‘... it’s a bit alien to me that you want to be here at all. I thought you might be screaming in a state of panic for me to take you to the hospital!’
‘This is real life, Georgie, not a movie. It’s not always screaming and rushing. In fact, this bit is quite boring.’
‘Well, I’m glad about the screaming, and I don’t mind boring, but I wouldn’t mind a bit of rushing.’
‘Why would I want to sit in a strange room when I could be here instead, in my bath with my lovely candle and a cup of tea. This is better. Much better. Besides it won’t take us long to get there when we set off.’ She sipped her hot drink.
‘I’ve done a few dummy runs.’ He spoke quietly; it felt like a confession.
‘What do you mean, “dummy runs”?’
‘You know I like to be prepared’ – he shifted on the loo – ‘so I’ve gone out at all hours, in all weathers and all traffic to work out the best route for every eventuality. I’ve got the top four programmed into the satnav, ready to guide me with no more than a single push of a button. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.’
‘Oh darling, you already know every route! It’s not that far!’ She found his planning and concern sweet and typical of the man she loved.
‘I know it’s not far’ – he held her gaze – ‘the hospital, where they have machines that beep, drugs on tap and nurses who know what to do if and when anything goes wrong. The hospital where I want to take you sooner rather than later!’
She could sense his agitation. ‘That’s right. The hospital we will be at soon enoughwhenwe need to.’
He ran his palm over his face, his leg jumping against the linoleum. ‘The thing is, babe, I shan’t rest until you’re checked in and I can hand you over to the medical team.’
‘Hand me over? You make it sound like dropping off a package or making one of your deliveries – are you going to ask someone to sign for me, and what will you do if there’s no one there? Leave me in a safe place or shove me in the wheelie bin?’
Georgie sat stony faced, clearly in no mood for a joke. ‘No, not like a package. Like my expectant wife who is in labour. It’s not about shirking my duty of care as the father of this baby, far from it, but I know what I’m capable of in any medical emergency and what I’m not. When it comes to blown tyres, a burst water main, power cuts, then I’m your man, but when it comes to you, Cleo, my Cleo ... no, you’re far too important for me to take any risk.’
‘I get it, love.’
‘No, you don’t!’ he fired back. ‘You don’t, you can’t because it’s not me who is in labour. It’s you – you, my wife. It’s not just that I love you, although of course I do, with every fibre of my being. It’s that you’re my reason, my purpose, my meaning. Even now, after fourteen years married, to take your hand in mine ... it fills me up.’
‘Oh, Georgie.’ She was no stranger to his lamentations of love, but tonight it felt more poignant, more special.
‘You are fascinating to me. Everything about you! The way the sun picks out the highlights of your hair, the curve of your cheek, the little hollow at the base of your throat where your locket sits, all of it, just amazing to me.’
Her fingers went to the gold lozenge shape where a picture of her and Georgie on their wedding day lived, and a space, waiting for an image of their baby, who was on the way.
‘I only have to close my eyes, Cleo, wherever I am, driving all over the country in my van, and nothing can touch me, nothing. People can yell insults about my driving, customers can scream at me when I’m late or because the order isn’t right, and I take it all on the chin, because you make everything better. Knowing you’re at home waiting for me, makes the early starts, driving rain, cramping leg muscles – it makes it all worth it. We might not have Lawrence and Julie’s money, but I wouldn’t swap the happiness we share for any number of fancy cars and designer labels. I’m content. You’re everything. And so, forgive me, Cleo, if I would rather you werein the hands of a medical team who could take care of you better than me in this instance.’
Cleo felt the bloom of tears. Despite them never saying so directly, she knew her mum and dad would have preferred her to marry some flash Harry or someone with as much ambition as her dad, so that she too could have an extended patio, en-suite bathroom, and a shiny new piece of jewellery for each and every milestone, but Georgie was never going to be that person. She hoped in time they would come to see that he was genuine in his devotion to her, would fight until his last breath anyone whose intention was to hurt a single hair on her head. But at the same time, if they failed to recognise his true value, as they had after all this time, then that was just too bad.
‘I love how you want to look after me, look after us.’ She ran her hand over her bump. ‘And you know that I wouldn’t do anything to put either of us in danger. I’m not stupid.’
‘I know, but this is my time. I might not be able to give birth, but I can step up. Our baby is on the way! I’m going to be a dad!’ Removing his glasses, he wiped his teary eyes. ‘Never, never in a million years did I think I would get this lucky ... and I’m ready. I’m ready, Cleo.’
She watched him feel his shirt pocket and the reassuring lump of his car keys. ‘You’re going to do great; we’re going to do great!’ She yawned, blowing out from bloated cheeks, her movements languid. ‘I’m glad you’re here. I wanted a bit of company.’
‘Of course.’ He willed his heart to settle. ‘I could eat another bowl of that tiramisu right now!’
‘You and your puddings.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I was thinking how funny it is really that Daisy, our waitress, is Lisa’s girl, and you and Loz were only about her age when you all used to hang around together.’ She pictured them in their teens; Lisa had been a knock-out. ‘I thought you were so grown-up, a whole two yearsolder than me. I remember the way Lisa and Loz were with each other – it was so intense. But when I looked at Daisy, no more than a little girl, really, I can see you were anything but. Just kids playing at being grown-ups, figuring it out as you went along. Poor old Lisa,’ Cleo mused.
‘Yeah. Depression is a horrible thing.’
‘Thanks for that, doctor!’
He laughed. ‘It’s true though. It’s hard to think of that vibrant woman not wanting to leave the house. He and Lisa were—’
‘A disaster waiting to happen?’ she interrupted.
‘D’you think? I always liked her, and whilst I’m very fond of Julie, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Loz and Lisa had gone all the way. Not that he’s seen her for a couple of years now.’
