The kettle is on and she is making sandwiches for our tea. I marvel at the peace surrounding the house on this brilliantly sunny morning in Cape Town. She is chattering away about her business and the ups and downs and..."I am getting pregnant in August." My head shoots up and I drop the cup I was going to fill with boiled water.
She turns to me with a dazzling smile and chirps, " Yes, old girl, you're going to be a grandmother!"
Ever since that morning I am in a daze! What kind of grandmother will I be? Will this be a second chance to get 'mothering' right? What if she doesn't know what to do with the baby -( is this wishful thinking?) She already dotes on two dogs and two cats - I mean, where is there going to be TIME for a baby!
I don't want to be a babysitter - I will supervise the nanny....Oh goodness! Where will we find a suitable nanny? This is how it will probably develop.
" Good morning, Madam"
"Good morning, Whoever, please take a shower immediately with dettol to get rid of the germs you brought in from the taxi. And brush your teeth. The surgical gloves are here and the cap and facemask. Remember not to sneeze or cough. And don not breathe into the baby's face, and...oh. You know, just go home. Go home! Get out!"