Page 57 of Family Secrets in Inishbeg Cove

‘So she doesn’t have a new job?’

Kyle shook his head. ‘It was all a ruse to get me and you to talk.’

‘But I phoned you two days ago and you ignored my call.’

‘I know, and I’m sorry. I wanted to speak to you, I really did, and I was about to call you back when your mum turned up and convinced me to come to Inishbeg Cove to try and give our marriage one last shot. She thought it would be better if we spoke face to face. She wanted to keep it as a surprise because she wasn’t sure how you’d react… She was afraid you’d get mad with her for interfering.’

‘Well, she’s not wrong,’ Lucy snapped, as she tried to process everything that had happened. It felt like her mother had tossed everything Lucy thought was the truth up into the air and it had fallen back down around her, all in the wrong order. What was her mother up to? Her marriage wasn’t any of Madeleine’s business. This was a delicate situation. ‘I never knew Mum could be so scheming!’ Suddenly a horrible thought flashed into her head: what if she had told him about the baby?

Kyle jumped in. ‘Please don’t be mad at her. She was doing it because she cares, and I’m glad she came. The last few days have been awful. I’m broken without you, Lucy.’

She felt overcome with emotion as the events of the last while caught up with her. ‘I’m so glad you’re here…’ Her voice broke. Happiness, relief, fear, dread about what she was about to tell him: a viscous mixture of feelings swirled inside her.

‘Hey, what’s the matter?’ He took her in his arms. ‘Don’t cry – we’re both here now. I want to work out our differences, and I think you do too. I’m sure we can sort this out.’

She knew from his words that her mother hadn’t told him about the baby. ‘It’s not that…’ she began. Her heart was beating wildly against her ribcage like a tiny, caged bird. She thought about the other heart that was beating alongside her own, and knew that the time had come to tell him. She felt vulnerable and exposed, as if she was laying her soul bare for him to trample on if he wanted to. Everything felt heightened: now she was pregnant, it wasn’t just her who could get wounded but their baby too. She was about to open herself up to him, and he might not like what she was about to say or react how she hoped he would.

‘I have something I need to tell you…’ Lucy confessed.

‘Okay,’ he said nervously, clearly unsure what she was going to say.

She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply before beginning. ‘Well … I’ve recently learned that I’m pregnant.’

‘You’re p-pregnant?’ he repeated.

She opened her eyes and studied his face. It was white with shock and his brow was furrowed. Everything hinged on his reaction to this news. Their whole future together depended on this moment. She bit her lip and nodded nervously.

He rushed to her, lifted her off her feet and swung her around. ‘Oh my God, Lucy! This is amazing! This is everything we ever wished for!’ Tears filled his eyes. ‘When did you find out? When I saw you last week, you never said anything…’

‘I only found out a few days ago, after you’d returned to Dublin. We were at the carol service in Cavendish Hall. One minute I was standing watching all the children sing and the next thing I had collapsed and was being brought to hospital in the back of an ambulance. The doctors checked me over and discovered that I was pregnant. It was a complete shock. I had no idea.’

‘Oh, Lucy, I’m so happy. I never wanted to leave you, but I just couldn’t seem to get through to you. I needed you to see the damage that trying to have a baby was doing to our marriage, but this changes everything. I love you, I love us, I love our baby,’ he cried.

Sweet relief filled her as the worry that had been weighing her down for the last few days was lifted. Her whole body instantly felt lighter.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Lucy sobbed. ‘I know I’ve been a nightmare for this last while, but I was so scared that it would never happen for us. I know I pushed you away, but I was just in such a dark place that I really thought I was doing you a favour. I couldn’t bear seeing you so disappointed month after month, when that was exactly how I was feeling too. I felt like such a failure.’

‘I can’t believe it.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘How long have we waited for this, and then it happens when we least expect it?’

She giggled, catching on his excitement. ‘Let’s go and see Mum and Faith. I need to have a word with Mum.’

‘Please don’t be mad with her,’ Kyle begged.

‘I promise I’m not.’ Lucy grinned.

They returned to the kitchen hand in hand. Faith and Madeleine looked up at them.

‘I’m going to kill you, Mum.’ Lucy wagged her finger at Madeleine before breaking into a grin as she made her way over to her mother and pulled her into a hug.

‘I’m sorry for lying to you, darling, but how else could I explain needing to go to Dublin?’ Madeleine said. ‘I knew you’d both see through me unless I had a very good reason for leaving. I’m sorry for upsetting everyone, but I just wanted you and Kyle to sort this out.’ She broke into a smile. ‘And it looks like it’s mission accomplished.’

‘Lucy just told me her news.’ Kyle was beaming and tears glistened in his eyes.

Faith flung her arms around him. ‘Congratulations!’ she sang.

‘I’m going to be a dad…’ he repeated in disbelief. ‘It feels like I’m five years old again and Santa has just been!’

Lucy embraced her husband, and they were soon joined by Madeleine and Faith. They all hugged through their tears. The past few weeks had been a rollercoaster for everyone but now they were united again, healing from their wounds and emerging stronger – together. Lucy thought about the miracle that was growing inside her. She prayed that her baby was growing and thriving and doing what it was supposed to do. She vowed she would always do whatever she could to protect her child.