Page 38 of A Doctor's Promise
She looked down at her toes and cradled her bump.
“Does the father know? Does he… does he want you back?” Finn’s eyes were wide.
Edie shook her head.
“He sent me an email earlier today, I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. That scares me too. If he wants me back, of course I’d say no, but how can I keep him away from our child? He may have betrayedme, but I can’t let that come between him and the relationship he has with this little thing. But let’s not talk about my ex-husband. I want to know how this leavesyouandme.”
Finn was silent. He was as far back on the sofa as he could be from Edie, but this couldn’t have been far enough as he stood up and walked back over to the window. Edie had already resigned herself to being shunned. A pregnant single woman wasn’t how she had hoped she would start a family, but she had hoped that Finn would be less judgemental, even if he didn’t want to be with her anymore.
“I just can’t believe it,” he said, still facing the window.
Edie cleared her throat and stood up too, she didn’t want to be at a disadvantage when he turned around and told her how he felt.
“It’s almost as though our fates were destined to cross even more.”
Wait. What?
Finn walked over to Edie with a purpose. He gathered her up in his arms and kissed her so hard her breath was whisked from her body. The room started spinning. Could this really be happening?
“Edie,” Finn said, his own voice breathless too. “This leaves you and me with everything we could have ever asked for. Don’t you see?”
Edie didn’t see. She was so shocked at Finn’s answer, that she needed him to say it outright or she’d never believe what he was actually saying.
“I don’t get it,” she said. “Are you saying this is a good thing for us? Are you actually saying that? I’ve been so afraid.”
Finn looked deep into her eyes; she felt her worries on the brink of falling away.
“I am sayingexactlythat,” he replied, taking her back into his arms. “This is amazing news. We can have each other. We can have a family, and I’m not stopping you from realising your dreams. Don’t you see? This is perfect. You are perfect, Edie.”
Is this real?
All of Edie’s worries from the last few weeks were melting way into the ether. They had successfully completed a surgery, the trial was to be continued, Mary was still alive and little Anna, asleep so soundly in Edie’s spare room, was not to be orphaned.
“And I get to be with you,” she said to Finn. “Thank you, Finn. You’ve shown me more about myself than I ever could imagine. You’ve made me feel whole. And I can give you the family you so deserve too. For once, both of us have a chance to be happy.”
“And happy we shall be.”
Epilogue
Twelve months later.
Edie slipped out of the door and into the cold morning air. The frost had settled overnight, hanging off the cobwebs like silk and turning the grass a crisp white. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and headed for the stables. Her wellington boots leaving footprints in the frostiness.
In the stables Edie found the sheep food and the chicken grain. She filled buckets and, with a bucket in each hand, went out to feed the animals. First thing in the morning was her favourite time of day. Before the house awoke properly and the mayhem began. Not that she minded the mayhem, of course not, but the peace of the pre-breakfast rush was a chance for Edie to reflect on what the day held.
Edie filled the sheep tray with the pellets and turned on the hose to fill their water trough. Archie ran at her heels, excited to be outside with his sheep friends. She ruffled his ears and went next to let the chickens out of their coop. As she unlocked their latch and listened to their gentle clucks, Edie heard the front door burst open and a loud squeal shout from the house. She laughed and stretched herself back up to standing so she could see over the field and to the back porch.
Finn stood there in his pyjama bottoms and a hoody, their daughter Elizabeth in his arms. Edie waved as the baby clapped her hands together.
“I’ll be right in,” Edie shouted, holding up the bucket so Finn could see what she was doing.
Not that she needed to, it was a morning ritual they had down to a tee. Edie would feed the animals and collect the eggs, while Finn rose to an awakening Elizabeth. He would change her and dress her and then they would all gather again in kitchen and Edie would feed Elizabeth while Finn cooked up the eggs fresh from the hens. It was picture perfect. Edie lifted the lid of the hutch and lifted the freshly laid eggs.
“Well done, girls,” she said, shutting it and stepping over the chicken wire and back into the garden.
She walked slowly past the sheep, gobbling their breakfast and head-butting Archie out of their way. Her breath misted around her face as she laughed.
“Sorry,” Finn said, kissing her on the lips as she reached the back door. “Elizabeth wanted to see what you were up to.”
