‘Don’t worry,’ she said cheerfully. ‘It often takes a long time for the first. Everything’s fine.’
‘You go to work if you want, Jen. I’m clearly going to be here for ever.’ It was almost noon and she had made little progress. In fact, there had been times when everything seemed to have stopped and she was threatened with being sent home again. Jenny had argued that because Amanda lived alone, she should stay where she was. The staff agreed.
‘Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you. I shall see this through. Do you want anything? Food, drink?’ She kept looking round at the door as if she was expecting someone.
‘I’m fine. What are you looking for? You keep staring at the door.’
‘Nothing. I keep thinking the staff will be back to check on you. I’m taking my responsibility seriously.
‘Just wish junior would make an appearance. Oooh, here it goes again.’ She walked round the room, breathing as she had been taught and waiting for the contraction to ease off. By evening, the medical staff had decided that they needed to help the baby make its appearance and prepared to take her into the delivery room. Jenny came with her, holding tightly on to her friend’s hand.
‘Okay Amanda. Try to relax.’ The words were lost in the middle of another massive contraction. The door opened and Amanda gasped. Looking totally exhausted and quite distraught, Sacha rushed to her side and took her other hand.
‘My darling. I came as fast as I could. Not for the world would I have missed this moment. Our first child is about to come into the world.’
‘Sacha?’ she managed to whisper through her tears. ‘Am I dreaming? Have they given me something?’
‘I am really here and no, you are not dreaming.’ Nothing else mattered. The pain seemed to evaporate and very soon, her son was born.
‘He was clearly waiting for his daddy to arrive,’ the midwife said with a smile. ‘No need for our intervention after all.’
‘Thank you.’ Jenny was highly emotional. ‘Thank you for letting me share that moment. I shall never forget it.’
‘And thank you for calling me. I also should have hated to miss the moment,’ Sacha said.
‘You called him? But wasn’t it a terrible shock?’
‘The shock, I was used to. Jenny had also called me last week to tell me the news. She said the baby was not expected for a couple more weeks. I made some preparations and I would have come sooner but I then couldn’t get away. A crisis at home. Also my parents were very shocked. They did not know about our marriage and assumed this child might not be mine. They were not happy. But we can discuss all of that later. Let us enjoy meeting our new little son.’
Jenny slipped away and left them together, a family for the first time. The tiny boy, wrapped in a sheet, lay on his mother’s tummy. They gazed at their tiny son with his fists clenched and eyes screwed up and closed. He opened them suddenly, a wide, misty blue gaze, apparently fixed on his father’s face. He gripped the proffered fingers and the new parents laughed.
‘He will certainly be able to hold a tennis racquet,’ Sacha said. The midwife came back into the room.
‘Excuse me but we need to take the baby for a little while. Some tests to be done and I’m sure you’d like to see him all nice and clean. And we need to make you more comfortable. If all is well, you can go home later today.’
‘Really?’ Sacha said, his eyes wide. ‘So soon? How will we know what to do?’
‘The health visitor will visit you to make sure all is well. Don’t worry. You have a very healthy son.’ She went away with the baby, leaving the new parents alone for the first time in many months.
‘I shall never understand how you could think that I wouldn’t want to be a father.’
‘We’d never spoken of having children and I thought your tennis career meant everything to you. Then I met Fredo and he told me I was ruining your life and spoiling your chances of success. When you discovered the true nature of my job, you were so very angry.
‘Believe me, so many times I was going to confess all about it but I was too scared of spoiling the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. I was right as it turned out. You hated me. After we broke up, I discovered I was pregnant and I knew it was up to me to cope with it. I could never allow you to feel obligated to me. To feel sorry for me or duty bound to be with me would be even worse. When you called me, I couldn’t meet you and allow you to see me in this condition.
‘I hope you understand what I am saying. If you were ever to love me again, it had to be because you wanted to and not because you felt you owed me something.’
‘Oh Amanda, Amanda. So much confusion. So much misunderstanding. I know I was filled with fury that you could have misled me so greatly about your work. I thought that you had deliberately lied to me about it and I could no longer trust you about anything else. I am so sorry. What time we have wasted. I could have shared the waiting months with you.’
‘So, do you really think our marriage might work?’ she asked. He nodded, barely able to speak with his emotions running so high. She smiled happily. ‘How long will you be able to stay with me now, assuming you want to of course?’ He recovered himself.
‘For as long as you like. Work in the vineyard is quiet at this time of year. Our workers will do any tasks that need doing. When you are recovered sufficiently, I’d hoped you would come back to France with me? I’d like us to make our home there. My parents’ vineyard is in a beautiful place and we can have our own house. There is a place, a sort of barn I suppose it would be called, which we can easily convert. If that would please you, of course.’
‘I really want us to be together, as a family. Of course I do. But this is all such a big change in my life. I don’t even speak much French and I wouldn’t have a job. How can I earn anything in another country when I don’t speak the language?’
‘I’m sure you’d soon learn, but my father is British so that could be a good start. I have a good career in wine making and we have no shortage of money. But I understand, you are used to being independent and want to pursue some career. You can work at home perhaps as a freelance? With emails and new technology, it doesn’t really matter where you are based, does it?’
‘It all sounds possible, but please don’t rush me too much. Let us get used to being parents first. Remember, I was planning to be a single parent and now that is also changing. It takes some getting used to.’
* * *
They talked non-stop for the rest of the day.
There were so many plans to be made and so much catching up to do. During the times when the baby was awake they were fully occupied with him and feeding him.
Amanda had promised herself that she would feed him at first, until she managed to find childcare and go back to work at least. Now that was all changed, except the feeding routine she still had to come to terms with. She was full of questions while she had the professionals on hand, knowing that soon, they would have to cope alone.
It was evening before they left the hospital. Sacha was amazed at the speed of everything. They were kept in hospital for much longer in France, he assured her. Fortunately, she had prepared most things for the baby’s arrival and the tiny crib was awaiting its new occupant.
‘Are you sure it’s warm enough for him? It’s a very cold evening.’
‘I left all the heating on when I left to go into hospital so I’m sure he will be just fine. I’m afraid that I haven’t got very much in for us to eat. I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen just yet.’
‘What shall we do for Christmas?’
‘Christmas?’
‘It’s in just five days. I don’t suppose you will be ready to travel by then so we shall have it here. Just the three of us.’
‘I hadn’t realised it was so soon. But just us sounds great. And when are we going to have our belated wedding party?’
‘Soon. Before we go to France. Then all your friends can meet our son. We must find a name for him. Have you thought of a name?’
‘Not really. I like Michael or should we make it Michel?’
‘Michel Manon. That sounds great. It will look good when it appears up on the board at Wimbledon.’
‘Oh, so he’s to be a tennis player is he?’
Their conversation went for much of the night, there was just so much lost time to be made up.
CHAPTER NINE
After a couple of days, Amanda phoned her parents to break the news to them. They were shocked, horrified and secretly very pleased that they had a grandson.
‘Why ever didn’t you tell us?’ her mother demanded. ‘We could have helped. You could have come to live with us here in Spain and we’d have looked after you.’
‘I didn’t want to live in Spain. You know I didn’t. However, we are probably going to live in France. At Sacha’s family home.’ Even without seeing her face to face Amanda could sense her mother’s total disapproval, or was it perhaps, jealousy?
‘We shall catch a flight as soon as we can. I hate Britain in the winter but this is a rather special occasion.’
‘We’re planning to have a sort of belated wedding party in January, so why not wait to come then?’
Sacha later congratulated her on her tact. He wanted and they both needed a quiet Christmas.
‘Now I have to show similar skill in inviting my parents.’ He telephoned his home in Provence.
Amanda listened to musical sounding fluent French as he chatted to his mother. She picked up the odd word such as Noël, joyeux, mon fils, and so on but most of it was completely over her head. It did give her some concern about the future. How could she live in a foreign country without speaking the language? Heavens, she may not even be able to speak to her own son if she didn’t learn the language with him.
‘My parents will also come over for our wedding party. Now all we have to do is to decide on a date and organise it.’
‘That will have to wait for now. Our son is demanding food yet again. At this rate, I honestly think he’s going to be even taller than his father, by the time he’s six.’
* * *
Quite early on Christmas Eve, Jenny arrived unexpectedly but laden with gift-wrapped parcels and bags full of all manner of Christmas goodies.
‘Oh Jenny, that’s so kind of you. But now I feel terrible. I haven’t even been near a shop and I haven’t bought any gifts for any one. I thought I’d have plenty time to do that . . .’
‘I thought you wouldn’t. I’ve got a full feast here in this box. If Sacha wouldn’t mind going down to my car, there’s a tree and several other bits and pieces.’
‘This is all too much. But thank you. You are the best friend anyone could want.’
‘Don’t mention it. Now, there’s some Champagne somewhere, to toast the new arrival. Yes, here it is.’
They ate and drank some of the things that Jenny had provided and discussed the coming party.
‘Don’t know where we should hold it. Obviously, this place isn’t nearly big enough.’
‘Leave it to me. I’ve got an idea,’ Jenny said. ‘Except the husband among us might resist. I was actually thinking of the office. The big meeting room would be fine. Move out the big tables and it will be perfect.’
‘What do you say Sacha? Could you cope with visiting such a dreadful den of iniquity?’
‘As long as all the cameras are hidden away.’
‘Oh but I shall want some pictures as a record of the occasion. Anyway, nobody will be interested in us as a story. Not now you’ve given up tennis and you’re no longer a rising star.’
Jenny frowned. She knew it would still make a heart warming story but wisely, said nothing. She was already writing the headline in her mind. Tennis Star Gives Up Everything For His Wife And Baby. She stored it away for possible future use. She admired and cuddled Michel, approved his name and handed him back to his mother rather quickly when he did what babies do.
‘Think he needs his mother,’ she announced, pulling a face. ‘Remind me never to have babies.’
‘That’s fine. He actually needs his father,’ Amanda told her.
Her friend’s jaw dropped.
‘You mean, he actually changes nappies?’
‘Certainly,’ Sacha told her as he took charge and went off to make for the baby’s room.
‘Has this man got a brother? Drop dead gorgeous and a modern man to boot. I thought French guys were far too macho to be involved with all that messy side of things.’
‘No way. He was partly responsible for creating this little boy, so he has to share most things. Except the feeding of course. Nature hasn’t got that one sorted yet.’
She stayed for another hour, laughing and chatting. At last she stood up, ready to go.
‘Now you love birds, I shall leave you alone. Enjoy Christmas. Pity me when you think of me wrapped up tight in the family home. Christmas dinner with all the family. Mum telling me I look too thin and stuffing me with extra roast potatoes to undo all the good dieting I’ve been doing for months.’
‘Sounds great,’ Sacha said, not a trifle wistfully. ‘I’ve never experienced a British Christmas.’
‘Totally overrated,’ was the rejoinder. ‘Too much anticipation and a total anti-climax when it arrives.’ Jenny breezed out of the flat, leaving them feeling as if a whirlwind had just invaded their lives.
* * *
‘She’s amazing, exhausting and clearly a very good friend you have there. Now let us return to our peaceful life.’
‘What do you think about a party at the office? It’s nice and central for everyone and it is a lovely room.’
‘If that’s what you would like and would make you happy. Fine. So, when shall we have our party?’
They fixed on the second Saturday after New Year. People might still be in celebratory mood and there was just about time for the two lots of parents to fly over. Both of them felt slightly nervous about meeting their respective new in-laws and hoped that their parents would get on together. Jenny proved a tower of strength and had organised everything at the office. Even Penelope had entered the spirit of the occasion and provided the name and address of her favourite caterers.
‘I never thought I’d be condoning a marriage celebration in my offices but I suppose this will be a different sort of occasion. I shall be sorry to lose you Amanda,’ she had said when they had all visited to make the arrangements. The new mother had been mildly amused to see the expression of distaste on her boss’s face when she had looked at Michel. The other girls had more than made up for it as they’d cooed over the new arrival.
* * *
Their parents arrived a couple of days before the party, so there had been time for the formalities of meeting together. They didn’t need to have worried. Everyone got on famously right from the start.
‘He’s gorgeous, darling,’ her mother said immediately. ‘And he clearly adores you and his baby. I just don’t know why we didn’t know all about him from the start. And his mother, so elegant and quite charming.’
Sacha’s mother had made a great effort to speak in English and Amanda’s fears of finding herself in difficulty when she moved to France, evaporated. The two sets of parents stayed in the same hotel and were soon chatting like old friends.
‘See? As I told you, it will all be fine,’ Sacha whispered to the mother of his child. ‘My parents love you right away as I knew they would and your father and mine are already discussing the merits of French and Spanish wines, like a pair of real connoisseurs.’
‘I am still amazed at the way you can flip between French and English without hesitating. I hope our son will learn to be bi-lingual too.’
‘Of course he will. English will he be his mother tongue and I shall speak to him in French. Soon, he will translate for you any words you don’t know.’
‘It’s all going to be wonderful isn’t it? I’m so much looking forward to our life together.’
There was a great deal of joy in the room at the party a couple of days later. As she looked ro
und at friends and family, Amanda knew she had made a good decision to marry her wonderful husband, all those months ago. Even Fredo had arrived with a smile on his face.
‘I must give you some apology,’ he said in his strong French accent. ‘I did never dream that you and my boy could actually be married. I see now that it was a how you say, double agreement?’
‘Mutual. I think you mean mutual attraction. I never intended to spoil his career, I promise you.’
‘Perhaps he was never going to be a number one tennis player. Mais, alors, one always can have hope. I have a new protégé now. He is much less aged. I shall keep him apart from you magazine people.’
‘You tried hard to keep us apart so don’t have your hopes too high.’
‘Are you going to introduce me?’ Jenny asked as she came to join them.
‘This is Fredo. Sacha’s one time coach. Fredo, meet my very good friend Jenny. I shall leave you to get to know each other. Excuse me.’
She smiled to herself as she left them. It wouldn’t take long for Jenny to get the name of his new protégé. She quite looked forward to seeing Fredo’s picture on the front cover of Personal.
‘Amanda dear,’ Penelope said, when she finally got her alone. ‘I trust you are going to allow us to publish just one small story about you and your lovely family. Then we might do a series . . . well you could write it yourself, a series on how it feels to move to another country and the difficulties you might experience. I think our readers will love it. A real human interest story. Then you can keep your hand in and possibly stay on as our very own foreign correspondent. I think this could be very good for all of us. An insight into life in France itself.
‘There must be many Brits living in your area. Famous ones too. Escaping from this depressing weather to warmer climes.’
‘I’ll have to discuss it with my husband. I simply don’t know how he would feel about it. I somehow doubt that he will agree. But be assured I shall never ever try to keep anything from him in future. I’ve learned my lesson and nearly caused a complete disaster. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think my lovely new son might be needing me. He’s been a bit too quiet for far too long.’
For the Sake of Love Page 9