Chapter 44
Lucy smiled at Kyle, still unable to believe that he was here, sitting across the living room from her. Her husband – Kyle – was here. Her heart was racing and her head spinning. It felt like a Christmas miracle.
‘So, how’ve you been?’ she ventured as soon as Faith had closed the door behind her and they were alone together.
‘Not great,’ he admitted.
She nodded. ‘Me neither.’
‘So, how did you—’ The words spilled from her mouth. ‘Did Mum— How?’ She had so many questions and she kept tripping over her own words.
‘I guess I was probably the last person you expected to see when you opened the door this morning,’ Kyle began, helping her out.
‘I was at home watching TV yesterday. I was feeling sorry for myself, if I’m being honest. Anyway, there was a knock on the door.
I went out to see who it was and found your mum there.
I was really confused. She told me she had got a taxi all the way from Inishbeg Cove to Dublin! ’
‘Mum turned up at our house?’ Lucy repeated in shock.
Kyle nodded. ‘Anyway, she told me you were miserable and she only had to take one look at me, dressed like a hobo and sitting among discarded pizza boxes, to see I was the same.’ He laughed.
‘She told us that she was going back to Dublin because she had a new job…’ Lucy continued in disbelief. None of this made any sense to her.
‘She concocted that story about getting a new job because it was the only way she could get to Dublin to see me without arousing suspicion with you and Faith,’ Kyle explained.
‘So she doesn’t have a new job?’
Kyle shook his head. ‘It was all a ruse to get me and you to talk.’
‘But I phoned you two days ago and you ignored my call.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry. I wanted to speak to you, I really did, and I was about to call you back when your mum turned up and convinced me to come to Inishbeg Cove to try and give our marriage one last shot.
She thought it would be better if we spoke face to face.
She wanted to keep it as a surprise because she wasn’t sure how you’d react…
She was afraid you’d get mad with her for interfering. ’
‘Well, she’s not wrong,’ Lucy snapped, as she tried to process everything that had happened.
It felt like her mother had tossed everything Lucy thought was the truth up into the air and it had fallen back down around her, all in the wrong order.
What was her mother up to? Her marriage wasn’t any of Madeleine’s business.
This was a delicate situation. ‘I never knew Mum could be so scheming!’ Suddenly a horrible thought flashed into her head: what if she had told him about the baby?
Kyle jumped in. ‘Please don’t be mad at her. She was doing it because she cares, and I’m glad she came. The last few days have been awful. I’m broken without you, Lucy.’
She felt overcome with emotion as the events of the last while caught up with her. ‘I’m so glad you’re here…’ Her voice broke. Happiness, relief, fear, dread about what she was about to tell him: a viscous mixture of feelings swirled inside her.
‘Hey, what’s the matter?’ He took her in his arms. ‘Don’t cry – we’re both here now. I want to work out our differences, and I think you do too. I’m sure we can sort this out.’
She knew from his words that her mother hadn’t told him about the baby.
‘It’s not that…’ she began. Her heart was beating wildly against her ribcage like a tiny, caged bird.
She thought about the other heart that was beating alongside her own, and knew that the time had come to tell him.
She felt vulnerable and exposed, as if she was laying her soul bare for him to trample on if he wanted to.
Everything felt heightened: now she was pregnant, it wasn’t just her who could get wounded but their baby too.
She was about to open herself up to him, and he might not like what she was about to say or react how she hoped he would.
‘I have something I need to tell you…’ Lucy confessed.
‘Okay,’ he said nervously, clearly unsure what she was going to say.
She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply before beginning. ‘Well … I’ve recently learned that I’m pregnant.’
‘You’re p-pregnant?’ he repeated.
She opened her eyes and studied his face. It was white with shock and his brow was furrowed. Everything hinged on his reaction to this news. Their whole future together depended on this moment. She bit her lip and nodded nervously.
He rushed to her, lifted her off her feet and swung her around. ‘Oh my God, Lucy! This is amazing! This is everything we ever wished for!’ Tears filled his eyes. ‘When did you find out? When I saw you last week, you never said anything…’
‘I only found out a few days ago, after you’d returned to Dublin.
We were at the carol service in Cavendish Hall.
One minute I was standing watching all the children sing and the next thing I had collapsed and was being brought to hospital in the back of an ambulance.
The doctors checked me over and discovered that I was pregnant.
It was a complete shock. I had no idea.’
‘Oh, Lucy, I’m so happy. I never wanted to leave you, but I just couldn’t seem to get through to you. I needed you to see the damage that trying to have a baby was doing to our marriage, but this changes everything. I love you, I love us, I love our baby,’ he cried.
Sweet relief filled her as the worry that had been weighing her down for the last few days was lifted. Her whole body instantly felt lighter.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Lucy sobbed. ‘I know I’ve been a nightmare for this last while, but I was so scared that it would never happen for us.
I know I pushed you away, but I was just in such a dark place that I really thought I was doing you a favour.
I couldn’t bear seeing you so disappointed month after month, when that was exactly how I was feeling too. I felt like such a failure.’
‘I can’t believe it.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘How long have we waited for this, and then it happens when we least expect it?’
She giggled, catching on his excitement. ‘Let’s go and see Mum and Faith. I need to have a word with Mum.’
‘Please don’t be mad with her,’ Kyle begged.
‘I promise I’m not.’ Lucy grinned.
They returned to the kitchen hand in hand. Faith and Madeleine looked up at them.
‘I’m going to kill you, Mum.’ Lucy wagged her finger at Madeleine before breaking into a grin as she made her way over to her mother and pulled her into a hug.
‘I’m sorry for lying to you, darling, but how else could I explain needing to go to Dublin?
’ Madeleine said. ‘I knew you’d both see through me unless I had a very good reason for leaving.
I’m sorry for upsetting everyone, but I just wanted you and Kyle to sort this out.
’ She broke into a smile. ‘And it looks like it’s mission accomplished. ’
‘Lucy just told me her news.’ Kyle was beaming and tears glistened in his eyes.
Faith flung her arms around him. ‘Congratulations!’ she sang.
‘I’m going to be a dad…’ he repeated in disbelief. ‘It feels like I’m five years old again and Santa has just been!’
Lucy embraced her husband, and they were soon joined by Madeleine and Faith.
They all hugged through their tears. The past few weeks had been a rollercoaster for everyone but now they were united again, healing from their wounds and emerging stronger – together.
Lucy thought about the miracle that was growing inside her.
She prayed that her baby was growing and thriving and doing what it was supposed to do.
She vowed she would always do whatever she could to protect her child.
Just then the doorbell went again.
‘Who could it be now?’ Faith asked, puzzled. She went out to the hall and opened the door to see Jack standing there, looking as handsome as he had ever looked. Her heart picked up speed at the sight of him.
‘I just wanted to wish you a happy Christmas.’ He leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips. Electricity pulsed around her veins.
‘Happy Christmas, Jack,’ she whispered as soon as they had parted. She gestured into the house. ‘My mum and Kyle have just arrived. It’s been quite the morning!’
Jack looked confused. ‘I thought things weren’t going well between Lucy and Kyle?’
‘They weren’t. It’s a long story, but they seem to have sorted things out. Let’s go inside and see everyone,’ she said.
‘I don’t want to intrude on your Christmas, so I won’t stay long. I’m going to my parents’ house next to see Heidi and Rosie. Apparently, Rosie was up at three to see what Santa brought.’
Faith laughed. ‘She’ll fall asleep into her dinner.’
Jack followed her inside and greeted everyone. Lucy was in the middle of opening a bottle of champagne. They had a lot to celebrate. She filled the flutes – filling her own with orange juice – and handed them out.
‘To family!’ she toasted.
To family!’ they chorused in return.
They laughed and chatted. Lucy noticed how easily Jack slotted into their family, and the happiness etched on her sister’s face when he placed his hand attentively on the small of her back.
Lucy was thrilled to see her sister and Jack getting together – Faith deserved to be happy.
Jack was a good guy, and it was obvious from the way he looked at her sister that he had fallen hard for her.
Their age and geography had been against them last time, but maybe this time it would work for them. Lucy really hoped so.
When the champagne was finished, Madeleine walked over to the pantry, opened the door and found Elizabeth’s striped apron inside. She hooked it around her neck and clapped her hands together. ‘Let’s get this dinner started, shall we?’