“They love hearing your voice. It always sends them crazy.”
For the second time in one day, I pull Lilly along behind me, but not towards the bedroom. Instead, I get her to sit on the sofa. I lower myself to my knees next to her, place my hands back on her belly and talk to my babies.
Lilly looks down at me with tears in her eyes and a soppy look on her face.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing. Just you.”
“What have I done?”
“You’re just you. You’re going to be an incredible dad, you know that?”
I pray that’s true. Although I feel a little better about the whole parenting thing since opening up to Lilly, I still worry. I only want the best for my babies and I really hope that I will be that. Lilly seems to think I am, so I have to trust her judgement.
I look back up at her as I feel my babies move beneath my hands and I can’t believe how lucky I am. Not only have I got Lilly and soon to be two babies, but she’s brought my brother back to me after all these years. And he doesn’t hate me—that’s a massive fucking bonus.
“I can’t wait to make you mine,” I admit, thinking about all the planning I’ve been doing. Lilly doesn’t know it because I got her to sign the change of date paperwork when she was half asleep, but we’re going to be saying our vows very soon.
Lilly
“LILLY?”
I roll over in bed as I try to find another comfortable position to lie in.
“LILLY,” I hear shouted and my eyes fly open. Maybe it wasn’t my back and hips that woke me then.
“Lilly, why are you still in bed? Get the hell up, woman,” Molly demands as she comes marching into my room with Lois propped on her hip.
Molly is followed by my mum, Connie, and then a waddling Emma. Mum goes straight to the window and pulls the curtains back to allow the sun in while Molly pulls the covers back off me. Thankfully, I’m wearing pyjamas.
“What are you guys doing?” I ask, still half asleep and completely confused.
“Guess what today is?”
“I’ve no ide… Oh my God, it’s today, isn’t it? I’m getting married?”
“Yes, Lilly. It’s today. Three o’clock to be precise, so you need to shift your arse.”
I glance over at the clock. “Em, it’s only ten. What’s the rush?”
“Um…it’s your wedding day. Firstly, you need to be awake to enjoy it, and secondly, we need to make you perfect, ready to say ‘I do’ to your man,” Molly says with her hands on her hips.
Her words run through my brain and a huge ball of nerves and excitement explodes in my belly. I’m marrying Lucas today.
As much as I want to launch myself out of bed, I have to settle for slowly swinging my legs over the side before trying to haul myself up with one arm. I never pictured me being thirty-two weeks pregnant and huge when I wore my wedding dress.
I get taken downstairs where I discover the kitchen-diner looking like wedding fair has exploded in it. There are balloons, banners and confetti everywhere. Sylvie is going to hate us for this.
I look over to the table and my stomach grumbles on cue as I take in the amazing breakfast spread over the table. It’s the prefect continental breakfast with everything I could want. I continue towards it with Emma, who also seems to be eyeing up the food greedily.
“Em, you only ate in the car on the way over,” Connie says with a laugh.
“And, I’m growing two kids over here. It’s hungry work.”
“Agreed,” I mutter before showing a croissant in my mouth. “You only grew one, you have no idea,” I add with a wink, because I know it will wind her up. In reality, it doesn’t matter Connie only had one, because she had a hell of a time being pregnant with Noah.
“Where is the munchkin, anyway?” I ask when I’ve swallowed a gorgeous buttery mouthful.
“With the guys. You should see his little suit, it’s too cute for words.”
Emma and I are still making our way through the buffet when the doorbell goes.
“Oh, that must be hair and make-up,” Mum says excitedly, clapping her hands in front of her before hightailing it from the room.
We all stop our conversations and look up towards the doorway when we hear an excited squeal from Mum. We only have to wait a few seconds because she comes bouncing back into the kitchen with a very suave suited and booted Taylor behind her.
“Tay,” I shout as I slowly get up. He takes pity on my pathetic state and in seconds is in front of me and pulling me to my feet for a hug. “I’ve missed you,” I say as the first tears hit.
“Hey, don’t cry,” he says as he holds me.
“Sorry, it’s the hormones and the fact I’m getting married today. Can you believe it?”
“No, not really,” he says, half serious and half joking. I know Taylor’s opinion of Lucas is similar to Dec’s. I’m hopeful Lucas will win them around though.
“Why aren’t you with the boys?” Molly asks.
“You really need to ask that?”
“I guess not.”
“Hair and make-up is way more my thing than whatever boring shit they’re doing. Plus, I’m the official photographer and Lilly is a much prettier subject. Although saying that, Lucas is a fine specimen of a man,” Taylor admits, reminding me of the first time he saw Lucas.
Much to my horror, I see my mum nodding her head in agreement. Thankfully, the doorbell rings again, presumably with the hair and make-up team this time.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, turning back to Taylor.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Lilly,” he says, kissing my cheek. “You look really…well.”
“You mean huge, right?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Everything still going okay?”
“Yes, perfect.”
“Who wants tea or coffee?” Connie calls out as she heads towards the coffee machine I moved here from my flat.
“I’ll help,” Taylor offers. “It’s all I seem to do these days anyway,” he mutters to himself as he walks off. I feel bad for him because he went off to London thinking he had his dream job, but his fears were confirmed on his first day. He’s basically the gofer who gets the coffee for the real photographers. His time will come; he just needs to suck it up for now.
When Mum reappears this time, it’s still not with who we’re expecting. This time she’s hiding behind a huge bunch of flowers. She puts them down in front of me after Molly clears some space.
I briefly appreciate their beauty before grabbing the card.
Lilly,
Congratulations on your wedding day.
I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you but you are in my thoughts.
All my love
Nicole
Xxx
More tears fill my eyes as I think about her up there dealing with everything still. When I spoke to her the other day, things were still the same, and she sounded more defeated than ever.
Thankfully, I’m distracted from my thoughts when the hair and make-up team do show their faces. They set up camp in the formal dining room where the light is the best and set to work.
“Do I get to see my dress?” I ask Mum when the others have disappeared.
“When you’re ready you can see it.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Of course. I helped pick it.”
“Really? You went shopping with Lucas for it?”
“Yes. Did you really think I’d let him do something that important alone?”
I never thought Lucas would have asked for any help with all this, so I’m a little surprised.
A couple of hours later, I’m stood in front of a full-length mirror that has a sheet over it. I haven’t seen myself at all yet.
“Ready?” Mum asks.
I take a deep breath and nod. She pulls the fabric away and I stare at myself. My hair is down with the ends curled and a diamante slide, holding one side away from my face. My make-up is so soft it’s almost like
I’m not wearing any. The only way I can really tell is that the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep are magically gone. I run my eyes down my dress. It’s simple and stunning, a satin sleeveless gown with a cowl neck that skims over my belly and pools on the floor. It has a diamante sash around the middle that catches the light as I turn to the side to look at the back.
It may not have been what I would have chosen if I wasn’t pregnant, but it’s utterly perfect. I look up at Mum, who has a huge smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
“You look stunning, Lilly.”
“Thank you. Can we leave now?” I ask, getting impatient.
“The cars will be here any minute.”
In no time at all, I’m stood outside the small function room at the hotel with my dad by my side. I was kind of expecting to be going to the registry office. I don’t know why I didn’t think he’d use the hotel.
Every surface of reception is covered is flowers that match my bouquet—simple cream flowers with just a few sparkles thrown in to catch the light.
I caught a fleeting glimpse of Catherine as I walked into reception, but one look at me had her marching out with a scowl on her face.
“Are you ready, baby?” Dad asks when the music starts.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Two members of staff open the double doors for us. I keep my eyes down for a few seconds, trying to prepare myself for what will be ahead of me.
I take a deep breath and raise my eyes. The first and only thing I see is Lucas. He’s stood at the opposite end of the room to me in a grey suit with a cream tie. He isn’t rocking his usual slick look though, because his hair isn’t pulled back. It’s falling over his face, exactly as I like it. It’s a little hint of the bad boy beneath the expensive suit.
I feel a tug on my arm as Dad starts to move and my legs must start to work without any instruction from my brain, because in no time at all I’m stood in front of Lucas.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, handsome.”
“Happy wedding day. Do you like it?”
“I love it, Luc. Thank you.”
We get distracted when the registrar welcomes everyone and gets the ceremony started.
The whole thing is a total blur. I try to focus and remember every second, but it’s so hard when I’m standing there looking at Lucas. It’s not until an applause sounds out from behind me that I realise it’s over.
We’ve done it.
We’re married.
In little over only six months, I have everything I have ever wanted but a year ago never thought I’d get.
Chapter Twenty
Lilly
A phone ringing wakes me up. I open my eyes but it’s pointless because the blackout curtains mean I can’t even see my hand in front of my face.
“Is that yours?” Lucas asks in a husky voice.
“Yeah it is. Please could you get it for me?” Usually I would go myself, but it will take me about a week and I have a dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach that I know who it is and what it’s about. Usually I would ignore it—not that my phone ever rings in the middle of the night.
It’s stopped ringing by the time Lucas hands it to me, but seeing as my suspicion is correct, I call straight back.
“She’s gone, Lilly,” Nic says in floods of tears.
“I’m so sorry, hun.” My heart breaks for her. I desperately want to be there with her right now. “She’s been getting worse and worse the last few weeks, not even opening her eyes. I could tell something wasn’t right yesterday so I sat up with her. She just stopped breathing. It was so peaceful, Lills. Exactly as she wanted—well, apart from the long wait to get here. Lilly?”
“Yeah?”
“Is it awful that I have this huge feeling of relief?”
“Of course not. Don’t you dare feel guilty about feeling like that. It’s only natural; this has gone on for so long. You putting your life on hold isn’t what she would have wanted. She’s probably feeling relieved for you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“No one can tell you what’s right or wrong right now, Nic. Only you know what you’ve been through. You’re allowed to feel anything. If people don’t understand how you’re feeling they clearly don’t understand what you’ve been through.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“I wish I could be there.”
“Don’t be silly; you’re thirty-four weeks pregnant. You could pop at any time.”
“When do you think the funeral will be?”
“I hope it’s not a long wait. Now this has happened I want to get it all done and try to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my life.”
“Tell me as soon as you know. I want to be there.”
“Lilly, don’t be stupid. You can’t.”
“Yes I can, and as long as I’m not in labour, I’ll be there.” I can feel Lucas’ stare burning into me as I say this, because I know he isn’t going to agree.
“We’ll worry about it closer to the time. It could happen any day,” she says, like I need the reminder.
“You are not going,” Lucas warns when I hang up the phone.
“She’s my best friend and she’s just lost her mum. If I can be there, I will be. You can come, or I’ll go on my own. There’s no discussion about it.”
I can see he’s desperate to argue but we both know we’re not backing down, so instead he pulls me back down to the bed and wraps his arm around me as much as he can with the size of me.
“I can’t believe I’m allowing this to happen,” Lucas says two weeks later as he watches Dec get behind the wheel of my wedding present, a white Audi Q7. It’s a ridiculous size and I look utterly stupid driving it, but Lucas is right, and it will fit everything in that we need for two babies.
“It will be fine. We will only be gone two days. I don’t feel like anything’s going to happen.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Lucas complains. Typically, the day of the funeral is also the day Lucas has interviews for management jobs at the hotel, so he can’t come. Thankfully, Dec agreed to be my chauffeur, much to his delight.
“It’ll be fine. Just make sure you keep your phone on loud, just in case,” I say but when I see the look on his face, I realise it was the wrong thing to say. “I love you, Lucas. Everything will be fine.”
“You’d better be right. And I love you, too,” he says before lowering his lips to mine.
“Are we going or what?” Dec shouts from the car.
“Yes, let’s go.”
“I can’t believe you talked me into this, Lills.”
“Oh, why’s that? Because you don’t like Nic, or because you may have to deliver two babies at any moment?” I ask with a laugh.
“All of the above.”
“But you love me, so you’re going to suck it up and get on with it, even if you have to play midwife on the hard shoulder of the motorway.” He glances over at me in the passenger seat and doesn’t look amused by my comment. “It’ll be fine,” I say again, just like I did to Lucas an hour or so ago.
“Oh my God, you made it,” Nic shouts over when she spots me waddling towards her after Dec drops me off right outside the crematorium where the funeral is being held.
“I told you I would. Come here,” I say, trying to give her a hug.
“Lilly, you are fucking massive,” she says, putting her hands on my colossal belly.
“I know. I feel ridiculous.”
“Oh, I didn’t know Dec was bringing you,” Nic comments when he appears from the car park.
“Didn’t I mention it?” I ask innocently, because I know full well I didn’t tell her.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Whoops.”
“Nicole, I’m sorry for your loss,” Dec says politely as he steps up to us.
“Thank you,” she mutters, before excusing herself.
I glance over at Dec.
“What? I was perfectly polite.
What did you want me to do? Pull her in for a hug?” He has a point, but I don’t really know what I expected. They haven’t seen each other for years; they aren’t suddenly going to start getting along now.
The service is short and sweet, with only a handful of people in attendance, making me glad I made the effort. When Nic and her mum moved up here, Natalie was either looking after her parents or working, so she never really made many friends before she got ill.
Nicole ushers me to a chair right next to the buffet table when we get to the pub the wake is being held in, and I couldn’t be more grateful because I’m starving, as usual.
We’re probably there for an hour before it happens.
“Oh shit.”
“What?” Dec asks in a slight panic because of my language.
“I think…um…I think my waters have just broken.”
“Please tell me you’re fucking joking, Lilly.”
I stand up to head to the toilet to check it out, but the second my arse leaves the chair I feel fluid run down my legs.
“Uh…nope, pretty sure it’s really happened.” I’d been having weird twinges for a few hours, but I put it down to the long car journey to get up here. Apparently, I should have taken them more seriously.
“Fuck. What do we do?” Dec asks, totally flustered. It’s quite amusing for me because he hardly ever gets worked up.
“Firstly, calm down.” I’m not entirely sure why I’m so calm about all of this. Some kind of natural instinct, I guess. “There’s a blue and white striped bag in the boot of the car. Please go and get it for me.”
“Are there instructions in there?”
“Just go and get it.” I watch Dec stop and say something to Nic before he rushes out of the pub.
Nic runs over to me, her eyes wide and a huge smile on her face. “The babies are coming?”
“It looks that way. When Dec reappears, will you help me to the toilet? You might have to apologise to the owner about the state of his chair,” I say.
When Dec comes back, I hand him the paperwork I printed out for the local hospital. He gives me a questioning look when I hand it over. “What? I was just being prepared. As you all said, it could happen at moment, so I wanted to have everything in place. Now ring them, tell them my waters have broken but I haven’t had any…argh,” I say as a pain goes across my lower belly. “No, tell them my contractions have just started.”
Lilly (Angel Series Book 3) Page 24
