A Jersey Kiss (Jersey Romance Series) (29 page)

TWENTY-FOUR

Eighth of May - Moonbeam

Bea knocked at the door. She’d checked her watch and, aware that Simon was a stickler for routine and would probably be at the seventh hole of the La Rue Golf Club by now.

“I’m coming. Hang on a sec.” The door opened and Claire stared, open-mouthed, at Bea.

Bea couldn’t believe how untidy this usually impeccable woman looked.
“I’m sorry to bother you without phoning first, but I thought you might not agree to see me,” she said, staring at Claire’s unbrushed hair and smudged make up.

“
And you would have been right,” Claire snapped, tightening her dressing gown around her stomach. “What do you want?”

“
I’m sure you’re sick of Simon ranting about our finances and me?” she asked, knowing how Simon went on about matters he couldn’t control.

“
You’re not kidding.” She looked Bea up and down. “I know you weren’t expecting him to leave you and I’m sure you’re probably resentful of me for having the baby you lost.”

Bea winced.
“Not quite, but carry on.”

“
Well, Simon seems to think, and I have to say I believe him, that you’re only dragging this on because you can’t bear to let him go completely.”

Bea did her best not to show her irritation. Did this woman seriously believe such nonsense? She stared at her and realised that she did.
“Claire, the only person who’s causing unnecessary anguish for us all is Simon. I inherited that house; I love it and don’t want to part with it.”

“
Yes, but he’s entitled to half. He told me.”

“
I was left that house by my god-mother, I shouldn’t have to pay him any part of it,” she said, not quite sure even she believed what she was saying. “It’s not as if he even needs the money, is it?”

Claire frowned and shook her head.
“No, I don’t suppose so.” She stepped back and motioned for Bea to enter the apartment. “Why don’t we sit down? I’ve got a feeling this is going to be interesting.”

Bea walked in and sat down on one of the sumptuous cappuccino suede sofas.
“It’s beautiful in here,” she said, aware how this place and her house were at opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to interior design.

“
Thank you.” Claire sat opposite her. “You were saying.”

“
Yes, well, Simon doesn’t need the money and if you want our finances to be settled once and for all so that he can be granted his
decree absolute
and be free to marry you, then all he has to do is sign a Martin Order.”

“
A what?” Bea explained that it would mean that Simon would transfer the property outright to her. “And you think he’ll agree to that, do you?”

Bea shrugged.
“It’s down to you to persuade him.”

“
Me?”

“
Think about it. I want to move on, whether Simon believes that or not. If we sort out the problem with the house, then the divorce can be finalised. You can marry Simon and your baby will be born into the sort of family unit I know he’d rather be part of.”

“
I suppose so,” Claire said thoughtfully, chewing a broken fingernail.

“
If you can’t get him to agree to this, then you’ll need to ask yourself how much influence you do have over him, despite carrying his baby. Also, I’d think you must worry that he left me and moved on to you without any conscience at all. What’s stopping him from doing the same to you?” she said, aware she was being a little spiteful, but not caring for once. “Don’t you want to prove to yourself how important you are to him?”

Claire chewed her lower lip.
“Much as I want to argue with you, I admit you’re voicing some of my concerns.” She looked at Bea, her puffy eyes showing some uncharacteristic softness. “I feel bad about having an affair with Simon behind your back.”

Bea shrugged.
“Yes, well that’s all in the past now,” Bea said, relieved that she’d at least made Claire think further than her latest wallpaper for once. “We need to think ahead and I’m sure you want me out of your life as much as I want to be away from it.”

Claire nodded.
“Absolutely.”

“
So you’ll talk to him?” Bea could barely contain her excitement.

“
I will.” Claire stood up. “He’s not going to like it though, you do know that?”

“
I do, but I think it’s time Simon was forced to put someone else’s emotions before his own, and if you’re going to have his baby then you need to know that your feelings matter.”

Bea left the apartment. She couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Simon’s reaction to the suggestion of a Martin Order.
“Let him try and talk himself out of this,” she said as she unlocked her car door, grateful to Mel for coming up with the suggestion.

****

The night before the wedding Bea tried on her cerise bridesmaid dress and matching bolero jacket with its three-quarter length sleeves. She hadn’t been sure about the style when Mel had first told her about it, but they’d shortened the skirt a little and now it felt a bit more like something she’d choose to wear. She picked up one of the satin shoes that had been dyed to match. Mel had also insisted her dressmaker make a handbag in the same shade. The only thing Bea hadn’t agreed to was having her shoulder-length hair cut into a neat bob. It would never be sleek like Mel’s; she had far too many curls. “Anyway, I like it wild and lose,” she murmured stubbornly, accepting a fascinator being clipped into her hair was going to be as far as she’d go.

Bea had let Mel book her in for a manicure after her sister had shrieked in horror at the state of her nails. She wasn’t sure how she’d be able to type at work with the acrylic tips attached to her own shorter nails, but they did look pretty smart. Bea was surprised to realise she was looking forward to dressing up the following day.

She stepped into her bubble-filled bath to enjoy an hour’s reading before trying to get a decent night’s sleep and had only managed to read a few pages when her mobile rang. At first she ignored it, grateful when it stopped, but then it rang again and she knew that the caller was someone who was determined to speak to her. “Bugger,” she grumbled, stepping tentatively out of the bath and dragging a towel around her. “Shan, why are you calling me on my mobile? I thought you were staying in tonight.”

“
I am.” Her voice was strained. “I’m in my bedroom.” There was a brief pause and some panting. “I’m in labour.”

“
Don’t panic,” Bea said, throwing her phone down on her bed. Dragging on her dressing gown, she ran down the landing to Shani’s room. “Shani, are you all right?”

Shani was bent over, leaning with one hand on the bed and the other on her back.
“I need to get to the hospital. Soon.”

“
But the doctor said you’d have hours before you’ll need to go to the hospital.”

“
I’ve been having contractions for hours. You don’t think I’d have called you at the first twinge, do you?”

“
Why the hell not?” Bea snapped, immediately feeling mean for panicking. “Sorry, I’ll calm down in a minute.” Bea’s heart hammered rapidly in her chest as she tried to remember what they should do next. “Quick, let’s get you down to the car.”

“
If you’re driving me to the hospital, I think you had better get dressed, don’t you?” Shani groaned and held onto her back. “Shit this hurts!” She panted a couple of times until the contraction passed. “I think I’ve got a bit of time still.”

Bea panicked.
“What do you need me to do?” Her brain had gone into melt down and for some reason wouldn’t cooperate with her.

“
Take a deep breath. That’s it. Now another one.” Shani rubbed her back and smiled at Bea. “This is scary but I can’t help feeling excited now that it’s time.”

“
Me too,” Bea said, concentrating on trying to look calmer than she felt.

“
I’ll get myself down the stairs and you dress and give Paul a quick ring; he should be here in no time.”

Bea left Shani panting and phoned Paul.
“Oh my God,” he shrieked. “Give me ten minutes max.”

She ran to her room and grabbed the first thing she could find, noticing as she ran into Shani’s bedroom that she was wearing her grass-stained jeans and tatty off-white sweatshirt she’d been wearing earlier
“Right, I’ll take this,” she said, picking up Shani’s over-night case and ran down the stairs to the car.

“
Let me help you with that,” she said taking the seat belt from Shani in her trembling hands and carefully fastening it around her huge stomach. “Now where’s Paul?” She paced back and forth on the gravel waiting for him to arrive. “We should have arranged to meet him at the bloody hospital.”

“
Calm down, I can hear him now,” Shani shouted, wincing in pain.

“
Why don’t we just take his taxi?” Shani suggested waving Paul over as he paid the taxi driver.

“
No reason to, I’ll drive,” Paul said.

“
No, you won’t.” Bea snatched the keys back from him. “I’m fine, I’ll get us there.”

“
Bea, please will you do me a favour and give Paul the car keys.”

“
What for?” asked Bea, hysteria rising in her voice with each word.

Shani patted her lightly on the hand.
“Because I want to get there in one piece and you’re making me nervous. Why don’t you have a stiff drink and go back to bed and try and get some sleep before the wedding tomorrow?”

Paul took the keys from Bea’s hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Stop stressing. We’ll be fine and I promise I’ll call you as soon as baby puts in an appearance.”

“
But I want to be with you.” Bea pushed her head into the window and pleaded.

“
I know you do, and I love you for it. But to be perfectly honest, Bea, for once in his life, Paul appears to be strangely calm and I need that right now.” She winced and sucked in her breath. “I think we ought to be going. Paul will call you as soon as anything happens.”

Paul turned on the ignition and the car flew backwards, only stopping when it collided with Bea’s low granite wall. There was a sickening crunch, and he immediately stopped,
and took a few breaths.

Bea didn’t bother checking her car, but wasn’t so sure he was as calm as he was making out.

Shani puffed. “Take it easy. I only asked for you because I thought you’d be a safer bet than her.” She waved Bea away.

“
What?” Paul screeched, becoming more panic-stricken.

“
Why am I the calmest one here? Everything’s fine; this is all perfectly normal. Now get a grip and let’s go. We’ll get there in plenty of time. It’s not too far, thankfully. I wish I’d kept your taxi and gone in that and left you two here to be hysterical together.”

“
That’s enough,” Bea shouted, opening the driver’s door. “Get in the back Paul, I’m driving.” She grabbed hold of his jacket and pulled him out of the car.

A couple of minutes later Shani frightened them both by bending forward, one hand on the dashboard and the other on the mound of her stomach and started to puff and pant again.
“Phew, that was a bad one.” She winced, her face flushed with the exertion. “At least it’s the middle of the night and we don’t have to worry about the traffic.”

With almost pathetic relief Paul pointed to the lights ahead.
“Hospital, there’s the hospital.”

“
Thank Heavens for that,” Bea whispered.

“
You’ve both done very well. Now, stop here and let me out of the car.” Shani pushed herself up out of the seat. “I’ll make my way in and start the registration procedure and you park the car and follow with my case.”

Bea nodded and watched her amble off for a second or two, marvelling at her bravery before wheel-spinning towards the car park. She and Paul found the back door Shani had indicated and rang the bell.
“This is terrifying,” Bea said, wondering how she thought she could give birth at any point in her life.

Eventually a tired-looking midwife unlocked the door.
“How do you know we’re really here with one of the women in labour?” Paul asked.

Bea glared at him.
“The security is not your problem, Paul, shut up.”

“
Because there’s a certain look that partners of expectant women have,” said the woman. “And both of you have it right now. So, do you want to come in, or not?”

They followed her up to the labour ward and waited in the hallway for fifteen minutes.
“What checks do they have to do anyway?” Bea wondered.

“
I would have thought getting her bulk onto a bed would be top of their list.” Paul paced along the tiled corridor. “Why is it so quiet in there?”

Bea shrugged.
“I suppose they’re getting her changed and checking the baby is actually on its way.” She hoped it wouldn’t be too long until they could rejoin Shani; Bea couldn’t bear to think of her being frightened.