“Trystan will be here soon,” she told her, hoping desperately it was true.
Fifteen minutes later a black BMW pulled up at the taxi rank and switched its hazard lights on. When Trystan stepped out of the passenger seat, Beth had never felt such relief in her life.
“We’re covered in sick,” she warned him as he approached. “Ellie won’t let me put her down and my arms are killing me.”
Ignoring the state of them, he leaned around Ellie and kissed Beth’s cheek. “We’ll get you cleaned up and back to my place. Everything will be fine.”
“I don’t have any more clean clothes for either of us,” Beth spluttered through tears. Blinking them away, she noticed the perfectly put together blonde-haired woman hovering in front of them.
“This is Jenny,” Trystan said. “She’s driving.”
“Oh god, no,” Beth said as Trystan took Ellie from her. “We can’t get in your car like this. We’re covered in vomit. Everything in the bag is drenched in sick too. We’d ruin your car.”
“It’s okay,” Jenny said. “We brought towels and plastic bags. We’ll figure it out.”
Both women looked down at Trystan, who was talking softly to Ellie as he carefully stripped her to her underwear. He pulled his hoodie off and put it on her, managing to draw a smile from her as he joked about the size of it.
“I can’t get in your car like this,” Beth said, looking down at her top.
“Take it off,” Jenny said. “You can have my cardi.”
“I don’t have anything on under it.”
Jenny smiled lightly as she peeled her expensive-looking cardigan off. “Do it quick then.”
While Beth changed in the middle of the busy pavement, Trystan loaded their bags and Ellie into the car. He covered her with a towel and gave her a bag in case she needed to throw up again.
“I’m so sorry,” Beth said, holding Ellie’s hand and registering the booster seat she was sitting on. “I wanted to surprise you but now it seems like the worst idea I’ve ever had.”
Trystan twisted in the passenger seat and smiled at them both. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a smelly surprise.” It got another smile from Ellie, whose face was ashen. “It’s good to see you,” he said to Beth, his tone serious.
“I should have called to check if it was okay for us to come. I’d planned to leave Ellie with Dee but then Ferne was ill… I should have known Ellie would come down with it too. I was grateful that she was so quiet on the train. It never even occurred to me it was because she wasn’t feeling well.”
“The poor little thing,” Jenny said sympathetically as she manoeuvred through traffic.
“Do you have kids?” Beth asked.
“No.” She glanced in the rear-view mirror, looking surprised that Beth didn’t know that.
“The car seat …” Beth said.
“Trystan borrowed it from a neighbour,” she explained. “Do you mind if I put the windows down?”
“Please do. I feel terrible. Your car’s probably going to stink for ages.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jenny said, seeming genuinely unconcerned.
Trystan reached his hand back and laid it on Ellie’s knee while he asked how she was feeling. The smell of vomit made Beth feel nauseous for the entire drive. While she breathed slowly through her nose, she prayed that Ellie wouldn’t throw up again. At least not until they were out of Jenny’s car.
It seemed to take forever until they were outside Trystan’s apartment building.
“I hope she feels better soon,” Jenny said, handing Beth the car seat and towel while Trystan carried Ellie and the bags with ease.
“Thanks so much for driving us.” After being worried about Trystan spending time with Jenny, Beth was now very grateful for her presence.
Jenny insisted it was no problem and told Trystan she’d talk to him soon before getting back into the car.
“This was the worst surprise ever,” Beth remarked, following Trystan into the building and stepping into the lift behind him.