Chapter 24
Jack had rung Bunty to tell her the good news.
‘A boy and a girl!’ she’d exclaimed, absolutely delighted.
Although Jack was thrilled about his friend’s babies, his mood was tainted a little by Tara’s ex-husband’s behaviour. It had left him feeling a mixture of things. Anger certainly, but most of all concern. The alpha male in him wanted to protect Tara. Richard clearly had a temper, and this worried Jack.
When he’d relayed the conversation back to Tara, she’d merely rolled her eyes.
‘Yeah, that sounds about right,’ she’d said witheringly.
This disturbed Jack further. Obviously she was used to being treated and spoken to so badly. Not wanting to make too much of an issue, he refrained from discussing it further. He remembered her reluctance to talk about her marriage in The Smugglers, so didn’t press it. But the questions he badly wanted to ask Tara were mounting up, and not just concerning her ex-husband. Why did you ring my dad? topped the list. But for now he’d bide his time. He was a patient man and would strike when the timing was right.
Bunty announced the birth of Jasmine and Robin’s twins to all that evening, after Jack had rung her. Once the launch party ended and everyone had left, Emma cooked supper for her guests and they raised a glass to toast the babies’ safe arrival.
‘Bless them,’ said Bunty with a tear in her eye.
‘What a dramatic start,’ replied Emma, so relieved to hear that the newborns and Jasmine were all doing fine.
‘All is well that ends well. Isn’t that what you English say?’ asked Madeleine with an arched eyebrow.
‘Thanks to Tara,’ replied Felix gravely.
‘Yes, thank God a doctor was in the house.’ Bunty gulped, not bearing to think of what might have happened.
‘Well, one was and she handled the situation marvellously,’ comforted Perry, patting her shoulder, ‘and we’ll be meeting our new little neighbours soon, I’m sure.’
This caused Madeleine to frown, confused by Perry’s words.
‘Bunty and Perry live next door to Jasmine and Robin,’ explained Felix to his mother.
‘Ah!Je vois.It will be lovely having babies about,non?’ cheered Madeleine, then cheekily winked at Emma.
Emma blinked. What was that supposed to mean? Was Felix’s mum inferring something? She looked towards her dad who grinned knowingly. It hadn’t been lost on him either. Felix clocked the interaction and quickly changed the subject.
‘So, what did we think ofLady Scarlett Investigatesthen?’ he asked.
‘Brilliant!’ gushed Emma. ‘I knew it would be.’ She beamed at him.
‘Excellente. You did a good job there,mon chéri,’ said Madeleine, raising her glass to him.
‘Absolutely,’ agreed Perry, who hadn’t actually expected to enjoy it so much. Then he quickly added, ‘And Emma, you sang the theme tune beautifully.’ He faced his daughter with a warm smile.
‘She has the voice of an angel,’ stated Felix, not for the first time.
‘Oh, stop,’ replied Emma laughing happily. Secretly she was praying that the drama would sell worldwide. Hopefully, this could open all kinds of doors for her in the music world. Never had she dared to dream of such things.
Robin was thinking something similar as he gazed into the two incubators. His heart burst with love as he watched his son and daughter sleeping peacefully, despite the many tubes coming from their tiny bodies. They’d had quite a day. Their dramatic arrival had raised everybody’s heart rate, including their own. Robin had heard the consultant’s concern after he’d monitored Jasmine when they first arrived at the hospital. It was a blessing they’d been born so shortly afterwards. Robin was only just coming to terms with what could so easily have gone catastrophically wrong. It made him sick to his stomach contemplating it. But, he reminded himself, it hadn’t. Thanks to Tara’s efficiency and Jasmine’s steadiness, plus the amazing hospital staff, they’d got through it. He shuddered and closed his eyes.Neverwould he allow Jasmine or his children to come under such threat again. He glanced over the incubators once more before leaving to join Jasmine in the ward. She was just stirring from a doze and smiled drowsily at seeing him sit by her bedside.
‘They’re sleeping peacefully,’ Robin told her.
‘Good.’ She yawned and sat up.
‘We’ll have to decide on names,’ said Robin.
‘Well, I’ve been thinking…’ replied Jasmine tentatively.
‘Oh yeah?’ He grinned, knowing where this was going. He knew Jasmine wanted unusual names, not ‘run of the mill’ as she’d put it. Personally, he’d be happy to call his daughter Tara, such was his appreciation towards her.
