James regarding a venture they were both involved in.

She bounded into the office in her usual energic slightly off balanced way and Iris smiled at her fondly.

“Aunt Trudy!” she exclaimed as she stepped from behind her desk and reached out to hug her.

“How are you, beautiful girl? I see that married life and pregnancy seems to be agreeing with you.”

Iris really was glowing with health and happiness. Her red hair hung around her shoulders all glossy and curls. Her green eyes sparkled with happiness and even though she was as petite as her aunt, she looked at the moment like she could move mountains with one hand tied behind her back.

Iris laughed and pulled a face. “I love being married but the pregnancy is too early to know what its effects might be.”

“Have you seen a doctor?” Trudy asked in all seriousness. “Arranged for scans and check-ups – made sure that things are all, as they should be?”

“Now you sound like James,” Iris laughed again. “Yes, I have seen a doctor and appointments for scans and blood tests have all been set up. But I tell you, if it was up to my darling husband, he would have me sat at home with my feet up all day every day.”

“Good, I am pleased that he is duly concerned for you both.”

“It is kind of wonderful,” Iris sighed with a dreamy sort of smile. “But I am healthy and well and need to keep busy, and so we decided to keep our work routine the same – for now anyway, once the baby comes along though, we will definitely have to rethink everything, but James says whatever it takes to make me happy, he will do.”

Trudy smiled back, and her love and respect for her niece’s husband doubled.

“Trudy!” the man himself came through and both women turned to look at him. “I thought I heard your voice – how are you?”

“I am good, thank you, James,” she reached up to kiss his cheek affectionately. “And I don’t even need to ask how you are – you look so well.”

“Happiness will do that for a man,” James agreed as he led her through to his office.

Iris followed them through but stayed by the door.

“Can I get you a coffee, Aunt Trudy; James – do you want a top up?”

“Yes, please,” they both said in unison, and Iris smiled.

Trudy sat down across from James and rubbed her hands together enthusiastically. “Now then this office block where are we with it?”

He opened up his folder, and slid across several designs, and a couple of photographs. “The foundations have all been set, the planning permission for the water fountain has been granted, and the building work will commence at the end of next month.”

“Everything seems to be going to plan then – excellent!” She beamed across at him, and her vivid blue eyes shot blue flames.

James had always had a soft spot for Trudy, as the aunt of his mate she was a formidable force. She was tiny at just five feet, and although she was now in her early forties – she wore the years well – extremely well. Looking at her you might be forgiven for thinking she was a mere girl – at the most nearing her thirties.

She was a beautiful woman – like both of her nieces, all except for her hair which had a tendency to frizz almost as though static was constantly running through it. It was cropped short at all sorts of weird angles too – as though a child had had a go at cutting it.

It was a bright vibrant yellow blond, and he found himself wondering if she dyed it that colour or was it natural?

Everything about her was bright and sunny, but he knew too, that she had one of the shrewdest of minds. She looked at a person and instantly saw them for who and what they were, and she would treat them accordingly. A lot of men might feel threatened by her, but all were wary around her. She was a woman who demanded respect even in their race, even despite her lack of height or elegance or physical prowess.

She was energy in its purest form.

But there seemed to be something missing in her, a sadness that dampened down her natural disposition.

He found himself wondering why she had never married, she obviously doted on her nieces, so why did she never have children of her own?

At the moment though, she was the serious businesswoman, as she looked across at him with her all seeing, all assessing gaze, and his silent questions faded away before they were voiced.

They spent the next hour going through the designs and plans, and discussing at length what Trudy’s end vision was going to be.

They reached several compromises and agreements until finally there was nothing more to discuss.

She stood up now, which did not do much for her height, and James walked around his desk to tower over her.

“If you can confer with Iris, and arrange for us to meet again say ... the beginning of July?”

“Yes, I can do that; we can meet at that coffee shop again and take a stroll across.”

He grinned down at her. “That sounds like a plan.”

She stuck out her hand to shake his, and then reached up to kiss his cheek again.

“Make sure she takes this baby seriously,” she whispered. “She is most vulnerable right now – even if she doesn’t feel that way.”

“I promise,” he murmured with a crooked sort of smile.

Iris scribbled into the large diary and watched while Trudy did the same in her pocket organiser.

“Have you seen much of Laurie and Michael?” Trudy asked as she tucked it back into her bag.

Iris smiled. “We had dinner at Laurie’s the other night, she is very happy right now, and not much for company though.”

“What about her work? Do you know what her plans are?”

“She is going to freelance I believe – Michael is using one of his companies to help get her started, and she managed to garner a few contacts whilst she worked, who expressed an interest in working with her again.”

“Oh good, I am glad that she is going to go independent, and good for Michael in helping her setup. I have several ventures myself in progress and I was hoping to get Laurie in on some of them.” she grinned widely. “Now I can do that with no worries at all.”

“I think she will be thrilled at that idea – give her a call and talk to her about it.”

“I will, tomorrow I think, so that I can give her some real idea of what she will be doing for me and know that it’s not just me trying to help her.”

“Even though you are?” Iris asked softly.

“It will be mutually beneficial,” Trudy insisted. “I have seen Laurie’s designs and she will finish some of my buildings beautifully.”

“She really is talented, isn’t she?” Iris sighed wistfully.

“Yes, she got the talent – but you got the brains child you got the brains!”

She pulled together the files and shoved them into her oversized bag; and then she left the little cottage that she called home, and made the short journey to visit her youngest niece.