by Emily Hudson
‘I’m pregnant.’ I blurted. My mother’s face formed the perfect ‘O’ with shock written all over it. My Dad however grinned from ear to ear, having obviously won his own personal sweepstake! Focusing back on my mum, her face appeared to be held, frozen in stasis.
‘I know its far from ideal and we…err…weren’t expecting it. Well let’s just say it’s come as a complete shock, so I understand you must be disappointed and I’m sorry if…’ My attempts to placate my mother and defuse the situation were put to a stop as Marcus intervened. ‘I’m sorry Mr and Mrs Crawford but I can’t let Lucy continue. I…well, we, believe this is the best news ever and I don’t ever want Lucy to feel a disappointment or that she should feel guilty about this.’ At this point I swear I heard my mother gasp, or maybe it was me. ‘Your daughter has been so courageous, she’s an incredible woman. What Lucy isn’t telling you is that she has been trying to put a brave face on but she’s been suffering quite a bit, she’s been under a tremendous amount of stress and I want to keep that to a minimum.’ I looked on in awe as he spoke up.
‘Can I?’ He asked turning to me. Hell no! ‘We’re expecting twins.’ I blurted out.
‘As Lucy said, we wanted to tell you in person but I’ve taken her away for a much needed rest.’
‘Ha!’ I laughed. ‘You kidnapped me to convince me to fall in love with you.’
‘I did, has it worked yet?’ Grinning, I didn’t give an answer.
Turning back to the screen, Marcus continued to charm my parents as I could only look on and fall in love with him all over again.
‘I want to reassure you that I’m looking out for all three of them and I promise, I always will.’ My father nodded appreciatively.
‘You happy Puddin’ Pie?’ Subconsciously I fiddled with my new necklace.
‘Very much so Dad.’
‘That’s all I ask for sweetheart.’
‘I’ve got some pictures Mum, do you want to see?’ I said, watching her eyes glisten before me. Holding up one of the black and white images I pointed out all the main features. Drawing breath I could see her shoulders rise, her disappointment or shock still evident.
‘Well it will take some getting used to, being a grandmother.’
My flippant side switched automatically. ‘Well you’ve got a few more months to get used to the idea.’ I said beginning to bristle with annoyance.
Marcus took over again sensing my tension. ‘It would be lovely on our return to London if maybe you could pop up for lunch or dinner and we can talk about this some more.’
‘That sounds a great idea, just let us know when. You rest up sweetheart and Marcus?’ I held my breath, what would he say? ‘You take good care of my girl.’ My dad, always the voice of reason, subtly giving his, dare I say it, approval.
‘Thanks Dad, love you both.’
‘I can’t believe she thought I might be off to prison. What the hell did she think I’d be convicted of?’ Marcus just laughed at my ranting. ‘Thanks for butting in by the way.’
‘Hey, no thanks needed, we’re in this together and believe me, I’m going to need just as much, if not more support from you tomorrow. I promise you, telling your parents was a walk in the park in comparison to what lunch will be like.’
Chapter Thirty
Our Sunday lunch date had come round all too quickly. My stomach was tied in knots after all Marcus’ warnings. It felt like it had taken me a month of Sundays just to get ready, so it was a blessing that his parents’ house was only a short walk from ours. If at all possible, their property was just as beautiful as the cottage we were currently residing in. Made from the same Cotswold stone it was twice as big and just as picturesque.
Marcus stepped back having rung the doorbell. I stood anxiously fiddling with a stray piece of hair.
‘You look beautiful.’ He said attempting to put me at ease, whilst tucking the strands behind my ear. Suddenly the door swung open; Marcus’ beautiful sister barely gave us time to register as she pulled us both into a hug. Evidently she was relieved we’d arrived. ‘Oh, thank God you’re both here.’ Linking arms with me I couldn’t help but smile at her bubbly overfamiliar nature.
‘You and I are going to have so much to talk about, I want to know everything about you.’
Faced with a closed door, we all stopped. ‘I swear I left that open.’ Livvy said looking perplexed.
‘I don’t know where we went wrong with our children. We gave them everything, they couldn’t ask for more.’ A stern female voice could be heard. Marcus turned to Livvy, ‘Everything?’ He said raising his eyebrows and taking a deep breath.
‘Mum’s on fire today. You wearing your Kevlar?’ She retorted.
‘She is lovely, just think yourself lucky he’s not coming home with syphillis or the like. God knows he’s got the reputation.’ His father added as Livvy couldn’t hide her snigger. Marcus’ eyes set on me, either saying sorry or just reminding me it was my fault we were here today.
‘Well let’s just get it over with, we can’t stand here all day. We know they’re expecting us and this little piece of theatrics is purely designed to knock us off our balance. Come on let’s do this!’ I said loudly, urging on the siblings, that resembled a pair of naughty looking children.
To say introductions were a little awkward was nothing to what came afterwards. Dinner was held in pure silence, it was beyond odd. I had wanted to complement Mrs Davenport on the food, which was delicious just for the record, but no-one spoke. The classical music playing gently in the background was perhaps the only saving grace. Uncomfortable was not the word, the knots currently constricting my stomach meant, despite its taste, everything went down in a lump. The tension so great I silently cursed making the slightest noise with my cutlery on the porcelain. Deciding I’d rather go hungry than continue and make myself sick, I placed my silverware together. Concerned, Marcus looked over immediately, mouthing ‘You ok?’ Worry etched on his forehead. Smiling, I nodded remembering my role, support him as he’d supported me. Marcus’ mother, next to finish her meal, watched our interaction. No surprises, she was first to initiate conversation.
‘So, when’s the wedding?’
‘Mother!’ Marcus sternly warned.
‘But you will.’ She continued. ‘Of course he will, one thing you can say for him, he’s always faced up to his responsibilities.’ His father continued as if we weren’t present.
‘Well at least you appear to be in a relationship.’ His mother pointedly continued, making no bones of staring at Livvy. Slamming her napkin down, Livvy had obviously put up with this longer than we had, now I understood her welcome. ‘Excuse me, I’m going to take a breath of fresh air,’ she said pushing away from the table. ‘Please join me Lucy.’ Looking to Marcus, I was torn, desperate to leave but not without him.
‘Go.’ He instructed.
‘Thank you for a delicious lunch.’ I said not wanting to forget my manners.
Livvy had already made her exit to the front porch, keen to escape. ‘Welcome to the family.’ She said laughing as I joined her. I linked arms with her, naturally warming to her open honesty as we walked alongside the riverbank.
‘I’m thrilled you two are back together, you know he’s crazy about you. I’ve never seen him worry about someone as much as he worried about you.’ I blushed not sure of whether she knew the whole story. ‘I wish I had someone like that in my life, obviously not my brother. Just someone whose eyes light up when you get into sight. It scares the living daylights out of me, doing this on my own but better that, than someone that makes false promises or is with you for all the wrong reasons.’
‘Is that why you came back to the UK?’
‘Uh huh and the last thing I need is my mother ramming it back down my throat at every turn. Sorry, I’ve just taken as much as I can today.’
Slowing to a standstill at the end of the front boundary, Livvy plonked herself down by the waterside and started picking blades of grass and tossing them into the river. ‘
No need to apologise, we’re family now.’ Now it was my turn to laugh.
‘You may laugh, but he’s never letting you go, you really are stuck with us.’
‘I don’t know, sometimes I just worry that circumstances have led us to where we are now. I want him to want me, for me, not because I’m carrying his children. Does that make sense?’ I was amazed at how much I was sharing with his sister but somehow I felt some affinity to her. Now it was my turn to vent my feelings on the poor unsuspecting blades of grass as my anxiety increased.
‘Oh I wouldn’t worry about that.’ She laughed. ‘Let me show you something.’ Taking her phone from her pocket, Livvy sifted through her photos. ‘Aha, here it is. Check out the date, I believe this is before he knew about the babies.’ I watched as Marcus’ face filled the screen.
‘I want to marry Lucy Crawford and have children with her…I’m crazy about her.’
Still smiling Livvy looked very smug at my shocked expression, she played it again. ‘I knew this would come in handy.’ She said taking back her phone. Slinging my arms around her, I couldn’t thank her enough. One short video and all my fears and worries had been dismissed. Only breaking apart with the sound of the deep voice behind us.
‘You two look as thick as thieves.’ Livvy simply winked at me, this was between us, for now.
‘I’m so excited I’ve got someone else to share all this stuff with. You are the sweetest brother really but there’s things I really don’t want to share with you. TMI, and all that.’ Marcus looked relieved. ‘Is it safe to return yet?’
‘Well, Mother looked like I’d wedged a gobstopper down her throat as I told her how brave you were going this alone. That you had more courage in your little finger than the pair of them had.’
‘You said that…thanks bro.’
‘Well it's like Kitty said. It’s time we stood up to them. Hell we’re going to be parents ourselves soon.’ With that, we all looked at each other pulling petrified looks and laughed.
Eventually we returned for dessert and coffee, the atmosphere was noticeably different; there was conversation. Admittedly most of it came from Marcus’ sister, with her father chipping in every now and again. Livvy enthusiastically chatted about how accommodating her workplace had been, her plans to return to work and even some names she’d considered. It was the kind of conversation a mother would revel in but Livvy’s and Marcus’ was noticeably quiet, part of me felt sorry for her.
‘Not many people become grandparents to three children in the same year, must be a shock.’ Marcus said aloud.
‘Makes me realise how much I missed.’ His father said regretfully as he clutched his wife’s hand. ‘I hope I do a better job as a Grandfather.’ Mrs Davenport looked down, biting her tongue as though she wanted to say something. Watching on, I decided perhaps she just wasn’t the maternal type, not everyone is but I couldn’t fault the fact she’d brought two pretty special people into the world. Silently she got up and I watched her leave the room. Looking over to Marcus, I gestured to the door so he too, could watch her slip outside. Despite our somewhat frosty reception, I was worried about her, maybe it’s just these hormones. ‘She’s alright.’ he reassured. And she was, returning with two, small, round candy tins, with each in hand she made a bee-line for me. Then this fierce, ferocious battle-axe, did something I’ll never forget. Thrusting one of the tins, in her outstretched hand. ‘I had terrible nausea and heartburn with these two, just to warn you they both had a full head of hair. These worked for me.’
‘So much so, she’s still partial to them, hides them around the house, thinks I don’t know about her secret stash.’ Her husband added as she made her away round to Livvy. I didn’t let her get back to her chair, instead I nearly knocked her over as I hugged her. You’d have thought the woman had never experienced a hug before. The gathering looked on in shock as she stepped back, smoothed down her tailored skirt. ‘You’re welcome, I hope it helps.’ She stiffly but sincerely said, still somewhat knocked off kilter by my embrace. We’ll get there, I thought. Baby steps.
* * *
‘Well that was…’
‘Yes, wasn’t it!’ I finished off Marcus’ statement with raised eyebrows, as we walked back to the cottage, he didn’t need to say anymore. ‘I can’t believe you hugged my Mother, you should have seen her face. Can’t remember the last time I ever did that.’
The more I thought about Marcus’ mother and the officious mask she wore so well, I thought about the glimpse of the real woman she’d albeit briefly shared with us, during both her pregnancies she would have experienced the same joy and fears as Livvy and I. In her eyes she’d ensured she’d placed her children in the care of the best nanny whilst she focused on her career and all in an age where most women would stay at home. Perhaps she’d just lost the art of being a parent, it didn’t mean she didn’t care.
‘Well maybe you should. Maybe that’s exactly what she needs. She’s not as devoid of emotion as she’d have you believe. It was a lovely gesture,’ I said waving the tin, ‘and I can’t help it, I’m a hugger.’
‘I love that about you.’
‘You do?’
‘I do and much more besides, like…’
‘What?’
‘Like these beautiful freckles that appear when you’ve been out in the sun.’ I batted his hand away as he reached out to touch them. ‘I love the way your nose scrunches up when you really don’t like something. Most of all…’ he said stopping us in the middle of the bridge connecting us to the cottage. Reaching out to tilt my head up with his gentle touch, ‘there isn’t a thing I don’t love about you. I don’t want you running scared but Lucy Jasmine Crawford, I love you.’
‘I love you too, Marcus…’ I hesitated. ‘I have no idea what your middle name is.’ ‘William’ he added. ‘Marcus William Davenport.’ I repeated ‘I love you too.’ With a heart stopping grin, eyes alight, his lips met mine as he quite literally took my breath away.
Chapter Thirty-One
I’d done it! I had a little giggle to myself. I’d said it! That four lettered word I’d feared would send her running to the hills. But, not only is she still here, linked with me arm in arm but she said it back and meant it. In my cloud-nine state, I couldn’t help but think about our parents’ reactions, inadvertently, I let a little giggle slip. ‘So what do your parents know about you that would lead them to believe you were going to prison?’ I teased.
‘Having second thoughts now are you?’
‘Never! Just curious!’
‘It must be guilt by association, you being a barrister and all.’
‘So it’s my fault?’
‘I’d say so, what with the worry over your syphillis.’
‘Thanks for reminding me. I haven’t by the way, just in case you’re concerned. I’ve always been careful.’
‘Evidently!’ I said patting my stomach, toying with him a little longer. Then a thought came to me, not one I liked.
Reading my mind he grabbed my hand. ‘They’re the only ones, I promise.’
‘You’re not worried?’
'Really, no. I would have heard. With my family background, dare I say it, money and status. I’d have been taken for everything I have. I’m quite a catch, you know?’
‘You are? I mean, you are!’ She giggled.
‘You’ll pay for that Miss Crawford.’
‘Only if you catch me.’ She said with a glint, taking off at speed down the 100 metres or so to the house, laughing all the way. A little out of breath, I caught her at the door, dangling the keys in my hand. Barely breaking a sweat in our sprint, I turned all predator on her. The intensity of the moment was palpable, I was sure it was evident in my eyes. Sadly I had to look away to place the key in the lock. Swooping down I picked her straight up. I knew exactly where we were headed as we climbed the stairs. ‘You’re mad.’ She said as I shifted to handle her weight.
‘Quite possibly. Marry me.’ My breath hitched.
‘Excuse me?’ She sa
id, still held in my arms.
‘You heard, marry me!’
‘That’s the best you can do. I was led to believe you were quite the catch.’ She said, tongue in cheek.
‘Oh I can do better than that.’ I said placing her down onto the bed.
I hadn’t been this happy in years.
Epilogue
Two years and four months on…
‘Oh my word, that was chaos!’ Marcus admitted as we finally cleared away the last of the debris. ‘It was, but awww, did you see how cute Katie was toddling around with the boys.’ We’d celebrated the boy’s 2nd birthday by throwing them a little party and Katie, Ethan and Licia’s daughter, had stolen the show by taking her first confident steps attempting to chase our boys around.
‘She was but I can’t get over Ethan, boy she’s really got him wrapped around her finger.’ Personally I think she has everyone wrapped around her little finger, she is gorgeous.
‘You’d be no different if we had a little girl.’
‘Hmm, now there’s a thought.’
‘Down boy, come on, we need to check on the boys.’
Thankfully getting them to sleep hadn’t been too much of a problem, they were exhausted. Ensuring they stayed asleep remained our main mission.
As with most parents, watching our children sleep became a nightly ritual.
‘They look so peaceful.’ Marcus said as he tucked the bedding around them.
‘Hmm, you wouldn’t believe the little monsters, stripped the Christmas tree of half it’s decorations this morning.’ I bemoaned.
‘Wouldn’t change it for the world.’ Marcus said getting back up to join me, standing behind me, he rested his chin on my shoulder, still peering over at our angels. ‘They’re still little aren’t they?’
‘They are…’ Uh oh! We both froze! The slightest movement turning us into statues as Nicholas stretched and wriggled before rolling over. Sighing as he settled immediately, neither of us wanted the consequences of being seen. Ashamed to say I’ve actually hit the floor and crawled out of their room before. Sensing it was time to disappear we didn’t want to be around if James made a move, so the pair of us tiptoed out, narrowly escaping the traps of wooden trains and building blocks they’d set, lying in wait to catch us out.