“Did Tally call you last night or this morning?”
“Neither. Cash called. He thought you might need someone with charm and overwhelming good looks to take your mind off the tedious job of waiting to see if you’re up the duff.”
Em spooned coffee into two mugs. “Is he mad?”
Rupe frowned. “Why would he be mad?”
“Because if I am ‘up the duff’ as you so eloquently put it, I’ve put him and Tally on an uneven keel for nothing.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rupe scoffed. “He would never have agreed if he wasn’t one hundred percent behind the idea.”
“Wouldn’t he?” Em sighed. “Cash blusters and moans and groans, but he’s never been able to say no to Tally. Not really. Doesn’t mean he’s completely on board.”
Rupe shook his head. “I disagree. Sure, when it comes to where they go on holiday, or which school to send the kids to, or what colour to paint their bedroom, he’ll bow to her preference every time, but not about something as serious as his wife carrying someone else’s baby for nine months. He agreed because he loves her and adores you.”
Em poured boiling water over the coffee, stirred, then handed a mug to Rupe. They both sat down at the kitchen table. “Well, either way, I’m still going to feel like an idiot. We were this close,” she held her thumb and forefinger millimetres apart, “to having my eggs harvested and implanted in Tally’s womb. Imagine if the doctor hadn’t noticed something was awry, and both Tally and I ended up pregnant.”
Rupe laughed. “Now that would have been hilarious.”
Em clipped him on the arm. “No, it wouldn’t. It would have been a nightmare.”
“Well, it didn’t happen, so stop worrying. When do you get your results?”
“Tomorrow.”
“How’s David holding up?”
“Breezing through. Typical David. He’s never been a worrier, not really. Mister Positive, that’s my husband.”
Rupe’s face grew serious, very unlike his usual jokey demeanour. “I hope it’s the outcome you’re hoping for.”
Em twisted her lips to one side. “I’m terrified, Rupe. If I’m not pregnant—after having my hopes raised—I’m not sure how I’ll handle it.”
Rupe got up from his chair and moved to her right side. His arms came around her shoulders, and he pressed the side of her head to his chest. She sank into him, for once showing she wasn’t as tough as old boots.
“You’ll handle it like you do everything else, with strength, with determination, with a fierce stubborn streak that says nothing will ever beat Emmalee Fallon.”
God, I hope he’s right…
* * *
Em sat outside her doctor’s office, waiting to hear what could be the best news of her life. Her leg would not stop bouncing, as if the bloody thing had a mind of its own. She picked up a copy of Vogue, flicked through it in five seconds flat, then tossed it back on the table. Why anyone bought that magazine was beyond her, it was full of adverts and very little else. Give her a copy of Hello any day of the week—at least the celebrity gossip fed her inner voyeur.
Dr Nylan’s office door opened, and Em’s head snapped up so fast that she cricked her neck. The doctor beckoned to them both.
“Oh God, this is it,” Em muttered as a storm of feeling exploded inside her. On wobbly legs, only being kept upright by David’s solid frame, she somehow made it into the office. Her legs gave way as soon as the backs of her knees touched the chair.
“Whatever you do, don’t beat around the bush,” Em said. “Just give it to me straight, doc.”
“You’re pregnant,” Dr Nylan replied, smiling.
The room began to spin, and tears pricked at her eyelids. She blinked several times in quick succession.
“Are you sure?” she whispered, as if saying the words any louder could change the outcome.
“Positive—four weeks. It’s very early days, and we need to watch you carefully, but there’s no doubt.”
Em burst into tears. All the years of worry, of disappointment, of heartache and agony—when yet another white stick came back with a negative result—were all worth it because she wasn’t barren. She could get pregnant. Dammit, she was pregnant.
“I’m going to have a baby.” She turned to David, barely able to see him through her tears. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“I love you,” he said, his arms coming around her. “God, how I love you.”
After letting her sob into his arms for a few minutes, he pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped away her tears, then his own.
“Cash is going to kill me,” Em said, laughing.
David turned his attention back to the doctor. “How did this happen?”
Dr Nylan laughed. “That’s a whole different conversation, David.”
He chuckled, as did Em. “No, really, how did this happen? The other doctor was so certain that we had very little chance of ever falling pregnant. He even ruled out IVF as a potential option, which is why we chose the surrogacy route.”
Dr Nylan leaned back in her chair. “I wish I had all the answers but, as much as we doctors like to present a confident front and pretend we know everything, the truth is that the human body still holds an awful lot of secrets. Maybe it was because you stopped trying, which reduced your stress levels, or maybe it was something in the drugs we gave you to increase the number of eggs Emmalee’s ovaries produced. Or maybe you just got very lucky. We’ll never know for sure.”
“What if I can’t hold on to it?” Em whispered. “What if I miscarry?”
“There are no guarantees, Emmalee. Every woman has exactly the same concern and until you’re through the first trimester, we’ll all be holding our breath. But you’re fit and strong – there’s no reason to think you won’t have a perfectly normal pregnancy and go on to deliver a healthy baby. We’ll get you booked in for an early scan and take it from there.”
They left the doctor’s office in a bit of a daze. Em stayed silent on the way home, her emotions so close to the surface that she didn’t know whether to scream, or cry, or shout about her happiness from the rooftops.
An eight-month slog lay ahead… all she could do was hope for a miracle.
Chapter 14
“It’s time.”
“Where are you?”
“Just arrived at the hospital.”
“We’re on our way.”
Tally launched out of bed, her phone falling from her hands. It landed on the floor with a thud. She felt around for the lamp switch, eventually finding it and a warm glow bathed the room. Cash sat up, rubbing his eyes.
“That was David,” she said. “Em’s gone into labour.”
Cash yawned, stretched, and squinted at the clock. “It’s five in the morning.”
“And?” Tally said. “Babies come twenty-four hours a day. What’s the time got to do with it?”
“They also don’t arrive quickly, based on my experience. There’s no need to rush down there. David’s her birthing partner, not you. She’ll probably be in labour for hours yet and you’ll be pacing the floors outside the delivery suite. There’s plenty of time to get a few more hours kip, a proper breakfast, and warn my mother she’ll need to look after the kids.”
Tally glared at him. “She’s my best friend. I want to be there in case she needs me.” She reached into the wardrobe and threw a shirt and jeans at him. “And if I’m there, you’re there. The kids are coming too.”
Cash groaned, tossing the clothes to one side. “Why? Cian will start moaning he’s bored after five minutes, and Darcey will get in everyone’s way by doing bloody pirouettes down the hospital corridors. Let Mum look after them.”
Tally shook her head. “When Em has the baby, I want Darcey and Cian to be there.”
“And they can be,” Cash said. “But there’s no point taking them now. Emmalee will probably be in labour for hours. I’ll get dressed and fetch Mum, then she can bring down the kids later.”
“Okay, fair e
nough, but hurry, please. Apart from David, we’re all she’s got. Her mum and dad won’t be able to make it back from Spain in time, her brother, Greg, is still travelling around Australia. I don’t think David’s brother, Paul, was planning to travel across yet, either.” When Cash didn’t move, she planted her hands on her hips. “Move your arse.”
Cash chuckled. “I love it when you boss me about, sweetness,” he said, capturing her around the waist and pulling her diagonally across his body. He cut off her squeal with his mouth and kissed her, so familiar, yet still able to tighten all the muscles below her waist and release a cacophony of butterflies into her abdomen, their wings beating against her inner walls.
He slid the straps of her nightgown down her arms, his lips moving over her jaw. “What difference is thirty minutes going to make?” he murmured, moving across to nibble on her earlobe.
Tally groaned. “Cash.” Her tone held a hint of warning, but it was not strong enough to stop his intent.
His hand cupped her breast, the rough pad of his thumb brushing her nipple. Her groans grew louder, her back arching of its own accord.
Oh, what the heck. Half an hour delay couldn’t hurt.
* * *
Tally ran down the corridor with Cash right behind her. She pressed the buzzer for the labour suite and, after giving their names, they were buzzed in.
“Where the bloody hell have you two been?” Rupe grumbled the second they rounded the corner into the waiting area. “You live at least thirty minutes nearer than us.”
Cash’s nonchalant shrug and subsequent wink had Rupe rolling his eyes. “Jesus Christ,” he said.
“What does it matter?” Cash said. “It’s not like we’ve missed the main event.”
“Any news?” Tally asked, anxious to divert the conversation on to one that didn’t involve her sex life, even if it was in code. She sat beside Jayne who was rocking five-month-old Ethan. His eyes were shut but when Tally touched her pinkie to his tiny hand, he gripped on tightly. She brushed a lock of blonde hair from his forehead, her heart clenching with love. Ethan had Jayne’s fair hair, but the rest of him was pure Rupe.
“Not yet,” Jayne said. “If Em’s experience is similar to mine, we may have to settle in for a long wait – twenty hours before this one arrived.”
“Tell me about it,” Tally said. “Darcey made me work for it too.” She yawned. “Cash, why don’t you and Rupe go get us some coffee, I’ve a feeling we’re going to need it.”
“Good idea,” Cash said. “Shame the pub isn’t open. We could wait it out in there.”
Tally glared at him. “Coffee, then straight back here. You feel me?”
“Oh, I definitely feel you, sweetness,” Cash said smugly, with a lecherous eye sweep. “Several times per week.”
Tally turned her attention to Jayne. “Almost forty and still a child.”
Jayne laughed. “Boys will be boys.”
Hours passed with no sign of Em’s baby. Occasionally, David would pop out to give them an update, thank them all for sticking around—as though they had anywhere more important to be—and then rush back inside. Rachael brought the kids down after lunch and Tally took them to the gift shop when Darcey insisted she wanted to buy some balloons.
Several coffees later, Tally rose to stretch her legs. She’d barely walked two steps when the double doors to the maternity suite opened and David came out wearing a grin the size of the Thames.
“It’s a girl. Nine pounds.”
“Fantastic,” Rupe said while Cash shook his hand and added. “Congratulations. Years of worry ahead.”
“That’s wonderful,” Jayne said. “I’m so happy for you both.”
Tally hugged David, a rush of happiness sending warmth radiating through her chest. “Em?” she asked.
“Exhausted but ecstatic. You can see her shortly. I’ll come and get you as soon as they’ve finished sorting her out.”
“Nine pounds,” Rupe said smirking, when David disappeared once more. “That’s one hell of a bruiser. Remind me to buy a rubber ring for Fallon on my way home tonight. She’ll need something comfy to sit on.”
Jayne shifted Ethan to her left arm so she had her right one free to dig Rupe hard in the ribs. “Thoughtful,” she said, heavy on the sarcasm. Rupe grinned.
“I thought so.”
Thirty minutes later, David came to collect them. They all piled into the delivery suite with the nurse making a half-hearted attempt to limit the numbers, but there was no stopping them.
Em was sitting up in bed holding a pink bundle, the baby’s face barely visible through the swathe of blankets. David perched next to Em and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Meet Maia,” Em said, her face tired but elated.
After rounds of “congratulations” and “well done”, Tally perched on the end of Em’s bed. “Oh Em, she’s gorgeous.”
“Why is she so wrinkly?” Cian asked, standing on tiptoes to peer at the new arrival while Darcey tied the balloons to the end of Em’s bed, then elbowed her brother out of the way so she could see the baby.
“Imagine if you’d been in the bath for nine months,” Rupe said. “You’d be wrinkly too.”
Cian’s brow furrowed. “The baby has been in a bath?” He looked up at Tally. “Was I in a bath too?”
“Fucking brilliant,” Cash muttered under his breath. “Genius, Witters.”
“Here, Darcey,” Tally said, quickly digging into her purse and taking out some change. “Why don’t you take Cian to the vending machine just outside and buy a chocolate bar.”
“Okay,” Darcey said. She leaned over and kissed Maia’s forehead. “She’s so pretty, Auntie Em, just like you.”
Em flicked the end of Darcey’s nose. “And you, my darling.”
“Do you want to hold her?” Em asked Tally, after Darcey and Cian left.
“Do I ever,” Tally said. She carefully lifted Maia from Em’s arms taking care to support her head. Bending down, Tally breathed in that gorgeous baby smell.
“Watch out, Cash,” Rupe said. “Tally’s looking all broody.”
Tally shook her head. “Nope. I know what they grow into, as you’ll find out in a few years.”
A few minutes later, the nurse insisted they leave to give Em time to rest but, as Tally rose from the bed, Em put a hand on her arm.
“Stay,” she said. Turning to David she added, “Can you give me a minute with my bestie?”
“Sure thing,” he said, bending to kiss her forehead before leaving with everyone else.
“What’s up?” Tally asked, concerned.
“Nothing,” Em said. “Everything’s perfect.” And then she burst into tears.
“Aww, you daft thing,” Tally said, hugging her friend while trying not to squish Maia. A few seconds later, they broke apart and Tally passed Em a tissue to dry her face.
“I just wanted to say how much I appreciate and love you. Now that I’ve personally experienced the joys,” she rolled her eyes, “of labour, I understand what a sacrifice it would have been for you to do that for me. I’ll never forget your generosity, your selflessness, your great big heart, to even consider carrying a baby for me.”
Tally kissed Em’s cheek. “I wouldn’t hesitate to make the same offer again, but I’m so glad it wasn’t necessary in the end. You’re going to make a brilliant mum.”
“Just promise me one thing.”
Tally nodded. “Anything.”
“Don’t let Rupe get any ideas about his son and my daughter.”
Tally burst into laughter. “Done deal.”
Sixteen years later…
Cash eased open the hotel room door and leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. He almost dared not breathe in case she heard him before he was ready.
Don’t see me yet. Not yet. Let me take a mental snapshot of this moment because after today, everything will change.
She turned around, her beaming smile lighting up his heart.
“Dad! How long have you be
en standing there?”
“Not long enough. You look beautiful, Darcey.”
She smoothed her hands over the delicate-lace fabric of her wedding dress. “Really? It looks okay?”
Cash closed the door behind him and walked towards the woman standing before him. She wasn’t his little girl any longer. As soon as she took her vows, Ryan would become the most important man in her life, not him. He withheld a wince. All kids grew up eventually, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
He didn’t fucking like it.
His arms went around his daughter and he pulled her to him, being careful not to crease anything, or disturb her hair or makeup.
“No, it’s not okay, my darling girl, it’s perfect – just like you.” He reached into his trouser pocket and withdrew a key.
“What’s that, Dad?” Darcey asked.
“The key to the plantation house in Barbados. I thought you and Ryan might like to spend your honeymoon there.”
“Oh, Dad.”
Darcey clung to him for a few seconds, and he could feel her trembling. She withdrew, but only so she could look up at him, her blue eyes shining, reminding him so much of his beloved Natalia.
“Thanks for everything, Dad. I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have had you and Mum as parents. I love you both, so very much.”
A fist closed around his heart and squeezed, and all the air punched from his lungs. He took a deep breath in, hanging on to the dregs of his emotions. “Love you more. I couldn’t have wished for a better daughter.”
She laughed. “I guarantee you weren’t thinking that during my teenage years.”
Cash flicked her affectionately on the end of her nose. “True, we almost had you adopted then.”
“I would’ve had me adopted,” she said with the sort of smile that meant she’d always been able to wrap him around her little finger. “Seriously though, Dad, if Ryan and I are even half as happy as you and Mum, our marriage will be damn near perfect.”
A wave of nostalgia washed over him. Where had all the years gone? It didn’t seem like five minutes since he’d first met Natalia, and now there he was, about to walk his daughter down the aisle and give her away.
Break Point: A Winning Ace Novella Page 8