Love Thief: The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts

Epilogue

I’m up and about early, full of energy this morning.

We’ve had two days of late nights and parties, with Halloween being a huge bash. The family Purcell came for it, as had Jonno, arriving in the early hours of the first of November. Just in time, in fact, to be dragged over to the island with the others for some ceremony.

“Himself is on a recruitment drive, and I keep telling everyone to beware. You’ll all be full Highlanders in no time,” laughed Xander the next day.

The outing for the day is the local Point-to-Point, a popular amateur horse racing event. Lots of people from far and wide attend, with locals and racing enthusiasts flocking to the course. It’s a bit of a drive to the other side of the village, and I’m not looking forward to it. I already know the terrain will be tough on my back.

I’ve had lots of pain over the last twenty-four hours, and, in the end, I decide to give it a miss and stay at home. I’m psyching myself up for the ride back to London. I need to be nearer the hospital, and intended to go in two days’ time.

My shadow, Eamonn Purcell, stays back with me. He’s been stuck to my legs for the last few days, only going out if I did, busying himself running errands for Himself and Xan around the house.

At the last moment, Xan and Kellen opt to stay with me as well, sending everyone else on their way. The only other soul in the house is Aileen, who’s cooking up a storm for the ‘All Souls Day’ dinner this evening.

The sun is out, a surprisingly clear November day, and I shout for Eamonn to go for a walk. Hearing Xan and Kellen in the study discussing rents, I pop my head around the door, expecting them to be both working. Instead, they’re drinking whisky.

“Really? it”s not even mid-day,” I scold them.

“It’s a taste test,” argues Xan, coming over to kiss me. And touch my stomach. He’s as bad as Kellen and Eamonn. Constantly touching, talking, rubbing, kissing the babies and, therefore, me. I just let them get on with it. They’re like magnets.

“I’m going for a walk with Eamonn, down past the Fairy House to the loch side. If you can pull yourselves away from the taste test…”

Xander’s hugging me. “No, too busy.” He grins, letting me go.

“Yeah, agreed.” Kell smirks, leaning back farther in his chair. “Let us know when you’re back.”

Eamonn skids into view with coats and boots in his hands. “Got everything, Aunty Kitten,” he says, dropping it all in front of me.

Kell stands and helps me into my coat as Xander helps with my boots. I haven’t seen my feet in a while, so I’m grateful for any help on that front.

We move through the property, walking slowly while Eamonn chats on about the estate—he knows everyone and their business. He’s a very inquisitive boy, so charming, he grins at people and they instantly do what he wants them to. A skill I’m sure he’ll use well in life.

We walk through the arch of the Fairy House, into the courtyard and out under the arch beyond down toward the loch. The sun is already high in the sky, as it gets dark early here, but it’s glinting off the loch. Eamonn tries to spot wildlife to point out to me as we continue our trek.

Finally reaching the loch, we sit and have a drink on the large boulders at the water’s edge. We decide not to paddle as the water is far too cold, and our feet are way too warm in snug boots.

Aileen’s given my companion a flask, and he pulls it out proudly so we can have hot chocolate.

“Oisin has won the first race,” he exclaims, looking at his phone. “He’s won chocolate as Daddy won’t let them bet money.”

“I should think not. What a waste of cash. I’d rather have the chocolate any day.”

“Colm’s annoyed. He’s asked me to check the form,” he says as a matter of fact.

“You’re seven,” I remind him.

“Yes, but I’ve been looking at the breeding with Josie from the stables. I told Oisin about the first race, so Colm wants me to check for him now.”

I shake my head. “They’re eleven,” I say.

He grins at me. “But they like chocolate,” he says simply.

I shake my head and laugh. “Come on, give me a pull up. We better start back, it takes us a while.” He pulls at me, and I don’t move, on purpose.

“Aunty Kitten, them babies weigh a tonne.” He pulls me again and we move off the boulders and start our meander back towards the Fairy House.

The pains start up again in earnest. I’d mentioned them to Aileen—the super cook, who is also a retired nurse—earlier. “It”s Braxton Hicks, hinney. Your body is preparing you.”

“I can remember,” I told her. Amazing how soon your mind deletes any pain from childbirth. I’m sure it’s nature’s way to ensure we carry on as a species.

“Uhhhh.” I stop and rub my back. Eamonn, moves to the back of me and puts his little hands into my back.

“Is it just there?” he says, trying to rub me.

“Up a bit, Eamonn,” I direct him.

“It was here yesterday,” he says, “the same place.” He notices everything.

I go to take another step and I feel as if I’ve just had a wee. Oh, no. My waters have broken, the babies are coming. It’s too soon, it’s too soon… I am thirty-two weeks, but still.

I then feel another pain, different from the earlier ones. More intense. Deeper.

“Eamonn,” I pant out after it’s faded, “I think the babies are coming. Run to the house, fetch my bag from the wardrobe, you know where I showed you.” He’s nodding in earnest. “Get Uncle Kellen and Uncle Xander to come. I’ll try and walk to the house.” I nod to the Fairy House.

“It’s open. I opened it for Bill this morning,” he says. “Shall I not stay with you and you can phone them?” He’s so practical.

“No, I need my bag with the stuff for the babies. They won’t be thinking, but you do, so…”

He nods, assures me, “I’ll get them,” kisses me, and scampers off.

Eamonn sprints in at his usual breakneck speed, shouts something to us, and then heads up the stairs at one hundred mph.

“Eamonn,” I bellow up the stairs as I look toward the entrance, expecting to see Evie come smiling into the great hall. She’s nowhere in sight. He appears at the top of the stairs after a minute or two, dragging a bag that’s bigger than he is behind him.

“The babies are coming,” he says, pushing the bag in front of him down the stairs.

My brain does not compute. “What?”

“The babies, they’re coming. Water was leaking out of Aunty Kitten and then she couldn’t walk for a bit, but she’s gone to the Fairy House to have them.”

“Xander, Xander, quick, get some hot water and towels,” I shout, running into the study.

“What for?” he asks, completely unaware of the chaos about to descend on us all.

“I don’t know, but they always ask for them on TV shows. The babies are coming. Now.”

He jumps up and we run into the kitchen to tell Aileen and grab some supplies.

“What’s the spatula for, Uncle Kellen,” asks Eamonn as I’m shoving random items in a bag.

“I have no idea, Eamonn. Let’s go.”

I leave Xander on the phone, ringing an ambulance, and set off with Eamonn to find my wife. She’s still on the path to the Fairy House, leaning against a tree, blowing out breaths in an attempt to deal with the pain. I throw the bag into the house and go and collect her.

“In a minute, Kell,” she tells me between breaths. She’s removed her scarf and coat and they’re both on the ground. Eamonn picks them up as I hold onto her. “Okay, I can move now,” she tells me, nodding her head. “They’re only two minutes apart. I think they’re coming fast.”

She’s so slow. “Shall I carry you?”

“No, walking feels good.” She stops again as another contraction takes over, and she grips my hand so hard I think the blood flow has been cut off.

She’s in agony, and I don’t know what to do. So I just hold her up, and wait, pushing the hair from her sweat-drenched face.

“Okay,” she nods, blowing outwards, “move again.”

We’re moving nearer to the house when Xander runs into view.

“There’s no fucking ambulance. Someone’s got hurt at the Point-to-Point and they’ve taken them off. It may be an hour, at least, before they can be here. I’m to call back and they’ll help on the phone.”

“What’s the phone going to do? It can’t deliver the babies.” I feel like I’m going to faint. I knew it, knew something would happen the minute I came.

“Kellen, it’s not you,” she pants out. I can see her side-eyeing me. “You can deliver them.” I literally let her go, she’s fucking lost her mind.

“Me,” I say, and she nods as she stops again.

“That’s a minute,” pipes up Eamonn. Xan and I look at him in amazement, he is the coolest person here. “Aunty Kitten told me what to do,” he says, looking at us. “I’m on timing.”

Evie laughs and then grimaces as she tries to breathe again. “Get Jonno,” she says. “He went to the classes with me.”

Xander fishes in his pocket, coming up empty. “I’ve left my fucking phone.” He turns to move back to the house.

“I’ve texted them,” says the seven year old. “They’re all on the way back.” Eamonn’s phone rings, and he answers in that same cool, in control voice. “Hey Uncle Jonno. Yes she’s here but she can’t talk. Yes.” He holds the phone out to me as he stares at his watch.

“We can’t get out of the car park. Some idiot’s blocked us in. We’ll be there as soon as we can,” he tells me straight away, frustration in every word.

“She needs you, Jonno. You know what to do. There’s no ambulance.” I wince as Evie grips my hand with inhuman strength. We’re nearly at the Fairy House now, but he must hear the panic in my voice.

“Calm the fuck down and deal with it,” he commands. ”You’re grown men, keep it together. She fucking needs you both to be thinking. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

Aileen arrives with towels and goes into the Fairy House. She shouts at Xan to sort out the living room as Eamonn, Evie, and I continue our slow movement towards the door.

The contractions are coming fast, and we just get through the doors when Evie says, “I need to push.”

“Fuck me.” I pick her up and carry her into the lounge, lay her on the nearest settee, and tear off her jeans and outer layers, boots, the lot. We have towels and water. Aileen is washing her hands as is Xan, while Eamonn is calmly passing everyone anything they ask for. I’m just holding onto my wife.

I go to move to get washed, ready for what, I have no idea.

“No!” she shouts. “Stay, Kell. I need you to breathe and talk to me. I like to hear your voice, it helps.”

I look at Xander, who reminds Evie, “Aileen can”t bend, Kitten. It’s me or Eamonn,” he tilts his head in the direction below her belly, “and I don’t want to traumatise the boy. So it’s me. Is that okay?”

She nods at him, continuing breathing in a jagged but established pattern. “I need to push, Xan.”

He looks at her, holding her eyes for a moment before lowering himself to the floor at her feet. “I can see his head.” He sounds as if he’s awestruck, his voice stuttering over the words.

And with Aileen directing him and the ambulance caller supporting him on the phone, Xander Barclay delivers my first twin son.

I’m holding Evie up, and Eamonn is holding me up, as they put the boy, covered in white slime and blood, onto Evie’s stomach.

I have never witnessed a miracle before. But this here is one. The biggest one I have ever seen, one I thought I would never see.

We’re all in tears, including Xander. The baby sounds healthy. My legs buckle. Tears fall from my eyes. My heart pounds in relief.

Aileen steps forward with some scissors and hands them to me. “We need to cut the cord. Twins need it done early.”

Xander moves to take a hold of Evie and I cut my son’s tether to my wife. We wrap him up as Eamonn appears with a baby suit and a little hat. Clearly he and Evie have run drills.

I’m in shock. I can’t stop kissing my wife and my son. And then it starts up again.

Aileen is now dealing with the new baby, I’m holding onto Evie, and Xander is at the business end delivering my second twin boy, again with the help of the emergency worker who’s stayed on the line.

Eamonn is still holding me up. “I’ve got you, Uncle Kellen,” he tells me.

“His head is here,” Xander tells us all, and my twin boy is born ten minutes after his brother.

We perform the same ritual with the baby, but this time I insist Xander cut the cord. He looks like he might go into shock. I’m already there. But apparently we have one more job.

Aileen tells us about the afterbirth, and again we go through the motions. “We’d better keep that,” she tells us all, “in case they need to look at it at the hospital. Evie, shall I put both the babies on to see if they will feed?” Evie nods and Aileen helps get the boys positioned, one on each breast. They’re making noises and trying to feed.

Eamonn stands next to Evie, touching the boys with gentle hands. “They’re hungry,” he says, the picture of serenity.

Xan and I just stand there, staring at her and our sons.

We hear a noise outside and Eamonn goes out with Aileen to direct the ambulance.

I step forward and pull Xan and then Evie into an embrace. “I love you. I have no words for what just happened, but I love you both.” I kiss and hug them, and with tears streaming down my face, I lean forward and kiss my boys.

In the end, the ambulance isn’t required. A midwife arrives with the family posse—commandeered by Tarron from the Point-to-Point—and she gives everyone the once over, declaring them all fine.

As Evie and the babies move into the newly refurbished master bedroom, Tarron quips, “Little did you know you’d be the first guest.” He kisses his newest members of Clan Barclay, and declares that Eamonn is to be given a higher role in the clan for his work on delivering the babies.

“Will I get a badge?” he asks.

Tarron guffaws as Bug tells his youngest, “You can have as much chocolate as you want, Eamonn.”

I’m not sure who’s more emotional over Evie and the twins, Eamonn or Bug. Jonno is a wreck. He’s constantly touching Evie, and I’ve never seen him so unput together.

He makes his way over to me and Xan, and hugs us both. “Good job, fuckheads.” He grins, smacking us both on the back. “They’re beautiful babies. Not sure how you managed that, brother.”

He shakes our hands and I pull him in for another hug. “Thanks, Jonno,” I tell him, clasping his forearm. Xan does the same. Jonno then points at her and the little ones, and nods at us.

Afew days pass and I stay with Evie at the Fairy House, feeding, winding, nappy changing. We’re getting into a routine of sorts. I cannot put my children down. I know I’ll never be able to say no to them. They have her eyes. They may change colour, but when they open them now, they’re grey. They have the same features as James and I, their hair slightly darker blond than mine, more James’s colour. But their eye shape is definitely Evie. God, if they smile like James, I’ll be like putty in their hands.

No one else seems to be able to go past without picking one or the other up, and the twins are carried around constantly. A local woman comes in to try to be helpful and tells us not to pick them up all the time. ‘We’ll spoil them.’ But Jonno informs her that James didn’t know he had legs ‘til he was three years old, he was carried around by everyone so much, and he turned out just fine. She leaves, her advice falling on deaf ears.

The man himself arrives, Bucky right by his side, and everyone leaves the room except Xan and I when the boys meet their little brothers for the first time. There’s not a dry eye in the Fairy House. James cries more than Bucky. He’s so like Evie, hard and soft, dark and light, ruthless and caring.

I hug my very large sons, telling them how much I love them. The image of James and Bucky holding a boy each, smiling down at the tiny bundles, will be forever etched on my mind.

But the most amazing sight in all of this is my wife. Smiling with love at everyone who comes in to see her. Her face alight as she looks at our boys.

I sit in the bed with her. Us both propped up at the headboard, a boy in each of our arms. I can’t stop touching her, I can’t stop caressing her, holding her and them. I look down on my boys, then nuzzle the hair away from my wife’s face, kissing her gently. Kissing her temple, her hair line, her eyes. Anything I can. This moment will forever be with me.

How the hell did this happen? How did I get so lucky?