All It Takes

by Clare Dugmore

  Elizabeth looked over at me. “I’m sorry about earlier. I know this isn’t your fault, and you’re doing everything you can for Megan and Ella.”

  “Don’t sweat it. We’re all worried about them.”

  Elizabeth smiled, then said, “Meg tells me your sister thinks bed rest might not be the best thing.”

  “Marie is a theatre support worker here at the hospital,” I said, answering the unasked question of why my sister would be commenting on Megan’s condition. “I ran into her in the canteen earlier, and told her what’s happened. She said it’d probably help lower Meg’s blood pressure if she’s at home, in her own space.”

  “Well, some decent food and a good bed wouldn’t hurt,” Elizabeth said.

  “Exactly. I’m going to ask Doctor Stone tomorrow.”

  “You let us know if you need us to pick you up or anything,” Edward said.

  “I will do.”

  Megan’s parents and I stayed at her bedside, chatting about random non-important stuff until visiting hours ended at nine, and the nurse came around to make sure we all left.

  When I got home, I called Davi to ask for the following day off, then made myself a protein shake, had a shower, and went to bed for an early night. Between the early morning, and everything that’d gone on since graduation, I was knackered.

  As soon as my head hit the pillow, my brain went into overdrive, and I couldn’t switch my thoughts off. Since I’d bought it up in conversation a few weeks ago, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about me and Meg and living together, and everything that had gone on since then only made me surer. I wanted to be there for her as much as possible, so nothing like this happened ever again.

  Not just that, but I wanted to be around as much as I could after Ella was born, too. I still didn’t know shit about changing nappies or feeding a baby, but I’d learn to help take some of the pressure off Meg.

  Knowing I’d never sleep until I did something about our living arrangements, I turned on my phone and started browsing property sites. I had money left from buying into the gym, and I intended to put it to good use. Then all I’d have to do was convince Meg.

  Despite talking to Doctor Stone the following day about being discharged, it was almost a week until Megan’s blood pressure fell low enough for the doctors to even contemplate letting her go home.

  I tried to visit her as much as I could, but we both agreed I shouldn’t take too much time away from the gym, as I planned on having at least a month off when Ella was born. I put the time away from Meg to good use though, and visited a number of properties – some within the city, and some in the quieter countryside on the outskirts. My plan was slowly coming together, and everything was almost finalized apart from one last step, which was eluding me.

  I was visiting Meg one morning when Doctor Stone came to see her. Thinking it best to give them some space so the doctor could check her over, I went down to the canteen. I was getting a coffee from the vending machine and felt a presence behind me. I turned to see Stacey approaching.

  “Hey,” she said, reaching into her purse for some change.

  I beat her to the punch, and slipped a pound coin into the machine. “I’ve got this. What are you having?”

  “A hot chocolate, please.”

  I pressed the appropriate button, and once it was made, handed Stacey her drink.

  “How long has the doctor been in there with her?”

  “About five minutes,” I said. “They’re doing some tests to see if she’s well enough to come home.”

  “Yeah, Meg said they might be discharging her today.” She paused for a minute, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “I was hoping to bump into you. I have a favour to ask.”

  I took a sip of my coffee and raised an eyebrow. “Shoot.”

  “I wanted to get your mum and sister’s numbers. I’m going to throw Meg a surprise baby shower when she’s discharged, and I thought it’d be nice for them to be there.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Isn’t she meant to be taking it easy?”

  “I talked it through with Elizabeth, and she thinks it’ll be okay. It won’t be anything strenuous. We’ll provide all the food and stuff. All Meg has to do is be there.”

  I rubbed my chin and thought it over. Meg had mentioned wanting a baby shower before Ella was born, and since the pre-eclampsia diagnosis, she’d been really down. This would be the perfect thing to lift her spirits. “All right. I’ll text you their numbers.”

  “Brilliant.”

  I was struck by a sudden source of inspiration. For the past few days, I’d been working on a surprise for Meg and trying to figure out the best way to present it to her. Chatting to Stacey had given me the perfect plan.

  “Maybe you can help me out with something in return.”

  “Sure. What do you need?”

  I filled Stacey in on my plan, and what she could do to help me with it.

  A week after Meg was finally discharged from hospital, she and I were cuddled up on the sofa at my place, watching a movie, while Stacey and Elizabeth got Meg’s flat ready for the baby shower. I had a few finishing touches to add to my surprise for it to be ready when the party finished, and keeping quiet about it was killing me.

  I tried to focus on the film – a random chick flick Meg had picked – but all I could think about was what was left to be done and Megan’s reaction when I showed her. My mouth felt dry as I imagined what she’d say. I hoped she saw the grand gesture for what it was and not me putting pressure on her or anything. Of course, I wanted thing to go my way, but if they didn’t, I’d deal with it. Just as the movie ended, I got the text from Stacey to say everything was set up, and all the guests had arrived.

  “Fancy going for a drive?” I asked, as Meg switched off the DVD player.

  “Sure. Are we coming back here after or stopping at mine?”

  “Here’s good, if you’re okay with that?”

  “Sure, I’ll need to swing by mine and grab a change of clothes and stuff though.”

  “Perfect. We can head out now and after we can go into the countryside.”

  Meg stood up, and made her way into the hall to put her trainers on. “Sounds like a plan.”

  I text Stacey back to tell her we were on our way, and followed Megan to the front door.

  “Do you smell that?” Megan asked when we got to hers and she was unlocking the door. “It smells like pizza.”

  I laughed. “Is that your way of hinting you want to stop off for some food?”

  “No … well yes, I could go for pizza, but I’m being serious. Don’t you smell that?”

  I shook my head and followed her into the hall, thankful she had her back to me so she wouldn’t see the smirk on my face.

  She pushed open the living room door, and was greeted by cries of “surprise,” followed by Meg bursting out laughing.

  She ran to her mum and Stacey, who were sitting in the centre of the sofa, and threw her arms around them.

  “You guys!”

  “You like?” Stacey asked.

  Meg took a step back and looked around the room. A buffet table had been set up with sandwiches, cold pizza, cocktail sausages on sticks, and a cake in the shape of a dummy laid out on it. Dotted around the room were pink balloons, and other baby-themed decorations, including a piñata. Sitting on the two armchairs were my mum and Marie.

  “I love it,” Megan said.

  As Elizabeth and Stacey served everyone some red, presumably non-alcoholic, cocktails, I said a quick hello to my mum and Marie, then told Megan I’d pop back later, so she and the others could enjoy the party without a guy hanging round.

  “You’re not staying?” she asked, looking slightly sad.

  “Do you know how many man points I’ll lose for being at a party this girly?” She giggled and nodded her head. “I’ll be back later, and we can go for that drive then.”

  Megan narrowed her eyes. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

 
I laughed. “How else do you think Stacey got my mum and Marie’s numbers.”

  “You crafty pair.”

  I pulled her to me and kissed her, causing Stacey to shout, “Get a room!”

  Leaving Meg to her friends and the party, I made my way out and headed off to finish my own surprise for her.

  A few hours later, I pulled up outside Meg’s place to pick her up. My heart hammered, knowing in less than an hour, the cat would be out of the bag. I only hoped she took it as well as she had the party.

  I rang the bell and waited for someone to answer. Less than a minute later, Meg threw open the door, wearing a plastic tiara and giggling like an idiot.

  “I’m not even going to ask,” I said, following her back to the living room.

  The piñata had now been broken, and its crushed remains lay on the buffet table, which was almost empty. I grabbed the last slice of pizza from the table, then settled on the floor by Meg’s feet.

  “Look at all the stuff everyone brought for Ella,” she said, picking up a pile of baby clothes.

  “Damn that’s a lot of outfits.”

  “Right, and that’s not all of it. Your parents got us a digital baby monitor, and mine got us a blender and feeding set for when Ella’s ready to start solid food.”

  I climbed to my feet with a grin. “Thank you,” I said, hugging Mum, before approaching Elizabeth for a hug too. “Both of you.”

  “Nothing’s too much for our first grandchild,” Mum said.

  While everyone chatted, I sat on the floor between Meg’s legs, impatiently counting down the minutes until they left. Under any other circumstances, I’d have relished seeing mine and Meg’s family together, discussing Ella and the future, but all I could think of was getting Megan alone and showing her what I’d been up to for the past few weeks.

  Finally, everyone left, and I couldn’t contain myself any longer.

  “Okay, do you want to go for that drive now?”

  Meg stifled a yawn. “I’m kind of tired. Can’t I just grab some clothes and then we can head back to yours?”

  I tried to fight the heaviness in my body. Meg was meant to be taking it easy, and if she wanted to go back to mine and rest, I should deal with it.

  “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to cuddle up in bed with me?”

  I laughed. “Of course I want to, it’s not that. There’s something I wanted to show you. Something important.”

  Meg shuffled closer to me, her eyes focused on mine. “So important it can’t wait?”

  “Yeah, I guess I can show you tomorrow. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep it quiet.”

  Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated. “Okay, now I’m intrigued. Let’s go.”

  She climbed to her feet and went into the hallway. Once we both had our shoes and jackets on, we made our way outside and to the car.

  I drove out of the city, almost as far as the turnoff for the nature reserve and reservoir we’d previously visited. When we reached a passageway heavily lined with trees, I brought the car to a halt, and flicked on the overhead light.

  Megan looked around incredulously. “This is what you wanted to show me? A load of trees?”

  “No, it’s just a little further, but it’s a surprise. I have another request. Will you put this blindfold on, please?”

  Megan looked at the blindfold in my hand like I was trying to pass a snake to her.

  “You’ve taken me to the middle of the woods, and now you’re asking me to put on a blindfold? Are you sure you’re not a serial killer?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve already killed enough people for one day.”

  Megan laughed.

  “It’ll only be for a few minutes.”

  She huffed and took it from me. “Fine! This better be good.”

  “It will. I promise.”

  Once the blindfold was secured, I drove through the pathway of trees until we came out on a tarmacked driveway. I parked the car.

  “We’re here, but you can’t take the blindfold off yet. I’ll come around and open the door for you.”

  Above the blindfold, I could just see the tops of Meg’s brows drawing together. “Okay.”

  I got out of the car and ran around to the passenger side door. Once open, I took Meg’s hands and helped her to her feet. Then, once she was standing, I looped my arm through hers and led her up the driveway.

  I paused for a moment to open the front door, and at the sound of a lock clicking, Meg turned to me. Even though she had a blindfold on, I knew she was narrowing her eyes at me.

  “What was that?”

  “Just a few more minutes and then you can take the blindfold off.”

  I walked us to the bottom of the stairs and then directed Megan as to when to take a step, until we reached the top.

  I led Meg into the nursery, flicked on the light and then once she was in position, I pulled away the blindfold. Her eyes widened, and then she rushed forward.

  “Oh my God, Kian. How?” She reached out and touched the mural, made from her decal design, on the wall.

  I came and stood beside her, and took her hand. “Let’s just say I had a little help.”

  “Stacey. I can’t believe she managed to keep it quiet.”

  “Well, I did have to bribe her with wine and chocolate.”

  Megan laughed. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I’m not done yet.” I took a deep breath, and prepared to give the speech I’d been mentally rehearsing all day. “I suppose you’re wondering what’s going on, aren’t you?”

  Megan tore her eyes away from the mural to look at me. “Uh-huh.”

  “I’ve sold my apartment. With the savings I had left after buying into the gym, I bought this place. No matter what happens, this is where I’ll be living, and this room can be Ella’s. But I want it to be our home, not just mine. The choice is entirely up to you, and if you say no or you’re not ready, I’ll respect that and leave things until you are ready for us to live together. I just wanted to show you what it could be like before you make up your mind. What do you think?”

  Meg threw her arms around me and pressed her lips to mine.

  “Is that a yes?” I asked when she pulled away.

  “Yes. I want this, Kian. All of this. You, me, Ella. The house. I love it. I love you.”

  I grabbed her by the waist, spun her around, and kissed her. “I love you, too.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  As Kian placed me back on the ground, my heart hammered. I felt giddy, and had to hold onto him for a moment to steady myself.

  “So, do you want the grand tour?”

  I grinned. “Hell yes!”

  He led me to the door, and then looked about sheepishly. “It’ll need some work. I’ve only had chance to get Ella’s room decorated.”

  I stepped into a plain hallway with beige walls, devoid of any personality. But it didn’t matter; this was going to be our home.

  I laced my fingers through his. “We can do it together.”

  “No way! I’m hiring someone. I want us moved in before Ella is born, and you’re not lifting a finger.”

  With my recent stay in hospital still fresh in my mind, I nodded my head.

  I followed Kian down the hall to a spacious bathroom that had all the usual fixtures, along with a massive bathtub that had Jacuzzi jets built in, and could easily fit two people.

  “Oh my God!” I said, letting go of his hand and running to the tub for a closer look. “This is amazing!”

  Kian leant up against the wall and laughed.

  After that, we checked out the main bedroom, which was easily the size of my entire flat. The whole place was huge, with another bedroom and office on the upper floor, and extensive kitchen, dining room and lounge downstairs. The garden was just as big, with plenty of room for a patio and barbecue area, as well as space for a play set as Ella got older.

  Finally, we made our way back round to the front, where a long driveway led up to the house and double garage.


  “When can we move in?” I asked.

  “Well, as I said, I want everything decorated first, but ideally I’d like to be in within the month.”

  I took his hand and we walked to the car. “Okay, will the people who did Ella’s room be willing to do the rest?”

  “Yes, I’ve already checked with them, and they’re happy to do the work. All we have to do is decide what we want.”

  We paused for a moment to get into the car, and once Kian had started up the engine I said, “Do you fancy going over some ideas when we get back to yours?”

  “I thought you were tired?”

  I stared out the window in amazement, following the length of the tree-lined alley that separated our new house from the road.

  “I was, until you showed me this place. Now I feel like I’ve drunk three espressos. I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

  “You need to take it easy. I don’t want you ending up in hospital again.”

  “It’s the last thing I want, too. But discussing designs and looking up ideas online won’t be that strenuous.”

  Kian let out a breath then smiled. “Okay, but only for an hour and then we’re going to bed. Deal?”

  “Deal!”

  It was almost two-and-half hours later when we finally climbed into bed, but I had Pinterest boards full of ideas, and we’d come up with a rough plan for how we wanted each room decorated. I intended to call the decorators the following day while Kian was at work.

  We settled into our usual position of Kian behind me, and me curled in his lap. His hand rested on my tummy, where Ella was squirming around and pushing into my ribs.

  “Our little girl’s got quite a kick on her now,” he said after she booted his palm.

  I rubbed my rib cage. “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  Kian’s touch seemed to calm Ella, and eventually she stopped using my womb as a football pitch. Wrapped safely in his arms, I drifted off to sleep.

  The following morning, Kian woke early to head to the gym. He tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake me, but between the sounds of him getting ready and the need to pee, I woke up too.