He nodded to her. ‘It’s a good idea.’
‘Okay, well. Er...so far the sale is going through smoothly. I have a good solicitor and my house is sold, which means that as of next month I’ll be a thirty-three year old pregnant woman living with my mum and dad.’
The paramedic snorted.
‘No,’ Tom whispered. ‘You’ll live with me.’
‘I think the drugs must be working now as you’ve gone a bit delusional,’ she said with a shaky laugh.
‘Seriously,’ he croaked. ‘I love you. I fell in love with you on the bench.’
Despite the noise of the sirens, the rocking movements of the ambulance as it raced them to hospital, and the paramedic now pretending not to listen, a fizzing happiness washed over her.
‘Keep talking,’ he groaned.
‘Okay, sorry. Er..,’ she tried to focus. ‘Well...Green Tips should be officially mine in September or October so I’ve been trying to think of ways I can increase customers at Green Tips, because it’s going to take a while to get a playground installed and obviously the cafe isn’t going to be happening any time soon. So-’
Katy paused and stared at Tom. ‘Are you sure you want to hear this?’
‘Yep,’ he whispered.
‘So I thought about organising some sort of Halloween event. Pumpkin carving and some sort of game, like spot the ghosts hiding around the garden centre.
‘And then there’s Christmas to think about. I know it seems like a long way off right now, but if I want to do some sort of grotto I should probably think about booking up a Santa, although saying that I think my dad would probably do it. I wonder if you can hire reindeer for the day?’
Katy stopped talking. A pang hit her chest. Tom had died right before her eyes and now he was alive, but in excruciating pain. Her throat closed like a clenched fist. The smell of antiseptic in the ambulance could do nothing to mask the metallic smell of blood in the air. Her stomach turned as she battled to keep the nausea down.
Then a calm washed over Tom’s face and his eyes closed again.
‘Is he...okay?’ she whispered, blinking away the tears and glancing to the paramedic.
He checked the monitor next to him and nodded. ‘The pain meds have kicked in. His vitals are good.’
CHAPTER 45
Eight months later
‘Are you completely crazy?’ Tom said as Katy waved goodbye to the elderly gentleman who’d forgotten what he’d come in for, but had settled for a bag of tulip bulbs and a terracotta pot.
‘No,’ she smirked, bending down to sniff the vase of dainty pale yellow daffodils she’d placed on the counter.
‘Katy, I just watched you have a contraction midway through ringing that stuff through the till.’
‘I know,’ she grinned. ‘It’s fine, don’t worry. Remember what the midwife said - first labours normally take over fourteen hours. I’ve only been having regular contractions for two. You should go to work.’
‘Now I know you’re crazy. I’m not going anywhere,’ he said, stepping towards her and dropping a kiss on her neck. ‘How far apart are your contractions?’
A warm glow threaded through her. ‘About five minutes,’ she whispered.
‘Ha.’ Tom sprung back and pointed the black stop watch at her face. ‘That was a test and you failed. Your contractions are actually three minutes and...’ he looked down at the stop watch, ‘twenty seconds apart, and this book clearly says that you should phone your birthing centre when the contractions reach three minutes apart.’
‘Will you put that book and the stopwatch down for five minutes. I’m fine. Look at me, I am completely fine.’
‘Really?’ he asked, his forehead wrinkling with concern whilst his eyes danced with joy.
She really did love staring into his eyes.
‘Really, really,’ she nodded.
‘So will you please answer my question?’ he asked as he stepped closer again.
‘What question?’
He narrowed his eyes at her. She knew which question, and he knew she knew.
‘Oh, that question,’ she said nudging him aside as she guided her huge belly out from the counter and picked up the large wooden handle of the broom.
‘Here, let me do that.’
‘No. I want to keep busy,’ she said, pulling the handle out of his reach.
‘So?’ he followed her movements, planting light kisses on her neck.
‘You’re being ridiculous,’ she laughed.
‘Why?’
‘I’ve told you already - we’ve only know each other nine months, that’s why.’
‘Fine, you leave me no choice,’ Tom sighed dramatically. ‘I’m playing the death card.’
Katy threw back her head and laughed. ‘You can’t play the death card again. You played it last week when we were arguing over what to see at the cinema, remember? And I had to go see that boring French film. And the week before that when we were in the paint shop and I wanted to paint the nursery white and you wanted yellow.’
‘But this time I really mean it. I died Katy. My heart actually stopped beating.’
‘Yes yes, you ceased to exist. You went to another place. You saw a light, I’ve heard it all before and I’m not falling for it.’ Despite her light tone, goose bumps travelled across her skin, just as they always did when she thought about the accident and the broken leg that needed six pins and the three broken ribs, one of which had punctured his right lung. Not to mention a concussion that had left Tom seeing double for weeks.
She still had nightmares about it. The worst dream was the one when she went into the clinic and took the pill. Then found herself kneeling on the pavement as the baby inside of her and Tom both slipped away from her.
She would wake up clutching her stomach and gasping for air. They hadn’t spent a night away from each other since he’d left the hospital, and she had no plans to change that anytime soon.
‘It does something to a person,’ Tom said, dragging her thoughts back to him. ‘I know what’s important now. So stop ducking the question and answer - will you marry me?’
Katy grinned at Tom. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped as she felt a strange leaking from between her legs. ‘Oh no.’
‘What, Katy are you okay?’
‘Yes I’m fine. Can you do me a favour and pass me the towel that’s in the kitchen.’
Tom ran over to the kitchen. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Well either my waters just broke or I’ve wet myself,’ Katy laughed as the first burst of nerves travelled through her.
Tom grabbed the book from the counter and began flicking through the pages. ‘It definitely says in here that if your waters break you should go straight to hospital.’
‘Tom it’s fine. I’m fine,’ Katy soothed, gaining control of her nerves. She didn’t know why, but calming Tom helped her too.
‘Call the birthing centre if it makes you feel better, but tell them I’m-’ Katy doubled over as pain shot through her entire body. She gritted her teeth and breathed through her mouth.
Tom pulled out his phone and found the number.
‘It’s engaged,’ he exclaimed. ‘Engaged. How can they only have one number?’ Panic trickled into his voice. ‘Maybe I should call the labour ward at the hospital instead. I’ve got the number here somewhere,’ he added as his fingers moved frantically over the screen on his phone.
‘Tom,’ she said, taking his hand. ‘It’s fine. Claire will be here in a minute anyway. She’ll know what to do.’
‘Why will Claire know what to do?’
‘Because she’s given birth to two children and because she’s my best friend. Anyway she’s got the logo designs for Mary’s Place and the menus to show me.’
‘You know I’m excited for you and Claire, I really am, but can we not talk about next month’s cafe opening right now? Surely we have more important things to talk about. Like our baby that you are in the process of giving birth to.’
‘It’s a good distraction. Plu
s I’m excited. Claire and Nick investing the money in the cafe saves me going back to the bank for a bigger loan. I just hope it’s what they want and they don’t feel like I pressured them into it.’
‘Hey, like I’ve told you a dozen times,’ Claire called out, walking towards them. ‘I didn’t want to just be a manager. I wanted to own something of my own. You inspired me Katy.’
‘Claire,’ Tom and Katy said in unison.
‘Please,’ Tom said, ‘leaning over to kiss Claire’s cheek, ‘Can you tell this crazy woman that we need to go to the birthing centre.’
‘What? Katy, are you in labour?’
‘Barely,’ Katy smiled as another stab of pain stretched around her stomach. It felt as if an invisible belt was being tightened around her.
‘I’m sure it’s fine,’ Claire smiled at Tom. ‘My first labour went on for three days. We went to hospital four times, and were sent home on the first three. I’m sure they only kept me there the fourth time out of pity, because it was still another day before Archie arrived.’
‘See,’ Katy replied, turning to Tom. ‘You need to relax.’
Tom turned to Claire. ‘Her contractions are three minutes apart and her waters broke about a minute ago.’
‘What? Then yes, go go go,’ Claire said, a grin stretching across her face.
‘Will both of you please...,’ Katy gritted her teeth as another bolt of pain ricocheted through her, ‘calm down.’
Claire stepped closer to Katy and rubbed the small of her back. ‘I’m going to stay here until closing. You and Tom are going to take a quick drive over to the birthing centre. If you’re right, then they’ll send you home, and all you’ve done is wasted an hour.’
Before either of them could reply Katy doubled over, the tips of her fingers digging into her knees as she cried out. ‘I think I need to push,’ she said, her eyes wide as they flitted between Tom and Claire. Pain ripped through her.
‘See I told you, we need to go right now.’
‘No,’ Katy shook her head. ‘I need to push right now.’
‘Tom,’ Claire said, her voice calm. ‘Call an ambulance and put the closed sign on the doors. Katy,’ she added, rubbing her friends back again. ‘Can you make it to the sofa in the kitchen?’
Katy nodded her head. Holding her swollen belly with both hands she waddled towards the kitchen area.
‘I’m going to help you take your apron off, okay?’
Katy nodded again. ‘Why do we need an ambulance?’
‘Because you’re having the baby, Katy.’
‘I...I can’t, I’m not ready.’
’You are. You’re contractions are really close and you want to push. You’re ready.’
‘No, I mean I’m not ready to have a baby.’
Tom strode into the room. ‘Yes you are. We both are. We will do it together, I promise.’
Katy’s eyes shot to Tom’s.
‘Really?’ she asked. ‘Remind me again why it’s going to be okay?’ she whispered.
Katy leant over the sofa but didn’t sit down. She held her belly as the pain shot through her. She suddenly wished she’d paid more attention to the breathing exercises in the birthing classes.
‘Okay. Well, Green Tips is doing fantastic. Sales are up thanks in no small part to the amazing Grotto you put up at Christmas,’ Tom said. ‘Then there’s the playground, which has been designed, with the help of Abi, Archie and Ruby,’ Tom lifted his head and smiled at Claire before continuing, ‘which is being installed next month. Your mum has packed our freezer full of food so we won’t be going hungry anytime soon. Actually, I should probably call them, and Mary, she’ll want to know too.’
‘No,’ Katy gasped staring into the distance. ‘Keep talking.’
‘Right,’ he nodded. ‘Your Dad is the nicest man I’ve ever met. According to your mum he is overjoyed to come out of retirement to lend a hand around here. We have Damien too. The computer system he installed has changed your life, although I am still drawing the line at calling the baby after a software programme.’
‘Nifty,’ Katy smiled as the pain started to ease.
‘Yes that’s it. Nifty1000. Then there’s Abi, who seems to have come around to the idea of being a big sister. Lena’s had the all clear from her latest scans, and Abi even asked me to ask you if she could do some work at Green Tips at the weekends she’s here. She seems to have really turned a corner.’
Claire laughed. ‘Yes, and I’m sure it’s got nothing to do with the gigantic crush she has on Damien.’
‘What?’ Tom looked from Claire to Katy.
Katy nodded but didn’t speak.
‘Don’t worry,’ Claire smiled. ‘Damien knows she's only just turned fourteen. He won't encourage it.’
Tom stared opened mouthed at Claire and rubbed his forehead.
‘What else?’ Katy gasped.
‘Er, hello?’ Claire waved her hand at Tom.
‘Of course. We have wonderful Claire and her amazing cafe opening soon so we’ll all be able to stuff ourselves silly on delicious cakes.’
‘Only if you pay for them,’ Claire cut in.
‘And then there’s me,’ he said. ‘In case it wasn’t completely obvious to you by now - I’m in. One hundred percent in. For everything. For you and the baby. The family renting my house are pestering me to sell it to them, so whether you like it or not, I’m here.’
Katy turned her gaze to Tom’s and smiled as the contraction’s hold on her loosened and a rush spread over her. She opened her mouth to reply but stopped as a white pain hit her.
She cried out again, dropping to her knees. ‘Something’s happening,’ she gasped.
‘It’s okay, Katy. I can see the head. Your baby is coming.’
‘But the ambulance isn’t here,’ Katy cried.
‘I’m here. Tom’s here. We’re going to do this together, aren’t we, Tom?’ Claire said, gesturing her hand for Tom to come closer.
‘Shall I boil some water?’ Tom asked.
‘Why?’ Claire asked.
‘I...I don’t know.’ Tom’s voice rose as he flicked through the book in his hands.
‘Don’t worry about the book. Just come and hold Katy’s hand,’ Claire said, her voice strong and calm.
As Tom wrapped his warm hand around hers, the familiar current passed between them. Just then another bolt of white pain raged through Katy’s body and she heard her own voice shouting out.
Somewhere in the distance she could here Claire’s voice, ‘Keep pushing Katy, the head’s almost out.’
Was she even pushing? she found herself wondering. A force had taken over her body. She wasn’t in control anymore.
‘One more push Katy, you can do it.’
Seconds later relief and joy flooded every ounce of Katy’s body. She looked up and saw a pink skinned baby in Claire’s arms, still attached to her through a thick cord. Her baby. Their baby.
Tears streamed down her face as her legs gave way and she sat on the floor.
‘I believe she is yours,’ Claire said, her voice cracked with emotion.
‘She’s ours,’ Katy laughed and sobbed at the same time as she pulled the wriggly baby girl towards her.
Tears glistened in Tom’s eyes as he sat down beside her. ‘I love you,’ he croaked, looking first at Katy and then at the baby in her arms.
Katy swallowed the emotion swelling in her throat. ‘Yes,’ she whispered, tearing her eyes away from her baby and staring into Tom’s eyes.
‘Really? You’ll marry me?’
‘Yes,’ she sobbed, dropping a kiss onto the top of the baby girl cradled in her arms.
‘Hello Rosemary,’ she whispered.
THE END
Also by Laurie Ellingham
The Reluctant Celebrity
Some people crave fame, others can’t escape it.
When property developer and loner, Jules Stewart, comes face-to-face with her former self grinning back from the front page of Britain’s most popular tabloid,
escape is not an option.
With a new house determined to remain derelict, a nosy village determined to befriend her, and a gorgeous pub owner determined to undress her, life for Jules is difficult enough. But add a famous ex-boyfriend set to ruin her life (for the second time), a newspaper eager to expose her, and everyone she has ever known desperate for their fifteen minutes of fame...
Can Jules protect herself from getting hurt again? Or will her perfectly built life crumble at the same rate as her house?
ABOUT LAURIE ELLINGHAM
When Laurie is not running after her two children, her husband, their cockerpoo Rodney, or just plain running, she loves nothing more than disappearing into the fictional world of her characters, preferably with a large coffee and a Twix (or two) to hand.
Laurie lives in the heart of the Dedham Vales on the Suffolk/Essex borders, and when she in the thick of a character crisis, she can often be seen walking around the village talking to herself. Before becoming a novelist, Laurie worked in Public Relations, and has a first class honours degree in Psychology.
To find out more visit www.laurie-ellingham.com, or find her on Twitter @laurieellingham and Facebook Laurie Ellingham Author
How To Throw Your Life Away Page 23
