“Because ever since you landed you’ve been drifting in and out of your own little world,” Vee said. “This wedding thing has really got to you, hasn’t it?”
“And the rest,” I replied, trying not to feel sorry for myself.
Vee laughed. “Holly, the whole town thinks you’re about to marry the hottest chef on TV. What could possibly top that?”
I took a deep breath. “Can you keep a secret?”
Vee stopped still. “You mean there is more?”
I turned to face her. “Fin’s been offered another TV project.”
“That’s brilliant.”
I let out a laugh.
“Isn’t it?” Vee asked.
“This one’s in America,” I said. “And Fin’s asked me to go with him.”
“Wow,” Vee said, clearly taken aback. “That is big.”
I scoffed. “Don’t I know it.”
My sister linked her arm in mine and we began walking again. “So are you going? And if so, when?”
“I don’t know yet, but if I do it’ll be soon.”
“How soon?”
“He’s supposed to leave on the 31st.”
“Of January? But that gives you plenty of time to work things through.”
I chuckled, wondering how many times I’d have to have that same conversation. “Of December.”
Vee stood still for a second time, bringing me to a halt with her. “But that’s only a week away. No wonder you’ve been away with the fairies.”
“Everything just keeps running through my head. The reasons to go, the reasons to not go… I just don’t know what to do, Vee.”
My sister gave me a sympathetic smile as we set off down the road once more.
“Do you love Fin?”
“I feel like I do. But then I think, how can I? I’ve only known the man two minutes.”
“Does he love you?”
My eyes lit up and butterflies whizzed around in my tummy. “He says he does.”
“Then what’s your problem?”
Like it was that easy. “You did hear me say the 31st of December, didn’t you?”
“I’ve also heard you say you want some excitement and adventure. And let’s face it, Fin’s given you that in abundance.”
Vee was right, of course. On both counts. “What if a few months away turns into a permanent thing, though? I mean who knows what this American project might lead to? How long it would be before I saw you all again?” I sighed. “And if I’m honest, I’m not sure I could cope without having my family on the doorstep. With not seeing you all regularly. The US is such a long way away.”
“Not really,” Vee said, matter of fact. “Thanks to technology, the world’s a lot smaller than it used to be.”
“And then there’s the little one.” I indicated my sister’s belly. “It might only be weeks away, but I wouldn’t be around for the birth, let alone to see him or her grow.”
“Holly, it’s a flight. I’m sure there’ll be lots of toing and froing amongst us all.”
“And what about the practicalities. I’ve got the house to think about and my job.”
“Holly, are you even listening to what I’m saying? More to the point, are you listening to yourself?”
I realised Vee was right to pull me up. It seemed for every reason Vee gave in favour of me starting a new life with Fin, I came up with another as to why I shouldn’t.
I recalled all the conversations I’d had with Mum about my cancelled trip to the Caribbean, immediately recognising the pattern. “Oh, no,” I said. Bringing us both to a standstill, I looked at my sister, horrified.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I think I’ve turned into our mother,” I replied.
37
“Where have you been?” a frantic Mitch asked. He’d obviously stood at the window looking out for Vee and me, ready to accost us as soon as we stepped through Mum and Dad’s front door.
“For a walk,” Vee replied, carefree as anything. “What’s the problem?”
“The problem is you’ve been gone for hours.” The man did not look happy.
“Thank goodness,” Mum said as she, Dad and Fin appeared from the lounge. “We’ve been worried sick.”
“Sorry, it’s my fault,” I said, understanding the concern. “We were talking and lost track of time.”
“Everything okay?” Fin asked.
I nodded. “Everything’s fine.”
“You must be freezing, the pair of you,” Mum carried on. “Get in here and warm yourselves up.” She gestured towards the lounge.
Vee put her hand out to stop me from moving. “Have you made your choice?” she asked.
I nodded. “I think so.”
“Good. Now if you could all go back into the living room and retake your seats,” Vee said, superseding Mum. “Because Holly has something important to say, don’t you?”
Fin’s eyes searched mine and standing there he looked as anxious as I felt. My sister had made it abundantly clear that with her help, I’d managed to work through everything that had been running around my head and Fin knew as well as I did that what I was about to announce impacted everyone present.
Looking at everybody’s anticipation, I refused to let my nerves get the better of me and instead, I steeled myself ready to tell Mum and Dad what they least wanted to hear – that Fin and I were not about to get married. Even more important though, was that I was about to tell the man I’d fallen deeply and madly in love with the decision I’d reached about whether I was going to America with him or not.
“What’s going on?” Mum asked. “Because there’ll be no Eastenders Christmas special in this house.”
Mitch’s priority stayed with his wife and unborn child. “You do know walking can induce labour, don’t you?” he said to Vee.
“Can it?” Mum asked. Her soap opera fears suddenly forgotten, she looked to Dad not even trying to hide her excitement.
“Relax, Mother, it’s an old wives’ tale,” Vee said. “Mitch is making a fuss over nothing. Walking is exercise, what harm can that–” My sister fell silent, a look of horror sweeping across her face. She dropped her head to look at the ground. “Mitch,” she said, suddenly sounding like a scared little girl.
We all followed her gaze to see a pool of water at her feet.
Mitch immediately stepped forward to take command. “Battle stations, everyone. Looks like we’re about to have a baby.” He took his wife’s hand and like a parting of the waves, the rest of us stood aside to let Mitch and Vee through. “Are you in any pain?” he asked her.
Vee shook her head. “Why? Am I supposed to be?” She sounded even more worried.
“Not necessarily,” Mitch replied. “I think we’re experiencing what’s known as PROM. Or in layman’s terms, a pre-labour rupture of the membrane. This happens in around five per cent of pregnancies so I don’t want you worrying. You hear me?”
My sister nodded, for once, hanging on her husband’s every word.