Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay

by Jill Mansell

  Clemency grinned. ‘Is this your way of being discreet, in case I’m buying something really embarrassing? It’s OK, I just need conditioner for my hair, and more suncream.’

  When they reached the chemist, Sam said, ‘And I’ve just remembered I need razor blades.’ Leaving Clemency happily opening bottles and sniffing her way through all the different brands of conditioner, he moved to the front of the shop, to the shelving where the shaving paraphernalia was on display.

  Within seconds he heard one of the girls who worked there exclaim, ‘Oh my God, you aren’t going to believe this.’

  A second female voice said, ‘What is it?’

  ‘Seriously. No way. This is, like, so mind-blowing.’

  ‘And you’re, like, so annoying. You know I hate it when you do this. You aren’t even supposed to have your phone switched on.’

  ‘Now you’re the one being annoying. Do you want me to tell you or not?’

  ‘Fine, then. If you must.’

  The two girls were hidden from view behind the partition separating the pharmacy storage section from the rest of the shop. Sam smiled to himself at the second girl’s unconvincing lack of interest; he might not have been living here for long, but in his experience this pair spent all their time gossiping, either about celebrities they’d read about in magazines or people they knew in real life.

  ‘OK, get this. Ronan Byrne? He’s only having a baby. And I mean right now.’

  ‘Eh? What are you even on about? Has someone just sent you a joke? Is that it, or is there a punchline?’

  ‘No joke! It’s true, swear to God, my mum wouldn’t make up something like this! Look, she sent me a text … They were waiting in a cubicle in A and E because Nan’s had another of her turns, and this girl was brought in having a baby. Mum didn’t recognise her, but she overheard one of the paramedics saying that Ronan’s the father but he doesn’t even know it yet … Apparently he was with the girl and he’s got some terrible mess to clear up, but as soon as that’s done he’s heading over to the hospital. Oh God,’ the voice gasped. ‘D’you reckon the terrible mess is Clemency?’

  ‘Are you kidding me? Here, let me see that text … Blimey! Wonder who it is? Can’t be anyone we know, surely.’

  ‘If it was nine months ago,’ said the other girl, ‘who was Ronan seeing then?’

  There was a pause as they both frantically counted backwards. Finally the girl who’d just read the text said slowly, ‘Well that would have been me.’

  ‘Jeez. You had a lucky escape there. I mean, I know he’s good-looking, but what a nightmare. It’s probably someone he doesn’t even remember having sex with.’

  ‘Poor Clemency,’ said the other girl. ‘I can’t help feeling sorry for her. She’s going to be gutted.’

  Chapter 39

  ‘What’s going on?’ gasped Clemency as Sam confiscated her wire basket and attempted to whisk her out of the shop. Confused, she made a grab for a bottle of L’Oréal conditioner on the shelf. ‘I need to buy this!’

  The two girls, hearing the kerfuffle, emerged from behind the partition. Their faces fell and the blonde one said, ‘Clem! Oh God, you poor thing, we’re so sorry …’

  Once they were back outside on the pavement, Clemency looked at Sam. ‘What are they sorry about?’

  Sam felt sick. He didn’t want to be the one to have to tell her, but she needed to know.

  ‘Look, I don’t know how to say this. And it might not even be true.’

  ‘Tell me, then!’

  ‘Where’s Ronan at the moment?’

  ‘He’s out showing someone a new property.’ She shook her head, still baffled. ‘Why?’

  ‘OK. Well one of those girls in the shop just got a text to say there’s someone over at the hospital right now having a baby. And apparently she’s saying the father is … well, Ronan.’

  ‘What?’ Bafflement turned to horror. ‘No, it can’t be!’

  ‘Maybe it isn’t him. She might just be saying that. I’m just telling you what I heard,’ said Sam.

  Clemency whipped out her phone and called Ronan’s number. ‘What if it’s true, though? Oh God.’

  ‘But it would have happened before the two of you got together.’ Sam did his best to reassure her. ‘It doesn’t mean he’s cheated on you.’

  ‘No reply,’ said Clemency. She was breathing heavily. ‘Why isn’t he picking up?’

  ‘I think he’s on his way to the hospital. OK, all I know is what they said. But it sounds as if he doesn’t even know yet.’

  Her eyes were huge. ‘This is mad.’

  ‘I know, I’m so sorry. What a shock for you.’ Sam raised his hands. ‘If it’s even true.’

  ‘The way Ronan carries on, I suppose it’s a miracle it’s never happened before.’

  ‘Hey, we don’t know that it has happened yet.’

  Distracted, Clemency said, ‘Can you give me a lift back to my flat? I’m going to drive over to the hospital, find out what’s going on.’

  She was trembling, clearly shaken. ‘You mustn’t drive. I’ll take you,’ said Sam.

  The moment the door opened and Kate saw Ronan standing there in disbelief, the gas and air was suddenly no longer enough.

  Except this time the pain was emotional rather than physical. Plus she was still in a state of shock herself.

  ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t know!’ What on earth was he thinking as he looked at her lying there with a drip in one arm, a gizmo measuring the contractions strapped to her stomach, and various other monitors beeping away? The last contraction had just receded and she put the gas and air mouthpiece down on the bed, willing him to believe her.

  ‘I can’t believe you’re having a baby.’ Ronan was twisting his car keys over and over in his hands; he shook his head, evidently having done the maths. ‘Is … is it mine?’

  ‘Yes.’ It was so clearly not the answer he wanted to hear.

  ‘But … we used condoms. I mean, are you sure?’

  ‘I am. It can’t be anyone else.’ Kate felt her eyes prickle with unshed tears. ‘There hasn’t been anyone, not for years.’

  ‘Oh God.’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry.’ It was hopelessly inadequate, but what else could she say? ‘I had no idea.’

  ‘It’s OK, it isn’t your fault.’ Ronan approached the bed and said tentatively, ‘Can I … touch your stomach?’

  Kate nodded and looked down as he rested his hand on the small bump with the strap around it. ‘There’s not much to see. The baby’s lying right at the back, close to my spine. Apparently it happens sometimes, which is why I didn’t feel anything before.’

  ‘I know, they told me. One of the doctors explained before I came in. And one of my cousins in Birmingham had the same thing a couple of years ago, didn’t realise she was pregnant until a month before the birth.’ He moved his hand gently across her stomach and they both felt something.

  ‘What’s that?’ said Ronan.

  ‘The start of the next contraction.’ Kate braced herself. ‘Oh here we go …’

  But somehow, with Ronan at her side and holding her hand, this time it was easier to cope with. She was no longer terrified; labour was something to be dealt with, a challenge to be met. When the pain finally subsided, Ronan said, ‘You’re doing so well.’

  ‘I still can’t believe it’s happening. Poor Clemency, she’s going to be so upset.’

  He looked puzzled. ‘Why?’

  ‘Oh God,’ Kate said hastily, ‘I know it won’t make any difference to you two, not at all! But all the same, she’s not going to be thrilled.’

  One of the midwives came bustling in to check that everything was proceeding smoothly. ‘All OK here?’

  As if it could possibly be OK. But Kate put on a brave face and managed a ghost of a smile. ‘Yes thanks.’

  ‘Well that’s good news. Well done. You’ll get there.’ The midwife’s tone was encouraging. ‘Once you’re over the surprise, I’m sure everything’ll turn out f
ine. Sometimes these little accidents are just meant to be!’ She beamed at them both. ‘Oh, and a couple of your friends are here. I’ve told them they can’t come in, of course, what with you being a little bit busy at the moment! But they’re sitting out in reception and are happy to wait.’

  ‘Who is it?’ Kate looked up at Ronan. How would anyone else know she was here?

  ‘Handsome man, tall, brown eyes,’ said the midwife. ‘And a pretty, curvy girl with long wavy dark hair. Oh, she did tell me her name, it’s on the tip of my tongue …’

  Kate’s heart sank as Ronan said, ‘Sounds like Clem.’

  ‘That’s it,’ the midwife exclaimed. ‘Of course. Clemency!’

  When she’d left them, Kate covered her face. ‘This is awful. What’s Clemency going to say?’

  Ronan squeezed her hand. ‘You’ve just discovered you’re about to have a baby and you’re more worried about Clem than you are about yourself?’

  OK, it sounded ridiculous when he put it like that, but it was true. A tear trickled down Kate’s face and she nodded. ‘I don’t want to cause trouble.’

  ‘You won’t.’ He was shaking his head at her. ‘Listen. Clem and I aren’t together. We’re not a couple.’

  Kate stared. ‘You’re not? When did you break up?’

  ‘We’ve never been together. It was never real. We just put on a show because Clem’s sister was mocking her for not having a boyfriend. What?’ said Ronan, because she was still staring at him.

  ‘Oh, nothing. But … that’s good, then.’

  ‘We aren’t designed to be anything more than friends, me and Clem.’ He smiled slightly. ‘Does that make you feel better?’

  ‘Much. Everyone thinks you’re so perfect together, though.’

  ‘I know they do.’ Ronan looked rueful. ‘Honestly? Clem’s brilliant and I love her to bits, but she’s too noisy for me.’

  The surge of relief was making Kate want to gabble. Before the next contraction came along, she blurted out, ‘But if everyone thought you were a couple, that meant you couldn’t see anyone else. Didn’t that make things difficult?’

  For a couple of seconds the beeps from the various machines were the only sounds in the room. Then Ronan looked away. ‘Not difficult at all. Because there was only one girl I wanted to be with, and she wasn’t interested in being with me.’

  ‘Oh.’ Ridiculously, Kate felt a twist of jealousy. ‘Someone local? Anyone I know?’ All of a sudden she desperately needed to know, because who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be with Ronan Byrne? In fact, how dare they not be interested in him? And now here came the next contraction, building inexorably and feeling like a giant fist squeezing her stomach from the inside …

  ‘Ow …’ Kate closed her eyes, tilted her head back and reached blindly for Ronan’s hand. And he helped her through it, murmuring encouragement, reassuring her that she was doing brilliantly and pressing a blissfully cool damp flannel against her perspiring forehead. Oh God, who knew a cool flannel could feel so good?

  When she could speak again, Kate said, ‘Who is it?’

  Because she liked to torture herself, clearly.

  ‘It is someone you know.’ Ronan was gazing down into her eyes, his expression unreadable. ‘Actually, it’s someone who’s having my baby. It’s you.’ As he said this, his voice quavered with emotion. ‘Sorry, I know it’s not what you want to hear, but you did ask. And I know what you think of me, but it won’t be a problem, I promise. I’m not going to embarrass you. If we’re having a baby – and we definitely appear to be having one – well, the least we can do is get along—’

  ‘Wait!’ Kate stopped him in his tracks, barely able to believe what she was hearing. ‘Are you serious? Do you mean it? Are you really saying it’s me?’

  ‘It’s always been you. Ever since that first night.’ Ronan pointed to her stomach, as if she needed any reminder. ‘That night …’

  Joy was bubbling up inside her. ‘So all this time … all these months … I’ve been wishing and wishing it could be me, and it was me?’

  Ronan did a double-take. ‘You wanted it to be you? Really? Why didn’t you say?’

  ‘Because I didn’t imagine you’d want anything more to do with me after what happened.’ Kate’s skin prickled with shame at the memory – having given him such a hard time that night, she knew now that she’d overreacted. Ronan had ended his brief relationship with Laura beforehand; it wasn’t his fault the poor girl had chosen to stand outside his flat reciting her own poetry. ‘I mean, why would you?’

  ‘Because you got to me,’ Ronan said simply. ‘I mean it. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. You were everything I’d ever wanted. But I messed up.’ Abruptly his dark eyes filled with tears. ‘You have no idea … Oh God, this is incredible … and now we’re having a baby … an actual baby. Come here.’

  For the next couple of minutes they kissed and hugged each other, laughing and crying together, until the midwife returned to catch them in mid-kiss and said with a grin, ‘Well this is all very romantic, but I have to say your friend Clemency is close to bursting with curiosity out there in the waiting room.’ She turned to Ronan. ‘So if you wanted to pop out and see her, while I quickly examine Kate, I’m sure she would appreciate it.’

  ‘I suppose I’d better.’ Ronan gave Kate’s hand a squeeze as he prepared to go and do the necessary deed. ‘Wouldn’t want her to burst.’

  ‘So this isn’t a joke?’ said Clemency. ‘It’s really happening?’

  Ronan’s face ached from smiling; the last hour had to rank among the most surreal of his life, and now it was also one of the happiest. He gave his aching muscles a rest for a moment and nodded. ‘It really is.’

  ‘Wow. And she didn’t know she was pregnant?’

  ‘No clue. Complete surprise.’

  ‘What a disaster! I can’t believe you’re taking it so well. I had no idea you and Kate had even … you know, done it.’ Clemency’s tone was accusing. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

  She was incorrigible. Ronan’s mouth twitched. ‘Believe it or not, I don’t tell you everything.’

  ‘And now you’re about to have a baby, completely out of the blue. But what I don’t get is, you’re smiling.’

  ‘I’ve been in love with Kate all this time. I thought she wasn’t interested in me. There was a mutual misunderstanding, but it’s all sorted out now.’ The grin spread over his face once more. ‘OK, we didn’t plan this, but I really think it’s the best thing that could have happened.’

  The penny dropped. ‘So is that why you were happy to go along with us pretending to be a couple? Because you weren’t interested in anyone else if you couldn’t have Kate?’

  ‘Spot on. Weird, isn’t it?’

  ‘Ha,’ said Clemency, ‘I did wonder about that. All I can say is, you must have it bad. Oh, I’m so thrilled for you!’ She threw her arms around him and he embraced her in return.

  ‘I’m going to have a baby,’ said Ronan. ‘Imagine.’

  ‘Josephine’s going to be over the moon – it’s all she’s ever wanted! You should call her,’ Clemency declared. ‘And Marina … she’ll be thrilled too.’

  As she said it, they both heard an escalating scream, the primal cry of a woman in labour with not long to go. Further up the corridor, the door to Kate’s room was pulled open and the midwife popped her head out, beckoning to Ronan. ‘Come along now, Dad,’ she called cheerfully. ‘We’re just getting to the good bit! You don’t want to miss it, do you?’

  Chapter 40

  Twenty minutes later, he was there to witness the miracle of his daughter being born. Having slithered into the world, she kicked her tiny legs and let out an indignant wail, and Ronan felt his heart swell with unimaginable amounts of love and pride. From now on, he knew, life would never be the same again.

  Until that moment, he’d always thought cutting an umbilical cord would be completely gross, but now he found himself stepping up and doing it with a flourish. Amazing, not gro
ss at all.

  ‘She’s a beauty!’ exclaimed the midwife, deftly wiping the squalling baby down with a towel before placing her, skin to skin, in Kate’s arms.

  ‘Oh my God.’ Ronan’s eyes were suddenly damp. ‘It’s a baby. We’ve made a whole new human being, and she’s perfect.’

  ‘And to think when I woke up this morning I was excited because I thought I might be buying a house. Oh, just look at her,’ Kate marvelled. ‘How can she be so gorgeous?’

  ‘Easy.’ Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ronan kissed her. ‘She’s got you for a mother.’

  The midwife said brightly, ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got a name yet?’

  ‘No name.’ Ronan shook his head. ‘No cot, no clothes, no nappies … nothing.’ In a daze, he looked at his watch and saw that it was almost three o’clock.

  Twenty minutes later, mother and baby had been cleaned up and Clemency was briefly allowed into the delivery room.

  ‘Oh!’ She hugged Kate, then Ronan, then gazed adoringly at the baby. ‘She looks like both of you! Ronan, she has your eyes! And she was in there all this time, hiding from us all! Just like you two have been hiding how you feel about each other.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m so happy for you both. It’s like the best kind of miracle. God, imagine if it happened to me – I wouldn’t know what to do. I’ve never even changed a nappy before!’

  Ronan looked at Kate, who said, ‘I’ve never changed a nappy before either.’

  He shrugged. ‘Nor me.’

  Oh well, how hard could it be?

  ‘Wow. Poor you,’ Clemency told the solemn-faced baby in Kate’s arms. ‘Got yourself a couple of learners, by the looks of things. Where are you even going to live, sweetheart? Have they thought about that yet?’

  ‘We’ll figure things out as we go along,’ said Ronan. ‘I’m sure we’ll manage. Meanwhile, if you wanted to do us a favour …’

  ‘Of course! Anything! Well, so long as it’s not changing a nappy.’ Clemency reached cautiously for the piece of paper he was holding out to her.

  ‘We’ve made a bit of a list … except there’s probably some stuff missing … but the shops close soon and anything’s better than nothing.’