Page 32 of Wistful Whispers

“I love you and I love Chrissy so much.”

“We love you too. So much.”

He pulls me into a hug and we cry all the tears we have. And when we’re done, we’ll start our new life together, Jake, me and our baby girl.

Epilogue

Jake

Hannah’s going to beso upset with me but it’s Chrissy’s first birthday today and I’m allowed to splash out a little.

I fish my key from my jeans’ pocket whilst trying to carry two large bags in one hand and unlock the door to the cottage.

Chrissy had to stay in hospital for nearly six weeks until she’d put on enough weight and was doing well enough to leave. I triedto take annual leave but Sheila wouldn’t hear of it. She and HR explained all the entitlements I had to me. Neonatal care leave allowed me to be with the two most important women in my life for the first three months.

I took more parental leave over the summer and we had the time of our lives getting to know our little princess. Ols temporarily took over my boat trips and the Greenview Manor Hotel gave us all the support we needed.

Chrissy has my dark eyes and hair, although of course she doesn’t, but anyone that sees us together thinks she’s mine. And in my heart she is. This little girl has me wrapped around her tiny fist and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

Warmth and a wall of noise hits me when I enter the cottage. We invited Hannah’s family and Rob and Olivia over for Chrissy’s birthday party and I’m the last one to join.

I leave the bags out of sight in the hallway and head to the living room to kiss the birthday girl. She was still asleep when I left this morning for work.

“Where’s my princess?” I grin.

“Dada!” she squeaks and wiggles out of Ols’ arms, who had her sitting on his lap. Once he places her on the floor she crawls to me in a surprising speed, whilst babbling, “Dada!” over and over.

“Hello, birthday girl.” I lift her in my arms and place a kiss on her cheek. She snuggles against my chest like she does every day when I come back from work.

“She needs ten minutes of daddy-time whenever Jake gets home,” Hannah says and places a kiss on my lips. “You’re late,” she smirks at me because she knows exactly why I’m late. Although, she just doesn’t know yet how bad it is.

“Sorry, everyone, I had to pick something up,” I say, rubbing Chrissy’s back gently whilst she’s playing with the collar of my shirt.

“Jake,” Hannah sighs, “How mad am I going to be?”

“What have you done now?” Ols laughs. He’s witnessed a number of minor disagreements because of me getting Chrissy a little something and Hannah protesting that I’m spoiling her.

“It’s her birthday!” I protest.

“You didn’t!”

“Hanny-bee, she’ll love it.” I pull her to my side and place a kiss on her forehead.

“Of course she will, but Jake—” Hannah tries to protest but as always, she’s already losing the battle, even with herself. I get that she wants to make sure Chrissy doesn’t get spoiled but she also knows I only do it because I love them so much and that makes her swoon.

“I was really good since Christmas,” I argue.

“You managed a month, well done you,” Hannah laughs before heading back to the kitchen. Jake: one, best practice parenting: nil.

Once Chrissy has soaked up all the cuddles she needed she’s back on the floor crawling from one person to another. The whole room has her attention. She’s also fascinated with Rob and Olivia’s one month old little boy sleeping in a baby carrier.

“I think she’s having a great first birthday,” Ols says. He’s helping me put the elephant shaped slide together in Chrissy’s room. She had so much fun sliding down the one at the library where Rob works, so I just had to get her one.

“She loves all the attention,” I laugh.

“I can’t wait until my princess is here,” he grins. Keeley and Ols are expecting their own baby girl in a few months. Rosemarie is over the moon; having grandchildren has given her life new meaning. She’s still in therapy but she’s controlling her demons and she’s been a rock to me and Hannah.

It took us a while to get over the nightmares from that day but having to take care of Chrissy and the support from our family and friends has helped a lot. We try to live every minute to the full which has led to some amazing memories.

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