Believe Series box set

by L Chapman

  “Of course, what’s wrong?”

  “Kate.” He pauses. “She was awake all night telling me about her teddy. How her teddy is away from her mummy, how she misses her own mum and wants Megan to be her mum.”

  “What?” Mark asks with concern in his voice.

  “She wants Megan to be her mum.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” He stops to think. “Is Kate christened?”

  “No, we never had it done. What are you thinking?”

  “If you want and everyone agrees, why not have her christened and get Megan to be one of the godparents? Then, Kate will have the bond with her that she kind of wants. Does that make sense?”

  “That’s a great idea. Would Megan agree to it?” he asks.

  “I think she would. We can ask her later.”

  “Will you be Megan’s godfather?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ll have a talk with Megan later. I would love for her to help me out. She could make it special, maybe help organise the little things with Kate so she has that bond. I think she really wants a mother figure around.”

  “Good idea,” Mark says.

  “Right, I’m going to wake up Kate. I want to see her face as she opens her presents.”

  As Connor leaves the room, I roll over to see Mark but I don’t say a word. Mark hugs me close. “I’m sorry,” he says barely above a whisper.

  “For what?” I question, pulling back so I can see his face.

  “Suggesting the christening thing.”

  “No, it’s okay. It’s a good idea. I was just shocked that Kate would want me as her mum,” I reply, taking a deep breath.

  “Let’s get dressed, baby. He’s gone to wake her.”

  “Okay, jammies time.” I wink at him. I sit on the side of the bed and reach underneath, pulling out some pink pyjamas with little hearts scattered on them. Since I don’t plan to change clothes until after breakfast, these are child friendly for me to wear in front of everyone. I slip on the bottoms and stand up. As I begin to pull them up, I feel Mark’s hand tap my bum. I turn around, eyeing him accusingly.

  “Behave yourself.” I bend down and kiss him, making sure that my breasts are on show. Mark takes hold of one of them and sucks the nipple. I stand there, looking down at him.

  “Now, get dressed, or I will have you lock the door.”

  “I’m getting dressed. You can have me later.” I smirk, slipping on my top and slowly buttoning it. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Mark glance over at me, following my hands.

  “Megan,” Kate calls as she comes running into the room.

  “Good morning, baby,” I say as I bend down and pick her up and sit her on my hip.

  “Mark, come here,” Kate says.

  Mark does as he is told, while wearing only his black boxers. He comes and stands in front of me.

  “Yes, little miss?”

  “Merry Christmas,” she says, jumping from my arms into his.

  “Merry Christmas, Kate. Shall we go and see what is downstairs?” he asks with a hint in his voice.

  Connor stands in the doorway, watching from afar. “Merry Christmas, Connor.”

  “Merry Christmas, Megan.”

  “Right, I’m going to get Lucy,” I say, walking towards the door.

  “I’ll come, too,” Kate says, running along and taking my hand. I look down at her to see her gazing up at me and smiling in admiration.

  Connor moves to the side as we leave the room. I hear him talking to Mark, but I can’t quite make out what they are saying. I walk into Lucy’s room to find her awake. I love Lucy; she is my world. I love the way she wakes up but doesn’t wake me up. She just lies there giggling.

  “Morning, princess,” I say, taking her out of the cot.

  “Lucy,” Kate says. “Merry Christmas.” She reaches into the cot and gets Lucy’s new teddy out.

  “Let’s get you sorted and then go downstairs.” I walk over to the drawers and pull out a clean nappy and Christmas baby grow. She has so many different ones. This one is from Jenny. It has “My First Christmas 2013” with candy canes around it.

  “I’ll help,” Kate says.

  “Can you get me a bag from over there?” I ask, pointing at the drawers.

  I quickly get Lucy cleaned up and changed into her new outfit. Kate stands on the chair, watching everything I do while singing Christmas songs to Lucy.

  “Right, let’s go downstairs and give Lucy some milk. Would you like some milk?” I ask.

  “I love milk, but I’m only allowed it as a treat,” she says.

  “You can have it anytime you want while you’re here.”

  Holding on to both teddies, Kate runs down the stairs and into the kitchen. She places them on their sides and gets me one of the bottles out of the cupboard.

  “Aw, thank you, Kate.”

  I get milk for both of them and hear everyone chatting next door. Jenny has already gotten down before me. I can’t wait for the fun to start.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I quickly check the turkey. All looks good. I set an alarm to wake me so that I could get it into the oven early. I have set another one to go off when it’s close to being done. I want it to be perfect. I have made sure that I’m super organised with all the meats sorted. I cooked a bit of beef late last night for Kate. She has never eaten turkey, but she loves beef.

  Kate runs ahead of me into the lounge and suddenly stops. She stands there in awe looking at the tree and everything around it.

  I walk in behind her and take a seat on the floor.

  "Look at all of them," Kate says.

  "Shall we start opening them?" Connor asks, taking a seat beside her on the floor. He explains to her that we need to read each gift’s label to see who it’s for. She sits there, listening to him.

  I reach over to try to grab my pink nursing pillow. Warren passes it to me, as it’s a little too far away and Lucy is sitting on my knee, making it harder to stretch.

  "Thank you,” I say as I take it from him.

  I place it onto the floor, creating a comfortable spot for Lucy to sit.

  "This is for Lucy," Kate says. She comes over, laying a present in front of Lucy. I open it to find a baby walker with her name on it from Jenny and Warren.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  I feel Warren tap his fingers on my shoulder, so I turn to face him. “Cuppa for you,” he says, handing me a mug with a picture of Lucy from when she was in my tummy. I have never seen his before.

  “Oh my! Thank you so much,” I say, looking closely at it.

  “You’re welcome. Happy Christmas,” he says.

  “No, it’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Christmas. It sounds silly as Happy Christmas,” I state.

  “She is right, Warren,” Jenny adds.

  “Not this conversation again,” Connor says as he passes out more presents.

  “Yes, again,” I say.

  Kate is sitting there all happy with a bin bag full of wrapping paper. She enjoys tidying up for me. She is truly such a sweet child. “What did you get Kate?” I ask her.

  “Some clothes for my dolly, lots of clothes. A wardrobe for her with things to hang them on. She got some shoes, too. Look,” she says, holding up some baby pink shoes that have a little strap across them.

  “That will keep you busy. You will have to sort out all her clothes now.”

  “Daddy got a new tie,” she says, covering her face and giggling.

  “I did. It’s a very pretty tie. Do you know anything about it?” he asks.

  She shakes her head and covers her face with one of her doll’s dresses.

  “Oh, yes, you do, little miss,” He says, tickling her. She sits there wriggling and giggling away.

  “I asked for it,” Kate responds.

  “Thank you, princess,” Connor says, kissing her on the forehead.

  The presents seem to be never-ending. Warren has spoilt the kids with a play kitchen, teddies, clothes, and chocolates. There is so m
uch stuff that I can’t keep up with it all. He definitely loves Jenny. She received a chocolate hamper and a big box full of chocolate. Who wouldn’t like that? I’m super jealous of that present. He also bought her a new baby kit full of little cream outfits.

  Jenny opens some chocolate, offering it around to everyone. “Why bother placing stickers to reseal chocolate? I just don't get it. Some people have no idea,” Jenny says as she places another square of chocolate into her mouth.

  “You’re meant to save some. That’s why,” Warren states.

  “Okay, you name one woman that can do that?”

  Warren sits there quiet for a minute. “All right, I get your point, my chocolate queen.”

  “One last thing, baby,” Warren says, passing her a box.

  She opens it. “A pearl bracelet. It matches my necklace.”

  She shakes her head and laughs. Now, was it him last night?

  Warren sits next to her, pulling her close. “I have something for you,” she whispers into his ear. She passes him the envelope she has been sitting on.

  He slowly opens it and smiles, biting his lip as he pushes the paper back into the envelope.

  “What was that?” I ask.

  “Not for your eyes,” he says with a big smile, and I can’t help but laugh.

  “Must be the sex vouchers then.” Warren’s jaw drops.

  “What is the next present?”

  “ARGH!” Kate yells, ripping silver wrapping paper off a large box.

  “What is it?” Connor asks.

  “Dolly’s new pram.” She pauses. “What I asked for. He didn’t forget.”

  “Of course, he wouldn’t forget. You have been a good girl.”

  “I need to get Dolly.”

  “Why don’t we finish all of this first, and then I’ll build it and you can get her?”

  “Okay, Daddy.” She takes the box, moving it out of the way and hugging it closely.

  “Megan, I love your nail polish. Your toes look Christmassy.” She laughs.

  “It’s called ice blue because it looks like snow,” I say. As I wiggle my toes to show off the colour, my phone chirps. I reach for it and read the text.

  Merry Christmas, Megan and everyone else around here. Love, Mia

  Merry Christmas, hun. Hope you got everything you wanted.

  I did and more. Check your email.

  "Hey, how does Mia have my email?" I enquire.

  "She asked for it, so I sent it to her," Mark answers.

  "Oh."

  Signing into my emails, I find one from her.

  Megan,

  I admit that I didn't know what to get you for Christmas because I think you have everything you want in life. So, here are your presents from me.

  1 - Spa day in 2014— you, Jenny and me. (Once Jenny’s baby is here)

  2 - A day course for Jenny and you to learn how to paint French manicures. I have seen Jenny's attempts, and I think it would be useful. (Saves a fortune in money, too)

  3 - I'm babysitting for you for a full 24 hours, so you can do whatever you want.

  I hope this is all good. Oh, I also have a stunning dress for you, but Mark forgot to bring it with him. MEN!!

  Thank you for being so amazing. You are such a good mum.

  Mia

  Xxx

  While sitting there, I read the email to Jenny and all she does is scream. Mia’s gifts include two things that we have both talked about doing for a while. They are the truly perfect gifts.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I potter back from checking the turkey to see even more opened gifts. Kate kept running and showing me what she had gotten. She received lots of drawing supplies and craft items. I see so much potential in her. I told them all to carry on without me, so I don’t know what everyone else has opened. There were many things that I had bought that had yet to be opened. I walk into the lounge, change over the bin bag and leave an empty one.

  “Thank you, baby,” Mark says as I sit back down with Lucy. He sits on the other side of her. “This gardening kit is amazing for beginners. It has lots of little herbs.”

  “I want you to teach Lucy. I want her to have the same passion about gardening that you and Annabella have.”

  “Of course, I will.”

  “I thought we could section off part of the garden and add some raised plant beds for you two to play with.”

  “That would be great.” He kisses me on the cheek.

  “Mark, this is yours,” Kate says, giving him another box. Opening it, he finds lots of strawberry smellies and some adult strawberry gel.

  “Oh, Miss Madden,” he says.

  “This is for you as well,” I reply, reaching under the sofa and bringing out a box.

  He slowly unwraps the black paper embellished with silver writing. Removing the tissue paper, he finds a plaque with his grandad’s details on it, including his name, date of birth and death. It is all enclosed in a wooden frame.

  “Thank you, baby,” he says with a tear falling down his face.

  “There is a cherry blossom tree in the back for you to plant wherever you wish and place the plaque in front of it as a memorial to your grandad.”

  Mark pulls me in close. His eyes are covered by my shoulders, and I can feel him crying. “I don’t want to upset you.”

  “You didn’t. It’s just such a special gift.” He snorts back more tears. “Thank you.”

  Mark told me weeks ago about his grandad and him always going to this cherry blossom tree where no one could see them to have their talks. It was their special time. The tree was cut down days after his grandad passed away. He was heartbroken over the tree because it was the last tangible piece that he had linked to his grandad.

  He takes a deep breath. “For you,” he says, passing me a box that he had hidden behind Lucy. He must have done that while I was out of the room. I’m so impressed with how Lucy is acting, sitting there trying to open her presents by pulling the paper and playing with the stuff, not crawling around.

  I open it to find some little charms. “To add to the rest of them,” Mark responds.

  There is a silver heart locket. I open it to find a picture of Lucy that Mark took the day she was born. He’s also placed a pair of little feet with Lucy’s name and date of birth on them. The last one confuses me. It is a ring charm with an engraving on the inside, “You will be the future Mrs. Reed.”

  “I don’t want to ask you today. It will not be as special. I will though and very soon. I don’t want to be without you,” he says.

  I feel myself getting choked up. All I can do is nod in response to him. I’m totally speechless. “You will get the rest of your presents throughout the day. I hid them because I didn’t want them getting damaged.”

  “Thank you.”

  I sit there watching everyone open their presents, but the excitement is gone and people are starting to get bored.

  “Okay, why don’t we leave the rest until this afternoon?” I ask.

  Everyone agrees. Kate is eager to get her dolly’s pram sorted. She pulls Connor off to do that.

  “I’m just off to get dressed,” I say.

  Leaving the rest of them sitting with presents all over the place, I quickly run upstairs and fling on black lacy underwear, leggings and a cream jumper. As I grab my bag, I glance at the clock. I need to go.

  I find Jenny changing in her room.

  “Jenny, can you keep an eye on everything for fifteen? I need to pop out and get something,” I tell her.

  “Yes, of course, go.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The twinkling lights on the front of my house are so pretty and can be seen from a distance as I pull back into the driveway. I turn off the engine, grab the big white box and head back into the house.

  “Megan!” Kate yells.

  “Hi, Kate.” I pause. “Where is Mark?”

  “Upstairs with Lucy.”

  I walk up the stairs, hugging the box close to my chest. I find Mark sitting on my bed with
Lucy lying next to him. He’s singing to her. I stand there watching before tapping on the door.

  “Can I come in?” I ask.

  “It’s your house, silly. Get your fine arse over here.” I walk over to him, placing the box onto the bed.

  “For you.”

  Mark takes the lid off the box. “Woof woof.”

  “A puppy.”

  “Just for you,” I say.

  “You’re so cute,” he says, lifting out the black ball of fluff.

  “She is a six-week-old girl with no name and all yours, baby.”

  “I love you, Megan.” He kisses me. “Now, we need to think of a name for you,” he says as he playfully pets the puppy.

  “That’s your task for today.”

  Mark takes the puppy downstairs to show everyone. I hear a lot of coos and awes as he passes her around. Everyone must love her like I do. I change into my real Christmas outfit, a black dress with a bit of sparkle on the top half and a fluty bottom that comes down to my knees. I add the bracelet Mark gave me. I shake out my hair and quickly re-apply my lip-gloss and mascara. Perfect. I change Lucy into a red dress with white frilly lace at the bottom.

  “Now, who looks pretty?” I ask, looking at my daughter in pure amazement. I still can’t believe that she is mine. I made her. She is a part of John and me. I’m still scared John will try to hurt her in years to come. I would do anything to protect her.

  “Megan,” Kate says, running through the door. “You look very pretty.”

  “Thank you, Kate.”

  “Are you coming downstairs?” she asks.

  “Of course, I am. I need to finish the rest of the cooking.”

  Kate runs off ahead of me, holding Dolly close to her chest. I pick up Lucy and begin walking down the stairs. Turning into the lounge, I decide to leave Lucy in there because it will be safer than having her in the kitchen with me. There are plenty of people around to keep an eye on her also.

  “Look at Dolly’s pram,” Kate says, pushing a traditional classic-style pram with a black storage basket underneath. It has a black base with a pink cover and hood and comes with a matching changing bag.