The Meant to Be Collection

by Claire Highton-Stevenson

  “Yes, you. I can’t imagine how you are feeling about all this.”

  “I’m fine,” she lied. She didn’t intend to, she didn’t want to, but with Nicole already under enough pressure and stress, and not forgetting the pain, she didn’t need anything added. “I had a moment,” she confessed, “But, ya know, I’m fine.”

  Nicole looked at her and took her face in her hands. “I have three children that try and lie to me all the time and I’m about to have a fourth, so tell me again how fine you are?”

  Lucy had to smile at that. It was moments like this that really enforced in Lucy just how much she needed this: needed someone to see her, see through her and find the things she hid.

  “I was having some issues with flashbacks, but since being here with you they have lessened, and physically I am fine.” She smiled shyly and watched as Nicole nodded and then grimaced as a new contraction shot through her. She needed to walk, so she began to pace, back and forth across the room with Lucy by her side, supporting her elbow.

  “Can I do anything?” Lucy asked. Never having been in this position before, she found it daunting.

  “In a minute you can rub my back please, but...” She took in a deep breath and released it slowly. “Right now I just need to...” She moaned loudly and swore a few times. “Get through this.” She sat back on the edge of the bed and took Lucy’s hand. “I have done this twice already. Don’t look so scared. I don’t think it is going to be much longer.”

  “I love you,” Lucy said to her as sincerely as she could, because she meant it. “I…I didn’t think I could ever be this happy. Thank you.” They held each other’s gaze.

  “Holy fuck,” Nicole screamed. “Oh god, I need to push. Get the nurse,” she shouted at Lucy. Eyes wide and ready for action, Lucy was on the move, grabbing the door and yanking it open before calling out for the nurse.

  Chapter Fifty

  Twenty-five minutes later and Nicole pushed into the world a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

  Nicole was exhausted. Lucy was excited, and the baby was unaware of any of the fuss he had caused. He was taken to the NICU to be kept an eye on for 24 hours, just to make sure there were no complications, but only after he had been introduced to his two mamas. He had nestled contentedly upon Nicole’s chest, doing skin to skin bonding, and he had gripped Lucy’s finger tightly in his tiny hand.

  While he was being settled into his tiny incubator, Lucy was calling Rita and speaking to the girls on speakerphone.

  “Can we see the baby?” Rain shouted. Apparently if the phone wasn’t against your ear, then you had to shout.

  “Yes!” Lucy said excitedly, “You have a baby brother. And he is gorgeous and looks just like you all.” She could hear a lot of excited chatter from them all as they shouted and squealed about a baby boy.

  “How is Nicole?” asked Rita over the rumpus.

  “She is good, they are just, uh, ya know, fixing her up,” she said quietly, some things could and would remain private.

  “That’s great Lucy, I am so happy for you all, and I can’t wait to meet the little man.”

  “Okay, I got to get back to Nic. I’ll call you when we know what is happening next,” she said, saying bye to them all by name before switching off the call and heading back into Nicole’s room. She pushed at the door gently and slowly opened it. She could already see that Nicole was sleeping, so she crept in quietly and pulled the small armchair nearer to the bed and sat down. Finding her phone once more, she started flicking through the photographs that she had taken of Nicole with the baby.

  She couldn’t wipe the grin off of her face as she sent one to Rita to show the girls. Then she closed her eyes and let herself relax.

  ~E&F~

  Lucy awoke to the feeling of fingers being pulled gently through her hair. She smiled to herself as she realised it was her lover. Sitting up, she found loving eyes staring softly at her.

  “Hi there, sleeping beauty,” Nicole said, smiling at her. She looked cute, all dishevelled and sleepy. She ran a finger across her forehead, gingerly skirting the new injury before cupping her cheek. Lucy raised her own hand and pressed it gently over Nicole’s. She could feel the warmth and love in that one touch.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Sore and tired, but other than that, I am all good,” she said. “They said I can go home in a few hours.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “Because you needed to sleep too.”

  “I haven’t just pushed our child out into the world.” She smiled at the mere mention of our child. She still had to pinch herself sometimes. It felt like her life had been one long dream, a nightmare really, and then, she had woken up and found she was a mother to four beautiful children. It was surreal.

  “No, but you have just been in a car accident and had our other children to deal with, not to mention the stress of dealing with me. I had drugs to get me through.” She laughed. Lucy’s face fell at the mention of the accident. “Wanna talk about it?”

  “Yes, but it’s not what you think.” She swallowed and tried to think of words to explain about the accident.

  “It’s okay, you can tell me anything, you know that.”

  Lucy nodded. “I know…it’s just, it wasn’t an accident.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Lucy sighed. “It was Paul.”

  “What?”

  “It was Paul, he drove his truck at us on purpose. He rammed us and pushed us off the road.”

  Nicole began to panic. “We need to get the girls…get out of here. Where is he?”

  “Nicole.” She placed a hand on her arm. “He can’t hurt us. He’s dead.”

  “Dead? How?”

  “He was watching us, but I needed to get to the top of the hill to call for an ambulance. So, I started climbing, I thought I’d have to fight him, but his phone rang and then the engine started and so I figured he was leaving. When I got to the top and staggered to my feet, he…he drove at me.”

  Nicole gasped and began to weep.

  “It’s okay, he didn’t hit me.” Lucy didn’t point out how obvious it was that she was fine. “I jumped out of the way, but he couldn’t stop. The car went over the edge and well… Sheriff Jenkins said he was dead on impact.”

  “I can’t believe it…Why? Why would he want to…to kill the…he must have known the girls were in the car!”

  “He was a sick bastard, Nicole.”

  Nicole continued to cry, silent tears that slid slowly down her cheeks. Not tears for him; she was glad he was gone. But she was sad that she was happy about it, that he had turned her into the kind of woman who would be happy at someone else’s demise. She was angry with him, angry for all the years of hurt and pain and now, for wanting her children harmed, or worse. “I want to see him.”

  “Paul?” Lucy was surprised but not shocked that she might want to. He was a like a demon that invaded your dreams. When you woke up, you were never quite sure if he was still there.

  “No, God no. I never want to see him again,” she insisted. “The baby, I want to see our baby.” She smiled, feeling an overwhelming need to hold him and check all his fingers and toes were intact.

  “Okay…” Lucy grinned. “So, do you want me to wheel you around to see him now?” she said, beaming at the idea.

  “Yes, let me grab a quick shower first though and then we can go and see him.”

  “Are you allowed to do that?” Lucy questioned. She assumed Nicole would be bed-ridden for a few days while she recovered.

  “Yep, a warm shower is allowed, but I do need someone to come in with me…just in case.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “So, shall I get a nurse…or?”

  “No need to bother them, they’re pretty busy out there.” Lucy grinned, jumping to her feet to help. “Here, take my hand.” She led her slowly to the small room off to the side that housed a toilet and shower. Nicole shrugged off the hospital nightgown. Even after giving birth just an hour or so earl
ier, Lucy still thought she was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

  The shower was quick. Nicole had winced a few times and that had put Lucy into protective mode. She dried her off and helped her dress in her own clothes again.

  Lucy wheeled her around the corridors slowly, turn after turn, up in the elevator one floor and round one last corner until they came to the big window where they could see him. He was in the 3rd incubator from the left.

  “He is so tiny,” Lucy said in awe. A tuft of dark hair in the centre of his head was dark as night, just like his mother’s. He had a tiny button nose and he was smiling as he wriggled around in his swaddling.

  “I know, the twins were as small too, but they were full term.”

  The nurse waved from inside the room and beckoned them in. Lucy felt like she hadn’t stopped smiling for days. Her cheeks actually hurt and she loved it.

  He is due for his feeding soon and I am sure he would rather his momma fed him than a bottle,” the nurse said sympathetically.

  Really?” Nicole almost cried. They followed the nurse through to a smaller, more private space, where she left them for a moment to go and bring the incubator with their baby in to them. Opening it up and lifting him gently, she placed him in Lucy’s arms while Nicole undid her shirt and freed her breast, ready to take him.

  After passing him over to her, Lucy bent and kissed her. “He is just like you, beautiful.”

  “He is,” she agreed “He needs a name though.”

  “Have you thought of anything yet?” Lucy asked.

  “Actually, I have,” she said, smiling as he latched onto her nipple.

  “That’s the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen,” Lucy said, watching them both. “So, what name did you think of?”

  “Wynter.” She laughed. “Wynter Alexander.”

  “I like it, why those names though?”

  “Well, Wynter because of the timing, it was really cold out there today and it matches with the girls.” She chuckled. “And Alexander, after you.” Lucy looked confused at that. “It means defender, that’s what you are to him, to all of us. Our defender.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes. “Wow, I…I don’t know what to say. I’m honoured.” She truly was speechless.

  Holding Wynter in one arm, Nicole reached for Lucy with her free hand. “Without you, this child would be like my others, living in fear. Without you, they would have no understanding of love from anyone else but me. Without you, I would have no life worth living.”

  “Welcome to the family, Wynter Alexander,” Lucy said proudly. “I think you’re going to be the happiest little boy in the world when you meet your sisters and Auntie Rita.”

  He definitely is.” Nicole smiled. “Just like his momma.

  Epilogue

  Christmas brought with it more snow, but there was nothing cold about Lucy Owen’s life anymore. She had a house full of love, and the warmth of that alone would have kept her happy for a lifetime. There was laughter and music again. There had been a moment of upset when Nicole had explained to the girls what had happened to their father. There were tears from the twins, but Storm had kept her trembling chin under control. Though hours later, she too had finally succumbed to sobbing her little heart out.

  Wynter had come home with them on Christmas Eve. He had spent almost a week in the NICU, but every day he grew stronger. He was breathing unaided and feeding without any concerns, and so the Granger/Owen family was complete in time for Santa visiting. For Lucy though, Wynter was the best present she could have ever asked for.

  Christmas morning was a blur. Rain and Summer had had them all up and awake at just after sunrise, bouncing on the bed, shouting that Santa was here and pleading with everyone to wake up. It made Lucy smile to see them so excited.

  Lucy had stayed up till after midnight the previous night. She placed all the presents from Santa under the tree, took a bite out of all three cookies and drank a glass of milk. She was reminded of her own childhood, leaving mince pies and a glass of sherry for Santa and carrots for Rudolph. Maybe next year she would see if she could make some mince pies. She put the carrots back in the fridge and then walked outside in her boots and trod in fresh snow all the way to the tree. Then she slipped the boots off and carried them back to the door, where she dropped them. In the morning Santa’s footprints would just about be visible as melted snow left tiny puddles.

  Wynter had them awake around three, hungry and in need of a change. Nicole and Lucy had agreed that breast was best, but for night time feeds, Nicole would express and Lucy would take her turn bonding with him. So, it was Lucy that woke to deal with him. She had never really understood what being tired meant before now, but she was determined to let Nicole sleep whenever possible.

  Every toy unwrapped brought a new shrill of excitement and more jumping around. It was exciting for everyone. The place was a mess. Discarded wrapping paper and cardboard boxes littered the living room floor, but Lucy didn’t care.

  The TV was on, and A Christmas Carol was playing. Storm sat on the couch with half an eye on it. While Lucy herded the twins into helping her pick up all the rubbish, Nicole sat down beside her eldest, holding Wynter in her arms. Storm looked up and smiled, her attention now completely on her little brother.

  “Hello Wyn,” she said, ticking his chin. He wriggled and kicked out his chubby legs.

  “Wanna hold him?” Storm nodded and Nicole gently placed him into Storm’s waiting arms. He looked much bigger in her smaller arms. “He definitely likes you.” Nicole said, and Storm grinned back. She had lost a tooth a couple of days ago and now had a gappy smile. Nicole snuggled up to her and they watched the film together for a while.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes, Storm?” Scrooge was currently being scared witless by the ghost of Christmas past.

  “We’re not going to leave here, are we?”

  “No, baby. Why would you think that?” Nicole paused the TV and turned towards Storm. Her dark eyes filled with tears as they looked up at her mother.

  “Cos daddy isn’t here anymore. We can go home.”

  Nicole hadn’t considered that option at all. It was true, they had a house there, but they had a home here. “We’re not going back, Storm. I will make arrangements for our things to be brought here to us. But, our home is here now, with Lucy.” She reached out and cupped her palm under Storm’s chin, “That’s what you want, right?”

  Storm nodded, and Wynter began to mewl and wriggle in her arms. She looked down at him and smiled. “I think he wants Rain.”

  On hearing her name, Rain promptly dropped the trash bag she was holding and ran across the room to the couch, skidding to a halt by her sister’s feet.

  “Hey Wyn.” Nicole chuckled; it was funny how they all seemed to have shortened his name. “Shall I tell you a story?” His eyes opened wide as he stared up at the voice he seemed to love the most. His little feet kicked harder, and Nicole moved to make room for her to join them on the couch. When she was settled, Storm passed Wynter along. Rain began her story about three little girls and how happy they were to finally have a little brother. Lucy and Summer wandered over. Lucy slid into the space left behind Nicole. The darker of the two turned and smiled over her shoulder at her lover. Summer climbed up onto her lap and they all listened as Rain explained that happy ever afters always happened.

  You just had to wish hard enough for it.

  Forget it

  Claire Highton-Stevenson

  Copyright © 2019 Claire Highton-Stevenson

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 9781091679429

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Without those who support us, who would we be?

  Michelle Arnold

  T
eam ItsClaStevOfficial:

  Kim, Miira, Carol, Pam, Nic, Frankie, Mari.

  My beautiful wife, Louise.

  The friends who keep me grounded, while boosting my confidence and encouraging me to live this dream!

  And the guys and gals at Costa coffee, who keep me sufficiently caffeinated while I write.

  Prologue

  She wants her.

  It’s that simple.

  It’s the only thought in her head as she stands at the bar watching her. The music is loud, loud enough to drown out any real thoughts of conversation, not that that it matters as she sips the last of her drink. The lights are colourful and bouncing around the walls like fireflies on a hot summer’s night in the Bintan Island Mangroves in Indonesia, on a boat floating down the Sebung River. She’d spent a week there once on leave, back when the British Army made decisions for her time.

  None of it matters now though. All of that feels like a lifetime away. Her attention is held; her future awaits.

  Brooke Chambers has watched her from the moment she entered the club: the blonde that now sits by herself at a table for four, radiating elegance.

  She’s average in height, much like Brooke herself, but she wears heels that accentuate perfectly toned calves and give her an inch or two edge in stature. She was dressed for the office maybe, in a short black skirt that reaches just about the level of decency above her knees. There was something sexy about a woman of a certain age who knew how to dress herself well.

  She’s drinking a long glass of something colourful and filled with ice. The tendon and muscle in her arm flex as she lifts the glass to her mouth. Kissable lips just touch the rim of the glass as she takes a sip. She savours the flavour and then places the glass back down on the table, pushing it forward slightly with the tip of her index finger until it is safe and away from the edge.