Page 52 of The Baby Plan

“No! The adoption papers weren’t for me. With the paternity test result, I can prove Alana is mine, I don’t need to adopt her,” Samson explained. “They were for you. I thought... well, I thought that no matter what... with how things had got between us... well, that way you’d always be her mother.”

“Really?” Sophie asked, her turn to well up again.

“Really. I want us to bring up Alana together, for us to be a family. It’s all I want,” said Samson honestly.

“It’s all I want too,” said Sophie, hardly daring to believe what was happening.

“I love you,” Samson said softly.

“I love you too,” whispered Sophie and Samson put his arm around her.

They kissed again but were soon interrupted as Alana let out a discontented squawk at being squished between them, and Mutt graced them both with a congratulatory lick, desperate not to be left out of anything.

“I think we’d better get this little one home to bed,” said Samson, stroking his daughter’s head.

“Absolutely,” agreed Sophie.

Samson stood and, taking her hand, pulled her up. “We can never bring back Alana’s mother for her, however much we wish we could. But she’s got two loving parents who’ll do anything in their power to make her happy.”

Mutt gave a little bark.

“And she’s got a loyal hound to protect her.” Sophie gave the dog an affectionate scratch behind the ear.

They stood for a moment gazing out at the sunset before heading back up the beach together, ready to put the past behind them and focus on making the best future for themselves and Alana.

Epilogue

It was freezing at the beach, but the rain was doing its best to hold off so at least they were dry, Sophie mused as she watched Samson and Alana by the water’s edge. Alana was sitting on her father’s shoulders laughing at Mutt running into the sea and being chased back to shore by a wave.

There was still so much to do before Alana’s birthday party that Sophie had been reluctant to agree to Samson’s idea to go for a walk in the cold, but she was glad they had. Mutt needed a run anyway and the fresh air was very welcome.

The idea of hosting their first children’s party was frankly terrifying, even if Sophie had, of course, had it perfectly planned and organised for over a month, much to Samson’s amusement.

Samson walked up the beach and waited for Sophie to join him and Alana, who was busy sticking a finger in his left ear.

“This exact spot is where I first told you I loved you,” said Samson when Sophie reached him.

“It is indeed,” Sophie replied with a grin. Alana was losing a shoe, so Sophie reached up and sorted it out for her. “It’s also where I first told you I loved you,” she added.

They held hands and looked out at the water. The wind was beginning to pick up and the sea was getting rougher. A couple of hardy all weather swimmers were aborting their mission a few metres away.

“I can’t believe she’s one already,” said Sophie.

“I know,” Samson agreed.

“Do you think Natasha would approve of how she’s spending her birthday?”

“I can’t imagine Natasha organising a party at the local community centre but I think she’d approve,” said Samson, pulling Sophie in for a hug. “Alana’s having a great day and Natasha would be happy about that.”

“We’d better head home soon,” said Sophie, “I need to pick up the cake and finish filling the party bags...”

“I can pick up the cake,” reassured Samson. “And Alana can come with me so that you can get everything sorted in peace.”

“Thank you,” said Sophie, gratefully.

“Before we leave though, I had something I wanted to ask you... Alana, can you give Mummy this?”

He produced a little black box from Alana’s coat pocket and handed it to the baby, who giggled at it, fascinated. Samson bent down so she could hand it to Sophie.

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