Rosalind looked at herself critically in the mirror, but even with only the smallest amount of make-up, her appearance did not let her down. It was the one thing that didn't, she thought, trying to push the memory of her encounter with John from her mind. She might have known he'd simply wanted to stick the knife in, and she kicked herself for falling into his trap. She didn't need him to make her feel guilty, she felt that every time she looked at her husband.

But unlike John, I'll never make the same mistake again.

She ran a comb through her hair one last time, grabbed her purse, and opened the front door. She smiled watching Dale tend to the flowerbeds, next to the 'For Sale' sign.

"You won't have to do that for much longer," she called walking over to him.

"I quite enjoy it," he said sitting back on his heels. "Are you on your way to meet Charlotte?"

"Yeah, we're going for a walk in the park, she's hoping the exercise will get the baby moving." She rolled her eyes, "You know how impatient she is."

He nodded, the smile falling from his face. "I certainly do, if she'd been a bit more patient during the divorce negotiations she could have got a better deal. She should have held out for the house."

"I guess," she said but she knew Charlotte didn't relish the idea of staying in her old family home. "But it's water under the bridge now."

"Not entirely," he said standing up and brushing the mud off his hands. "I've had a letter from Nick's lawyer. He wants to reduce her maintenance payments."

She gaped at him. "Surely he can't do that?"

"He's trying to," he said with a sigh. "He seems to think she's got another man to support her so the settlement should be adjusted."

"Wow." She was astounded, and yet it sounded typical of Nick. "What will you do?"

"I've fired off a letter reminding him of his responsibilities to his child, and that the alimony was in lieu of Charlotte claiming the house. For good measure, I've added that she agreed to divorce terms that would not threaten his professional reputation and potential future earnings."

She could feel his fury. "This has really got you riled up."

"Too right it has. He was let off the hook on the basis that he paid a reasonable amount - it's hardly a punitive amount - and he's trying to weasel out of it."

"What's Charlotte said?"

"I haven't told her. Unless he does try to pursue it, I don't think there's anything to gain by stressing her out."

"But won't she notice when she gets the bill for you correspondence?" She knew his company charged for every call, every letter, every meeting, literally everything.

He shook his head. "I've done this in my own time, no one needs to know."

"You are a good man," she said with feeling. 

He looked at her curiously. "Thanks but I haven't done that much. It was nothing."

"No it isn't, you do good stuff all the time and you don't get the credit for it."

"It doesn't matter, I don't do it for the plaudits." He knelt back down picking up the trowel. "You'd better get going, say hi to Charlotte for me."

"I will." She leaned down to kiss the top of his head, thanking her lucky stars that she still had him.

                                                                    ~~~

Rosalind linked her arm through Charlotte's as they ambled around the park, enjoying the spring air. Now and then Charlotte would pause to rub her stomach or back, complaining that the baby was sitting on a nerve or kicking her ribs.

"I'm kinda glad I'm not pregnant watching you go through this," Rosalind admitted.

"You will be one day," Charlotte said sitting down on a park bench.

"Maybe." Ros sat next to her, turning her face towards the sun. "So how does Louis like being a step-dad? I can't see it somehow."

"He's very good with Jamie, actually," Charlotte said, sounding tetchy. "It probably helps that he's not trying to parent him, and Jamie understands that his father and I can't be together." She let out a laugh, "And of course they can do boy things together."

"That's sweet."

"It is, and it's such a relief that Jamie seems to have accepted the situation," Charlotte admitted. "I was worried he'd be jealous of Louis but at the moment he's his favourite person!"

"That sounds almost too good to be true," Rosalind said and Charlotte inhaled sharply. "Sorry, I just meant it's a complicated situation but I'm glad it's working out for you."

"Time will tell."

"Yes, it will." Rosalind looked down, the sunlight making her squint. "I thought time would heal all with Dale and I but it's not going to. Not without us putting the work in."

"It's a lot to move on from," Charlotte said rubbing her stomach where her waist should have been.

"I know, it's been over a year and I'm sure Dale's forgiven me but it doesn't get any easier." She let out a heavy sigh. "I met up with John the other day."

"What!" Charlotte's eyes widened and her hand stilled. "Are you crazy? Please tell me you didn't-"

"Of course not, John wanted to clear the air and I stupidly caved in." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have, he just wanted to see that I was suffering and put all the blame on me."

"That doesn't sound like him, he admits he was in the wrong."

Rosalind sat back on the bench, her eyes focused on the wildflowers in the distance. "Oh I don't know what he was after but he left me feeling like shit on his shoe, like I was some kind of whore and Darlene was a Vestal Virgin."

Charlotte spluttered, "Don't be ridiculous. I wish you and Darlene would stop pitting yourselves against each other, no wonder John's so egotistical."

"True, and that's one of the reasons I want to move. My friendship with Darlene was always horribly competitive, and I don't want it to continue at the school gates."

Charlotte gasped. "You're pregnant?"

"No, I'm not," she said with a note of relief. "But imagine if Darlene and I had children in the same school, she'd carry the feud on." Charlotte remained silent, no doubt not wanting to criticise her friend. "Anyway, we'll move away before long and put this whole sorry mess behind us."

"Hmm," Charlotte said wincing as she rubbed her stomach again. "That sounds like a plan."

Rosalind looked at her more closely. "Are you okay? You seem unsettled."

Charlotte shifted uncomfortably, pressing her hands into her back. "I think that might have been a contraction."

Rosalind felt the colour drain from her face. "Shit we'd better go if the baby's coming-"

"It'll be hours yet, days even," Charlotte said speaking normally again.

"Even so, I think you should head home."

"Honestly, it's fine."

Ros looked at her unconvinced. Charlotte might be calm but she was alarmed. "Look I don't want to deliver your baby in the park. Seriously, let me take you home just in case you have a fast labour. It is your second baby after all."

"It's my third."

"Sorry, I just meant...oh, it doesn't matter what I meant but let's go. Surely you'll be more comfortable at home, and then Louis can take you to the hospital when things properly start to get going."

"Alright," Charlotte said relenting and Ros noticed she was rubbing her stomach again. "I guess that would be sensible."

"Exactly." Ros stood up and helped her to her feet. "And you must not delay getting medical attention."

"That's the last thing I'd do," Charlotte said vehemently as they linked arms. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long and...ow." 

Rosalind gave her a panicked look. "Maybe I should take you straight to the hospital."

Charlotte's face broke into a smile. "I was joking, that wasn't a contraction. Not yet."

"Why, you..." She breathed a sigh of relief. "I know you were hoping a walk would help the baby come but if I'd thought for one minute that it would, I'd have cancelled."

"It wasn't the walk," Charlotte said linking their arms together. "It was you telling me about John. I honestly thought you were going to say you'd started something up with him again."

"Never, that's the last thing I'd do."

"I'm glad to hear it. You and Dale could have such a good future together, it would be a shame to throw it away."

"I know," Ros said trying to walk a little faster and hurry Charlotte to her car. "Now please just concentrate on keeping that baby inside you for the time being."

"Okay, I'll keep my legs crossed," Charlotte said as she got in the car.

"You do that." She climbed in the car and put it in gear, quickly pulling out of the parking lot. She drove in silence, every now and again giving Charlotte furtive glances. She remained calm but Ros could see she was uncomfortable, and she wondered just how long she'd been having contractions. Minutes later she pulled up outside Charlotte's home, the apartment thankfully on the ground floor.

"I'll help you inside," she said getting out of the car and following Charlotte to the doorstep.

"Hi, you're early," Louis said opening the door to them. "Has something happened?"

"The baby's coming," Charlotte said.

Louis paled, "Like right now?"

"Yes, we need to go to the hospital."

~~~

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