Chapter 28
‘Careful, easy does it,’ whispered Robin to himself as he gently eased the first twin baby out of the car, then passed him to a waiting Jasmine. He followed her while carrying the second sleeping babe, who was totally oblivious to her very anxious but excited and proud parents.
Jemima and Barny had made excellent progress and had been released from their incubators a few days ago.
The consultant had declared the babies well enough to be discharged from hospital.
Both Robin and Jasmine had been at their side, ritually praying and willing the twins to grow and develop into stronger babies which would allow them to come home.
And their prayers had been answered. That day had come.
It was now mid-August and the distant fragrance of heather and chamomile came from the coastline.
Yellow flowers of gorse scattered the cliffs and pretty pink blooms of thrift clung to rocks, creeping further inland to join the spiney leaves and blue flowers of sea-holly popping from sand dunes.
The sun shone cheerfully in a cloudless, powder blue sky.
‘What a beautiful day to bring them home,’ remarked Jasmine in a hushed voice, not wanting to wake them.
‘It was always going to be a beautiful day, wasn’t it?’ replied Robin, gazing affectionately at his son and daughter. He unlocked the front door and was just about to push it open when Bunty literally ran up the path to greet them.
‘Oh, you’ve brought them home!’ she gushed, stirring the sleeping babies.
Jemima opened her eyes to see Bunty’s face staring directly at her and wailed loudly, which in turn set Barny off when she peered down at him too. Jasmine and Robin exchanged a despairing look. So much for not wanting to disturb them.
‘My, my, they’ve both got a good pair of lungs, haven’t they?’ laughed Bunty, totally ignorant to her unwanted disruption.
‘Yes, they have,’ replied Jasmine wearily. She was tired and just wanted to get them inside. Robin tactfully intervened.
‘Give us a couple of days to get them settled and you’re welcome to visit,’ he said with a smile.
This seemed to do the trick. Bunty looked from one to the other. The penny dropped.
‘Yes, yes, of course. I’ll let you get on.’ She had one last peek at the twins, then discreetly left them.
‘I hope she hasn’t taken offence,’ sighed Jasmine once they were inside.
‘I’m sure she understands,’ assured Robin.
It did make them wary though, as to how intrusive their next-door neighbour may be.
‘It’s only natural that she’d be excited to meet them,’ he added.
‘I know, but for now it’s just you and me. It’s our first day home, together as a family,’ replied Jasmine.
‘It certainly is,’ he agreed.
They carefully carried Jemima and Barny upstairs to their nursery. Then after rocking them tenderly back to sleep, placed each one side by side into the waiting cots.
‘Everything all right, sweetheart?’ asked Perry when seeing Bunty return so soon.
‘Yes, didn’t want to keep them. First day home and all that,’ she answered.
‘Probably best,’ agreed Perry. Then took in her expression. She looked a tad pensive.
He knew how much Bunty was desperate to see the twins and hoped she wasn’t hurt at her obvious dismissal.
He’d had reservations when she’d seen Robin’s car pull up and then get the babies out with Jasmine; but she hadn’t given him chance to say anything before dashing out of the house.
‘I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time to visit. ’ He patted her shoulder.
‘There will,’ she agreed.
‘Anyway, I’ve been thinking,’ Perry said, quickly changing the subject. This got her attention.
‘About what?’ she asked.
‘A mini-break?’
‘Really?’
‘Why not? I was thinking of another trip on the boat,’ replied Perry.
At this Bunty smiled warmly. ‘Oh, that would be lovely.’
That’s better, he thought. He didn’t like to see his wife quiet and reflective, much better to have her animated and full of life.
‘Where to?’ she said eagerly.
‘Thought we could start at Skipton, otherwise known as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales!’ he exclaimed jauntily.
‘Ooh, that sounds super!’ cried Bunty.
‘Good. That’s decided then. We’ll set off tomorrow,’ replied Perry assertively. At least that gives Robin and Jasmine a bit of breathing space, he wisely concluded.
The following day saw Bunty and Perry trundle down the garden path, heaving two packed suitcases and a picnic hamper to take to their canal boat. Jasmine, who was at the kitchen sink sterilising baby bottles, noticed the pair through the window and decided to quickly catch them.
‘Hi!’ she called.
‘Off on a canal holiday,’ explained Perry with a big beam.
‘Lovely! Where to?’ asked Jasmine.
‘Skipton, Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales,’ quoted Bunty with a grin. Then asked, ‘How are the twins? Nicely settling in?’
‘Yes thanks. We’ve named them, by the way,’ she said. A smile stretched across her face as she took in Bunty’s sharp look of anticipation. ‘Jemima and Barny.’
‘Oh, what beautiful names!’ whimpered Bunty.
Perry nodded in approval. ‘Yes, great choice.’
‘When you get back, you must come for dinner, meet them properly,’ invited Jasmine.
‘That would be wonderful,’ replied Bunty, eyes filling with emotion. Jemima and Barny, her new little neighbours, bless them.
Despite Jasmine and Robin’s wish to have a couple of days to themselves, grandparents had other ideas. Of course they did. Both sets of parents simply couldn’t keep away. It was inevitable, especially as the twins were the first grandchildren on both sides of the family.
‘They’re adorable!’ cooed Jasmine’s mum, eager to hold them.
‘Steady on, Sue,’ warned her father, stopping his wife midway. ‘One at a time,’ he told her.
They both sat on the sofa holding a grandchild each.
‘Take our first photo, Jasmine,’ instructed her mum elatedly.
‘Already have,’ she laughed. ‘I’ve captured your reaction at seeing them.’
‘Well done, love,’ chuckled Jasmine’s dad.
They liked the names chosen for the twins too.
‘Barny?’ questioned Jasmine’s mum, narrowing her eyes in thought, mulling it over.
‘It’s short for Barnaby, after the surgeon who delivered them,’ explained Robin.
‘Ah, I see,’ she replied.
‘Nice gesture,’ chipped in Jasmine’s dad. He, like the rest of the family, felt a huge debt of gratitude towards all the hospital staff.
‘Open the box,’ Jasmine’s mum told her, tipping her head towards the present they’d brought with them.
Jasmine did so and pulled out two nursery mobiles. One had blue teddy bears suspended from it, the other pink ones. They had a wind-up disc that played ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic’.
‘Oh, how wonderful!’ exclaimed Jasmine, looking at Robin.
‘Thanks, guys,’ he said with a wide smile.
‘Let’s put them up,’ suggested Jasmine’s dad.
Once Jasmine and her mum were left alone, Sue broached the question which she’d been keen to ask.
‘So, you’ll be packing in work, won’t you, Jasmine?’ She’d been concerned at how tired her daughter appeared.
‘For the time being,’ she conceded. After a few sleepless nights and hectic days, the last thing on Jasmine’s mind was graphic design at the moment. Although she did have a few creative ideas drifting through, mainly pictures for the nursery.
‘Good.’ Her mum nodded, thankful that Jasmine wasn’t attempting to push herself. ‘And when will Robin go back to work?’
‘Not for a couple of weeks. Then I’m going to have to learn to cope on my own.’ Immediately she regretted saying those words, as they prompted her mum’s next question.
‘I can always stay and help?’
‘No, it’s OK, Mum. Really, I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ Jasmine hastily assured. After a few minutes they were interrupted by Robin and her dad.
‘All set up,’ he said, rubbing his hands together.
‘I think it’s time for their feed,’ Robin announced, seeing the babies getting restless.
‘It is,’ agreed Jasmine, getting up to warm the baby bottles in the kitchen.
‘We better get going, love,’ said Jasmine’s dad.
‘Oh, but—’
‘No, Sue, we need to leave them in peace,’ he gently insisted, much to Robin’s relief.
‘We’ll be back soon,’ promised Jasmine’s mum with a smile.