Forty-seven
It had been hard to be dispassionate with Luke when all she wanted to do was to throw herself into his arms, but Rachel had made her decision, and no matter how difficult it was going to be, she knew it was the right one… for her… and for Verity.
The little girl had been so excited to show her the drawing she’d made at Pelican Pals while Rachel was in Adelaide and to write her name for her. And the way her little body had cuddled into hers when Rachel read to her from Green Eggs and Ham – the same Dr Seuss book Alexander had loved so much – before bedtime, only reinforced her decision.
But now, as she sipped a glass of wine in the quiet house, the only sound Molly’s gentle snoring, Rachel wished things could be different. She picked up her iPad and sent an email to Alexander, filling him in with news of Verity and telling him about her visit to Adelaide. He’d always been close to Becky, who had a soft spot for her only nephew. As soon as she finished, she picked up the phone to call Steph, to invite her to join them for lunch tomorrow. She suddenly felt an urge to have her family around her. Maybe it was seeing Becky, realising how quickly things could change, maybe it was a reaction to the decision she made about Luke, a need to justify it to herself.
Steph and Chloe were delighted to accept, with Steph saying, ‘We had our six-week ultrasound yesterday and I can’t wait to show it to you.’
Rachel’s heart bloomed at the reminder of the new life about to enter the world, another addition to her family, and she gave thanks for her blessings. She didn’t need a man to fill her life. She already had all she needed , she thought, dismissing the memory of the lonely nights she’d spent before Luke came on the scene, replacing them with the recollection of wakening to Verity’s sweet little body curling up to hers, and the sound of the little girl calling her Grandma in her endearing English accent, so different from that of her other granddaughters.
‘And I have you, too, Molly,’ she said to the sleeping dog, who had been her faithful companion since Kirk died. ‘What would I do without you?’
*
Next day, Rachel had no time to reflect on what might have been. As soon as Jess and the girls arrived, the twins demanded they go to the beach, so there was the customary kerfuffle finding buckets and spades, applying sunscreen and packing towels, water and snacks. Then they were off, an excited Molly dancing among them, climbing down the steps to the beach.
This morning, the beach was busier than usual. Since the dog beach was still closed, several of the local dog owners had begun to bring their pets here. Rachel didn’t mind. She loved dogs and was happy to see them run free, but it did change the secluded nature of the beach.
When she and Jess set up the beach cabana shelter tent which she’d purchased at Christmas, and set out the beach mat under it, the twins, Verity and Molly headed for the water.
‘Stay at the edge till Grandma and I join you,’ Jess called after them, as they raced off to join two other dog owners and their animals.
‘They’ll be fine,’ Rachel said, shading her eyes and recognising old Agnes with her spaniel, and Finn with his grandson and Bluey. ‘I know those people. They’ll make sure they don’t come to any harm.’
By the time she and Jess joined the girls with Emily, Agnes and her dog had moved on, but it appeared the girls had made friends with Finn’s grandson and his dog.
‘This is Sandy and his dog’s called Bluey like the one on television,’ Verity said. ‘But this Bluey doesn’t look like the other one.’
Rachel and Jess laughed as the blue roan spaniel cavorted in the waves with his owner.
‘Sandy goes to our school,’ Gemma said.
‘He’s in grade two,’ Indie added in awe.
Verity sidled up to Rachel. ‘Sandy doesn’t have a daddy,’ she whispered. ‘I told him I don’t have a mummy, and he said I can share his.’
‘Oh, sweetheart, that’s kind of him.’ Rachel’s eyes moistened. She looked up to see Finn. ‘Did you hear what your grandson told Verity?’
‘I did. It almost made me weep.’
‘Me, too.’
With Finn agreeing to watch the children… and the dogs, Rachel and Jess were able to have a proper swim, the familiar peace the ocean always generated stilling Rachel’s worries and bringing her a much-needed sense of calm. By the time they returned to shore, she was feeling much better than she had when she awoke, and the sight of Steph and Chloe waiting for them gave her an additional lift.
Lunch was the usual chaos. They ate in the garden with Molly managing to get in everyone’s way and the girls dropping titbits to her when they thought the adults weren’t looking. When both children and dog went off to investigate the garden, and the grownups were enjoying coffee, Steph grinned and said, ‘We have something to show you,’ and pulled out her phone.
For a moment, Rachel wasn’t sure what she was looking at, then her eyes focussed on the blob in the centre of the screen.
‘See,’ Steph said pointing. ‘That’s the umbilical cord and these tiny buds are the beginnings of our baby’s arms and legs.’ She squeezed Chloe’s hand.
‘Oh, Steph!’ For the second time that morning, Rachel’s eyes moistened. She remembered her own excitement when she first saw ultrasound images of Jess, then of Steph, then Alexander. The thrill never got any less. Now it was Steph and Chloe’s turn to wonder at the miracle of a new life.
‘If it’s a girl we plan to call her Rachita,’ Steph said, ‘a diminutive form of Rachel. It’s actually an Indian name meaning created , which is really appropriate too.’
Rachel was so moved, she was speechless, but Jess said, ‘I like it. What made you choose it?’
Steph looked at Chloe and grinned. ‘Actually, it’s the name of a character in one of our favourite television programmes. DI Rachita Ray is an English detective. We liked the name so looked it up and love the meaning and the idea that it’s a link with you, Mum.’
‘I guess we just have to hope you have a girl then,’ Rachel smiled.