The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella. Carol Marinelli

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      Even if Merida hadn’t been her friend, Naomi would have been aware of that fact. The Devereuxes were a hugely powerful family and Jobe’s health woes had reached the press in England.

      Naomi just wanted to make these precious first weeks as peaceful and as calm as she could for the new mother and baby, and would do whatever she could to ensure that.

      The car was warm and despite the stop-start traffic it was lulling, and as they drove through a long tunnel Naomi resisted the urge to rest her head on the window and close her eyes. But, given she’d had to be at Heathrow so early, she hadn’t slept last night, neither had she slept on the plane, and as the traffic backed up Naomi found that her eyelids grew heavy and finally she gave in.

      ‘Miss...’

      Naomi startled and opened her eyes, taking a second to gather where she was. In fact, the driver had to orientate her.

      ‘We’re at the hospital.’

      So they were.

      The private wing was incredibly warm and as she passed a couple of rooms and saw empty beds Naomi thought about how she would love to claim one and stretch out and sleep; but as she stepped into Merida’s room jet lag was completely forgotten.

      ‘Naomi!’ Merida was sitting up in bed, looking a mixture of exhausted and happy and clearly delighted by the arrival of her friend.

      ‘Merida! How are you?’

      ‘So happy. We had a girl.’

      Ethan was holding the precious bundle. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t get there to meet you,’ he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek, and was rather more friendly than Naomi had expected.

      ‘Well, you were rather busy...’ Naomi smiled.

      ‘Is Abe with you?’ he asked.

      ‘Abe?’ Naomi frowned for a second then remembered that was Abe was the elder Devereux brother. ‘No, the driver brought me. Bernard, I think...’ She was distracted then as the blanket fell back and she caught a proper glimpse of the baby. ‘Oh, my, she is gorgeous.’

      Naomi, in her line of work, saw a lot of new babies, and they were all very precious, though for Naomi there had never been one more precious than this little girl. With no relatives of her own, Merida and her very new daughter were the closest thing to family that Naomi had known.

      When Ethan handed her to Naomi she found that her eyes filled up with tears as she held the new life.

      ‘Does she have a name?’

      ‘Ava,’ Merida said. ‘We just decided.’

      ‘Oh, but it suits her. She’s completely stunning.’ Little Ava really was, with a shock of dark hair like her father, and huge dark blue eyes and a sweet little rosebud mouth. ‘How was the birth?’

      ‘It was actually wonderful.’

      When Ethan headed off to make some calls, Merida elaborated a touch. ‘Ethan was right there the whole time. Naomi, we’re okay now,’ Merida said, her eyes shining. ‘Ethan told me he loves me and that we’re going to make this marriage work.’

      Naomi rather thought it might be the emotion of the birth that had Ethan showing devotion, but of course she didn’t say that to her friend as she popped the now sleeping baby into her little crib.

      ‘How long do you think you’ll be in for?’ Naomi asked.

      ‘A couple of days. I feel terrible that you’ll have to find your own way around.’

      ‘I’m quite sure I can manage. I’ll head off soon and get in some sleep and tomorrow I might do a bit of sightseeing and buy a decent coat.’

      ‘I can’t believe you’re actually here.’ Merida beamed. ‘Naomi, I’ve got so much to tell you.’

      But it would all have to wait.

      Ethan returned at that moment and a short while later Jobe, the grandfather of little Ava, came down in a wheelchair, escorted by a nurse. And then came the photos, though not just the family kind—a professional photographer had been brought in for the occasion.

      It was clear that Jobe was very ill indeed, yet he had refused to have the baby brought up to visit him and had made a supreme effort to be a part of such an important day.

      As the photographer snapped away, even though Jobe had a nurse with him, Naomi helped too, positioning little Ava in his arms and making sure that as soon as he tired she took the baby with a smile.

      ‘Thank you,’ Jobe said, noting how she had hovered discreetly. ‘You’re Merida’s friend?’

      ‘Yes.’ Naomi nodded. ‘And also little Ava’s nanny for the next few weeks.’

      ‘Well, any friend of Merida’s is a friend of the family. It’s good to have you here, Naomi.’

      It was such a little thing. She had expected to be daunted by this powerful man, but instead they clicked on sight and he made Naomi feel very welcome and a part of it all. She was used to being the nanny and hovering in the background, but today, on her first day in New York, she’d had her picture taken while holding a tiny little baby who was new to all of this too!

      ‘Has Abe been in?’ Jobe asked, as Naomi held little Ava, who was close to falling asleep in her arms.

      Naomi might look as if she wasn’t listening, but her ears were on elastic. She knew Abe was a force to be reckoned with and wanted to get a feel for things and work out the dynamics so that she could help Merida as best she could in the weeks ahead.

      ‘Not as yet,’ Ethan said, and Naomi heard the edge to his voice. ‘I specifically asked him to pick up Naomi, but instead he sent a car.’

      ‘Well, he must have got caught up,’ Jobe suggested.

      With little Ava asleep and Merida looking like she needed the same, Naomi decided it was time to head off. ‘I’m going to go,’ she said, and gave Merida a hug and a kiss. ‘Jet lag is starting to creep in and I want that well behind me by the time you bring your little lady home.’

      ‘We’re staying at Dad’s place for now,’ Ethan explained, ‘while we have some renovations done.’

      ‘Merida told me.’ Naomi nodded. ‘It’s fine.’

      Famous last words.

      * * *

      ‘Dad’s place’ was a huge, grey stone mansion on Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park. Naomi had to pinch herself to believe that she was really here. Oh, thanks to her job she had stayed in some amazing residences, but nowhere had been nearly as grand as this.

      One of the heavy double doors was opened by a gentleman who said that they had been expecting her, and as Naomi stepped into the foyer an elderly woman came rushing over.

      ‘Naomi!’ She gave her a welcoming smile. ‘I’m Barb, Head of Housekeeping.’

      ‘It’s СКАЧАТЬ