Emergency at the Royal. Joanna Neil

helped to undo all the packaging and hand out the various pieces, while Becky helped Reece to set up the train and track system. Reece’s face was animated, his blue eyes shining, and Katie watched him with affection as he bent over the train set. His friends quickly gathered around him.

      Luke came and stood by her side, and said quietly, ‘I’m glad you were able to come today, Katie. I wasn’t sure whether you would be working, but Reece wanted you to be here for his party.’

      ‘I wanted to be here, too, so I arranged to swap shifts with Craig.’ She smiled, glancing across the room. ‘From the looks of things, Reece is having a wonderful time.’ His fair hair was shining, illuminated by the sunshine that poured in through the living-room window.

      Luke nodded. ‘Becky wanted to make it special for him, and she worked hard to make sure that everything would be just right. She was on her feet all morning, preparing the food, while I was at work. I’m a bit worried that she’s been doing too much, though. She doesn’t look too well, does she?’

      ‘I thought she was quite pale,’ Katie said. Becky was fair-haired like her son, and she had a washed-out look about her today, as though something was not quite right. ‘Is she still getting those same abdominal pains?’

      ‘I think so. She doesn’t tell me very much because she doesn’t want to worry me. What do you think I should do?’

      ‘I imagine the best thing would be for you to persuade her to have a word with her doctor or her obstetrician. If she’s having any problems at all, I think she needs to get it checked out. Was everything all right at her last hospital appointment?’

      ‘She said it was.’

      ‘If I were in your shoes, I would get her to go and see the doctor in the next day or so, and perhaps you should go along with her. You can’t be too careful. She’s five months pregnant, isn’t she?’

      Before Luke could answer, Reece got to his feet and came over to them. ‘Look, Daddy, look, Auntie Katie,’ he said, waving his wooden train high in the air. ‘Watch this. It goes over the bridge and through the tunnel.’

      Katie went to take a look, squatting down to follow the train’s progress as it raced along the track. Her brother followed. Parts of the track were raised up above the carpet, sloping, so that the wagons gathered speed as they went downhill. ‘So it does,’ Katie said approvingly. ‘It’s good, isn’t it?’

      ‘It goes well fast,’ Reece said, looking pleased. He showed his friends, and even allowed one of the little boys to put another train on the track.

      ‘You’ve quite a crowd here today,’ Katie said to Becky.

      Becky had been crouching on the carpet next to Reece, but now she got to her feet, wincing a little from the effort. ‘We have. I’m glad so many of his friends were able to come today.’

      ‘Do you want to go and sit down?’ Katie asked, concerned that Becky was in some discomfort. ‘You don’t look too well, and I can take over for you, if you like. Just tell me what needs to be done and you can sit and supervise.’

      Becky looked doubtful. ‘Are you sure? I really feel as though I ought to be part of everything that’s going on but I am feeling a bit under the weather today.’

      ‘Of course I’m sure, and you’ll still be in the middle of everything. Just tell me what you need me to do.’

      ‘Thanks,’ Becky said. ‘I thought they could have a game of Musical Chairs. At least I could work the music from my chair.’

      ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll get the children organised and set everything up for you.’

      Katie watched over the children for the next half-hour or so, and later, as she was serving out jelly and ice cream, Luke came to lend a hand and chatted with her.