‘I made some blueberry muffins yesterday,’ she said, ‘but I’ll just warm them up a bit. They taste better that way.’
Jasper went across to her, put his hands on her shoulders and steered her towards one of the seats. ‘I’ll do that. You just sit down a bit and let me look after our guests.’
The way he treated Claire was so cute and made Harper wonder if Samuel would be as over-protective with her if she were carrying their child. Of course that was a moot point, so she put it from her mind.
‘How do you guys like your eggs?’ he asked as he lifted his hands from his wife’s shoulders. ‘As well as Claire’s delicious muffins, we’ve got some local bacon and eggs to cook.’
‘I like my eggs cooked by someone else,’ Samuel said. ‘Harper and I aren’t all that skilled in the kitchen.’
‘Hey,’ she exclaimed, pretending to be annoyed. ‘I do a mean beans on toast.’
Samuel laughed, then looked to Jasper. ‘We eat out a lot.’
‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ Harper asked, then realised how silly that sounded after Samuel had just declared them incompetent cooks.
‘No, you guys just relax. Can I get you some juice or coffee while you wait?’
They decided on coffee since they’d been up since before dawn, and while Jasper worked wonders at the stove, Claire, Samuel and Harper sat at the table talking over the balloon experience. Samuel surprised her by asking further questions and also by the way he truly seemed to be enjoying the time with Claire and Jasper. They didn’t associate much with other couples—she had her own friends and Samuel occasionally went out with his pals from law school—so this was a new but fun experience for them. Her husband acted differently around other men than he did when they were alone—a little more blokey—and she quite liked it.
When Jasper had finished cooking up a storm, he laid everything out on the table and then retreated to the fridge and conjured a bottle of champagne.
‘It’s the tradition of ballooning that we drink champagne after a flight,’ he said as he popped it open, ‘but today we also have something else very special to celebrate and there’s no one we’d rather do so with than you two.’
‘Yes.’ Claire sniffed and then beamed. ‘Thank you both so much for coming up to spend the morning with us. It was a pleasure to share a little bit of our world with you.’
‘Thanks for taking us up today,’ Samuel said. ‘I must admit, I was dubious when Harper told me what we were doing but I enjoyed it way more than I imagined.’
Claire smiled. ‘Ballooning is like that. You can’t understand the magic until you’ve actually experienced it.’
‘It’s a wonderful thing that Harper has done for us,’ Jasper said as he began to fill the glasses. ‘And we want to thank you as well, for supporting her in her decision.’
He handed each of them a crystal flute filled with golden bubbles.
Samuel shrugged as he took the glass. ‘Well, we don’t want her eggs, so someone else may as well have them.’
Harper cringed a little at his tone. Thankfully it appeared nothing could wipe the joy from their hosts’ faces.
Jasper passed a flute of orange juice to Claire and then raised his own glass in a toast. ‘To Harper and Claire—the most amazing women I know.’
‘To Harper and Claire,’ Samuel echoed, a bemused expression on his face as he lifted his glass.
‘And to you and our baby,’ Claire added.
Following the toast, conversation moved on from ballooning—Jasper enquired about Samuel’s job, while Harper asked Claire if she’d experienced any morning sickness.
‘Only a little, but it’ll all be worth it in the end,’ she said, placing a hand against her belly.
Long ago, Harper had experienced a bit of morning sickness herself, but she hadn’t been so positive about it—in fact, having to keep rushing off to hurl into the toilet bowl during her lectures had only confirmed that her decision was the right one. She resented the nausea and was scared she’d also resent the child.
‘So have you started getting organised for the baby?’
‘Jasper wouldn’t let me until we got to the three month mark,’ Claire replied with a good-natured roll of her eyes, ‘but now we have, it’s full steam ahead. We’re going shopping this week to start looking at the bigger items for the nursery and to choose paint.’
‘What colour do you think you’ll choose?’ Harper asked.
‘I’m tossing up between yellow—which is my favourite colour—and this gorgeous mint green I saw in a magazine.’
‘And will you find out the baby’s gender?’
Although Harper had mostly asked out of politeness, she found she didn’t mind talking about their baby plans.
‘We’ve decided on a surprise,’ said Jasper, clearly just as excited as his wife.
It wasn’t long before Samuel’s eyes started to glaze over. Wanting him to remember today as an enjoyable experience, Harper decided it was time to make a move.
She glanced at her watch. ‘Thank you so much for the flight and for this wonderful breakfast, but we should probably be heading off. We have a long list of wineries to get through today.’
‘You must visit Petal Wines,’ Claire said, pushing back her seat to stand. ‘They have the most amazing range based on local flora.’
‘Wow, sounds great,’ Harper said.
Although she and Samuel offered to help with the dishes, Claire and Jasper wouldn’t allow it and instead walked them to the front door to see them off.
This time Samuel took the wheel, and as he drove off down the driveway, Harper looked back over her shoulder at Claire and Jasper standing close together on the verandah. She probably wouldn’t see them again till after the baby was born and that made her a little sad.
‘So, do you think I chose the right people?’ she asked, turning to look at Samuel.
He chuckled. ‘What kind of question is that? How the hell would I know?’
‘You liked them, didn’t you?’
‘Of course I like them,’ he said. ‘They’re different to the people we usually socialise with and I had thought it might be a little weird, knowing that Claire is pregnant with your egg. But I barely even thought about it. They were fun, the flight was fun, but the best part of it all was hanging out with you. And I must admit, I’m glad to have you all to myself again.’
Chapter Eighteen
JULY 2017
‘Hey, honey, I’m heading off now,’ Claire called into the shed as she spun her car keys on her finger.
Jasper leapt up from the floor where he’d been working on the burner from one of the balloons and came over to her. He put his hands on her arms and frowned. ‘Are you sure you’re okay to go on your own?’ He glanced back at his dad and the mess of tools and balloon parts strewn across the shed. ‘I could probably spare a couple of hours and come with you.’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re needed here.’
They had their annual visit from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority tomorrow and although they didn’t predict any problems, Jasper and Paul were going over everything today, making sure it was all in top-notch condition. Besides, she was looking forward to having a few hours with her mum in Newcastle to browse for baby clothes.
‘I don’t know.’ He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, still looking uncertain.
‘Well, I do,’ she said firmly. ‘This isn’t a scan or a blood test; it’s just a routine check-up—I’ll probably be in and out the doctor’s office within five minutes. And Mum’s coming up and we’re having lunch and going shopping, remember?’
The mention of shopping did the trick. As much as Jasper loved her mum, he couldn’t hide his terror. Although excited when they went shopping for big ticket items like their pram and cot, he bored quickly when looking at clothes—even if they were the cute and tiny variety—and he knew that when she was with her mum they were likely to shop for hours. She laughed, stretched up onto her tippy toes and
kissed him on the lips.
He grinned goofily at her when they broke apart. ‘How come you’re so pretty?’
Although inside she glowed at his words, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll see you this arvo,’ she told him, before waving at her father-in-law and walking out to her car.
As she turned her favourite radio station up to maximum and started towards the main road, Claire felt like a kid playing hooky. Drives completely on her own like this were few and far between and she couldn’t wait for some girl-time with her mum. That was the only downside of living in the Hunter—she didn’t get to catch up with her parents nearly as much as she would like. As she drove, she fantasised about what they’d do together after the appointment. First on the list was treating themselves to brunch at her favourite café. And then they’d hit the shops until her feet failed her. Maybe they’d even indulge in a little pedicure pampering.
‘Be prepared for a work out, Mr Visa,’ she said, chuckling to herself as she danced her fingers on the steering wheel in time to the music. On the way home, she’d hopefully be in time to tune into Harper’s radio show. Their contact was now sporadic—only the occasional text message to check in—but she’d found she enjoyed listening to Afternoons with Harper as much as Jasper and Paul did.
The forty-five minute drive to the city flew by and Claire scored a perfect car spot not far from the offices of her obstetrician. She practically skipped towards the building and was delighted to see her mother waiting for her just outside.
‘Mum!’ she exclaimed as she rushed over and threw her arms around her. ‘Thank you so much for coming up.’
They hugged tightly.
‘It’s my pleasure, my sweet girl,’ Joanne said. When they pulled apart she gazed down at Claire’s stomach. ‘My! You’ve doubled in size since the last time I saw you.’
Claire groaned. ‘I know. I can’t believe I might still have ten weeks until I pop. I’m huge.’
‘Huge but gorgeous,’ said her mum, linking her arm through Claire’s. ‘Shall we go in?’
Claire nodded and they entered the reception area filled with other pregnant women sitting flicking through magazines as they waited.
‘How’s Dad?’ Claire asked as she picked up a copy of My Child and rested it on her growing bump.
‘He’s great. Was jealous of me coming up to see you today. He wanted to come but I told him we were going shopping and he changed his mind pretty damn quick. The only thing he’s ever been interested in shopping for is books.’
Claire laughed. ‘Jasper was the same. This is the first appointment he’s missed and he felt bad about me driving all the way to Newcastle by myself. Honestly, since I’ve been pregnant, he wants to wrap me up in cotton wool. The shopping turned him off though.’ She leant into her mother. ‘As much as I love them, I’m so glad to spend some one-on-one time with you.’
‘I know, me too.’ Joanne wrapped her arm around Claire and pulled her close. ‘I can’t believe my baby is actually having a baby.’
‘Sometimes I still pinch myself,’ Claire said. ‘I can’t believe what I always thought impossible is actually coming true.’
Before Joanne could reply, the midwife called Claire’s name and beckoned her into the consulting room. As she wasn’t having an ultrasound, her mum stayed in the waiting room.
‘Please don’t tell me how much I’ve put on,’ Claire pleaded as she stepped onto the scales and turned her head so she couldn’t see the result. Getting fat was the only part she wasn’t particularly enjoying about pregnancy, but she’d been ravenous these past few months and didn’t want her baby to go hungry because she was a little vain. Anyway, her reading told her that most women lost weight while breastfeeding, and if it didn’t work for her, well, she’d worry about that later.
The midwife chuckled. ‘You have nothing to worry about, love.’
Five minutes after the midwife announced that Claire was in good health and released her back into the waiting room, it was her turn to see the doctor.
‘Claire Lombard,’ called her obstetrician from the doorway of her office.
She handed her mum the magazine she’d been flicking through and stood.
‘Hi, Dr Manera,’ she said with a smile. When they’d first met, the woman’s close-cut grey hair and sharp-edged glasses had given the impression she was stern and not very friendly, but the moment the doctor had opened her mouth and introduced herself, Claire had realised otherwise. Her bedside manner was very kind and gentle.
‘No Jasper today?’ the doctor asked as she closed the door.
‘Unfortunately he’s busy with work. We have our annual aviation safety check tomorrow, but he’ll be here next time.’
‘Not a worry. Tell him I said hi. I’ve decided I’m going to book me and my husband in for a flight for his sixtieth birthday.’
‘That’s a wonderful idea,’ Claire said. ‘And of course we’ll give you a discount.’
‘We’ll see about that.’ Dr Manera smiled as she sat down at her desk and opened Claire’s patient file. ‘Now, thirty weeks. That’s flown by, hasn’t it?’
‘Has it?’ Claire laughed. ‘Sometimes I feel like I’m never going to meet my baby.’
‘First pregnancies do sometimes tend to drag, but you should enjoy it. Next time round, you’ll be run off your feet looking after this one. Now, my midwife’s notes say you’re very healthy and so unless you have any worries or questions, I’ll just do a quick physical examination and then you can go. Have you got anything else on while you’re in Newie?’
‘My mum’s come up from Sydney for the day and we’re going to do a bit of shopping together,’ Claire said as she climbed onto the examination table and lifted her top.
‘Ooh, splendid. I love a little retail therapy.’ Dr Manera rubbed her hands together to warm them up as she always did before laying them on Claire’s bare skin.
‘Are you feeling much movement?’ she asked as she pressed firmly around her abdomen.
‘Yes.’ Claire nodded and smiled affectionately at her bump. ‘This one’s a night owl. I get the odd kick during the day, but the moment I lay my head on the pillow at night he or she starts going crazy.’ Many nights she’d woken Jasper when the baby started kicking and they’d lain there, spooned together in the dark, his hands resting on her stomach as they marvelled at the miracle inside her. The baby might not be biologically hers, but she would be its mother in all the ways that mattered. She already felt an intense love for her little boy or girl.
‘I won’t tell you the theory that whenever the baby is awake in uterus is also when it’ll be awake when it’s born then.’
But nothing Dr Manera said could lessen Claire’s excitement. She’d eagerly taken the oestrogen tablets to build her lining up for pregnancy and had not even blinked an eye at having to insert progesterone pessaries vaginally in the lead-up to the embryo transfer. Nothing could put a dampener on this! She couldn’t wait for their baby to be born, just as she couldn’t wait to hit the shops and stock up on those ridiculously cute little jumpsuits. As if specifically for her, Bonds had just released a floral range—she’d been eyeing the yellow ones online last night.
Next the doctor checked the baby’s heartbeat and Claire grinned from ear to ear as she listened to the thump-thump-thump from the little speakers.
‘Nice and strong,’ Dr Manera said, putting away her wand and pulling down Claire’s top again. ‘Your fundal height is measuring well for thirty weeks and the baby is in a good position. I don’t need to see you for another four weeks. After that we’ll go down to fortnightly appointments. Now, you enjoy your shopping.’
‘Thanks. We will.’ Claire said goodbye to the obstetrician, made an appointment with the receptionist and then she and her mother went outside.
‘Oh no.’ Joanne grimaced as she looked up at the sky. ‘What happened to this morning’s beautiful weather?’
When they’d arrived the weather had perfectly matched Claire’s sunny mood, bu
t now grey clouds loomed in the overcast sky. Rain looked imminent but nothing could dampen Claire’s joy. She wasn’t going to let a little bad weather dampen her special day with her mum. ‘Don’t worry—we’ll be inside eating and then shopping. Come on.’ She grabbed her mum’s hand and started towards her car. They’d agreed to leave one car in the hospital car park while they shopped.
Fifteen minutes later she was placing their order at a local café while her mum popped into the rest room.
‘Thank you.’ Claire took her card back from the lady behind the counter and then went to choose a table. It wasn’t an accident that the place she chose happened to be next to a couple of women with prams. She gazed into them and they caught her looking.
‘Your babies are gorgeous,’ she said.
They thanked her then one of them nodded towards her belly. ‘When are you due?’
Claire tried to suppress her smile as her hands drifted down to lovingly caress her bump. ‘September 11,’ she told them, feeling as if she were part of a club she’d never imagined she’d be granted membership to.
‘Ooh, a spring baby,’ said one of them.
‘And you’ll never forget that date,’ said the other.
This woman wasn’t the first person to comment on this. Some people thought having a birthday on the historic date that had changed America—and thus the world—forever was a bad omen, but others believed it would be nice to have something happy to celebrate on such a date. Claire was of the latter thinking, but then again, how often were babies actually born on their due date?
After a few more moments of small talk, her mum arrived and the two women turned back to their babies. They passed a few minutes talking about her brother Tim and his family and then a waitress delivered two massive hamburgers to the table.
Joanne’s eyes widened as she gazed at them. ‘There goes my diet,’ she said with a laugh.
‘You don’t need to diet, Mum, you’re gorgeous just as you are.’ Claire devoured her burger and a vanilla milkshake quickly, and then sat back talking while her mum finished hers.
The Greatest Gift Page 18
