The Spinster's Club

CASS: SIX

When Urs put down his phone, he wondered if childbirth had addled his sister's brains.
Yes, he would visit her this afternoon. Yes, he could make it at three o'clock precisely. Yes, he supposed he could ride in – even though Pete's car was available - and yes, he could wear his leathers.
"I do have other clothes I can wear, you know. I did pack a change or two..." he'd tried to point out to Jools, but she'd been quite adamant.
She's never worried about my clothes before, he thought. Now if I can only sort through these emails, I can go into see her with a clear conscience.
Sitting at Pete's computer and scrolling through the several hundred emails that had accumulated since his departure, Urs was relieved to find only a handful required urgent attention. He grinned as he forwarded them to his PA, Margaret, with dot points to outline actions for her. It seemed that Margaret was handling things so well in his absence, he could extend his stay for a while longer. He'd once accused her of being a closet Swiss. Fortunately she'd taken it as the compliment he'd intended.
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Cass bit into her lunchtime apple and wondered why Amy had hardly touched her dessert. It was the cafeteria's specialty, a Chocolate Bavarian cheesecake, and it was their absolute favourite. In fact, Cass secretly hoped that Romy might produce something like it in her new store.
"What's wrong with you? That's Chocolate Bavarian and you're not eating it. "
Amy prodded the cheesecake with a fork and sighed. "I just don't feel like it. That's all."
Cass leant over the table and felt Amy's forehead. She frowned. "Well you don't have a fever, so it must be something else."
Amy shook her head, but Cass wouldn't be put off.
"We had a really good time at the karaoke, didn't we? I was pleased that our guy won, but I kinda hoped Cece's cute Spaniard would win too."
"No it's nothing to do with that." Amy pushed the cheesecake away with a sigh.
"Well if it's not that, then it must be Dr Izambard. He was paying you a LOT of attention considering he bats for the other team."
Amy's brows lowered. "That's just it. I'm not entirely sure he does now. He made me feel things. I wasn't expecting that. "
"I knew it!" Cass crowed and took a triumphant bite out of her apple.
Amy jabbed afinger at Cass. "And don't look at me like that. Whatever you might think, I'm really quite tender hearted."
Cass laughed. "Well duh. I've known about your gooey, soft centre for years. You're not fooling anyone with that mean façade of yours. We all know it's just for show."
Amy cast a quick look around the cafeteria "Keep it down. I have a reputation to maintain here."
Cass tossed her apple core onto her plate. "You just have to decide if he's worth the risk."
"Yeah, yeah." Amy pushed back her seat. "I'd better get back to work. I've got a monster afternoon ahead of me."
Cass rose with her. "Me too. Baby ward has lots of new mums and they all seem to be needing me one way or another."
Amy grinned. "I can just see you lining them all up and telling them to clench and release."
"There's a bit more to it than that!"
Amy ignored her. "All together now. C-l-e-n-c-h and release. It must work. I feel better already."
Cass tipped out her rubbish as they passed the bins. "You. Are. Incorrigible."

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Jools wasn't in her room when Urs came by that afternoon. He frowned. This wasn't like her. She'd been very specific about the time she wanted him there. He stopped the harried looking nurse carrying a covered pan. "Excuse me. I'm looking for Mrs Miller." The nurse gingerly pointed ahead with her free hand. "Just past the pan room. In the physio gym."
"Thank you" he said politely and followed her directions. The door to the gym was shut but he could hear a voice on the other side."
"And hold 2-3-4-5. Then release. Excellent work, ladies."
As he drew closer, he could see there was small window in the door and since no one else was in the hallway, he stole a peek. Inside were maybe half a dozen ladies all lying on their backs on the floor on mats with their knees raised. A quick scan revealed Jools was amongst them. His eye was caught by the movement of the only person not lying down. That must be the physio, he decided and even though she was facing away from the door, he could hear her giving them instructions.
"Now lift again. Up!" And all the women lifted their buttocks in the air. "Not too far..." came the voice, and there was something about she spoke that seemed familiar. However, his attention was more taken by her legs. I'd have remembered them, he thought, regarding her lithe scrubs-clad figure. He knew scrubs were a hard look to pull off with any kind of style. Most people wore them like potato sacks, but some very few individuals could carry them off well. She was obviously in the latter category.
His eyes followed her as she leaned down to provide some extra support for one of the ladies. Whoever she was, she had a great ass too, he thought. As she straightened up, her face almost came into view, so he quickly pulled back, not wanting to be caught watching.

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Her last class for the day was finally over and Cass offered a few words of encouragement to each of her new mothers as they folded up their mats. "Try to do a set of pelvic tilts on your back at least once a day. I know it's tempting to do them on the bed, but you'll get a better result if you use a towel or mat on the floor, I promise you." She clapped her hands. "I'm sorry we've run a bit over time, but for those of you who are still here tomorrow, I'm offering a baby massage class at 11. It's brilliant for settling your babies down, so do try to make it if you can..."
The women started to file out of the door.
She caught Jools Miller's eye and smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure your baby will be out of the special care nursery soon and you'll be able to do all of this stuff with her."
Jools sighed. "Yes, but my doctor wants to discharge me home without her."
"But you'll be coming in for feeds, won't you?"
"Oh yes, but it will seem strange to be leaving Eloise behind." She hung back a moment longer and murmured so quietly that Cass had to strain to hear. "Sometimes I'm so jealous of all these other mothers. They have it so easy. They get to have their babies with them all the time and leave hospital together. I'm not even able to feed her. When do I get to start being a mother?"
Cass nodded sympathetically. " Yes, they get all the fun stuff too – like the sleepless nights and the poohey nappies too."
"I know I shouldn't complain. But you've been so kind to me throughout my stay here, I knew you'd understand."
Touched, Cass replied. "I do, and I agree, it sucks. All I can say is be patient. Your baby is receiving the best of care here, and she'll be home with you in no time."
Jools' eyes became suspiciously moist. "Thanks. " She reached for a handkerchief and grimaced. "I hate how my emotions are so up in the air. I'm sure it's the pregnancy hormones in my system," and she dabbed at her eyes She stiffened suddenly at a movement outside the door. "Oh, I nearly forgot. I was expecting a visitor."
"Don't let me keep you." Cass said, as they moved towards the door together.
Jools suddenly grinned at her and seized her hand as they entered the hallway. "Let me introduce you to my brother."
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If jaws could drop, literally as well as figuratively, Cass would have been scraping her chin off the floor. Jool's brother was him! That incredibly hot biker from the café. And judging from the look on his face, he'd recognised her too.
Jools hand tightened on hers as Cass tried to pull away. "Cass, I'd like you to meet my brother Urs. He's come all the way from the coast just to be here with me."
Urs stood with his arms crossed over his chest and regarded the woman in front of him. It was her! The strange girl he'd seen that first morning in town. The one with the great walk. But why was she looking at him like that? Was it something about the way he looked? Was she judging him in his scruffy bike gear? Feeling unaccountably peeved, he decided to give her something TO judge.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and putting on his best surly expression said nonchalantly, "Hey". And then, he winked.