Alex looked inextricably worried and passed the phone back to Abby like it was an infected rat he didn’t know how to handle.
“Tilly, you’re forgiven. Stop crying. We’re on our way.” She heard Kenny start to talk and then a baby cried. The call ended and she looked at Alex. “You ready for this?”
He nodded. “Always. As long as she doesn’t cry.”
Abby pausedbefore pressing down the handle to the door to Milly’s room. Two years was a long time, but right now it felt like another lifetime ago.
“You’ll be fine.” Alex placed his hand on her back. “Go see her. I may stand out here because I think she’s going to scream or something when she sees you.”
“You’re probably right.” She pushed the door open and stopped.
Tilly was sitting up in bed, her tiny, as yet unnamed daughter, in her arms, Kenny sitting next to her, his arm around her. Both were spellbound with her.
Abby stayed where she was and watched, amazed to see her little sister now a mother herself. The scene in front of them contrasted with yesterday and it made her heart sing.
“Hey,” Abby stepped into the room. “Tilly…” She stopped speaking, completely captivated by the tiny girl swaddled in a white blanket. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Want to hold her?” Tilly lifted the baby over to her, holding her like she was the most precious thing. “Amelia Abigail Gallagher, meet your Auntie Abby.”
Abby swallowed, taking her niece and holding her to her. “Amelia Abigail? That’s her name?”
Tilly laughed. “I get the feeling you’re keeping to Abby, so I thought you wouldn’t mind if she had Amelia. We’re going to call her Amy for short.”
“Amy.” Abby could only repeat it. “She’s so tiny.”
“She didn’t feel tiny when she was coming out.” Tilly looked towards Kenny. “It’s a shame men can’t give birth.”
Kenny shook his head. “Stop there, Til. No one wants details right now.”
“Agreed.” Alex was still standing behind Abby, his own eyes pinned on the little girl. “Let’s just take this as a new beginning.”
“A fresh start. I like that.” Tilly smiled. “Lots to look forward to.”
Abby nodded. “Everything to look forward to.” She turned to Alex. “Everything.”
Epilogue
Ten months later.
There were about five more steps until they were at the top of the Eiger. The rest of the team they’d ascended with were a few minutes ahead, a deliberate ploy by Alex to get them out of the way. He knew the scenery around them was spectacular: it was a clear day with a blue sky, and the climb up the North Face had been perfect. He watched as Abby raised her arms in the air and heard her cheer as she reached the top, then followed her.
Ten months after she’d been reunited with her sister, they’d headed out for Switzerland and the Eiger, the climb they’d both wanted to do. Since that day she’d met her niece, Abby had begun to regain her confidence. She’d built her strength, smiled more, laughed louder. She’d never moved out of his house until they’d moved out together three months ago, into the stone house that would probably be their forever home.
“We did it!” She wrapped her arms around him, her expression one of pure joy. He was crossing everything that it would be filled with more joy in another thirty seconds. “How do you feel?”
Fucking nervous.
There was no ring until they had descended and were back at the hotel, but this moment, stood at the top of the mountain she’d most wanted to climb and completing the plan they’d made way back when, had been his goal.
He dropped to one knee, aware that the team had turned around and were watching them. Someone was filming it.
“Alex Maynard, are you doing what I think you’re doing?” Her gloved hand came up to her mouth.
“Amelia Abby Walker Hope,” he got all of the names in there. “Will you marry me?”
A cheer went up from the gallery and a round of glove muffled applause.
Abby’s face broke out into a smile that was as bright as the snow that glistened in the sunshine.
