"So are you gonna let me in or what?" Zoe smiled.
"Come here!" Kat said as she pulled her in and hugged her tight, "come on in," she told her as she closed the door and led her in the front room.
"sorry about the mess," Kat added as she removed some baby toys and blankies off the sofa to make room for Zoe to sit, "the twins' stuff colonised the place…"
"Twins?" Zoe asked surprised, as she sat down on the sofa beside Kat, "I remember you telling me about Tommy but…"
"Yeah… Alfie and I had twin boys a couple of months ago, I'll show them to ya when they wake up for their next feed, they're hardly sleeping lately so it's best not to wake 'em up.." Kat blabbed about, "anyway enough about me, what about you? all grown up and looking smart," Kat told her observing Zoe's fine suit.
"Yeah, I run my own company now, that's why I came here, we're opening up a business branch here in London, not very far away from here, so I thought I'd pop by and say hello…" Zoe said with a smile.
"Aw that's amazin' Zoe, I'm really proud of ya…" she smiled at Zoe, "Alfie, come down, look who it is!" Kat yelled out.
"Who could be that imp-" Alfie cut off his sentence when he walked into the living room and saw Zoe again, "Wow Zoe…long time no see…"
"It's amazing ain't it? Alfie go stick the kettle on!" Kat told him. Alfie did as he was told.
"So back to you… you're living alone?" Kat asked her daughter.
"Well actually, I'm with this bloke, we run the company together… we've been together for like 8 months now," Zoe explained.
"oh wow, impressive! So go on, what do you know about him?" Kat asked her intrigued.
Alfie, wearing his black leather jacket over his shirt and jeans, walked into the room, "Kat, listen I'm off to the job centre because I'll be late, I'll pick up Tommy from nursery on my way back yeah?" Alfie told her as he kissed her forehead.
"See ya later then," Kat told him.
"See ya Zo, nice seeing you again," Alfie said before he left.
"and you," Zoe replied.
"well his name is Adam, he's five years older than me, he's loaded! And.. we're getting married!" Zoe exclaimed as she showed her mum the ring.
"wow that's quite a rock! Well if you're sure of it…" Kat told her, "come on into the kitchen, I think I can hear the kettle boil,"
Zoe followed Kat into the kitchen, "wait there's more,"
"what else?" Kat asked her as she poured two teas.
"I'm pregnant!" Zoe exclaimed after she sat down.
"What?!" Kat asked, surprised as she handed her a tea, "really?!"
"Yep, it's early days, we haven't old anyone yet but I'm too excited to keep it in! plus Adam thinks we should wait till after the wedding to tell…" Zoe explained.
"What does he want then? To wait till you start showing?" Kat said as she took a sip of tea.
"Not that long… the wedding's next month…" Zoe added.
"What? Are you serious?" Kat asked as she widened her eyes.
"Yeah! I came to give you this…" Zoe said as she took out a white envelope out of her bag and handed it to Kat. Kat opened it and observed the wedding invite.
"so you and this bloke… you hardly known him that long… don't you think it's happening a bit too fast? You're not getting married because of the baby, are ya?" Kat asked Zoe as she put the envelope down.
"Mum, I've only been back half an hour and already you're judging me!" Zoe said with a frown.
"Zoe I'm not judging you, I just want what's best for ya, that's all…" Kat reassured her as she placed her hand over Zoe's.
"Mum, I love him, I really do, and no, we planned the wedding a few months ago, we didn't know I was pregnant… and you can't really say much… you were going to do the same with Andy…" Zoe added.
"Zoe, Andy was a mistake. I didn't marry him, did I?" Kat told her.
"Yeah but because you loved Alfie… Adam is the only one for me, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, I know what I want…" Zoe told her mum as she looked her in the eye.
"Well if you're happy then I'm happy I suppose… I just can't believe I'm gonna be grandma!" Kat said as they both burst out laughing.
"I already asked Dad, but I want you to give me away as well… lots of brides have both their parents walk them down the aisle…" Zoe pleaded.
"Really Zoe, you want me?" Kat asked surprised but happy.
"Yeah I really do… please?" Zoe added.
"I'd be happy to…" Kat smiled, as she stood up and hugged her.
"Do you want to see the twins now?" Kat asked Zoe, "come on they're upstairs…" she told Zoe as she followed her out.
"So you're still living here then? Exactly as I remember…" Zoe said as they walked up the stairs.
"Yeah not sure for how long though…" Kat replied.
"What do you mean?" Zoe asked, confused.
"Well Alfie is out of job, ever since the twins arrived we've been struggling a bit…" Kat said as she opened the nursery's door.
"Oh…" Zoe uttered.
"Here they are… mummy's gorgeous boys!" Kat exclaimed, as she saw both twins in their cot awake but quiet, "and they're not crying for a change!"
"Aw mum, they're adorable…" Zoe smiled at them both.
"This one is Bert… and this is Ernie" Kat said smiling.
"Hello you… you know you have the best mummy in the world, just like she was to me," Zoe smiled at the twins.
"Aw Zo," Kat said almost crying.
"I love you mum," Zoe said as she hugged her mother.
Kat wiped her tears, "you know I'd give you some baby stuff, but with the twins, not only I had to use Tommy's stuff but we had to buy double the stuff,"
"Don't worry about it, mum, I understand, in fact…" Zoe said, as she took out her cheque book and written something. She tore it out and handed it to Kat.
"Here take it, consider it a gift…." Zoe told her.
Kat read it, amazed but gave it back, "No, I can't take money from you… and we're not talking a quid or two here… twenty grand? I can't accept that kind of money…"
"Mum, I insist. Adam is a millionaire, twenty grand is peanuts for him…. I wouldn't give it to you if I can't afford it…" Zoe insisted.
"No Zoe, I can't!" Kat said as she walked out of the nursery.
"Mum, please… take it…" Zoe said as she walked out after her, "Dad told me you were struggling, I only want to help you… please…" she told her as she handed out the cheque.
Kat paused. "I'm only doing this for the boys, no one else…" Kat said in tears.
"Come here," Zoe told her mum, as she handed her the cheque and hugged her, "I should get going, I have a meeting soon," Zoe said.
"Can't you wait a bit longer, Alfie will be back with Tommy soon and you can even say hi to Nan," Kat begged.
"I really can't… next time yeah?" Zoe said.
"So you'll be sticking around then?" Kat asked, as they both walked downstairs.
"Yeah, we'll be living in central London now," Zoe said as she put on her coat.
"It's really nice seeing you again, Zoe… and if you need any help with the wedding, I'm here for ya, like you helped with mine and Alfie's…" Kat added.
"I'll love that, thanks mum!" she said as she hugged her mum, one last time and left.
Kat closed the front door and smiled.
To be continued...
Next time: Alfie comes back from the job centre and Mo comes back from town, but how is Kat going to tell them about Zoe?