A Merry Little Christmas

Chapter 43

Merry

As Cole had predicted, the roads around the Enchanted Spa were perfectly passable and soon they had left the Derbyshire countryside behind and were approaching Wetherley again. Merry had spent the journey alternating between gripping the handle of the passenger door to help her breathe through her pains and bringing him up to speed with the last twenty-four hours. First, her joyous reunion with Nell, which would have been news enough, but also the incredible letter that Hilary had found from her mother.

‘It’s made me feel more confident about becoming a mum,’ Merry explained, folding the letter from her mother back up into the envelope. ‘I’m not sure whether maternal instincts are genetic or not, but if they are, the fact that Mum really loved me is a good thing. Perhaps I’ll be a better mother than I thought I’d be.’

‘Oh, darling.’ Cole pulled over into a layby, put on the brake and leaned across the gearstick to cup her face in his warm hands. ‘This is fantastic news, although I already had full confidence that you’ll be a wonderful mother.’

‘These are happy tears, in case you were wondering,’ she said with a sniff. ‘Last year on our wedding day, Dad gave me a ring which should have belonged to her, and now I’ve got this letter in her handwriting. I feel, I feel …’ She broke off to breathe, because it was quite difficult to distil her emotions into a single sentence at the best of times and also because she could feel another Braxton Hicks contraction on its way.

‘There are so many things I want to say to you.’ His brown eyes shone with love. ‘I hardly know where to start. I’m happy that your mum wrote to you, and I’m extremely happy that her letter has finally found its way into your hands. But the rest of it, you doubting yourself, that has blown my mind. I can’t believe that’s how you felt.’

She gave him a sheepish look. ‘I should have told you a long time ago how worried I was, but you’ve always seemed so sure of yourself where parenting is concerned. I didn’t want you to think you’d made a bad choice when it came to life partners. You’ve been here before, you know what to expect, and, on top of that, your childhood was textbook perfect. I have felt terribly lacking on all fronts.’

He nodded. ‘Life was relatively trauma-free growing up, and I had two loving parents. You grew up without those guiding forces in your life and yet you’re still one of the most loving, kind and thoughtful people I know. Plus, you’re the toughest cookie I’ve ever met. Which is why I know you will be an incredible role model and mother for our child, and, in fact, you already are for your stepchildren.’

‘Thank—’ She was interrupted by her stomach tensing and puffed her cheeks out. One hand still holding the letter, the other one gripping the door handle, her feet braced against the floor of the truck. ‘That was a tough one.’

‘Bloody hell.’ Cole’s eyes widened. ‘Should we be heading to the hospital?’

‘No need,’ Merry said through gritted teeth. ‘I’ve been timing them, they’re just Braxton Hicks.’

‘O-K.’ He didn’t sound convinced, but checked the traffic was clear and rejoined the road.

Soon, she was clear of pain and able to focus again. She tuned into their location just as they zipped past the junction they usually headed off at to get to Holly Cottage. ‘Shouldn’t we have turned left there?’

‘Hmm.’ Cole stared ahead. ‘I just need to call in at the new house, I’m not sure the electricians will have locked up properly yesterday.’

‘All right.’ Merry bit her lip. She may have not been entirely truthful with him. That last one felt more intense; it could be that she was now in labour. She tried to remember what she’d learned in the antenatal class, but all she could think about was that she’d unpacked her hospital bag before the spa day and was worried that she wouldn’t have time to repack it. But no need to panic, it would be fine. Cole could check the door, get back in the truck and they’d be on their way again in minutes. The main thing was to stay calm.

‘It’ll be worth the detour, I promise.’

Her heart lifted as soon as Meadow View came into sight. ‘Oh, I do love this road, and our house is so pretty.’

Cole grinned. ‘I have to say it, darling. I’m glad you made me take so long to settle on the right property. You were right to be so fussy.’

‘I prefer to think of myself as having high standards … Oh—’ She stared at their new home, something was different about it. ‘Cole? What’s going on?’

There were Christmas lights at every window. And in the front room – a Christmas tree? And cars on the drive, cars she recognised.

He stopped the engine, jumped out and came around to her side to open her door. ‘Shall we go in and see?’

‘Me? But—’ she stuttered, highly confused as the front door flew open and Freya burst out, running down the drive to greet them, Harley sauntering behind her.

‘Finally!’ Freya yelled, waving her arms above her head. ‘We’ve been waiting for ages.’

‘This is a nice surprise!’ Merry called, swivelling herself around in preparation for climbing out of the van. ‘What are you doing here?’

The little girl looked as if she was about to burst with news. ‘We—

Harley sneaked up behind his sister and put a hand quickly over her mouth. ‘It’s a surprise.’

‘I see,’ said Merry, who didn’t at all.

While Cole helped her out of the truck, a crowd of familiar people appeared in the front-room window beside the Christmas tree. Will and Emily, Astrid and Fred, even Hester and Paul, who she’d thought were still in Australia, all with faces wreathed in smiles and waving enthusiastically.

‘Everyone’s here!’ she gasped. ‘I thought we were checking the house had been locked up?’

‘I might have told a small untruth there. Welcome home, darling,’ he murmured in her ear.

She looked at him bemused. Home? Did that mean … Had he …? She was awash with questions, but all that came out was, ‘Oh.’

‘It’s not often you’re stuck for words.’ He kissed her, laughing as he led her up the path to the front door.

The driveway had been cleared of snow, but Merry was very wary of slipping on an icy patch and clung on to him with both arms.

‘It’s completely bamboozled,’ she marvelled. ‘And when you say home …?’

Freya’s eyes were bright with excitement. ‘Please hurry up, I can’t bear it!’

‘This snow is so cool.’ Harley kicked his foot at a shrub weighed down under a covering of snow, sending a shower of icy flakes into the air. ‘So, technically speaking, we got our Christmas wish a day early.’

‘Except I asked for other stuff too,’ said Freya. ‘But this is still quite good.’

Cole helped Merry out of the snowy garden, up the front step and into the house. ‘I’d carry you over the threshold, but I’m not sure that would be good for either of us.’

‘Rude,’ she replied and then sighed as a cosy waft of warmth enveloped her.

Merry thought her heart might explode with joy as she gazed down to the end of the hallway as far as the kitchen. The last time she’d been here it had still felt like a building site.

Now, under her feet was the rug she’d had rolled up in the spare room for ages. Familiar pictures hung on the walls where previously there’d been exposed wires. This was home. It looked like home, and it felt like home, and somewhere there must be some of her own Merry and Bright Winter Wonderland candles burning, because it even smelled like home too.

‘Surprise!’ Emily yelled, appearing from the front room. ‘Come on through, everyone’s waiting for you.’

‘So you organised not only a spa day, but this too?’ Merry looked from her sister to Cole, overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

‘We wanted to get you moved in without you knowing,’ said Emily, rushing forward to hug her.

‘Thank you, thank you.’ Merry kissed her cheek; her biological half-sister’s cheek, she realised with a jolt. ‘You’re the best sister in the world.’

‘Or without you needing to lift a finger, darling.’ Cole edged her forward into the front room, their dining room.

‘And in time for Christmas,’ added Astrid, pouring tea out from a pot into several mugs. ‘Happy anniversary, Liebling , and a happy Christmas too.’

Her sister-and brother-in-law, Hester and Paul, sporting antipodean tans, beamed at her. Freya was already halfway through a chocolate pastry. Harley was setting Christmas music to play on Alexa via his smartphone, while Fred and Will both tended the fire, with tongs and a poker respectively.

‘Oh my goodness,’ Merry exclaimed, dabbing tears from her eyes. ‘You’re all amazing.’

This room had been a cold and empty shell last time she was here. Now logs burned cheerily in the open fireplace and a table laden with pastries and tea and coffee pots formed the centrepiece to the space.

‘G’day, girl,’ said Hester, affecting a terrible accent. ‘Betcha shocked to see us?’

‘I am.’ Merry ambled hazily towards them and kissed their cheeks. ‘I’m shocked about everything right now.’

‘Christmas in Oz just wasn’t Christmas,’ said Paul.

‘Yeah, and who’d want to be surfing on Bondi Beach, when they could be here loading and unloading boxes in knee-deep snow, eh?’ Cole slapped his brother-in-law on the back.

‘We wanted to be here, with family,’ said Hester softly. ‘We missed you all.’

‘Can we all have a sit-down now?’ Fred said, pretending to mop his brow. ‘It’s been non-stop since yesterday morning.’

‘I’ve done the Wi-Fi router and set up Alexa in all the rooms,’ said Harley.

‘I’ve made the bed myself in my room,’ Freya chimed in.

‘Thank you,’ Merry’s stomach tightened again, and she braced herself for another contraction. ‘Excuse me a second. I’m a bit overcome.’

She hurried to the door, trying to get out of sight before the pain took hold, but Cole had decided to follow her.

‘Happy?’ he said, catching hold of her hand. ‘I wanted to make our first anniversary extra special.’

‘Thank you, darling.’ Merry blinked at him, jaw clenched. ‘It was always going to be special, but to be in our house for Christmas … it’s more than I could have dreamed of.’

‘Ready for one more surprise?’ he asked, looking very pleased with himself.

‘Absolutely,’ she managed to squeak out.

‘Then follow me upstairs, darling.’ He waggled an eyebrow and held her hand up the stairs.

Once they were on the first floor, she expected him to open their bedroom door, but instead he led her along the landing and pushed open the door to the nursery.

‘Oh, Cole.’ Merry pressed a hand to her heart.

This was the room she had dreamed of for her baby. The last time she had seen the cot, it has still been in its flat-packed box. Now it was ready for their baby: with soft pastel sheets and blankets patterned with baby animals, and over it a mobile hung with rockets, planets and stars which sparkled when the light caught them. At the windows hung the roman blinds she had chosen, a bookcase displayed the set of Mr Men and Little Miss books she’d found at auction and there was a changing station, wardrobe and a set of drawers that she’d seen online but only mentioned in passing to Cole.

‘Happy?’ he murmured, standing behind her and encircling her in his arms.

‘Darling, I couldn’t be happier.’ She turned to kiss him. ‘This room is everything I imagined and more. I love you.’

‘I love you too. I promised I’d have you in our new home before the baby came,’ he grinned. ‘And for a while I didn’t think I’d make it.’

‘Home,’ she breathed. ‘We’re finally home. Did you hear that, baby? Mummy and Daddy are ready for you.’

He laughed. ‘Technically, we are, but I’d rather—’

‘Oof.’ She gave him a crooked smile as another contraction hit. They were getting worse. This one felt as if she was being strapped into a steel corset. She was going to need pain relief imminently. ‘Four minutes.’

Cole’s jaw dropped and he pulled back to look at her. ‘Not until the baby comes, surely?’

She giggled despite the pain. ‘No, between contractions. Cole, I think this baby is as keen to see its new room as I was.’

‘OK.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Maternity hospital. In the snow. Right now. Bloody hell.’

She leaned her head on his chest. Her hands gripping his arms. She puffed out her cheeks and blew rapidly. Once the worst of it was over, he helped her navigate the stairs.

Freya bounded up to them, brushing pastry crumbs from her lips. ‘My room is smaller than Harley’s, but when he leaves home, can I swap?’

‘Of course,’ Merry panted.

‘Cool. Harley?’ To Merry’s relief, she went off to tell her brother.

‘Let’s go.’ Cole poked his head into the front room on the way past. ‘Merry has gone into labour, we’ll see you later.’

His announcement was met with noisy replies, and they all scampered out to the truck to wave them off.

Emily squealed. ‘I’m about to be an auntie. On Christmas Eve.’ She dashed forward clumsily to hug Merry. ‘Dad would be so proud. I love you.’

‘Love you too,’ Merry grunted, ‘but can you get off my toe.’

‘Oops.’

‘Righto,’ Fred bellowed. ‘Everyone keep calm! Do you need any cash, son? For the car park. Or a cup of tea. Course you don’t. Best of luck with it, Merry.’

‘Every time you see me, you need to be hospitalised,’ Hester teased. ‘I’m going to get a complex.’

‘Good grief,’ spluttered Will. ‘I’ve heard of the expression new house, new baby, but this takes the biscuit.’

‘Or the mince pie, in this case,’ Fred chuckled.

‘Be a girl!’ Freya held up her crossed fingers and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. ‘A girl!’

‘Don’t be as annoying as this girl,’ Harley sniggered, copying his sister’s body language and crossing his fingers.

‘Breathwork,’ Paul said earnestly. ‘Stay in control of your body through the breath.’

Merry grimaced. ‘Thanks, Paul, but I’ll be taking all the drugs. Someone else can control this situation for a few hours.’

Astrid kissed both her cheeks. ‘I can’t wait to meet your baby, mein Schatz . And make sure you take lots of photos as soon as it’s born.’

‘Enough chatter,’ said Cole, helping her into the truck. ‘See you later, everyone.’

‘My hospital bag!’ Merry gasped, gripping his hand. ‘I’m not giving birth without it.’

‘Don’t worry. It’s already in the truck, behind the passenger seat,’ he said with a hint of pride.

‘Of course it is. And that is why I love you.’

‘I’m a planner, remember. I was going to take it everywhere with us until your induction date.’

She leaned back hard against the seat, bracing herself with her hands. ‘I’m not sure this baby of yours got the memo about waiting for induction day,’ she panted. ‘This one might have my more spontaneous attitude to life.’

As Cole started the engine and reversed off the drive, everyone in the house waved and shouted their goodbyes from the doorstep.

‘If it puts your mind at rest,’ said Cole, accelerating cautiously along the road, ‘I’ve watched a YouTube video of a birth happening in the car on the way to the hospital. It worked out well and the father even managed to cut the umbilical cord.’

‘Thank you.’ Merry shuddered and laughed despite the rising panic. She crossed her legs with great difficulty. ‘I think that image has effectively temporarily halted labour.’

He chuckled. ‘I love you, Mrs Robinson.’

‘I love you, Mr Robinson,’ she replied, ‘and I’ll love you even more if you can get me to hospital without needing to rewatch that YouTube video.’