by Monica Carly
Fran went to tell the best man, and the ambulance drew up round the side of the church. Strong arms lifted Maria on to a stretcher.
‘I’ll go with her,’ said Claudia. ‘Please, Fran, you stay – then you can tell me all about it.’
The ambulance men were just shutting the doors when Timothy and Nicola appeared. Once again Maria found the strength to speak. Claudia stood apart, knowing they were saying their goodbyes.
Timothy spoke to Claudia.
‘We shall do what she has asked, and what we know she wants. She wants this to be a joyous day for us, and we shall make it so. Thank God she was there – that makes it possible for us to carry on.’
They both wiped their eyes, before going back to smile for the cameras.
Claudia climbed into the ambulance and took Maria’s hand in hers. There was no strength in Maria’s grip. At the hospital they put her in a small, private room. A doctor came and gave her a morphine injection.
‘I’m afraid it is only a matter of time,’ he said.
Claudia spoke softly. ‘Maria, my dear, the wedding was just wonderful! And what do you think? I’m going to be a grandmother!’
But Maria did not speak again. Claudia went on sitting there, holding her sister’s hand. She sat there long after the hand had become quite cold.
At last she stood up, bending to kiss her sister’s brow. Then she went to find her daughter, and the new life that was just beginning.