Paul snapped himself out of his fears. He wasn’t a religious man, but he said a quick prayer, then ran to greet the paramedics as they hurried over.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The smell of industrial detergent tingled in Sam’s nostrils as she sat on Verlaine’s lap in the white shiny hospital corridor. Her scattered mind couldn’t focus on anything other than the dizziness that smacked up against the inside of her skull. She felt so embarrassed that she’d fainted earlier, but more than that, she was terrified about Gemma’s welfare. The journey to the hospital in the back of the ambulance had been intense, and Sam had sat there frozen, watching her sister groaning in pain as the paramedics had done all they could to prepare her for the emergency caesarean that awaited her as soon as they’d arrived here. It’d distressed Sam to see Gemma – the sensible older sister – so out of control and hysterical. Sam had felt helpless and alone as Verlaine had driven the other two behind in the T-bird. She’d realised, not for the first time this Christmas, how much she missed her mum, and how much she wished she could’ve been there to take control.
That’d been an hour ago, and now she was sitting on Verlaine, in a row of hard plastic seats with Scott and Paul. Sam had been assured by a doctor that Gemma and the babies were fine. But she’d been told to wait here for further instructions. She was starting to get impatient to see her sister and her nephews.
Paul and Scott were sitting side-by-side holding hands, still dressed up in their party gear. A wave of exhaustion swept over Sam, and she draped her arm around Verlaine’s shoulder, slumping into his body.
“Okay, baby?” he asked.
She sat up straight and ran her fingers through his hair. “When Rebecca asked you if you still loved her – just before Gemma came in – what were you going to say?”
Verlaine pulled her close. “Sam, I love you so much. I’ve been trying to propose to you for ages now, but things keep getting in the way. First Gemma stopped us from going to Thailand, now… well, Gemma again actually. I’m so in love with you. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“And Rebecca?”
“I did love Rebecca once, but not in the way I love you. You’re everything to me. I hope you know that.”
Sam kissed him on the lips. “I love you, too. I hope you get the chance to propose later – I think you know what the answer will be!”
Scott sat forward. “These floor tiles look okay for kneeling on, Verlaine!”
“He’s not gonna do it in front of us, is he, pumpkin?” Paul said.
“Why not?”
Verlaine opened his mouth, but he closed it again as they heard footsteps coming down the corridor towards them.
Sam saw Jack frantically rushing over. Verlaine had called him on the way here, and he’d immediately turned back from his journey to Manchester.
Sam stood up to greet him with a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said.
Jack looked terrified. “You, too, Sam.” They broke apart and Jack nodded at Verlaine, Scott, and Paul. “Alright, fellas.”
He turned his attention straight back to Sam. “So how is she? And the… the twins?”
“Mother and babies are fine.”
“Have you seen her?”
“Not yet. She’s in that room. We’re just waiting to be allowed in.”
Jack glanced at the door. “Well, she’s my wife and they’re my babies. I’ve got a right.”
He severed eye contact with Sam and strode towards the door like a soldier on a mission.
Sam glanced at Verlaine. He shrugged, then they followed Jack into Gemma’s room.
It was a typical hospital room – stark and clinical, with beige walls and a shiny floor. The metal-framed bed stuck out from the wall, covered with a thin mattress and a single sheet – not the sort of place to get comfortable for long. On one side of the bed was a tower of medical equipment – all buttons and dials and flashing LED lights. And on the other side was a comfy armchair for the proud dad to sit in – but it was currently empty and forlorn.
Gemma was lying under the flimsy cream sheet with her eyes closed. She looked exhausted – her hair was messily stuck to her head from where she’d been so hot earlier. Her skin was pale and she looked defeated. Sam saw a little cot by her bed, which contained two perfect sleeping babies. She wanted to go over and stare at them, but Jack was currently occupying that position. He was smiling in awe at the two new little people.
Gemma’s eyes eased open and she gazed at her husband. “Jack.”
He looked up. “Hey, Gem. How you feeling?”
“Been better. I look like crap.”
“You look beautiful.”
She laughed cynically. “I’m sure that’s not true. Did you hear what happened?”
Jack signed. “Yeah, Verlaine told me about Patrick.”
Gemma shot Verlaine a fierce look. “Did he? I was talking about the fact that Paul delivered the first baby. It’s been nice working with you, Verlaine. Good luck finding a new job.”
Sam linked her fingers through Verlaine’s. “Gemma, he was just trying to help.”
Verlaine laughed kindly. “It’s okay, Sam. Gemma won’t fire me. She loves me too much.”
Gemma grinned. Then she burst into tears.
Sam moved to comfort her, but Jack bent and drew her into his arms. She sobbed on his shoulder.
“I’ve missed you so much, Jack!”
“I’ve missed you, too, babes. I love you. I want us to raise these babies together. Obviously we need to talk about everything. And I need assurances that you won’t… you know… again. But believe me, I love you. And I love these two little fellas.”
Gemma sniffed and composed herself. “I love you, too. You’re such a good man.”
They shared an affectionate smile. Sam’s heart somersaulted with joy.
Gemma gestured to the babies. “Meet your sons, then, daddy!”
“Hello, little tiny babies!”
“I’m calling them Scott and Paul,” Gemma said.
Jack groaned jovially. “You’re naming our sons after those two?”
“Don’t you like those names?” Gemma asked.
Jack peered at his sleeping babies. “I guess it’s better than ‘Sam and Verlaine’.”
Sam chuckled. “Oi!”
Verlaine draped his arm around her shoulders. “Hey, shall we leave these two to get acquainted with their new family? I’ve got something I need to ask you.”
Nervous excitement squirmed through Sam’s chest. “Oh, really? I wonder what that could be!”
“Hopefully third time lucky,” he said. “Gemma shouldn’t be able to interrupt this time.”
Gemma shot him a playful scowl. Then she smiled tenderly at her soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Make sure you say yes, Sammy. Verlaine’s one in a million.”
“I know.” Sam gazed at her beautiful sister, then stepped over and kissed her. “I was so worried about you. I love you, Gemma.”
“I love you, too, Aunty Sammy!”
“Oh god! That’s gonna take some getting used to!”
Sam leaned over and peered in the crib. This time she was able to get a closer look at the babies – they really were adorable. One of them snuffled and opened his eyes. He seemed to look directly at Sam, which stirred her heart with tender love. She swallowed back her tears and transferred her attention back to her sister.
“I’ll leave you with your husband. I’m so proud of you, Gem.”
“I’m proud of you, too, Sam.”
“Why? I fainted like a big girl’s blouse! Completely useless.”
Gemma shook her head. “No, you’re amazing. You inspire me every time I see you. You’re one of the best people in my life, and I’m so happy to have you as my sister.”
They shared a loving smile. Then Sam put her arm around Verlaine and they strolled into the corridor to tell Scott and Paul the good news about their tiny namesakes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The sun was coming up as t
hey left the hospital, and the world was enshrined in a rosy glow. Sam sat in the front passenger seat of the T-bird, feasting her eyes on the stunning orange ball of hope in the sky, which would now slowly come back into their lives as they headed into the New Year. Paul and Scott were snuggled in the back of the car, peaceful in each other’s arms. Verlaine lightly gripped the wheel as he drove them along the snow-dusted lanes and back towards the big house.
The pretty winter scenery reminded Sam that there was something auspicious about today, but she couldn’t quite remember…
“Oh,” she said. “Happy Christmas!”
Paul’s eyes creaked open in the back. “Shit, it’s Christmas Day, isn’t it?”
“Happy Christmas, Sam,” Scott said with a sleepy yawn. He turned to kiss Paul. “Happy Christmas, muffin. I’ve got a special present for you in my trousers that you can play with later!”
Sam burst into laughter. “Subtle, Scott!”
Paul kissed him on the nose. “Happy Christmas, cupcake. I can’t wait to unwrap you.”
Sam threw Verlaine a loving smile. “Happy Christmas, baby!”
He glanced tenderly at her. “Happy Christmas, Sam. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He focused back on the road ahead and Sam allowed her disappointment to flicker through her, because he still hadn’t been able to propose. Back at the hospital, Scott and Paul had understandably wanted to know what was going on with Gemma and Jack, and they’d seemed touched and honoured to know there was another little Scott and Paul in the world today.
Sam gazed out the window, wondering whether she should tell Verlaine not to worry about formally proposing and just assure him that she’d love to get married. But he was making such an effort to be romantic, and she didn’t want to quash that.
Verlaine stifled a yawn as he drove. He looked sleepy, but energised – just like Sam felt. It was as if they’d all been through something magical together last night. She smiled. Of course, there was similar story of a baby born outside, filling the world with possibility and peace…
She twisted to face Verlaine and braced herself to ask him something she’d never asked before. “Do you want me to drive, baby? You must be shattered.”
He smirked. “You wanna drive this hunk of junk?”
“Yeah. If you’d let me drive your baby?”
“You are my baby.”
“Okay. Pull over.”
They switched places and, for the first time in her life, Sam proudly took the wheel of a left-hand-drive car. It was a strange sensation because the gearstick was on the opposite side and she kept hitting the door with her knuckles every time she reached down to change gear. But she quickly became accustomed to it, and after a mile-or-so Verlaine refrained from sitting bolt upright, and leaned against the passenger window to close his eyes for a while. She was pleased to know he trusted her. Now she just needed to trust herself. And why shouldn’t she trust herself? Even though she’d fainted last night at the sight of childbirth, she knew this whole experience had made her stronger – as challenges always did. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for midwifery – but that was okay; it wasn’t something she was interested in anyway. Sam realised now that it was important to acknowledge her limitations as well as strengths. And then she could cultivate those strengths and not pursue her limitations.
But she knew this adventure was far from over. There was still a mess of Americans waiting back at the big house to be taken care of. As she drove up the cliff to meet her nemesis, apprehension swirled in her stomach like a gaggle of geese. But this needed to be done. Running away wasn’t an option. Sam wanted to let Rebecca know that Verlaine was hers, because sometimes you had to fight for the things you loved, and she loved Verlaine more than anything.
As Sam drove the T-bird over the gravel driveway towards the house, she looked at the looming edifice with fresh eyes. It wasn’t intimidating anymore. In fact, the grey stone bricks looked quite attractive in the dawn light. Last night’s snow had settled thickly, and this morning the sky was a beautiful bright blue. The house shone like a pretty Christmas scene from years of old. Sam felt her strength and energy return.
They all gathered on the doorstep, and – not averse to making a dramatic entrance – Verlaine pressed the doorbell.
Patty opened the door. She looked tired and weary, still dressed in her party gear – just like they all were. She’d obviously been up all night.
“Verlaine, Sam – I’m so glad to see you. I was worried about Gemma. Is she okay?”
Patty stepped back to let them all walk inside.
Sam hugged her. “Mother and babies are fine. Happy Christmas, Patty!”
“Oh, and to you, Sam!”
Patty gazed tenderly at Sam. “I just wanted to apologise about my total overreaction with the brooch situation. I know you had nothing to do with it – I was just so shocked to see it. Please know that when I was crying, I wasn’t even thinking of blaming you. I love you, Sam. You’re a wonderful girl and I don’t ever want you to feel isolated from my family.”
Patty’s words sunk into Sam’s heart like the warm rays of the sun. “Thank you for saying that. I’d never purposely offend you.”
“I know.”
Sam glanced down at her dress and realised she was still wearing the brooch. She unpinned it and held it out for Patty. “This belongs to you.”
“Oh, no, Sam. You should keep it. It suits you.”
“I do love it, but I couldn’t keep it. I know how much it means to you.”
Patty took it from Sam’s fingers. “You’re a lovely girl. I don’t have a daughter to hand it down to, but I hope one day to have a daughter-in-law.”
Sam grinned and looked away from her future mother-in-law. She caught Verlaine’s loving gaze. Scott had tears in his eyes. Paul was smiling proudly.
“So Gemma had her babies?” Patty asked. “Two boys, as she thought?”
Scott beamed. “Yeah, and Paul delivered one of the twins in the car!”
Patty gasped. “You’re kidding!”
“And Gemma’s calling them Scott and Paul,” Paul said. “How cool is that?”
“Very cool,” Patty said.
Sam opened her mouth to add that Gemma and Jack were getting back together, but the sound of laughter from the living room reminded her of what she was here to do.
Patty gestured to the living room door. “We’re just having breakfast. We were waiting for you two. Paul, Scott – you’re very welcome to stay for a bite to eat, but won’t your own families be missing you?”
“We just came to give Sam and Verlaine some moral support,” Paul said. “Is Rebecca through here?”
“Oh, er, yes.”
Paul strode towards the living room door and Sam followed. They all piled in and found Rebecca, Jim, and Ellie eating pastries on their laps and drinking coffee.
Ellie and Rebecca glared at Sam. She stared right back and raised an eyebrow, feeling like she was playing a game of ‘facial expression chess’. And she wasn’t going to lose.
Jim put his plate down and stood up. “Sam, how’s your sister?”
“Fine. She’s getting back together with Jack!”
“Oh, awesome.”
“It is.”
Jim shot her a sheepish look. “Sam, I wanted to apologise for last night – the brooch stuff. I think I spoke rudely to you at the time, and I’m sorry. I know it had nothing to do with you.”
Sam smiled into his eyes. “Thank you. I understand – you were just protecting the woman you love.”
Jim threw his wife a tender glance. “That’s true.”
Verlaine interjected. “Listen, everyone, I’ve got an engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket, and if I don’t do this now, well, she might think I don’t care at all.”
Verlaine stood in front of Sam and sunk to one knee. Sam’s heart lurched. She scrunched up her fists with excitement and tried to stop herself from giggling.
She watched – captivated
– as Verlaine pulled a little velvet box out of his trouser pocket. He connected his gaze to hers and they held loving eye contact for a beautiful beat. Sam resisted the urge to run her fingers through his gorgeous curls. She knew everyone was watching and waiting, which enhanced the delight in her heart.
He opened his mouth. Sam braced herself to give her answer.
“Wait!”
It was Ellie. All eyes turned to look at her.
“What is it Ellie?” Patty asked. “Surely you’ve done enough?”
Ellie stood up. Sam saw that her black satin dress was creased after a night of sitting around, waiting. Ellie stepped into the middle of the room, as if taking centre stage. This was apparently going to be a big announcement.
“I want Verlaine to marry Rebecca,” she said. “They still love each other. It’s their destiny to be together.”
Her words bounced around the dilapidated walls a few times, then dissipated. The others continued to look at Ellie, in case there was more to come.
There wasn’t. Ellie glanced away sheepishly – her thunder well and truly stolen by the group silence.
Verlaine was still down on one knee, holding Sam’s hand. He broke the awkward tension. “Ellie, I don’t love Rebecca. Sam’s everything to me. Why are you so keen for us to get back together? I always thought the prospect of your daughter ending up with a mechanic was unbearable for you.”
Patty stepped forward, not taking her eyes of Ellie. “I know why. But first I think you should finish what you started down there, Verlaine.”
The two women glowered at each other. Sam threw her attention over her lovely man, who smiled tenderly up at her. He opened the little box, revealing a simple solitaire diamond.
Sam grinned. A thought trickled into her mind: Scott had probably helped to choose that ring. It was beautiful; perfect for Sam to wear proudly for eternity.
Verlaine lost himself in her eyes. “Sam, from the moment I saw you in that little café, I knew you were the woman I wanted to spend my forever with. You’re brave, and strong, and wise. And you’re so beautiful, inside and out. I love you with all my being. Every cell in my body worships you. And I was wondering… Will you marry me?”
Driving Me to Christmas (London Loves Book 5) Page 17
