Necessary as Blood

pointed at each dog in turn. ‘They can do tricks. Would you like to see?‘
    Charlotte peeped out from Gemma‘s shoulder and gave a very small nod.
    Kit put the dogs in a sit, then a down. He had Geordie lift a paw to shake hands, and Tess roll over. The little terrier looked so comical with all four legs straight up in the air and her shaggy face upside down that Gemma thought she felt Charlotte begin to giggle. But when Kit asked her if she‘d like to shake Geordie‘s paw, she shook her head and clutched Gemma more tightly.
    ‘Oh, dear.‘ Gemma shifted Charlotte a little more securely onto her hip. ‘Maybe we should put the dogs out for a bit until she gets used to us, at least. And I don‘t know what we‘ll do for dinner — I never got to the shops. I thought I was going to visit Gran at the hospital, but they sent her home this afternoon.‘
    ‘Is she better, then?‘ asked Kit.
    ‘Yes, she‘s feeling much better.‘ Gemma didn‘t mention that Vi had sounded exhausted at the prospect of going home. ‘We‘ll go see her at the weekend.‘
    ‘Pizza, pizza for dinner,‘ Toby chanted.
    Duncan groaned. ‘I‘m going to turn into a pizza.‘
    ‘Are not,‘ said Toby.
    ‘Oh, yes I am.‘ Duncan patted his middle. ‘Or at least I‘ll be as round as one.‘
    ‘I can make us omelettes,‘ offered Kit. ‘We have eggs and cheese, and some mushrooms. And I think there‘s a tomato. The last time I was at Otto‘s, Wes taught me to flip omelettes in the pan. I‘ve been practising with dried beans.‘
    ‘That sounds dangerous,‘ Gemma said, laughing, ‘but delicious. Can we watch?‘
    Kit grinned. ‘Only if you say, "Yes, Chef.‘”
    ‘Mushrooms are disgusting! Toby made a face and stuck out his tongue.
    ‘Pirates eat mushrooms,‘ Duncan told him, with great seriousness.
    ‘Do not.‘
    ‘Do, too. That‘s what makes their teeth black.‘ Toby‘s eyes grew big. ‘Really? Will they make mine black, too?‘
    ‘Only if you eat enough of them.‘ Duncan tousled his hair. ‘Give the dogs biscuits and put them in the study for a bit, sport. We‘ll see if Miss Charlotte likes cats.‘

    Gemma sat at the kitchen table with Charlotte in her lap while Kit, with Duncan acting as sous-chef, assembled the ingredients for omelettes and salad. Toby, having put the dogs in the study, ran through the house looking for Sid, who had disappeared with typical feline alacrity when wanted.
    After a few minutes, Gemma felt Charlotte begin to relax, then the little girl squirmed round so that she had a better view of Kit.
    ‘You are an absolute rock star in the kitchen, Kit,‘ Gemma said admiringly as he deftly chopped mushrooms and tomato. ‘You‘d better be careful or you‘ll set a precedent. You‘re a much better cook than I am.‘
    Kit grinned at her, colouring a little. His cheeks were already flushed from the heat. ‘I just watch Wes.‘
    ‘You could give your dad lessons,‘ she teased Duncan.
    ‘Hey,‘ Duncan protested, flicking a tea towel at her. ‘I‘ve made an omelette. I can scramble eggs, and grill things, and, God forbid, order pizza.‘
    ‘Lame, very lame,‘ said Kit cheekily.
    But when the first omelette was bubbling in the pan, Kit‘s courage failed. ‘We only have just enough eggs,‘ he said, frowning. ‘Maybe I‘ll just turn them with a spatula.‘
    ‘That‘s probably a good idea,‘ Gemma agreed, not wanting him to dent his pride, or donate someone‘s omelette to the dogs. ‘We‘ll buy extra eggs next time so that you can practise.‘
    While Kit whisked eggs and swirled them in the omelette pan, Duncan laid the table, tossed the salad and corralled and scrubbed Toby. As everyone sat down, Gemma still held Charlotte on her knee, but loosely. The child was sitting up, gazing from one boy to the other as if they were the most fascinating creatures she‘d ever seen, but she still hadn‘t spoken.
    Then, when Gemma made the first cut into her golden, cheese-oozing omelette, Charlotte reached out and said clearly, precisely, ‘I want shrooms.‘

    Gemma fed Charlotte bites of her omelette, talking softly to her as the boys chattered. When they‘d finished — Toby having eaten his mushrooms with a great show of fortitude — Duncan cleared the plates. ‘Let‘s leave the washing up for later, when it‘s cooler, and take Charlotte into the garden while there‘s still light,‘ he suggested. ‘Maybe she‘d like to swing.‘
    The house had its own garden, separated from