‘Why not?’ Oh...God...she didn’t want him to be here?
The woman closest to Megan touched her arm and said something in her own language. Megan answered in the same language. The words were incomprehensible but the tone was clearly reassuring. Her companion got to her feet with graceful ease and, by some unseen signal, all the others followed her lead. The children still clustered around Josh were shooed away. Someone offered to take the babies from Megan but she shook her head, smiling.
When the crowd had virtually melted away, Megan looked directly at him.
‘Isn’t it the opening today?’ she asked quietly. ‘The new wing of your department?’
Josh merely shrugged. ‘Ben Carter’s looking after that. He was happy to cope with all the publicity and I was more than happy to let him have the glory.’
‘But...’ Megan looked completely bewildered. ‘It’s been so important to you. You’ve dreamed about this happening for years.’
Josh stepped forward and crouched down in front of Megan. He wanted to take her in his arms but she still had her arms full of babies. And he still didn’t know whether he was welcome here or not.
‘It’s not as important to me as you are,’ he said slowly. ‘I’ve dreamed of being with you a hell of lot longer than having a paediatric wing in my emergency department.’
A spark of what looked like hope flashed in the emerald-green depths of Megan’s eyes but then they clouded again. She seemed to be having trouble processing his words.
‘The children,’ she whispered. ‘Oh...Max.’ She looked incredulous now. He’d left a sick child to come here?
‘Max is fine.’ Josh was unconsciously using the gentlest tone he had. The one that was so useful to soothe a frightened patient or its parent. ‘He’s on antibiotics for his ear infection and he’d bounced back, the way children so often do. Mum’s looking after them. And Tasha’s helping. Getting some quality “auntie” time. And some practice.’
The hint wasn’t picked up. He could see Megan swallow hard.
‘You’re really here,’ she murmured. ‘You came all this way. For me?’
‘For you,’ Josh confirmed. ‘I needed to apologise for the way I shut you out the other night. I just wasn’t thinking and I’m so sorry I scared you.’ His smile was crooked. Self-effacing. ‘I know it’s not much of an excuse but I am a man. I’m not good at multi-tasking.’
A snort of something like laughter escaped Megan. Unable to resist touching her, Josh reached towards her face, wanting to stroke her cheek. His hand became hijacked halfway there, however, caught by a tiny, dark hand. The grip was remarkably tight.
‘Hello, there.’ Josh smiled at the baby. ‘Are you Asha?’
‘No. That’s Dumi.’
‘May I?’ Josh moved to pick up the baby. ‘I know what it’s like, juggling twins.’
Megan said nothing. She was watching Dumi, who gurgled with pleasure and held up both arms when he felt Josh’s hands around his body. Josh gazed down at the small face and felt an odd tightness in his chest when Dumi’s face suddenly split into a wide, toothless grin.
‘He likes you.’ Megan smiled for the first time since he’d arrived.
‘He’s gorgeous,’ Josh said. ‘They both are. Beautiful babies.’
‘My babies,’ Megan said softly. ‘I’m going to adopt them. That’s why I asked Charles to marry me in the first place because I thought the process would be a lot easier if there were two parents available, but...I could still do it, I think. I’m going to try, anyway.’
Josh nodded solemnly. She’d been a mother to these babies since the moment they’d entered the world. This was the unknown part of the woman he’d always loved and understanding this bond she had with these babies only made him love her even more.
‘It would be good for them to have a father, though, wouldn’t it?’
Megan’s eyes were wide. Watching him intently.
‘My babies would love to have a mother,’ Josh continued. Oh...help...could he put what he wanted to say into the right words? ‘You love Max and Brenna, don’t you? Enough to be their mum?’
* * *
Did she love the twins she’d left behind in Cornwall?
Did it compare with the love she had for this man, who’d traversed the globe to find her? A love that was threatening to overwhelm her?
‘Of course I do,’ Megan whispered. ‘They’re part of you. How could I not love them?’
‘Snap.’ Josh smiled slowly. ‘And I’ve just found the part of you that I knew was missing.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Come home with me, my love. Marry me. We’ll both adopt Asha and Dumi and bring them up with a big brother and sister.’
‘Oh...’ The words painted a picture of a perfect future. One that Megan hadn’t even dared to dream of when she’d put her trust in Josh’s new commitment. She gave her head a tiny shake. ‘Whatever would your mother say if she found herself a grandma to African babies?’
‘She’d be thrilled to bits,’ Josh said. ‘You know what she said when she was driving me to the airport?’
‘What?’ Josh was leaning closer. So close the babies they were holding were able to reach out and grasp the hand of the other. They both gurgled happily.
‘She said I would be a better father if I was a truly happy man, and a blind person could see that I was never going to be happy without you. That I needed you. That we all needed you. Make sure you bring her back, she said, for all our sakes.’
He leaned even closer and Megan felt herself sway towards him. Over the heads of the two babies their lips met in a gentle kiss.
‘I love you,’ Josh whispered. ‘More than I’ll ever be able to tell you.’
‘Snap.’ Megan’s voice wobbled. Tears of joy were very, very close.
‘Give me the chance to show you. Every day. For the rest of our lives. Could you do that?’
Megan could only nod. She could do more than that. She could use every day of the rest of their lives to show Josh that she loved him every bit as much. Starting right now. She closed the gap between them and kissed him again.
How tender could a kiss be? How much love could it convey? How sure a promise of the future could it seal?
A lot, apparently.
Much more than enough, anyway.
On both sides.
EPILOGUE
A BIRTHDAY PARTY for twelve-year-olds was bound to be a noisy affair.
Especially in the O’Hara household, with so many blessings in the way of family and friends.
Claire O’Hara’s knees were a little stiff these days, so she moved from where she was standing on the edge of the veranda watching the game of football happening on the lawn to sink down into one of the comfortable wicker chairs.
‘You all right, Claire?’ Megan came bustling out of the house, a bunch of carrots dangling from her hand but paused, concern furrowing her brow. ‘Is your knee bothering you again?’
‘I’m just fine, lovie.’ She eyed the carrots. ‘Are you heading for the ponies?’
Megan grinned. ‘We’ll never get the girls back inside for food if I don’t drag them out of the paddock. Want to come with me?’
‘I went up before. You’d better take your camera. The ponies are looking very pretty with all their plaits and ribbons.’
‘Good thinking.’ But Megan didn’t move to rush back into the house.
She wasn’t looking at her mother-in-law any more, either. A tall figure had broken away from the game of football and was coming towards the house. Even from this distance Claire could see that her son only had eyes for one person right now. She could feel the connection between the two of them, getting steadily stronger with every step Josh took. The strength of that connection never failed to take her breath away.
Was it really ten years since Josh had come back from Africa and brought Megan back into their lives for good?
Such incredibly happy years.
Oh, there’d been the anxious wait about the adoption of Dumi and Asha and
it had taken a while but what a honeymoon, to have gone back over there and brought the new babies home to complete their family! Claire had stayed in the farmhouse only long enough to realise what a superb twin-wrangler and mother Megan was and then, with one of those lovely twists that life could suddenly produce, she took over Megan’s little cottage for her home and it was perfect. An easy walk to the lovely beach that made it so perfect for all her grandchildren to visit.
Josh had reached the veranda now and he and Megan were just standing there, smiling at each other—as though it had been only yesterday that they’d fallen in love.
‘Need any help?’ Josh queried.
‘You’re doing great,’ Megan said softly. ‘You and Alessandro really know how to keep a bunch of small boys happy.’
‘We’ve had plenty of practice,’ Josh laughed.
Yes. The O’Hara children’s royal cousins were here for this celebration. Three little boys in the last decade and Marco, Alessio and Rocco were out there having a wonderful time kicking the football with Max and Dumi. Even better, Tasha was in the house behind them, feeding the brand new and much longed for princess, Alandra, named for her father.
‘I’m going to round up the girls,’ Megan said. ‘Anna and the others have got the table all set. How’s Luke going firing up the barbecue?’
‘I’m just going to check.’ Josh turned away but not before he’d given Megan one of those lingering kisses that always made Claire’s eyes go all misty. He turned back once more. ‘You all right, Mum? You’re not sitting out here all by yourself, are you?’
‘No. I’ve got company.’ Claire dropped her hand to where she knew it would encounter the roughened fur of an elderly companion. Crash was nearly thirteen now and getting stiffer in the joints than she was but he was a part of this family. So were Anna and Luke and their two children. Six year old Chloe loved to tag along in the wake of the older girls and nine year old Ben was a keen surfer and a best friend for Max and Dumi. As close as anyone could get given the bond between the brothers, that is.
Claire had to blink more mistiness away as Josh and Megan left to attend to party business. Who would have thought that two sets of such very different twins could blend to become such a perfect family? Eleven year old Dumi stood a head taller than twelve year old Max already but he had a gentle soul and the whitest, happiest smile that brightened the lives of anyone fortunate enough to be within range. The boys adored each other.
Brenna and Asha were completely different, too. Brenna was a total tomboy and Asha as feminine as they came but the two girls had also bonded as babies and now shared the passion of ponies. How Megan found the energy to ferry them to pony club and events was astounding given that she had been working part time at St Piran’s ever since all the children had started school. Josh was just as amazing. His career still seemed to be on an upward trajectory, with his skills as a consultant in such demand and a new book due to be published on setting up and running an emergency department. He still loved to work on the front line, however and somehow he found the time to be involved with the boys’ football practices and matches. Somehow, Josh and Megan had found a balance. Professional, personal and parental and they could work as a team and keep everybody happy.
The noise level increased. Claire stayed in her chair with Crash at her feet as the party attendees streamed past her on their way to the food. She smiled and Crash thumped his tail as children and adults greeted him and ‘Nanny Claire’ on their way past.
‘Are you having a good birthday, Max?’ she asked her grandson.
‘The best,’ he said, pushing his mop of black curls back and grinning at her. Heavens, but he was the spitting image of his dad at that age.
And so much happier...
‘To be sure,’ Dumi added with a cheeky grin and the Irish accent he’d perfected to make his grandmother laugh.
It never failed.
Claire was still smiling as the excited troop of girls began to appear from where they’d been dressing up the ponies.
Behind them, she could see Megan. And Josh.
Walking hand-in-hand.
She lost sight of them for a moment, as the girls swept past but then she saw them again. All by themselves for a precious moment, in the garden of their home, with the beautiful backdrop of Penhally Bay sparkling blue in the sunshine.
They didn’t see Claire watching them.
How could they, when they both so intent on kissing each other?
With an effort, accompanied by the happiest of sighs, Claire got out of her chair to make her way inside and join the happy gathering of her family and friends.
Life was good, so it was.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460307557
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St. Piran's: The Wedding! Page 16
