Second Chance Under the Mistletoe, page 15
‘I got here as fast as I could once the midwife told me what had happened,’ Leo said.
Natalie exchanged a glance with Jon. Leo wanted to marry Clem? How did they not know this?
‘That’s very good of you,’ Jon said.
Leo smiled. ‘I know we’ve not been seeing each other long, but I love Clem and I will be the father of her baby.’
Leo smiled and Natalie caught her breath at just how incredibly attractive he was. If Leo was speaking the truth, and he and Clem were in love and committed to one another and this baby going forward, Clem was one lucky woman.
‘Clem didn’t tell you too much about us because I think she still had doubts that I would want to take on another man’s child. But I assure you, I will treat her baby as if he or she were my own. You can trust me on that.’
‘That’s good to know,’ said Natalie, still struggling to believe what she was hearing.
‘Natalie, I really do love your daughter very much. I haven’t asked her to marry me yet, but I intend to propose as soon as I can and convince her I mean it. Nothing would make me happier than to have Clem as my wife. I will love her and cherish both her and our baby for the rest of our lives.’
‘That’s wonderful news, Leo,’ Natalie said. She wasn’t sure about hugging him, so settled for a hand on his arm. ‘Congratulations. As you know, Clem is an exceptional person in every way. Not that I am biased as her mother.’
Leo smiled. ‘I know just how exceptional Clem is—but I admit to being biased as I both love and admire her.’
A perfect answer, Natalie thought, pleased.
‘That will make me your father-in-law,’ said Jon, shaking Leo’s hand again.
Was there an undertone from Jon of and you’d better look after my little girl or you’ll have me to answer to? Natalie couldn’t be sure, but she secretly smiled.
Just then Clem’s midwife called them all over to the desk. ‘Clementine’s surgery has gone well. Her baby will be taken straight to our neonatal ICU.’ She paused and the pause seemed ominous. Natalie’s heart sank to the tip of her boots. ‘Clementine is unconscious. We’ll let you know when she comes to.’
‘Unconscious? What does that mean?’ Natalie’s knees gave way under her. She was grateful for Jon’s immediate support.
‘It’s because of the eclampsia,’ the midwife said. ‘Rest assured she is being monitored, all her signs are good, and we expect a full recovery.’ She turned to Leo. ‘I will take you to see the baby now.’
Natalie stepped forward. The midwife put up her hand. ‘Clementine’s partner only at this stage,’ she said. ‘As he’s listed as the next of kin.’
Leo shot her a sympathetic glance. ‘I’ll be back with a full report when I can,’ he said as he followed the midwife out of sight.
‘You okay?’ said Jon, supporting her by the elbow.
‘I think so,’ she said. ‘But I need to sit down.’ Jon led her back to her seat.
‘Take a moment to recover from the shock,’ he said.
‘Which one? The fact Clem is unconscious after giving birth to a premature baby or the fact that she’s apparently going to marry Leo? It’s almost too much to take in.’
‘Leo seems like a good guy,’ Jon said. ‘I liked him. Let me look him up.’
Jon whipped out his phone and scanned his screen, nodding as he read. ‘Yep, he’s ideal. Brilliant academic record. Meteoric rise in the bank. From an extremely wealthy family. Single. Never been married or divorced. A good catch for our Clem.’
Our Clem. Natalie liked the way Jon said that. ‘Did you just call that gorgeous, sophisticated young man a “good catch” for our daughter?’
‘He’s getting an equally good catch,’ Jon said with a grin. ‘Or shall I just say, they seem well matched?’
‘Clem has never had anything but praise for him as her boss.’ Natalie took a deep breath. ‘But she hardly talked about him on a personal level, so, despite him moving in with her recently, I had no idea how serious they really were about each other.’
‘It’s what he said. It must have been tricky for both of them to fall in love while she’s pregnant with another man’s baby. The fact Tyler died probably only made it trickier. I should imagine they’ve had their ups and downs, but he seemed genuinely in love to me.’
‘Clem is my daughter. I should have guessed how she was feeling.’
‘How could you have? And how disappointed you would have been if it hadn’t worked out for them. If Leo had decided to walk away in the end, because he didn’t want to bring up another man’s child. I mean, Hugo did it, full credit to him. The brutal truth is not every man would,’ Jon said. ‘Clem did the right thing not telling us too much. And besides, it’s actually none of our business.’
‘You’re right. But he’ll be family. Our family. So, it is kind of our business.’
‘He seemed respectful. And I liked the way he made it so clear how much he loves Clem and that his intentions are honourable.’
Natalie smiled. ‘That’s an old-fashioned turn of phrase.’
‘You know what I mean,’ Jon said with an answering smile.
‘I also like that he’s not afraid to declare his love for and commitment to Clem,’ Natalie said.
‘Not only will we be grandparents but we’ll also be parents-in-law.’
Natalie took his hand. ‘Family. Our family,’ she said. ‘But not knowing she and Leo were in love… It…it stings somewhat. Clem excluding me from something so important, I mean.’
‘Like we’re excluding her from our story?’
‘I guess. Though it’s not really the same, is it?’
‘I think what’s stinging most is that you’re no longer needed like you thought you were going to be.’
She sighed. ‘You could be right.’
‘Leo gets to see the baby first. Not you. No doubt it will be Leo sitting by Clem’s bedside. Not you. She will have a husband soon, by the sound of it, and their first priority will be to each other and their child.’
‘As it should be.’
‘You don’t sound completely convinced.’
She sighed again. ‘I… I think I’m just feeling surplus to requirements.’
Jon let a beat go by before he answered. ‘Of course you’re not. Clem has Leo now and a life with him to look forward to. That doesn’t mean she won’t still need her mum. Especially for help with the baby.’
‘You’re right. It’s just a lot to be hit with at the same time. She’ll be a mother, a bride, a wife. Leo will be part of the family. Usually those kinds of life stages happen one after the other, in order. Not all at once.’
‘I think it’s great, after all she’s been through. Leo seems a strong kind of guy and protective. That’s what a father wants for his daughter. He can give her a good life.’
‘I know you’re right. I… I just wasn’t prepared for this quite yet.’
‘It is unexpected. Especially when you’ve been so geared up to looking after her. But part of loving Clem is to let her spread her wings and fly—even if that’s away from you.’
‘I know you’re right. It’s just…’
‘And a tip from a former despised son-in-law? Make a friend of Leo. Don’t exclude him. Everyone’s life will be happier.’
She nodded. ‘I absolutely know you’re right. I suspect there’s a reason Clem has kept me on the periphery of her life with Leo—because she doesn’t want me going all overprotective on her.’
‘It works both ways, you know. For you, I mean. Your wings have been clipped for a long time. Fitting Hugo’s idea of a wife must have been an effort—well, that’s my reading of it, correct me if I’m wrong. You’ve put Clem first at all times. Tried to placate your parents. Kissed goodbye to a career. It’s your turn to spread your wings and soar now. Soar as high and far as you want to.’
‘Straight into your arms?’
‘If that’s the direction you choose to fly.’
‘Flap my newly freed wings and fly towards Perth?’
He laughed. ‘It’s a very long way. But migrating birds do it.’
‘Then maybe I can too.’ She smiled.
‘Leo’s role in Clem’s life has changed the dynamic. You can plan a life of your own now. Think carefully about what you want.’
What did she want? For the first time in her life Natalie actually had a choice about what she wanted from life. Right back from when she’d fallen pregnant with Clem, other people had made choices for her—her parents, Hugo, Jon. And then she’d chosen to put Clem first.
The other night she’d told Clem she didn’t want to get tied down to a man again—but now there was Jon. She was loving being with him, never more so than this time here at the hospital with trauma swirling around them and he proving to be her rock. It was all very well to have the freedom to make her own choices, but what if the life she wanted would be all the sweeter for having the man she had always loved by her side? Could they make it work a second time, this time bonded not only by their feelings for each other but also by their connection to Clem and her new little family? Reigniting their relationship was taking a risk, Jon had said. Was she ready to risk her heart again?
‘You have time to really think about what you want, Natalie,’ Jon said. ‘Especially about what you want from me.’
‘I know I want—’
At that moment a midwife came into the waiting room. ‘All seems well with the baby. Clementine is still unconscious and her partner is in the NICU with the baby.’
Natalie’s first impulse was to ask if she could go and sit by Clem’s bedside. But she didn’t. That was now Leo’s place. Besides, she didn’t want to suffer the humiliation of being told that by the midwife.
‘You can all see the baby in the NICU now if you’d like,’ the midwife said.
‘Yes, please,’ said Natalie with a flutter of excitement.
‘Each set of grandparents, one at a time,’ the midwife added.
Natalie held her breath in awe at her first sight of Clem’s baby. The tiny person, born five and a half weeks early, was lying in an incubator attached to what seemed to be a mass of wires and tubes. Natalie’s eyes misted over at the sight. Was that a faint fuzz of ginger hair she saw—or was she imagining it?
‘Is my grandbaby okay?’ she asked the midwife.
‘For how long will the incubator be needed?’ Jon asked.
‘Baby is a good weight, strong and doing well. As soon as baby can breathe unassisted, the tubes will be taken out.’
Natalie wasn’t allowed to touch the baby or get too close, but she knew Jon was visually counting fingers and toes as she was. She had to take the midwife’s word that all was well.
‘And my daughter?’
‘We don’t know for how long she’ll be unconscious. Do you live far?’
‘Quite close by,’ said Jon.
‘Then I suggest you go home. I’ll call you when Clementine wakes up.’
‘No,’ Natalie said.
‘No,’ Jon said at the same time.
‘We’ll be in the waiting room,’ Natalie said. We won’t be going home until we see our daughter.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It was a very long wait for both Natalie and Jon, as well as Tyler’s parents Fiona and Gary, who joined them in the waiting room not long after they’d seen the baby. Natalie was glad they’d been allowed to see the baby too, and it was a highly emotional time for them, although they’d relaxed now that the baby was fine and wanted to chat. Natalie didn’t attempt to discuss Leo’s presence with them, but it wasn’t hard to see that Leo was important to Clem. That would be Clem’s job for later. She was happy to introduce Jon as Clem’s birth father and mention that they were friends and on good terms.
Finally, eight hours after she’d given birth, Clem woke up. The midwife told the waiting grandparents that Leo and the baby had been by her side when she’d opened her eyes. The hospital had run more tests on her and she’d been given the all-clear.
When Natalie finally saw her daughter in her private room, she was shocked at how pale Clem looked, lying back on the hospital bed. But also how happy and contented. Clem’s baby lay sleeping angelically in a high clear plastic bassinet on wheels by the side of the bed.
‘Oh, sweet pea, what an adventure,’ Natalie said, taking her daughter’s hand. ‘I don’t dare hug you as I know you’ve got stitches.’
‘Feeling very tender,’ Clem said. ‘But I’m so ecstatic about the baby I’m not feeling much pain. Though that might be the painkillers they’ve given me. Leo tells me you guys were waiting out there all day. Thank you.’
‘Is there something you want to tell us about Leo?’ Natalie asked with a not-so-subtle raising of her eyebrows.
‘You’ll hear all about that later, Mum.’ Clem looked up at her father. ‘But I think you and Dad have some explaining to do.’
‘Who? Us?’ said Jon, but his mock innocence wasn’t convincing. Especially as he was holding Natalie’s hand.
‘You’ll hear all about me and Jon later,’ said Natalie. She was careful not to commit to anything. Especially as she and Jon hadn’t actually committed to anything. There was still a chance this thing with Jon could be only a fling.
Clem smiled. ‘I think I can see what’s happening, but I’ll let you play parent-style games if it amuses you.’
‘Sweet pea, the midwife told me you and the baby won’t be discharged until Christmas Eve, six days away. What do you want me to do at the town house for your Christmas Day dinner? You know I’ve got a key.’
‘I’ve ordered most of the food for delivery or pick up. I’ll give you a list when I’m feeling more like myself. As you know, I put up the tree and the decorations at the very end of October.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll get it sorted and buy in any extra food we might need, fresh fruit and veg and so on. Jon lives quite close to Borough Market, so we can shop there.’
Clem’s knowing smile made Natalie realise she had given her—and Jon—away to her perceptive daughter. ‘How convenient for you, Mum. You’re staying at Dad’s apartment, are you? I wasn’t sure if you’d decided—’
‘It actually is more convenient for visiting you here, sweet pea.’
‘Sure it is,’ said Clem, knowingly.
‘Our five minutes’ allocated visiting time is up,’ Natalie said. ‘The nurse will be bustling in here in a minute to kick us out.’
‘Thanks, Mum, for everything. And you too, Dad.’
‘It’s what parents do,’ said Natalie. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow, sweet pea, in visiting hours. Call if you need me to bring anything for you.’
* * *
Jon followed Natalie out of Clem’s room. How easily he and Natalie had slipped into the role of husband and wife, concerned parents, worried grandparents. He liked it. He wanted it to be for real. But he and Natalie had to be sure it was what she wanted—and how they could achieve it.
When, on the way down to the hospital lobby, they reached a relatively quiet stretch of corridor, he turned to Natalie and stopped her with a hand on her arm. ‘Where to? My apartment? Or do you want me to drive you home to Guildford?’
‘Do you want me to come to yours?’
‘Of course I do. We did plan for you to stay until Christmas Day. We can go down and get Freddie tomorrow, if that suits.’
‘I want to stay with you.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I haven’t changed my mind about wanting to be with you. Long-term, I mean.’
‘I haven’t changed my mind about wanting you with me, long-term.’
‘As you said, Clem marrying Leo does change the dynamic. She won’t need me as much. Oh, maybe for the first few months with the baby, but I suspect Leo will want to be a hands-on dad. Then, as you said, I can claim my own life back. The life I want is to be with you. My wings are limbering up for a flight straight to you, wherever you are in the world.’
Jon cupped his hand under her chin so she looked up at him. She had never looked more beautiful, even with smeared make-up and weary shadows under her eyes. ‘In that interminable wait in that uncomfortable waiting room, I thought a lot about what you’d said—and that was before Leo told us he wanted to marry Clem. Of course a FIFO arrangement wasn’t going to work for us, certainly not for that long-term. We would both hate it. I was asking you to do all the compromising. I’ve been too rigid, too obsessive in my no-end-in-sight quest for more and more wealth. But I’d be bored if I retired.’
‘So what do you intend to do?’
‘Wind back on some of the travel to out-of-the-way mine sites. Streamline my business so I can work remotely much of the time. I left England for us. Now I’m prepared to come back to England for us. Have more time for you, basically. You are more important to me than anything else.’
‘Really?’ Her voice hitched on the word.
‘You and Clem. All the drama of today—we could have lost both Clem and her baby—made me focus on what’s really important. The people we love. And I love you, Natalie. I’ve always loved you. I’ve never loved anyone else.’
Her eyes gleamed. ‘I love you too, Jon. I loved you from the moment I saw you playing guitar way back in Durham. We went through tough times. I thought I hated you there for a while but only because you’d hurt me so much. I felt guilty because I couldn’t love Hugo—I realise now that was because there was no room in my heart because you were already there.’
He kissed her, short but very sweet—after all, they were in the corridor of a busy hospital.
Natalie took a deep breath. ‘I think if Hugo were still alive now, and I met you again like this, I would have left him to be with you.’
‘I wouldn’t have asked that of you.’ Although he stole you from me and it would only have been fair.
‘I know,’ she said. ‘But the reality is we’re both free to love each other again without answering to anyone.’
‘Or hurting anyone,’ he added.
‘We can live our lives the way we choose to. And that looks like it might be living between two countries and some other travel in between.’
