“Now, I hope your hands are clean Sir. I need you to put your hand on the baby’s head, just to support it. Tell her to push, the next time she feels a contraction, the head should come out by itself. Guide it gently; do not pull it. When the head is fully out, check around the neck for the umbilical cord. Check that this is not obstructing the breathing. Are you ok, Sir?” Dean nodded into the phone and she repeated her question. He answered yes, and went to assist Veronique. He knelt between her legs, and put his hands there to cradle to baby’s emerging head. When she started to have contractions, he shouted.
“Push. Push.” She screamed with the effort, and as she pushed. The baby slipped out, first its shoulder, and then the rest of its body fell into his waiting hands.
“It’s here. It’s here,” Dean shouted towards the phone, which was now lying on the bed. “Oh my god, it’s here.” It started to snuffle, and then started to make a small mewling crying sound. He handed the baby to Veronique, who immediately began to cry as well. He took off his dressing gown, and placed it over Veronique whose legs were still drawn up, and wide open, suddenly seeming very exposed, although she wasn’t aware of anything, but the baby.
“I’ve covered them up,” he said with relief, pride and emotion to the midwife who was still listening on the phone. He felt an emotion he hadn’t felt before. He wiped his brow, unknowingly smearing the blood from the birth across his forehead and he began to cry himself. He had just seen a new life entering the world and it was the most beautiful and profound thing he had ever seen. He had actually delivered a baby.
“Well done, Sir. Congratulations to you all. The ambulance should be there any minute. Just keep them company until the paramedics arrive.” She hung up and Dean stood and looked at Veronique and the child. They looked so beautiful together.
He knelt beside them. There was a little sound from the baby and he put his hand on its head. He wiped a stray tear that rolled down his cheek.
“I didn’t even see if it was a girl or boy.” Dean smiled. “I forgot to look.”
“It should be a boy kicking me like that for months,” she smiled. Veronique lifted up the dressing gown, which was over the baby and together they looked at the baby’s groin. “Yep, It’s a boy,” Dean said. They smiled at each other. Suddenly everything was calm and quiet as they waited for the medics to arrive.
“Dean, thank you so much for everything. You have done so much for me and now you have even delivered my son.” He nodded and they both sobbed together in joy. The baby, with its shock of black hair, now fast asleep in her arms.
***
The following weeks passed in a blur. Veronique had never felt so tired. Every time she fell asleep, the baby woke her with his hungry demands. It seemed to be an endless routine of feeding, nappies and sleeping. Dean had been visiting every day and took over small meals and helped where he could. He had been so proud of delivering the baby and was so attentive that you could think he was the father. He fussed over the baby so much and gave Veronique much needed breaks. She didn’t know what she would do without him.
She had decided to call the baby Michael Dean Mellor. Something she hadn’t really thought about until Dean raised his eyebrows at the mention of the surname. She didn’t say anything more to him and he never asked.
No matter where she went she knew that she would never get away from her past, even changing her name hadn’t really worked. At night she dreamt of both Nico and Matt. Both men haunted her dreams and both made her cry; one with unrequited love and one with fear and terror that he would find her again. All dreams with them were nightmares.
The phone rang every day and every day there was silence on the other end. Every day she slammed the phone down, angry and scared.
If it was Matt, he must never find out about Michael. He must never know.
Chapter Sixteen – Nico
Nico had been enjoying skippering the smaller yachts but he was still no closer to finding Veronique. He was cruising around the Mediterranean while she could be anywhere. Every lead he had had, had drawn a blank. A couple of times, the woman from head office, was due to come to his yacht and see the passengers on board, but Priscilla never had. He had heard so many things about her that he decided if he couldn’t have Veronique then he would date Priscilla, and only then because she had reminded him of her. Something in his mind just couldn’t let the image of her go, and having now seen Priscilla from head office, something spiked him about her too. He was due a break after the present cruise ended, and so he decided that he would have to put Veronique out of his mind. He would make a date to meet Priscilla. It was time for him to try and move on. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Maybe Priscilla could help him get over Veronique.
“Hi It’s Nico.”
“Hello there. Where are you?” Dean had sounded surprised.
“I’m actually at the pub on the corner. I wanted to check you weren’t busy before I came to the office. Can I come over?”
“Hell yes Nico. Anytime for you!”
Nico picked up his things and went straight over to the office. The reason he hadn’t gone straight there was he was hoping to see Priscilla alone, and strike up a conversation with her first. Sadly, she had been nowhere to be seen. Dean shook his hand warmly when he arrived.
“What are you doing here of all places? I thought you would spend your own holidays in Europe somewhere.”
“No, after you have been around the world as many times as I have, one place becomes much like another. It all loses its charm. I wanted a quiet break away from all the holidaymakers.” Nico looked around the office and across at the empty desk where he assumed Priscilla would normally sit. “You know I never did get to meet your colleague. I have heard so many wonderful things about her.”
“Oh, I had to let her have some time off. She will be back in a couple of months though. You know what women are like once they have a baby.”
Nico’s heart sank. The one woman he had taken an interest in, besides Veronique, and she was obviously in a relationship and now had a baby.
“A little boy you know?” Dean was talking happily. “I even delivered it myself.”
“I am sorry I don’t understand, she had a baby and you delivered it? Are you both together?”
“No no just work colleagues. I just happened to be there when she gave birth.”
“Ah.”
“She should be in later. You should see the baby, very dark shock of hair and dark eyes. She is very proud.” Dean looked at Nico, noticing his dark hair and eyes and Nico looked back at him blankly. “And you say you have never met her?” Nico shook his head. Dean looked at him sideways.
“No, not yet. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no reason. I was just thinking Priscilla could do with a good man like you, and the baby, well the baby looks enough like you that you could form an instant perfect family.”
“That is very kind of you to offer her to me,” Nico was laughing at Dean’s open remark, “but I am already in love with my ideal woman! I just have to find her. That is all. I don’t mind meeting Priscilla though. Just to put a face to all the wonderful things I have been hearing about her.”
“Ah well, can’t help trying. She is such a super woman.”
“Why don’t you date her?”
“Oh no, I have my own problems.”
Just as they were talking, the door opened and Veronique walked in carrying the baby in a baby seat. She was busy looking at Michael and didn’t see Nico sat in the chair, his back to the door she had just entered.
“Oh Dean, what a day I have had! It’s been crazy.” She put the sleeping baby down on the floor in his carrycot and looked up to speak to Dean. It was then that she saw Nico and blanched.
Nico stood up, his heart in his mouth, when he heard her voice. He knew instantly it was her. He turned to face the door. Stood before him was Veronique with a baby.
“YOU!” He stood rooted to the spot and looked at her in disbelief. Standing before her now,
there was no mistaking it, was his Veronique. He could have picked her out from a line up, blindfolded. He could have picked her from her voice and her perfume too.
“NICO!” She said in shock. Dean stood up too, perplexed by the unfolding scene before him.
“Do you both know each other?” They nodded, both of them in shock at seeing the other, with Dean suddenly realising what was happening.
“Yes! This is the woman I have been looking for all this time!”
Dean came around the desk, and punched Nico square across the jaw. He fell backwards and hit a desk.
“You absolute CAD!” Dean was furious.
“What did you do that for?” Dean was ready to hit him again.
“NO!” Veronique stood between them. “It’s not his fault!”
“What do you mean it’s not his fault? He abandoned you when you were pregnant,” Dean responded angrily.
“No, remember Dean, I told you he didn’t know. He had no idea.”
“Didn’t know what?” Nico interrupted. They both looked at him. Dean thought him stupid beyond words, but he clearly hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. Dean rolled his eyes.
“Nico, the baby!”
“What about the baby?” He rubbed his jaw from where Dean had hit him.
“Do I need to spell it out?” Dean looked at him, incredulous that a man could be so dense.
Veronique looked down and said quietly.
“He could be yours.”
Now Nico had to sit down, his legs giving way, and suddenly buckling from under him. He went pale, as the dawning realisation hit him, that he could be a father. It was all too much; to find the woman he loved more than anything, and to find he could be a father at the same time. If that wasn’t enough, all this time they had been working for the same company. She had been pregnant and he hadn’t known a thing. He felt like a total idiot.
“It was a mistake.” Veronique suddenly said openly to them both. Nico stood up and looked at her. He went across to stand close to her, wanting there and then to take her in his arms.
“No, whatever has happened, it was not a mistake to me. I love you. I always have. I have been looking for you everywhere these past months. I have travelled the UK and all over France; have contacted everyone in the industry on a global scale. No one knew where you were. It is not a mistake. We can sort this.” His voice was thick with raw emotion.
“Are you telling me, Priscilla, that he really didn’t have an idea?”
“No, he didn’t.” Dean crossed the room and sat down again.
“And what’s all this Priscilla name thing?” Nico looked to Veronique for an explanation. She sat down and sighed. Nico then looked to Dean for answers.
“Do you remember Dean? The first time I came to the offices I showed you a photo of her, and I asked if you knew her. I showed you this.” He took out the photo of Veronique that he always carried on him. “You said you didn’t know her, and yet, I find out now that you do.”
“Nico.” She sighed again. “He didn’t know either.” Now they were both looking to her for answers.
“I didn’t know I was already pregnant when I left the ship. I wanted to start again. Dean has helped me. He has been a total rock. I had to leave the old life behind.”
The baby started to awaken, and cry, and she went over, and lifted him out of his carrycot. For the first time, Nico saw him, and he came over to stand by her. He traced the face of the baby, with his fingers, which trembled slightly.
“May I hold him?” He had tears in his eyes. His whole being was yearning to hold him. She had said he could be hers, and looking at the dark, dark eyes and the dark hair, it was a very strong possibility. Once Michael was in his arms, he didn’t care who the real father was. This baby was part of his beloved Veronique, and that was enough for him. The love he felt for her, now transferred in equal strength to the baby. He gazed down at the perfect little fingers wrapped around his seemingly giant fingers and his heart melted. Nico felt his chest bursting with love, pride and protectiveness for this little soul in his arms. He looked up at Veronique who had been watching him, and his reaction. She saw the tears in his eyes; she heard the softness in his voice as he cooed to the baby.
“He is the most beautiful baby in the world. I shall take him as mine. I want the chance to love him, and to be a part of his life. He is part of me. Part of you. He is living proof of our love.” She looked away.
“Not all babies are born out of love. Many are born from hate, violence, greed, deception and rape,” she said coldly. “This baby, whatever his beginnings, is mine but I cannot be sure you are his father.” To think he was a father one moment and then for it to be possibly taken away from him the next, was like a bucket of cold water being poured over him, but he carried on undeterred.
“Veronique, I can be his father. We can both give him love. Let me love him. Let me love you. He can be ours. Together.” Nico was pleading with her to give him a chance.
“You don’t make a lifelong commitment from a few minute conversation.” She took the baby back. Now it was Nico’s turn to be incredulous. He couldn’t believe she had just said that. She had no idea what he had been through looking for her. She had no idea of the depth of his feelings for her. He tried to find the right words to explain how he felt.
“Veronique, I have loved you from the first time I set eyes on you many years ago. I have loved you from afar for too long. My decision stands, if you will have me. I am here for you both. I love you and the baby is an added bonus. I will love him as my own, whatever his beginnings. Let me spend my life with you, with you both.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I feel so confused now.” She put Michael back in the carrycot. I have to go. I will think about it.” She left the office with the baby, and Nico was left standing there, shocked, and not quite sure what had just happened. Dean sat down, with much the same shell-shocked look on his face.
Neither of them knew what Veronique would decide.
Chapter Seventeen - Ellen
Since her meeting with Dean at Greens, Ellen had been unable to speak further with him. She wanted to forget the raw emotions she had felt that day, the stupidity of everything. She had let a good man go and she wanted him so much it hurt. From the moment she had met Matt, things had spiralled out of control from the abuse she suffered at his hands, to her total isolation from friends and family. Being with Matt was a mistake and it was a mistake that just kept getting bigger and bigger. She felt her frustrations growing and yet her mind was being clouded so much that she no longer knew what was right any more and what was wrong.
The sound of the key in the door made her jump and she quickly picked up a magazine to appear to be busy reading.
“Have a nice day dear?” Matt’s voice was derisory and she ignored him. “Little wifey been busy cooking my dinner?” He disappeared into the bedroom and removed his shoes; she knew he would do this because when he kicked them off they would bang loudly against the wardrobe door. A few seconds later there were the tell tale sounds of banging as his shoes did just that. She stood up and tidied the already tidy table.
“Phone’s ringing.” She cocked her head, but could hear nothing. He shouted again. “Phone’s ringing, you stupid cow!”
She automatically went over to the phone and stared down at it. She still couldn’t hear anything. She looked at it stupidly. He barged passed her and picked it up angrily. He glowered whilst he spoke into the receiver.
“Sorry about that, the wife is going barmy.” She sat down feeling very confused. It hadn’t rung, she was sure it hadn’t. She tapped the table with her nails, and focused on the sound they made. She could hear that. Maybe she had been thinking too loudly. She shook her head and laughed, just how could someone think too loudly? Suddenly, she felt her head being yanked up by her hair.
“You stupid woman, you nearly lost me a massive deal. He says he has been ringing for ages.” He jerked her head closer to his, her neck and head being pulled over the
back of the chesterfield sofa. He bent down, and she saw his spiteful eyes. They had that look again. The look that meant she was in for another beating. “What are you doing all day? Are you going out of your mind? Huh? Huh?” He gave another twist of her hair, and she almost winced. “Crazy bitch.” He let go, and she automatically braced herself for a hard punch, or a blow to her head. She waited for ages, and no blow came, and so she looked out of the corner of her eye and saw him walking away in her peripheral vision. She remained totally still, in case he came back and hit her. A few moments later, he came back with his shoes. As he walked by, he caught her head with one shoe and he grunted with satisfaction at the sound it made against her head. He sat down and put them on, then picked up his jacket and keys. He looked at her with such an evil look.
“I have to go meet him. Sit by the phone and make sure you answer it when I call!”
The door shut after him, and she looked at the phone, and waited for it to ring. She picked it up, and listened, and heard the purr of the dial tone. She replaced the receiver quickly, in case he called. Keys sounded in the front door, and she looked up to watch the door open. Nothing. The door remained closed and she wondered if she was imagining things. She looked at the phone again and watched it. A few minutes later, still staring at the phone waiting, she heard the keys in the door lock again, and looked up. Nothing. She got up and went to the door. Opened it. There was no one outside. She went back to the phone and picked it up, only the dialling tone was there to greet her once again. Keys sounded suddenly in the lock, and she looked once more to the door, but no one came in. She watched the phone, and waited for it to ring, desperate that she didn’t miss its shrill tone. The doorbell rang, and she rang to the door, and opened it. There was no one there, and she raced back to the phone, feeling frantic that it might ring when he called, and she would miss it.
“Stop it Ellen,” she said to herself. “Your mind is just playing tricks on you.” Her voice was loud in the empty silence of the house. “I think I will have a bath to relax. Oh no. I am talking to myself–that is a really bad sign.” She raised her eyebrows, “Mmm, definitely is,” she said aloud. She had forgotten all about being told to sit by the phone.
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