Baby It's Cold Outside (23 page)

‘Great,' Tansy beamed. ‘So the helicopter will be waiting for them – I've got all the details, so Esme you can give it all to your dad and he can be in charge.'

‘He'll love that,' I said. ‘I'm sure he used to have friends at Port Cormack actually, so he'll probably end up going on a guided tour. I'd better get them to leave extra time for Dad to have a nose round.'

‘And you need to tell Leona that we will need Chloe's dress after all,' Harry pointed out.

‘Oh yes,' I said, thrilled to bits that I'd have both my bridesmaids by my side. ‘And we're going to have to find somewhere for everyone to stay after the wedding. I need to speak to Millicent…'

I paused, and grabbed both of Tansy's hands.

‘I know I wasn't very nice to you when you first arrived,' I said.

Tansy made a face.

‘It wasn't very nice of me to show up the way I did,' she admitted. ‘I guess I'd have reacted in the same way. Worse, probably.'

‘I'm sorry,' I said. ‘And thank you a million times for arranging this. We owe you one.'

Parker ducked under our arms so he was standing in between us. He smiled up at us.

‘Nah,' Tansy said. ‘You don't owe me anything.'

Chapter 35

And after that it was easy. I rang Dad who was thrilled, and then I rang Chloe. When I told her what Tansy had done she was speechless – for about thirty seconds – which was very unlike Chloe.

‘She did all that with a hangover?' she said in an awed tone.

‘I know,' I said. ‘She's amazing.'

‘Still feeling a bit insecure, huh?' said Chloe. She knew me so well.

‘Bit,' I muttered. I was in the kitchen so I shut the door in case Jamie or Tansy could hear my conversation.

‘Tomorrow you and Jamie are going to get married, finally,' Chloe said. ‘And nothing is going to stop you. You've proved that.'

‘I know,' I said. ‘I can't wait to see you.'

I filled Chloe in on where she had to go, and when, and told her Millicent had a family room in the B&B ready for her.

‘It's two rooms with an adjoining door,' I explained. ‘There's twin beds for Olly and Matilda and Millicent's going to put a travel cot in for Euan.'

‘Olly's beside himself with excitement about going in helicopter,' Chloe said.

‘So's Dad,' I said with a chuckle. ‘He'll probably offer to fly the thing himself. He's going to the base early so he can have a nose around.'

‘Bless him,' said Chloe fondly.

‘The helicopter's going to land on the road,' I said. ‘Just past the avalanche site. We'll come and meet you.'

So, we spent the rest of the afternoon getting everything ready. Millicent pulled it out of the bag with the rooms – fortunately she wasn't busy thanks to the road being closed, so she had plenty of room for Chloe and her three kids, and Dad, Olivia, Mitchell and Mason. Frankie, we assumed, would go and stay with his sister who still lived in Claddach. Though knowing Frankie, anything was possible. Tansy had offered to move into the B&B when Michael arrived too, but Mum was horrified at the suggestion.

‘I wouldn't dream of it,' she said. ‘You and Parker can stay where you are.'

‘There's not enough room,' Tansy objected. ‘My room only has twin beds.'

‘I'm going to stay at Mum and Dad's tonight,' Jamie pointed out. ‘That'll free up a bed.'

‘Half a bed,' I said, not keen on the idea of sharing a room with Parker no matter how fond I was of him.

Eva came to the rescue.

‘Come to us,' she said, sweeping Parker into a hug. ‘We've got a spare room with plenty of space for all three of you. Parker can sleep on the blow-up bed.'

With accommodation sorted, Mum, Suky and Eva headed down to town to “make dinner” for everyone for that evening. They'd decided not to open the café but instead rearrange the tables so we could all have a huge family dinner for the night before the big day. Jamie had rung his parents and they were coming along and Mum pulled me to one side and asked if I'd mind if Douglas came.

‘I know you and he didn't get off to the best start,' she said, biting her lip.

‘I'm sorry,' I said. ‘I was a brat. He's a lovely man and he's more than welcome to come along. He's family too.'

Mum kissed me.

‘You're a lovely girl,' she said. ‘I'm very proud of you.'

‘Ach, I had a good teacher,' I said, nudging her gently with my shoulder. We weren't given to gushy declarations, me and my mum, but I knew she knew how much she meant to me.

While Mum went to the café to sort out the dinner, Jamie and Tansy stayed behind at the house to help Parker make a banner to welcome Michael to Claddach. Harry, Lou and I went to Leona's to make sure everything was okay with Chloe's dress.

Leona had all three dresses on mannequins when we arrived – mine was in the middle with the two blue bridesmaids' dresses flanking it on either side. They were all unbelievably beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that I started to cry.

‘Oh don't,' Leona said, gathering me into her arms and giving me a squeeze. ‘You'll get me going. I always cry when I see my brides, and you're a special one.'

‘You've done such an amazing job,' I wailed. ‘It's all so wonderful.'

Harry handed me a tissue.

‘She's right,' she said, beaming at Leona. ‘These are gorgeous.'

‘You've asked all the people who helped you to come along to the wedding, right?' I said.

Leona nodded.

‘They're all coming,' she said. ‘I think most of Claddach is going to be there. I hope they're all going to fit in the gallery.'

‘I think it'll be fine,' Harry said, winking at me. I had a feeling my family had done something to ensure that however many guests turned up to our wedding party, there would be plenty of room for them all. I thought it was best I didn't ask.

Leona zipped all three dresses into bags, and we took them home. Then we all – me, Harry, Lou, Jamie, Tansy, Parker – everyone – headed back down the hill to wait for the helicopter.

We must have looked a strange sight as we waited. An unruly mob ranging from Douglas – looking sombre in his work suit as he'd come straight from the funeral home – down to Parker, who was giddy with excitement about seeing Michael. Jamie watched his son skid around in the snow with a strange look on his face. I looped my arm through his.

‘Worried about what will happen when Michael arrives?' I asked.

Jamie looked down at me and gave me a small smile.

‘It's going to be weird,' he said.

‘Parker's got room in his heart for both of you,' I said. ‘Don't worry.'

‘He's been a bit strange today,' Jamie said. ‘I'm worried it's all too much for him to take in. I know he's a clever wee thing but he is only five. It's easy to forget how young he really is.'

I looked at Parker, who was trying to explain to Tansy that he actually could take some snow home to America so he could look at it through his microscope.

‘I reckon he's okay,' I said.

‘You think?' Jamie said, desperate for reassurance. I felt sorry for him. However hard this had all been for me, it had been mind-blowing for him. To suddenly find out he was a dad, with all the emotions that brought with it, was so hard. And Jamie wasn't one to shirk on responsibility. Other men could have embraced the good bits of being a dad – the fun times, the day trips and the rough and tumble – while willingly handing over the tough bits – the discipline and the tricky decisions and the sickness. After all, Parker would be living on the other side of the Atlantic most of the time; Jamie wouldn't have to deal with the day-to-day drudgery of parenthood. But if I knew Jamie, he'd see that as a definite con rather than a pro. And I was really proud of him for that.

‘I know,' I said. ‘He's got three amazing parents.'

‘Four,' said Jamie. ‘You're part of this too.'

I wasn't sure how to respond to that but luckily I didn't have to. Because suddenly the thwack thwack sound of a helicopter echoed round the deserted road.

‘They're here,' Parker cried. Tansy grabbed him and held him close, her hands resting on his shoulders as we watched the chopper land a little way down the road.

My hat blew off in the wind created by the blades and Douglas caught it. Then the swirling stopped, the door opened and out tumbled everyone we'd been waiting for. I was engulfed in hugs from Dad and my brothers, even friendly but distant Olivia gave me a cuddle. Chloe and the kids launched themselves at me. Frankie and Jamie gave each other a firm handshake then laughed and hugged each other.

Parker ran across the snow to where a tall man in blue uniform was standing.

‘Daddy Michael,' he cried. ‘Daddy Michael, come and see Daddy Jamie.'

Michael was very handsome with dark skin and closely cropped hair. He looked like an all-American hero in his uniform, with Parker in his arms.

He kissed Tansy and together they came over to us.

‘Good to meet you Jamie,' he said, holding his hand out for Jamie to shake.

‘And you,' Jamie said.

Parker looked from one of them to the other. Then he burst into tears.

Chapter 36

We calmed him down, of course, with promises of pizza at the café and a big slice of cake. And Jamie's mum – who Parker apparently adored much to her surprise and joy – arrived just at the right time, armed with a book about bones, which Parker was soon engrossed in.

It was a lovely evening. Everyone laughed a lot, and it was so magical being surrounded by everyone I loved. Frankie held court, telling hilarious stories about his travels and his crazy life in the world of internet start-ups and million-dollar buy-out bids.

‘How are things with the little boy,' Dad asked me, as Mum poured coffee for everyone. ‘Did you get it all sorted out?'

Parker was curled up on one of the sofas fast asleep, with Chloe's daughter Matilda snoozing at the other end, and her little boy Olly spread-eagled in the middle. The kids had been cautious of each other to begin with, but once Olly showed an interest in Parker's bones book, they were firm friends for life. Little Euan was also asleep, flat out in his buggy, his chubby cheeks flushed from all the excitement.

I glanced over to where Jamie was deep in conversation with Michael and Tansy.

‘I think so,' I said. ‘Everyone's agreed to do things officially, which I'm much happier about, and we're getting a DNA test. You know, just to make sure.'

Dad nodded.

‘He's definitely Jamie's though, isn't he? You can see that.'

He was right. Even a stranger could spot the similarities between Parker and Jamie, physically and in their personalities.

‘Definitely,' I said.

Dad took my hand.

‘And how are you feeling about this?' he said in a low voice. ‘This wasn't what you signed up for.'

I shrugged.

‘No, it wasn't,' I said simply, relieved to be admitting it at last. ‘I thought Jamie and I would do the whole kids thing together for the first time. I never thought I'd be a step-mum.'

‘What about the little lad himself?' Dad asked.

I sighed.

‘He's gorgeous,' I said. ‘He's funny, and clever, and loving.'

‘I hear a “but” coming,' said Dad.

‘But he's not my son,' I said. ‘Am I a monster?'

Dad chuckled.

‘You're not a monster,' he said, ruffling my hair in a way I hated ordinarily. ‘It's completely understandable. You need to get to know him.'

‘Jamie adores him,' I said glumly.

‘There's biology there, though,' Dad said. ‘You know, when you were born – and Mitch and Mason – and I held you all for the first time, I felt this sense of responsibility. You were so tiny, and I had to look after you. It was my job. That stirred feelings in me that I'd never even known were there.'

‘You looked after us all brilliantly,' I said, moved by his words.

‘You don't have that with Parker, though,' Dad pointed out. ‘He's not your job. Not your responsibility. It's going to be a different kind of love – but you will love him, I can promise you that. And he'll love you back – just like you and Olivia love each other.'

I thought love was a bit strong for the way my step-mum Olivia and I felt about each other. Benign disinterest was more like it. I glanced over to where she sat, chatting to Harry and Louise. She caught me looking and gave me a wide smile. I smiled back, feeling slightly uncomfortable – as though she could read my mind.

‘Olivia's very fond of you,' Dad said. ‘She's always boasting about you to her friends.'

‘She is?' I said, surprised.

‘Oh yes. I think the bond between step-parent and step-child can be very rewarding.

‘I hope so,' I said. ‘Because at the moment all I can think about is how much easier everything would be if Parker just wasn't here. And that makes me feel so guilty.'

‘Oh Ez,' Dad said. ‘You've got nothing to feel guilty about.'

He looked me straight in the eye.

‘Now listen to me,' he said. ‘If this changes things. If this alters the way you feel about Jamie, about marrying him I mean, then now is the time to tell me. It's not too late. We can call the wedding off right now. I don't want you going through with it just because you feel you have to.'

‘Oh Dad,' I said. ‘This is tricky, but it's not impossible. I still want to marry Jamie. I've wanted to marry him since I was sixteen.'

‘Great,' said Dad. ‘I just wanted to make sure you were sure. Now, what's going on with this coffee? I think we should have some champagne instead, don't you?'

‘Dad asked me if I wanted to call off the wedding,' I told Jamie a little while later. With everyone beginning to talk about heading to bed, we'd sneaked outside for a walk – the last time we'd see each other before the ceremony tomorrow. Hand in hand, we strolled along the snowy shore of the loch. It was nearly midnight but the snow reflected the moon so brightly it was almost like daylight.