‘You want to cut the cord?’ The midwife again.
Scissors were placed in Abbie’s good hand. Which was shaking as much as her heart was thumping. ‘Oh, yes. Yes, please.’
And then the room was filled with fledgling wails and Emma’s little sniffles as she stroked the baby’s down-covered back, and Abbie snipped. And they were all in tears. Because this really was the most beautiful thing. The best gift anyone could ever give.
‘Let me help you.’ The midwife lifted the baby up and went to put her on Emma’s chest, but Emma shook her head.
‘Give her to Abbie. Give her to her mum.’
Abbie couldn’t fight tears any more. Mum. She was a mum. A mum. Wow. ‘Are you sure? You don’t want to hold her first?’ There were tears streaming down Emma’s face and Abbie didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. ‘Do you... How do you feel? Is everything okay?’
Wiping her face with the back of her hand, Emma smiled. ‘I’m fine. Really. Just hormonal, and emotional. And I just love the look on your face. You look so, so happy. It’s a big thing, being a mum. I know. I already am one. Now you are too.’
Then Abbie was sitting down and holding the most precious, the most adorable, the cutest baby, in the whole world. And yes, she was biased, but she didn’t care. It was true. She looked deep into those big eyes and her heart was lost. For ever. This was it. Hopelessly in love. Funny, how that could happen twice in one day. This one, though, this one would stay for a while at least. She looked up at her best friend. ‘Thank you. Thank you. I just want to make sure you’re okay with this.’
Emma sniffed and sat up a little, trying to make herself comfortable after her ordeal. ‘Of course I’m okay with it. She was never mine to begin with, Abbie. She’s yours. All yours. Look, she’s got your eyes.’ Emma looked straight into Abbie’s eyes and blinked quickly. ‘Oh. She’s so beautiful.’
‘Of course she is. And very few tears, look, she’s just quietly watching. Such dainty fingers and toes. So graceful. Right. I’ve decided, I’m going to call her Grace.’
‘Not Michaela?’
A wave of sadness rippled through Abbie, and she let it go. ‘That can be her middle name. I don’t want to feel sad every time I call to her. She deserves her own name. And I need to move forward. In so many ways. This is a new start. My new family of two.’ Abbie squeezed her friend’s arm. ‘I don’t know how the hell I’m ever going to repay you.’
‘For what? Being a friend? You’ve done it a thousand times over since we were muddy-kneed with toothless smiles, and nothing but trouble.’ With a sigh, Emma lay back against her pillows. ‘Just love her, okay?’
‘I already do. I’m besotted. Completely. And I love you, and Rosie, with all my heart.’
And it was true. So very true. But there was one corner of her almost full heart that would never be the same, that would never heal. Because Callum wasn’t here to share in all of this.
* * *
He found her in the nursery. With her back to him, she was standing over a crib whispering softly to a baby.
A boy? A girl? He couldn’t tell from here. It was swaddled in a white sheet and just stirring from sleep, its tiny arms and legs jerking in the air.
She leant in and twisted her wrist to pick it up. Flinched. Twisted again at a different angle.
No way was she a quitter.
Not like him. One sniff of emotional trouble and he was off.
Not any more. ‘You want some help?’ He kept his voice low, but even then she jumped and turned round.
‘Cal?’ There was pride glowing in her eyes, but caution too. And love. She was scared. She’d been through so much. He’d hurt her, he knew, and she wasn’t going to let him do it again. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. ‘I’m okay. I can manage. We can manage, thanks.’
‘Do you want to sit down and I’ll lift her? Him? Into your arms?’
‘Her. She’s a girl. Grace. My daughter.’
My daughter. It was a swift blow to his heart. He’d chosen to walk away from this? A fool. Stupid really was his middle name.
‘Hey, wee bairn. Abbie, she’s so beautiful.’ There was a fierce possessive streak in him; he knew that very well. Finn had called him on it and Abbie had too. But it was because he cared. Cared deeply and wanted to protect the people he loved from every potential harm. And right now that same streak was running through him as he looked into the black button eyes of this little scrap of life. He wanted to be a part of this. He wanted this child to be his daughter.
He choked that all back—it was too much to think that she’d refuse him, refuse this. But he wouldn’t blame her if she did. ‘And Emma? How is she?’
‘Sad, I think, but she won’t admit it. She did so well. So very well, but she’s tired now and resting. I take over from here, so I’m on a steep learning curve.’
‘So let me help.’ Without discussing it further, he took her hand and sat her down in one of the large, soft feeding chairs. She looked exhausted and this was just the beginning. Every part of him craved to look after her. He wanted to hold her—and the baby—and keep them safe.
But she was still guarded. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Two things.’ He went with the easier one first. ‘I’ve just been talking to Nixon. He’s had word that Ashley’s okay... Ashley, from the gondola, with pre-eclampsia... She’s still very sick, but they’re confident she’ll pull through. And baby’s in NICU, but doing fine.’
‘Thank goodness. I was so worried.’ She looked over at Grace, who was starting to make little chirruping noises, and her eyes misted. She pressed a fist to her chest. ‘I couldn’t imagine...’
‘Don’t. Don’t even think about it. You want to hold her?’
There was a smile. ‘Yes. All the time.’
‘I don’t blame you. Wait there.’ His heart was racing as he bent to pick little Grace up, but it just about melted as she wrapped her tiny fingers round his thumb. This. This was what he craved. There was something raw and thick in his throat. ‘Here you go. She’s beautiful. Like you.’
‘Callum. I can’t...not here.’ She took the babe into her waiting arms and looked down at her with such tenderness that he didn’t think he could hold himself together for much longer. He loved her and loved that child—a miracle that he could feel this way so quickly.
‘So...’ He wondered if he was making the same kind of face as his brother had a few hours ago. There were so many important things he had to say, he just didn’t know if they’d come out right. ‘I want you to know that I love you, Abbie. That I’m staying here, in Queenstown, indefinitely.’
‘You love me? You...love me? You walked away, Cal. You walked away when I needed you.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Why the change of heart?’
He pulled a chair over to sit next to her. ‘There was never a change of heart. I always wanted to stay. I just couldn’t be in two places at once. I couldn’t be a brother and a...partner...boyfriend.’ Family. ‘I couldn’t give everything to everyone. At least, I didn’t think I could. But I want to be here. With you. And little Grace. I want us to be a family.’
‘And Finn?’
‘He’s fine. He’s a lot better and I actually need to let him get on with his life the way he wants.’
‘You’ve come a long way.’ Abbie gave him a very gentle smile and placed her palm on his cheek the way she’d done so many times before. And it gave him some hope. ‘It’s a lovely thought. It really is.’
But... He could tell from her tone that there was a but coming. Hope faded.
‘But how do I know you won’t walk again? How can I let you in when you might leave? You’re a bit of a flight risk. Don’t you have a ticket for home?’
She wasn’t going to make this easy for him, and who could blame her? He grabbed his phone and showed her the airline a
pp. The cancelled flight. Nothing booked, nothing planned, except staying here. On that point, he was absolutely certain. ‘This is my home, Abbie. Here. With you and Grace, if you’ll have me.’
His home. The words struck her chest in a hard blow. Abbie watched as he shoved his phone into his pocket and she started to believe that maybe this was the new fresh start she craved. Him. A man who had been through so much, who’d shown he was good and honourable by knowing his limits, by not making false promises. A man she loved hopelessly. ‘We’re a lot to take on, Cal. I know that. It’s complicated and messy. It’s a lot of responsibility.’
‘Which I want. I want you, both of you. We’ll make it work. I’ll make it work.’
And his voice was so ardent and the passion in his face so honest and true she believed him. Almost. ‘Grace deserves someone who’ll stay around.’
‘I intend to and I’ll prove that to you every day. Just know that I love you, and that’s never going to change.’ He was leaning closer now, his mouth inches from hers, his eyes filled with love, and she could feel the tug into his arms. ‘I want us to be a family, Abbie. And that means I want it all; the wedding, everything.’
‘What? A wedding?’ He really was serious. ‘Is this...? A mother and a wife in one day! Are you asking me to marry you?’
‘Aye. I suppose I am.’ He ran his finger over her necklace and came to a halt when he connected with her wedding ring. Held his breath, his eyes capturing her gaze. ‘Yes. Yes, I am asking you to be my wife. Marry me, Abbie?’
And she wanted so much to stay like this, feeling like this, being with him for the rest of her life. Placing her palm over his, she nodded, because words were just too hard to say through a throat so thick with emotion. And she was concentrating on not crying because that might wake the baby.
‘Is that a yes?’
Not crying wasn’t happening. She felt the first tear, then the rest roll down her cheeks. ‘Yes. Of course. Yes! Oh, I love you, Callum.’
‘I love you too. Both of you.’
And then he kissed her. A promise. For ever.
EPILOGUE
IT WAS VERY early on Christmas morning, but Callum had been up for hours. He was standing by the Christmas tree, rocking his darling daughter, trying to get her to go back to sleep. He’d been the last to bed and up in the small hours and again now. At some point, they’d manage a whole night’s sleep, but probably not for a few years. ‘Shh, you’ll wake Mummy.’
Abbie was watching from the doorway. Every time she saw that big strong man holding her tiny little daughter—their daughter—her heart pinged with a rush of love. ‘Too late. I’m already awake.’
‘Ach, sorry, love. We managed a nappy change and a feed but I think she wants entertaining.’
‘Presents?’ She looked over at the huge pile that had accumulated over the last few weeks. Gifts from her parents, from Emma’s family. From work. And, of course, gifts from Callum. So many, too many.
But this was the best one: to watch him being a father to her child. To know he was staying. That he was part of her family. She didn’t know if she’d ever felt so happy. ‘No, we’ll do presents when we get back. Now that we’re all up, should we go now?’
‘Aye. We’re all dressed up in our Christmas best, aren’t we?’ He kissed Grace on both cheeks and secured her in her pushchair, grabbed the toys and entertainment, then wrapped Abbie into his arms. The place she always wanted to be. ‘I love you. Did I ever tell you that?’
‘I know you do. And I love you too. But hurry, or we’ll be too late.’
Their route took them out through the botanical gardens and along the lake path. There weren’t many other runners out so early, but they did pass some exhausted-looking parents with excited kids on sparkly new bikes and scooters, and they gave each other that tired grin that said, happy.
When they reached the bench, they unpacked, dialled and waited for him to answer. It was still Christmas Eve there and he was going out, so they didn’t want to miss him.
‘Hey, how’s my beautiful girl doing?’ Clearly, being soppy but pretending not to be ran in the family. Finn had been besotted with Grace and being an uncle from the minute he’d set eyes on her—distance didn’t mean a thing with technology these days. ‘It’s snowing, look. This is snow, Gracie. This is Scotland at Christmas. Cold. Damp. But there’s lots of whisky, so not too bad at all.’
‘I think she’s a little young for whisky, Finn.’ But the little girl followed his smile and gurgled. Abbie grinned, snuggling into Callum’s arms, her favourite place in the world. ‘It’s just how I imagined it would be. Magical. Look at this, Cal, your village really is like a film set. Isn’t it beautiful?’
‘Hmm? Beautiful? Yes. You are.’ He kissed the back of her neck, then the side of her head. And she turned and kissed him full on the mouth.
‘Hey, guys! Children watching!’ Finn was shouting and laughing thousands of miles away. ‘Please be mindful of our innocence.’
‘Yeah, says the guy who was dating well before his older brother. Happy Christmas, Finn. Have a great one. And, please, be good.’
‘I’m always good. I’m golden, mate. Happy Christmas, everyone.’
‘Now, where were we?’ With one sweep of his hand, Cal closed down the app. With a sweep of his other hand he’d picked up Grace and buckled her into her pushchair again. Then with both arms he wrapped Abbie into a hug.
‘I think you’ll find we were right here. Doing this.’ She kissed him hard, then pulled out of his arms. Ready to race. ‘Last one back to the flat is a turkey.’
‘Or cooks the turkey.’
‘I’m definitely going to win, then.’ But she didn’t shoot off. Instead, she stopped, taking it all in. One minute to smell the roses. Two. Three. For ever. She gazed first at her man, then at her child...then out across the deep blue lake and the soaring mountain backdrop. Their first family Christmas.
No need to race any more. She’d already won.
* * * * *
Read on for the next great story in THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT duet
HER NEW YEAR BABY SURPRISE
by Sue MacKay
And, if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Louisa George
TEMPTED BY HOLLYWOOD’S TOP DOC
HER DOCTOR’S CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL
TEMPTED BY HER ITALIAN SURGEON
A BABY ON HER CHRISTMAS LIST
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from HER NEW YEAR BABY SURPRISE by Sue MacKay.
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Her New Year Baby Surprise
by Sue MacKay
CHAPTER ONE
‘JUST LOVE HER, OKAY?’ Emma Hayes told her best friend as exhaustion from giving birth ripped through her aching, painful body and threatened to tip her into sleep. Sleep, where she could hide for a while. Then she’d wake up and still have to face up to the fact she’d had Abbie’s baby for her and now her own arms were empty.
Abbie didn’t raise her eyes from the precious bundle she held against her breast as she replied, ‘I already do. I’m besotted. Completely. And I love you with all my heart.’
Aww, sniff. More damned tears. ‘I know you do.’ There’d never been any doubt. Love had been why she’d done this crazy, amazing, scary thing in the first place. ‘This wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t, and if I didn’t reciprocate those feelings.’
Sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, Abbie leaned into Emma, mindful of the baby cradled between them. ‘I can’t describe my feelings. All the waiting and hoping and now here she is.’ She brushed a kiss over Em’s wet cheek. ‘Thank you so much. Again.’
Emma lightly wound her arms around her friend and their precious bundle. ‘Stop saying that, okay?’ She didn’t want gratitude; she didn’t need to be thanked. That they’d come through the pregnancy without an argument said a lot for their friendship, but then, it’d been strong since the day they met at Queenstown Primary more than twenty years ago. But at the moment, the only thing she knew for certain was a few minutes to herself were imperative if she was to keep her equilibrium now that she’d given birth. ‘Go be a mum while I get some shut-eye.’
She needed to fall into the haze filling her head to forget the pain of the birth and remember only the relief that everything had gone well, despite the baby arriving early. Happiness and sadness wound together in her heart at the wonder in Abbie’s eyes as she gazed down on the tiny, beautiful little girl tucked into a pink hospital blanket. A child who’d never know her father; who had been created through artificial insemination.
The Nurse's Special Delivery Page 17
