My Forever

by J. L. Perry

  I look around at everyone at the table. It is nice to see them all smiling for a change. I’m lucky to have such a great family. I look over at my beautiful wife and daughter, and smile. I love them both so much, and looking at them makes me realise just how lucky I am that things turned out the way they have. I hate to think what would have happened to us as a family if the truth hadn’t come out today.

  After we all eat, laugh, and have a few drinks, I decide it is time for my toast. Everyone is talking amongst themselves so I tap my fork on my glass to get their attention. I stand up. “I would just like to say that I am thankful for the wonderful family and friends that I have. I’m sure you all know how much you mean to me, and I could never thank you all enough for the support you have all given me during this trying time.

  “Firstly, to my father… Thank you for coming out of retirement and running my business for me while I was unable to. We may not have always been close, but I have always looked up to you. I am proud to say that you are my father.

  “To my uncle and Mike… You two have put your lives on hold to help get the outcome we got today. You left no stone unturned and I will be forever grateful.

  “To my mum and Jill… Thank you for taking such good care of my two girls during all this. We couldn’t have done this without you both.

  “To Michelle, my beautiful sister… Thank you for looking after the studio like it was your own. I’m sure Brooke would agree that we are both very grateful for everything you do for us.

  “To my dear Claire… I am lucky to have you as my right-hand at work, but I am especially lucky to have you as my friend.” I look at everybody. “I love you all so much, so thank you.”

  I then look at my beautiful wife. I’ll admit that I am feeling a bit emotional as I speak, and I have to swallow the lump that is forming in my throat. “I especially want to thank my beautiful wife. My hero and my best friend! I want to thank you for everything you did today, babe, but I especially want to thank you for never doubting my innocence. You stood by me from the very beginning. You put up with my moods and loved me unconditionally. I know how hard this has been on you, and I just want to say I love you so much. I am so blessed to have you as my wife.”

  Everybody raises their glasses and smiles at me. I notice Mum, Brooke, and Michelle all wiping their eyes. I feel my eyes tear up a bit, too.

  Michelle is the first to leave because she has to collect Lara from school. We all stay for a little longer, before making our way home, too. My mum offers to take Angel for the night, but Brooke and I want her with us. She always goes to bed early, so I will have plenty of time to properly thank my wife for what she did for me today.

  We bathe Angel when we get home, then give her a bottle and putt her to bed.

  Later, we both sit in the lounge room to watch the evening news. I haven’t been following what the media has been saying during the case. It is too distressing. Tonight, though, I am definitely interested in what they have to say.

  It is the leading story on all the channels. When the anchor speaks, there is a large picture of me on the screen behind her. It has the caption “Cavanagh innocent—Set up by own family member”.

  The news program shows me arriving at the courthouse in the morning with my father, then us coming out later in the day. They air the statement my father made outside the courthouse, then cross live to the police station where Kristy and my aunt were taken.

  They report that both women have been released on bail. My aunt comes out first…alone. Of course, she refuses to speak to the media, holding up her purse to try and cover her face. They are asking her all types of questions, until she finally flags down a taxi and leaves the scene.

  Next, they show Kristy leaving the police station, probably with her parents. Her father says that she won’t be answering any questions, but would like to make a short statement.

  This should be interesting.

  She says, “I just want to say that I am co-operating with the police in this matter. To Mr. Cavanagh, I want to say that I am sorry for what I did to him and his family. He was very kind to me during the short time that I worked for him, and he never acted inappropriately towards me in any way. I met his wife once, too, and she was also very kind to me. I don’t expect them to forgive me for what I have done, but I do want to say that I am truly, truly sorry. That’s all. Thank you.”

  The reporters try to question her further, but her father puts up his hand to shield her, as they push through the media and make their way to their car.

  In shock, I sit there for a few minutes. I don’t know what to think. Kristy’s right. I don’t know if I will ever forgive her, but I’m glad that she is finally telling the truth. At least she has a conscience and seems to be really sorry for what she has done. That is more than I can say for my aunt. I know she doesn’t have a conscience. If I ever have the misfortune to run into her again, the only thing I would say to her is, “Karma is a bitch”.

  There is no doubt that they will both be going to prison for what they have done. I look over at my beautiful wife and smile. Again, I am so thankful for what she did today. If it wasn’t for her, I could be the one going to prison.

  I stand up and scoop her into my arms. “Let’s go relax in the bath, baby,” I say, “before I take you to bed and make love to you.” Brooke wraps her arms around my neck and gently kisses my lips. She asks me if I am alright after everything that happened today, and I tell her that I couldn’t be better. I wasn’t just alright. I was fan-fucking-tastic.

  Once we get out of the bath, we stay awake until the early hours of the morning, making love to each other. It scares me sometimes just how much I love Brooke. I thought I was happy with my life before I met her, but I know now that my life would be nothing without her in it. I would be a shell of a man. She completes me, and I know that I will love her forever.

  CHAPTER T

  WENTY

  Brooke

  The next four months fly by. Everything is back to normal. Thankfully, there are no more dramas. I am only two short weeks away from my due date, and Logan and I are both a bit anxious. I think we will both be glad when the birth is finally over and we have our new little bundle.

  Everything is going well with the pregnancy. We still haven’t found out the sex of the baby because we want it to be a surprise. Logan is still insistent that it is a boy.

  We moved Angel out of the nursery last week and into her own room. Logan had it decorated by an interior designer, complete with a princess canopy bed and murals on the walls. It is every little girl’s dream room, but she is still too little to appreciate it.

  Logan and I have gone to a few birthing refresher classes to prepare for the birth. We both just want it to be as normal as possible. The doctor explains that I can still try for a natural birth, even though I had a Caesarean with Angel. Call me stupid, because I know it is going to be painful, but I want to experience it. I’d missed out on every aspect of Angel’s birth, so I want us both to experience it all this time.

  We celebrated Angel’s first birthday. Logan insisted on giving her an entirely over-the-top party for a one-year-old, but I let him have his way. She is his little princess, after all, and that is exactly the way he treats her. He spoils her rotten, but he spoils her with a lot of love, too. The amount of love he has for her warms my heart. Angel already has him wrapped around her little finger. She is only one, so I hate to see how he is going to be with her when she is older.

  I adore her, but she has already figured out that if mummy says “no”, go to daddy. Even when we go shopping together, if I say she can’t have a toy, she walks over and lies down on the ground in front of Logan and cries. He picks her up, grabs the toy, and buys it for her. It is quite comical to watch. When it is just Angel and I and I say “no”, she accepts it without shedding a tear. Logan is a sucker for her big brown eyes, crocodile tears, and pouty little lips. She knows just how to play him.

  I grew up without much, whereas Logan grew up with
everything he wanted. I know we can afford to buy her anything and everything, but I want her to have the best of both worlds. When she is old enough to understand, I want her to learn that not everyone is as lucky as she is, and I want her to appreciate that.

  ****

  A week later, I am at the studio when Michelle calls. She tells me that she isn’t feeling well and asks if it is alright if she can have the day off. That worries me. In the two-and-a-half years we have worked together, she has never taken a day off. I ask if she wants me to come over, but she says that she is going back to bed.

  I call her later that day and she says that she is feeling a lot better, then invites us over for dinner. She assures me that she is good and that she really wants us to come over, so I agree.

  We arrive later that night. I am surprised to see her parents, my father, and Jill there, as well. I ask her what is going on, and she says that she has something she needs to share with us. We are all excited when she tells us she is pregnant. Michelle and Craig have been trying for years to have another child. I am glad that it has finally happened.

  After dinner, I am feeling tired and my back is killing me, so I ask Logan if he can take me home. I am kissing everyone goodbye, when I feel a rush of liquid run down my leg. I look down on the floor and I am standing in a puddle.

  “Holy shit!” I say. “I think my water just broke!”

  I hear Logan say, “What the fuck?!” When I look over at him, he is as white as a sheet. I can’t help but giggle, especially when his mum is scolding him for swearing. I know he is scared about the birth. His mother tells him not to panic, but when a pain shoots through my abdomen and I double over, he freaks out.

  Thank god everyone else, except my father, stays calm. He seems just as panicked as Logan. Logan’s mum says I need to go to the hospital, so she asks Craig to drive. This is a good idea because Logan is in no shape to drive. He is beside me, fussing over me like a maniac.

  I tell them that I need to go home first to pick up the suitcase that I’d packed. Logan’s father offers to go and get it for me so we can go straight to the hospital. While I wait for Craig to bring the car around, I tell him that he will find it in the walk-in-robe in my bedroom.

  I have another contraction as I’m getting in the car. Poor Logan is a mess. Michelle comes with us, while my father and Logan’s mum go with his father to get my suitcase. Jill stays at Michelle’s place to watch Lara and Angel.

  ****

  I’ve been at the hospital for over five hours now, and I still haven’t dilated enough to start pushing. The pain from my contractions is far worse than I could have ever imagined. Logan is an absolute mess. Each time I have a contraction, I am worried he is going to pass out. I know he hates seeing me in pain and he is worried, but I need him to keep it together.

  I finally ask his mother and Michelle to come into the room. I need someone to keep an eye on him, and someone to support me. His mum asks him to come out into the hallway with her for a second, and Michelle sits beside me.

  Once his mother gives him a pep talk, they walk back into the room and he seems a little calmer. Michelle was great and helped guide me through my contractions while they were gone. Logan and I have talked about the drugs they give you to help with the pain, but because I haven’t experienced labour before, I thought I would be able to do it without them. However, I’ve changed my mind. I have so changed my mind.

  When Logan comes and takes Michelle’s place beside me, he holds my hand. He leans over and kisses my cheek. “How are you doing, babe?”

  “How do you fucking think I am doing?!” I practically scream as another contraction hits me. Logan’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when I speak to him like that. I would have laughed if I wasn’t in so much pain.

  Once the contraction passes, I apologise to him, before bursting into tears. “I need drugs, hot stuff,” I cry. “I can’t handle the pain.”

  “Oh, fuck me,” he replies, before standing up in a panic. He strokes my face. “Anything you need, baby. Let me go and get the doctor.”

  Michelle says she will go so Logan can stay with me. When the doctor finally comes in, he checks to see how far I am dilated, and tells me it is too late to have an epidural. He says I only need to dilate one more centimetre before I can start pushing. Seriously, I want to punch him when he says I can’t have drugs.

  My contractions are only a few minutes apart now, and the pain is too much. The doctor suggested that I get up and walk around to help with the pain because my back is killing me.

  Logan is trying his hardest to keep it together. As he is helping me out of bed, another contraction hits. I scream from the pain, and Logan nearly loses it.

  “Fuck, babe,” he says with a sigh. “I can’t handle seeing you in so much pain.” He looks over to his mother.

  “It’s normal, Logan. I went through the same thing giving birth to you,” she says. When he apologises to his mother for putting her through so much pain, the three of us girls laugh.

  He finally gets me out of bed and gently guides me around the room. I stop when another contraction starts. Logan faces me and rests his forehead against mine. He starts doing the breathing exercises with me, as he strokes my hair.

  “I’m going to get a Vasectomy after this,” he says softly. “There is no way I am putting you through this again, baby.”

  Even though I am in pain, I smile at him. “I love you so much,” I say, and he wraps his arms around me.

  After about fifteen minutes, I can’t stand up anymore. I am so tired. “I need to lie back down again.”

  Once I am back in bed, the doctor comes in to check on me again. Finally, he says I am ready to push. He tells me that when my next contraction comes on, to push. But I am so tired.

  “I don’t think I can do this,” I plead.

  Logan comes over beside me and holds my hand. “You can do it, baby. You are so strong and I know you can do it.”

  “I’m too tired,” I sob.

  “It’s nearly over,” he says. “I am so proud of you.” The tears fill my eyes.

  When the next contraction comes on, the doctor tells me to push so I push with everything I have. It hurts so much that I scream as I’m pushing. “That was great, Mrs. Cavanagh,” he says. “A few more pushes and your baby will be here.”

  Michelle has joined me on the other side of the bed, and she grabs my hand. “You are doing great, Brooke,” she says, squeezing my hand. When my next contraction hits, I push again.

  “That’s it,” the doctor says. “I can see the head.”

  Logan leans over to have a look. “Holy shit,” he says in amazement. “I can see it.”

  The pain is horrendous. I feel like I am being split in two.

  “One more push!” the doctor shouts when my contraction starts. I give it everything I have.

  When the baby finally comes out, Logan says, “Oh, my god! You did it, babe!”

  “Congratulations,” the doctor says. “You have a son.”

  “I have a son?!” Logan shouts, and we all burst into tears. Logan wraps his arms around me. “Thank you, baby. I love you so much.” He starts raining kisses all over my face. It is such an emotional time for all of us. After the tragedy surrounding Angel’s birth, this moment is just perfect.

  The doctor has Logan cut the cord, before placing our son on my stomach. “He is so beautiful,” I whisper. “He looks just like you.” The smile on Logan’s face is huge.

  Logan’s mum and sister come closer, and both have tears running down their faces. Logan’s mum grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Thank you for giving me a grandson,” she says. “I am so proud of you. Thank you for letting me be here. It was amazing. I will cherish this moment forever. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” I tell her, as I wipe away my tears.

  The nurse comes over and takes our son to measure, weigh, and clean him up. I tell Logan to go out and let our fathers know that our son has arrived. Michelle told us earlier t
hat Craig had gone home to help Jill with the girls, but I know our fathers will be waiting anxiously for some news.

  I hear him yell, “I have a son!” when he leaves the room, and I can’t help but smile.

  Once the doctor has finished cleaning me up, our fathers are allowed to come in to see the baby. The smile on both their faces tells me they are happy to have a grandson. They all stay for a little while, before leaving Logan and I alone with our precious little boy.

  I am excited when I get to breastfeed him. It is painful at first, but I am thankful that I get to experience it this time round. I missed all that when Angel was born.

  “What are we going to name him?” Logan asks.

  “I was thinking Christopher,” I reply.

  Speechless, he looks at me. Finally, he whispers, “That would be perfect.”

  We both shed a few tears as we watch our son. Even though it has been over a year since Chris died, he is still very much in our thoughts and our hearts.

  After our little Christopher has been fed and burped, he is sound asleep in my arms. I’m not ready to put him down yet, but the nurse comes in and says I can have a shower if I want. I am exhausted, but I desperately want to shower and clean myself up before taking a nap.

  The nurse offers to help me in the shower, but Logan volunteers. He gently washes and then dries me, before helping me get dressed. I’d packed the pyjamas Logan had bought me to take to the hospital when I’d been pregnant with Angel. They are red silk shorts that are covered in pink hearts. The matching top is made from soft pink cotton. It says “Yummy Mummy”, on front. He is such a dork sometimes, but I love him so much.

  While I shower, the nurse changes the sheets. Logan helps me get back into bed, before taking off his shoes and climbing in beside me. He wraps me in his arms and I snuggle into him. Before I drift off to sleep, he whispers in my ear, “Thank you for agreeing to marry me, and giving me two beautiful children. You have made me so happy, baby, and I promise I will love all of you, forever.” I smile. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I will love him and our two beautiful children forever, too.