Page 115 of Love Thief

Finally reaching the loch, we sit and have a drink on the large boulders at the water’s edge. We decide not to paddle as the water is far too cold, and our feet are way too warm in snug boots.

Aileen’s given my companion a flask, and he pulls it out proudly so we can have hot chocolate.

“Oisin has won the first race,” he exclaims, looking at his phone. “He’s won chocolate as Daddy won’t let them bet money.”

“I should think not. What a waste of cash. I’d rather have the chocolate any day.”

“Colm’s annoyed. He’s asked me to check the form,” he says as a matter of fact.

“You’re seven,” I remind him.

“Yes, but I’ve been looking at the breeding with Josie from the stables. I told Oisin about the first race, so Colm wants me to check for him now.”

I shake my head. “They’re eleven,” I say.

He grins at me. “But they like chocolate,” he says simply.

I shake my head and laugh. “Come on, give me a pull up. We better start back, it takes us a while.” He pulls at me, and I don’t move, on purpose.

“Aunty Kitten, them babies weigh a tonne.” He pulls me again and we move off the boulders and start our meander back towards the Fairy House.

The pains start up again in earnest. I’d mentioned them to Aileen—the super cook, who is also a retired nurse—earlier. “It's Braxton Hicks, hinney. Your body is preparing you.”

“I can remember,” I told her. Amazing how soon your mind deletes any pain from childbirth. I’m sure it’s nature’s way to ensure we carry on as a species.

“Uhhhh.” I stop and rub my back. Eamonn, moves to the back of me and puts his little hands into my back.

“Is it just there?” he says, trying to rub me.

“Up a bit, Eamonn,” I direct him.

“It was here yesterday,” he says, “the same place.” He notices everything.

I go to take another step and I feel as if I’ve just had a wee. Oh, no. My waters have broken, the babies are coming. It’s too soon, it’s too soon… I am thirty-two weeks, but still.

I then feel another pain, different from the earlier ones. More intense. Deeper.

“Eamonn,” I pant out after it’s faded, “I think the babies are coming. Run to the house, fetch my bag from the wardrobe, you know where I showed you.” He’s nodding in earnest. “Get Uncle Kellen and Uncle Xander to come. I’ll try and walk to the house.” I nod to the Fairy House.

“It’s open. I opened it for Bill this morning,” he says. “Shall I not stay with you and you can phone them?” He’s so practical.

“No, I need my bag with the stuff for the babies. They won’t be thinking, but you do, so…”

He nods, assures me, “I’ll get them,” kisses me, and scampers off.

KELLEN

Eamonn sprints in at his usual breakneck speed, shouts something to us, and then heads up the stairs at one hundred mph.

“Eamonn,” I bellow up the stairs as I look toward the entrance, expecting to see Evie come smiling into the great hall. She’s nowhere in sight. He appears at the top of the stairs after a minute or two, dragging a bag that’s bigger than he is behind him.

“The babies are coming,” he says, pushing the bag in front of him down the stairs.

My brain does not compute. “What?”

“The babies, they’re coming. Water was leaking out of Aunty Kitten and then she couldn’t walk for a bit, but she’s gone to the Fairy House to have them.”

“Xander, Xander, quick, get some hot water and towels,” I shout, running into the study.

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