“Thank goodness,” Mum said as she, Dad and Fin appeared from the lounge. “We’ve been worried sick.”
“Sorry, it’s my fault,” I said, understanding the concern. “We were talking and lost track of time.”
“Everything okay?” Fin asked.
I nodded. “Everything’s fine.”
“You must be freezing, the pair of you,” Mum carried on. “Get in here and warm yourselves up.” She gestured towards the lounge.
Vee put her hand out to stop me from moving. “Have you made your choice?” she asked.
I nodded. “I think so.”
“Good. Now if you could all go back into the living room and retake your seats,” Vee said, superseding Mum. “Because Holly has something important to say, don’t you?”
Fin’s eyes searched mine and standing there he looked as anxious as I felt. My sister had made it abundantly clear that with her help, I’d managed to work through everything that had been running around my head and Fin knew as well as I did that what I was about to announce impacted everyone present.
Looking at everybody’s anticipation, I refused to let my nerves get the better of me and instead, I steeled myself ready to tell Mum and Dad what they least wanted to hear – that Fin and I werenotabout to get married. Even more important though, was that I was about to tell the man I’d fallen deeply and madly in love with the decision I’d reached about whether I was going to America with him or not.
“What’s going on?” Mum asked. “Because there’ll be noEastendersChristmas special in this house.”
Mitch’s priority stayed with his wife and unborn child. “You do know walking can induce labour, don’t you?” he said to Vee.
“Can it?” Mum asked. Her soap opera fears suddenly forgotten, she looked to Dad not even trying to hide her excitement.
“Relax, Mother, it’s an old wives’ tale,” Vee said. “Mitch is making a fuss over nothing. Walking is exercise, what harm can that–” My sister fell silent, a look of horror sweeping across her face. She dropped her head to look at the ground. “Mitch,” she said, suddenly sounding like a scared little girl.
We all followed her gaze to see a pool of water at her feet.
Mitch immediately stepped forward to take command. “Battle stations, everyone. Looks like we’re about to have a baby.” He took his wife’s hand and like a parting of the waves, the rest of us stood aside to let Mitch and Vee through. “Are you in any pain?” he asked her.
Vee shook her head. “Why? Am I supposed to be?” She sounded even more worried.
“Not necessarily,” Mitch replied. “I think we’re experiencing what’s known as PROM. Or in layman’s terms, a pre-labour rupture of the membrane. This happens in around five per cent of pregnancies so I don’t want you worrying. You hear me?”
My sister nodded, for once, hanging on her husband’s every word.
As was I. Concerned for Vee and the baby, as I listened to him, I, too, appreciated the reassurance.
“I’m just going to sit you on the sofa, Vee,” Mitch carried on, leaving me, Fin, Mum and Dad where we were in the hall. “While I ring the hospital to let them know we’re on our way.”
“Joseph,” Mum said. Her voice quivered as if she was struggling to contain her emotions. “This is it. Our very first grandchild.”
Dad smiled, tears gathering in his eyes. “My baby’s having a baby,” he said, wiping them away. “I think this calls for a drink.” He took a deep breath. “Fin, care to join me?”
Fin looked my way as if needing my approval and finding such a response both respectful and sweet, I smiled and nodded, encouraging him to go for it.
“You go too,” Mum said, at the same time looking down at Vee’s puddle. “I’ll get the mop.”
While she headed off for her cleaning apparatus, I did as I was told and followed Dad and Fin into the lounge. Mitch conversed on his phone with the hospital’s maternity staff while Dad headed straight for the whisky bottle.
“Don’t mind me,” Vee said, watching Dad pour himself and Fin a drink. “I’m only in bloody labour.” She turned to me. “I see he’s not offering you one either.”
“Right,” Mitch said, stuffing his mobile into his pocket. “Time for us to go.”
“We’ll give you head start,” I said, my excitement building. “Then follow on. That’s if you don’t mind us being there?”
“It might mean you’re at the hospital for a while,” Mitch said. “Possibly all night.”
