“This is better coming from me,” I whispered to Matt. He didn’t argue. Instead he took a step backwards so that Dad and I had a better view of one another. He did however, continue to hold my hand, filling me with his strength.
I took a deep breath and started to retell the entire tale. When I’d finished the only sound that could be heard within my cubicle was Grandma Mabel’s teeth clicking as she swished them around.
“Dad, are you okay?”
He didn’t respond, instead he stared at the floor, the color draining from his face.
The nurse responded to my call and arrived just in time as dad turned completely white and then fainted at the foot of my bed.
****
Once Dad had been wheeled off to his own cubicle, my mum and grandma decided that he needed them more, and my siblings decided that now they knew I was safe it was okay for them to go home. That left Matt and I in blissful silence.
“What a night,” he said on a breath.
“You never told me what happened when you told Ed about our B and E.”
“My B and E,” Matt reminded me. “And at this stage nothing is going to happen.”
“He’s not going to arrest you?”
“No. I’m going to co-operate with what I know in exchange for me staying on his good side.”
I smiled, and relaxed back onto the pillow, as Matt’s phone dinged in his pocket.
Reading the message, he laughed. “Sam went to your place and found Harper sitting in the dark on your handbag. Apparently, he was doing a very good job of protecting it and Sam had to bribe him with treats to get him to stop growling. He’s now at Sam’s being spoiled rotten.”
I smiled, loving Harper just that little bit more and closed my eyes, the events of the night filling me with fatigue. I was just drifting into a peaceful sleep when I heard the curtain swish open and high heels clicked the short distance to my bed.
“Hello Matt, Molly.” The soft tones of Lara Jenkins made me sit up straight and pay attention. “Before you say anything, I know I’m the last person you probably want to see right now, but please let me say what I came here to say.”
Her tone was pleading and both Matt and I nodded for her to go on.
“I’ve heard what my mother did. What she did all those years ago, what she did to keep the whole disgusting affair quiet, and what she did to you tonight, Molly. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything my family has put you through. Mum will face the consequences of her actions, but she can’t erase the pain she has caused you and I don’t know what to do to make it right.”
“You don’t have to do anything,” I said to her. “The actions of others aren’t your responsibility.”
She nodded. “You probably don’t want me as your obstetrician anymore.”
Hmmm, she was probably right. No matter what my feelings towards her were, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable around her anymore.
“I can recommend that you see my colleague Kylie. She’s an amazing doctor and will look after you.”
“Thanks.”
“With your permission I’ll have your file transferred to her first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks again. And I am sorry about how this whole thing turned out,” I added.
“Me too. Yours would have been a fun pregnancy to follow. Good luck with it all. Your babies are very lucky to have you both as parents.” She smiled and made her way out of the cubicle. Before she disappeared though, she popped her head back around the curtain.
“I almost forgot to tell you,” she added with a smile. “Your DNA test results came back, Matt, and I compared them to Carol. You probably already know this, but it proved that you’re not related.”
I had already learned this information, but to have it confirmed lifted the final weight from my shoulders. As her heels clicked her from my life, I turned to Matt, tears of happiness stinging.
“Great news, hey?”
His grin matched mine. “This pregnancy has been one heck of a rollercoaster and you’re not even out of the first trimester yet.”
I still had to tell Matt about Tom and his crush on me. And how because of it he was made scapegoat to take the fall for our murders. Oh boy. I just hoped the second trimester was a lot more relaxing than the first.