That bloody woman. There was something about her that pissed Bernie off and yet she still couldn't stop thinking about her. Admittedly Bernie was less than thrilled about this relationship their teenagers had gotten into but she wasn't about to side with Serena bloody Campbell about it anytime soon. Elinor could be a little madam and Bernie was under no illusion as to where she'd got it from. She tried to tell Cam her concerns but he just blocked her, told her that Elinor was great, you haven't tried to get to know her and stop interfering.
But the hope that they'd come to their senses vanished one misty morning when the announcement shocked them out of their self-absorbed little bubbles.
Both mothers exclaimed in shock at the thought of this situation becoming permanent but there was no turning back now, there was a grandchild on the way.
'This is ridiculous' Serena said, pacing up and down. 'They're too young.' Bernie looked at her equivalent; impatient, charming, arrogant and felt her heart drop into her boots. Serena Campbell; top publisher and harsh critic, wearer of red heels and crusher of egos was a formidable competitor and Bernie braced herself.
'They'll be 21 soon' she remarked.
The woman in question turned to look at the other mother. Shy and reserved with a stubborn streak that Serena recognised. They shared that in common, even though Berenice Wolfe hid it well, keeping her cards close to her chest and after having met her several times over the space of a year, Serena still found it difficult to decide what she thought of her. They'd butted heads at first sight and they were still sniping at each other now.
She proved to have good taste in coffee though. That was something at least. What were they to do, sit in the kitchen sharing a French press of strong hot coffee while their children battled with their own child in the background. Is that what grandmothers did these days? Serena tried to dismiss the vision.
'Do you really think that matters? They'll hardly be wiser in a few months' she snapped.
'They've got to be if they're going to be parents' Bernie reasoned.
Serena was not convinced.