‘Hello, Miss Durant.’ Molly wiped her hand on her apron and held it out, smiling. ‘Hi, Joanna. I hear you went to a party last night. Did you have a good time?’
‘I certainly did. Nice to meet you, Molly.’ Jo shook the hand and sniffed the air. ‘Wow! Something smells wonderful.’
‘I hope you like turkey.’ Molly turned to Kate. ‘I’ve laid the table in here because the boss said it would be easier for you. Everything’s ready. The turkey’s in the warming oven with the vegetables, but the gravy should be heated through before you dish up.’
Kate handed her a carrier bag. ‘Thank you, Molly. This is for you—just a little joke present to mark the occasion.’
The girl flushed with pleasure, stammering her thanks as she received a chocolate egg inscribed Molly and, after instructions about ice cream in the freezer and a plate of treats for Bran in the refrigerator, the young cook wished them all a happy day and went home to her family.
‘I’ll show you the rest of the house after lunch, Jo,’ said Jack, ‘but I think we’d better eat now if the meal’s ready.’
‘You pour the wine, and I’ll carve,’ said his father, as Kate turned the heat up under the gravy. He took the turkey from the warming oven and put it on the table, then handed the oven gloves to Joanna. ‘You can put the vegetable dishes on the table, love.’
Kate had been utterly convinced beforehand that she wouldn’t be able to eat a thing, but in Jack’s large, welcoming kitchen, with Jo so obviously enjoying herself, she relaxed and tucked into turkey and stuffing and roast potatoes with as much gusto as her child, who obviously considered Bran’s presence in his bed the crowning touch to the meal.
‘So tell us about the party,’ said Jack, when Jo was into a second helping.
‘It was just brilliant! In London I always felt like the odd one out at neighbours’ parties because I’m away at school. But Josh and Leo made sure I knew everyone right from the start and they were all friendly so I had a really good time.’
‘Did you dance a lot?’ asked Tom.
‘They don’t dance, Dad,’ teased Jack. ‘They just prance around together.’
‘We do dance,’ said Jo indignantly, and smiled at him sweetly. ‘It’s just different from the minuets and things they did in your day.’
‘Toucheé,’ chuckled Tom Logan as Jack threw back his head and laughed, utterly delighted with his daughter.
‘Cheeky!’ said Kate, grinning.
‘Josh and Leo asked if I could go to the cinema with them on Tuesday,’ announced Jo, with a sideways look at Kate. ‘Mrs Carey will bring them in and their dad will collect them from Park Crescent afterwards. If that’s all right with you?’
Not daring to meet Jack’s eyes, Kate agreed that it would be perfectly all right.
‘Thanks, Kate. I met lots of people last night but I like Josh and Leo best,’ added Jo. ‘Because they’re adopted, like me, I suppose. Did you know Mrs Carey was a twin?’ she asked Jack.
‘No—no, I didn’t,’ he said, and swallowed the rest of his wine.
‘They prefer one of the parents to be a twin if they want to adopt twins,’ Joanna informed the company at large.
Kate exchanged a wild look with Jack. ‘Whendid Elizabeth tell you that you were adopted, Jo?’
‘A long time ago, when I was in nursery school. She said other mothers had to take whatever baby God gave them, but she’d chosen me because I was special.’ Joanna eyed her in surprise. ‘You must have known about it.’
‘Yes,’ managed Kate. ‘I knew. But Elizabeth never mentioned that she’d told you.’
Tom Logan shifted uneasily in his seat, and Kate smiled at him reassuringly. ‘You look tired.’
‘I didn’t sleep much last night. Overdid the golf again,’ he said unconvincingly.
‘Jo didn’t sleep enough last night, either,’ said Kate as she got up to clear away plates. ‘She found me walking in my sleep, so we had tea and hot chocolate in the middle of the night to recover.’
‘It was all right,’ said Jo, picking up a vegetable dish. ‘Mummy told me that Kate did that sometimes, so I knew what was happening.’
‘Pretty scary for you, just the same,’ said Jack, meeting Kate’s eyes.
‘I’ve got something for you, Joanna,’ said Tom, getting up. ‘Come
with me—yes, Bran, you can come too.’