Jenny stared at Holly, her thoughts going a mile a minute. She tried to comprehend what she was feeling – anger, hurt, disappointment … what? And yet she couldn’t deny that the dominant emotion was once again, relief.
They were both silent for what seemed like an age, until Mike tentatively took her hand.
From her buggy, Holly gurgled up at them both and he looked at the baby tenderly.
“We haven’t given her a great start, have we?” he said softly. “The very foundation of our family was built on deceit.”
“That’s not true,” Jenny shook her head. “We loved one another, didn’t we? I made a stupid mistake and a bad call, and you wanted to believe something so much you were afraid to face the truth. There’s nothing wrong with that either.”
“Yes, there is,” he argued. “I should never have asked you to marry me without telling you first. God knows I should have learnt how something like that can kill a marriage before it’s even begun. And you’d already been lied to enough.”
Again they grew quiet, while Holly kicked her legs out, evidently eager to get going again.
“What are we like – the two of us?” Jenny said, eventually.
Mike caressed her hand with his thumb. “I don’t know how you feel about what I’ve told you just now, and I’m not asking you to make any snap decisions but – ”
Her expression grew serious. “Mike, Holly needs people around her she can trust.”
“Yes.” He looked away, stung.
“People she can rely on.”
“Of course.” He took his hand away and hung his head.
“I suppose,” she added, with a twinkle in her eye, “I suppose we could always put the word out, and see if we could find her better parents?”
His eyes widened and then his face broke into a wide smile. “You divil – you frightened me there for a minute.”
“Ha. I couldn’t frighten you.”
“Come here.”
“Where?”
“Here.” Mike’s arms encircled her waist and he pulled her close. “So what do you reckon? Can we start afresh? No more lies.”
“No more lies.” Jenny embraced him tightly, almost afraid to believe that she actually was in his arms again and she wasn’t just dreaming.
“Yay!”
Startled, they both looked down at little Holly, and the baby giggled, thrilled to have had the final say.
