Beautifully Unbroken (35 page)

“Two babies?” Blake asked in shock before turning to face me. “We’re having two babies,” he said, smiling in disbelief just as the sound of two tiny heartbeats filled the quiet room.

It was the most magical sound I had ever heard. My two tiny babies’ hearts were beating inside of me. How could anything ever compare to that feeling?

“Congratulations to you both,” DR Greene said. “Everything looks fantastic, sounds fantastic. There are no visible problems, and they’re both growing beautifully. According to this, you are ten weeks and four days gone, making your due date” – she hesitated – “April seventeenth.”

“Oh my God,” I gasped. “And you are sure that both babies are okay?”

She smiled. “Definitely. I’m going to leave you two alone for a moment; when you’re ready, I’ll see you both back at my desk.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Blake said, placing a kiss to my lips just after DR Greene left us.

“I haven’t done anything yet,” I laughed.

“You’re growing two babies in there. Oh my God, two babies.” He shook his head, smiling. “We made them,” he said in awe. “Isn’t that just the craziest thing ever?”

“Yes it is,” I answered truthfully. “Maybe pushing them both out will prove a little more crazy though,” I said as we both laughed.

“You know what it means that I’ve been carrying these babies for almost eleven weeks?”

Blake nodded. “You fell pregnant that first weekend we were together.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe that I didn’t adjust the time of my pill to match the time difference between London and New York.”

“Yeah, well, I’m glad you didn’t.” Blake smiled.

“So am I.”

“So do you think you can handle living with three boys?” he mocked.

“Are you kidding me? You are going to be living with three screaming, hormonal ladies MR Mackenzie.” I smiled. “I hope you can cope with that.” I gave Blake a lopsided grin.

“I think we’re both capable of coping with absolutely anything after the crazy couple of months we have had.” His face grew serious. “Are you happy,” he asked me carefully.

“I have never felt so happy in the whole of my life,” I said, meaning every single word of it.

“For the two millionth time, Casey, nothing is going to go wrong. Everything is exactly how it should be; there is absolutely nothing for you to worry about,” I said again as Casey paced the hotel room fully dressed and ready to make her vows to Alex.

“Please, I just have this feeling,” Casey said, placing her hand around her neck in panic. “Please just go and check that Alex is where he should be, please.”

“Can’t I just call Blake?”

“No. No, he could lie for him. I want to know that you see him, physically see him, and know he’s going to be there.”

“He will be there,” I said calmly.

“Please, Jo,” she begged.

“Okay, I am going,” I said in defeat. “Just take some deep breaths and calm down; you are going to hyperventilate.”

Casey took two deep breaths, but her panic was still visible. “Okay. I am going to check on Alex; just keep calm. Please.”

Blake opened the door semi dressed in his tux. Just lately I only had to look at him and I wanted to jump on him and tear his clothes off. I had read about this in pregnancy magazines. It was caused by the change in hormones. With me it was that plus the fact that Blake was by far the sexiest man on the planet.

His eyes took in my appearance, roaming up and down my body a couple of times before he smiled. “Wow, you look beautiful,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me to him.

“I look fat,” I said, pouting.

“You are not fat,” Blake said, kissing the tip of my nose. “You’re just keeping our babies warm.”

A warm feeling came over me. “How do you always know the right thing to say?”

“Because I always speak the truth.” He smiled before leaning in for a lingering kiss.

“Who is it?” Alex shouted from somewhere inside the room. Blake growled and pulled his mouth from mine.

I peeked around Blake’s body. “Hello. Me again.” I smiled.

“For the last time, I am not gonna do a runner,” he said, frustrated as he tried in vain to fasten his bow tie.

“Good. Blake, keep eyes on him at all times,” I said in a mocking tone.

“I am not going to run, jeez.”

“Okay,” I said simply. “Casey just has the crazy idea that something is going to go horribly wrong,” I said, rolling my eyes.

Alex finished fastening his tie and turned to face me. “Tell Casey from me that I love her, I cannot wait to be her husband, and I will see her in thirty minutes.”

I smiled. “Okay. See you both in a bit, then,” I said excitedly before heading out into the hall.

“Jo,” Blake called back, “can you help me with this thing?” he said, holding up his tie. I took it from his hand and placed it around his neck. His mouth lowered and he started trailing kisses along my neck.

“Blake, stop,” I said, swatting him away.

“I can’t; you know what these sexy curves are doing to me,” he said as he continued.

“And you know how horny this pregnancy is making me. Now stop until we can actually—” Blake stopped instantly and looked down at me. “Why do you seem shorter? Don’t tell me pregnancy shrinks you too?”

“Don’t tell Casey,” I said, looking around him to make sure Alex wasn’t listening before lifting the hem of my dress and revealing to him the white Converse that he had bought me for the Yankees game.

Blake snorted. “Oh my God.”

“Don’t laugh,” I said. “I still have twenty-six weeks to go carrying two humans inside of me. I’m showing already and can’t wear my heels without feeling like my feet and back are both breaking.” I pouted. “I’m going to look like a barrel by the time spring arrives.”

“But you will be my barrel,” Blake teased, causing me to swat him again.

“I love you,” I said.

He smiled. “I love you too. All three of you.”

“Can I take this dance, ma’am?” Blake held his hand out to me; I took it instantly before he led me to the dance floor. The wedding had been beautiful. There were no catastrophes, as Casey had imagined, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when they said their vows. It had been magical. All of the guests had waved them off for their honeymoon just half an hour before. My feet were throbbing, and I was desperate to call it a day, but Blake still had a duty as best man to make sure the night finished well.

I leaned into him as we swayed to Ellie Goulding singing “How Long Will I Love You.”

“This song was playing in your apartment that first night that we—”

“Conceived these babies?” I sniggered.

“Yeah,” Blake laughed.

“Feels like a lifetime ago now,” I said against his chest. “It’s been a truly magical day.”

“It has,” he said, kissing briefly into my hair.

“Can we call it a night soon?” I asked.

“Sure.” Blake stopped dancing and looked down to me. “There’s just something I want to show you first though.” He smiled. “Follow me.” He took my hand and led me out of the ballroom, through reception, and out towards the boathouse, where a member of staff stood waiting for us.

Looking down I noticed a gondola lit up by what must have been one hundred candles affixed around the perimeter of the boat.

“I am not getting in that thing, Blake,” I said, shaking my head.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He smiled as he climbed down into the gondola and held his arms out for me to join him.

“What if I tip the boat?” I said, reluctant to give him my hands.

“We’re not gonna tip; just get in the boat,” he said, amused.

I let out a little squeal as my feet left the ground for a moment before I was safely in the boat and sitting opposite Blake.

My fingers gripped the seat as I forced myself to sit as still as possible.

Blake nodded. “Thank you, Eric.”

“Is he not coming with us?” I said, panicked.

“Don’t you trust me?” Blake asked.

“You don’t want the answer to that right now.”

Blake shook his head and laughed as he took the oar in his hands and started rowing us towards the middle of the lake.

“See,” he said. “Who needs Eric?”

Slowly I began to relax. It turned out I could trust Blake in the pitch black on a lake in the middle of New York after all.

Blake stopped rowing, and we sat as the boat bobbed gently up and down. There was still a warm breeze blowing in the air, and there must have been a million stars twinkling above us.

“This is amazing,” I said, looking around at the stars, which seemed to be getting brighter and more clustered. I gasped as a shooting star sped across the night sky “Did you just see that?”

“I did,” Blake said, but I could tell that his eyes were only on me. “Make a wish,” he said.

Closing my eyes, I couldn’t hide the smile that graced my lips. “Done,” I said. I opened my eyes and looked to Blake.

“What did you wish for?” he asked, sitting forward and studying me.

I smirked. “Now, if I tell you that, it won’t come true will it?”

Blake sighed and shook his head. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he said in his deep, raspy voice.

I swallowed past the emotion that had appeared. “I do, yes,” I replied.

“Good,” Blake replied before placing his hand in the inside of his jacket and pulling out a tiny black velvet box. My hands shot to my mouth as I gasped in shock. Before I knew it, Blake was on one knee in the middle of the boat, opening the small box, revealing the most beautiful diamond cluster ring that I had ever seen.

My eyes clouded with tears. Blake cleared his throat; his emotions were clearly visible.

“From the first moment that I met you, I knew that you were the woman who I would spend my forever with. You captured me with you beauty, your innocence, and definitely your stubbornness.” We both laughed through the happy tears that we were both shedding. “The first time you spoke to me, I wanted to shut you up by taking your mouth in mine and never letting you go. You gave me feelings that I only believed happened in movies and in books. I couldn’t see how anyone could love somebody that much until I met you. And now I know that true love does exist, because mine is sitting opposite me right now. You made me believe that each one of us has a soul mate, and when you find that person, you know that you will be happy for the rest of your life. There are mountains to climb and stumbling blocks placed in your path, but you fight it. You know that this is the one fight that it is worth using every ounce of your strength to win. And you never give up. Just as we didn’t give up. When I met you, you were broken. I promised you that I would fix you, and when I look at you now, I don’t see broken any more. I see you – all of you. And I see that finally, you are happy. I’d like to think I’m responsible for that in some small way.”

“You are,” I choked out quietly.

“Do you remember when I bought you the car and you asked me what you could possibly give me to repay me?”

I nodded.

“Well, you have. Everything that I have ever needed or wanted is here in this boat with me right now. You have given me your heart, your soul, and your trust. Money can’t buy that.” He smiled. “But most of all, you have given me you, not forgetting those two tiny little babies in there that we made.”

I smiled through the tears as I placed my hands to my tiny bump and cradled our children.

“And they are going to love you. God, they will love you so much. Just as much as I do. And they will need you, just as much as I always will. What say we close the old book and start writing a new one? This has been by far the best adventure that I have ever taken; I don’t ever want it to stop.” He smiled. “There is, however, just one thing that I want to change.”

“What’s that?” I asked, feeling my eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

“Your last name.” He smiled. “Josephine Summers, will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes I will marry you,” I choked out.

“She said yes!” Blake’s voice echoed around the quiet lake before he took the ring from the box and placed it carefully onto my finger.

“Thank you for letting me love you,” he said as his fingers knotted with mine.

“Thank you for showing me what real love is,” I said before leaning forward and claiming Blake’s mouth with mine.

“I will love you forever and more,” Blake said as his lips left mine and his brow pressed to mine. “All three of you.”

Three months later

“Wakey wakey, birthday girl.” Blake’s voice sounded as chirpy as the birds that I had spent most of the morning listening to whilst drifting in and out of an uncomfortable sleep. Groaning, I turned myself towards him and forced my eyes to open against their will.

“What time is it?” I grumbled.

“It’s just past noon,” he said before he leaned in and kissed me on the nose. “You didn’t sleep much at all, did you?”

“These babies have built an alliance against me,” I moaned, rolling onto my back, gently rubbing my bulging belly. Blake’s hand covered mine just as baby one gave out an almighty kick.

“I don’t think so, mister; if you wanna be a sports star, it will have to be anything but football,” Blake said with a grin just as baby two joined in.

“See, I told you, they’re in there working together.” I smiled, feeling absolutely exhausted but completely and utterly content.

“I’m still totally amazed that there are two tiny babies in there,” Blake said in awe.

“Well, they don’t feel tiny,” I moaned. “I feel like I’m carrying a herd of elephants.” Blake took my hand and helped me up off the bed.

“Only twelve weeks to go, beautiful.”

“Yay,” I said with little enthusiasm. “And then they will be ganging up on us for real,” I said in horror as Blake chuckled behind me.

“I’m gonna get back to the kitchen and give your mom a hand; I have been given the job of head table layer,” he said proudly.

“Blake, that’s because you will be getting under Mum’s feet in the kitchen and no one else is around to do it.” I smiled.

“Ouch,” he said, as if I had hurt his feelings. “Anyway, everyone will be arriving shortly, and then you can have your present. But not until after lunch.” He was like an exited child at Christmas.

“Okay.” I smiled as he kissed my cheek before heading out of the bedroom and downstairs to help with lunch.

Since arriving in London a week prior to spend Christmas with my mum, Blake had insisted on fulfilling a lot of the memories that I had once told him I missed about London.

So far we had woken in time to hear the birds singing every morning, which was always my favourite memory. We had eaten fish and chips out of the paper on Friday night whilst seated in front of the TV watching a DVD. Blake had also insisted on taking me out for drives through the countryside every single day. And every single time, we had managed to get lost. It had been fifteen years since I had lived out in the sticks, and all the roads had come to look like one. Blake always found it hilarious that we were lost, though, and I loved nothing more than seeing him happy.

Later that day, the memory would consist of the big family Sunday lunch. The only person missing from the table would be my dad. It was going to be tough, but I knew that Blake would help me through it. The one thing I truly loved about Blake was that I never needed to tell him how I felt for him to know what to say to me. We were like yin and yang; one couldn’t exist without the other. And that was the truth for me and Blake.

Once dressed and ready for lunch, I headed downstairs to the beautiful aroma of Mum’s cooking and the sound of happiness filtering from the lounge.

“Here’s the birthday girl.” Uncle Anthony stood and headed over to me, and he placed a kiss on my cheek. “Look at you,” he said, placing his hand to my belly. “You look amazing.”

“I feel like a heffalump,” I joked.

Aunt Elizabeth was next to greet me just as Jemma and Tim arrived. “Happy birthday, darling.” Jemma looked as harassed as I felt. She was due to give birth any day now and was becoming frustrated with the wait. Tim was fussing over her constantly, which seemed only to make her more frustrated, as she swatted him away constantly. They were such a beautiful couple; I had envied them both until Blake had walked into my life. I loved watching how Tim would go out of his way to show Jemma his affection and not care about who was watching. Jemma wouldn’t notice a lot of the time, probably because he did it at every opportunity, but it was easy to spot as an outsider looking in.

Blake and Tim had spent a lot of time getting to know each other over the past week; they were similar in a lot of ways, especially how they fussed over Jemma and me. But they looked completely different. Blake was happy lounging in jogging bottoms and a T-shirt, whereas I never saw Tim without a suit. He had earned the nickname James Bond from my uncle Anthony because even to go to a football match he would be all suited up. That, plus the fact that he was a dead ringer for Daniel Craig.

“Any signs yet?” I asked as we sat at the dining table while Blake carved the huge goose that Mum had spent most of the day roasting.

“A few pains here and there,” she said, scrunching up her nose. “I just want this thing out of me now.”

Uncle Anthony butted in. “It’s a baby, not a thing.”

“Well, a baby isn’t capable of some of the tricks she keeps pulling.”

“Tell me about it. Think of that and times it by two,” I said, rubbing my bump. “And they take it in turns as well. One sleeps while the other plays footy with my bladder, and then vice versa.”

“Wow, I’m stressing over one, and you’re going to have it twice as bad.” Jemma shuddered.

“Double trouble,” Blake said.

“Triple if you include Jo,” Tim teased.

Blake laughed. “So true. I’m just grateful one of the babies is a boy – even the load.”

“You found out what you’re having then?” Jemma asked excitedly.

“A boy and a girl,” Blake answered immediately as he finished carving and pulled out the seat next to me and sat down.

“Wow, well that in itself is worth a celebration,” Tim said, lifting his glass. “Congratulations to you both.”

I shrugged. “At least this way we will only have to do it the once.”

“I thought we were going to have more than two kids?” Blake said.

“Can I get these two out of me first before we make that kind of decision?” I replied defensively.

Blake smirked. “I suppose so.”

“It’s a shame that our babies won’t grow up together like we did,” I said sadly.

“Have you chosen names?” Aunty Elizabeth asked.

Blake and I looked to each other and smiled. “We’re not one hundred per cent on a girl’s name yet, but our son will be named after Jo’s father.” He placed his hand in mine and squeezed gently.

“Well, John seems like an older name, so we’re toying with Johnny at the moment,” I added.

“Perfect,” Uncle Anthony said. “Just what we all called him as a nipper.”

“He would be so proud of you, Jo,” Aunty Elizabeth said before I felt Mum place her lips to my temple as she filled my glass with orange juice.

“He certainly would,” Mum said before heading to the top of the table, where Dad always used to sit. She lifted her glass, and the table fell silent. I could see that she was struggling to stem her emotion as she started to speak. “This past year has been the most horrific of my life. nothing can ever prepare you for losing the man that you have loved for the most part of your life, and even though I can now deal with the fact that John is no longer by my side, each day is still as hard as the day before.”

I felt Blake’s thumb gently stroking my hand, assuring me that he was there for me.

“The worst part of it all is that if he were here now, and he could see what we have accomplished around this table, there would be no prouder man alive than my John.” Mum sucked in a deep breath. “Oh dear, look at me getting all emotional; I told myself not to do this,” she said, reaching for her napkin and wiping her eyes gracefully. “Anyway, if you are watching down on us all now, John,” – she raised her glass and her gaze above us all – “I just want you to know that I love you, and to thank you for everything that I will ever need, and that is everything that I have before me around this table.”

“To Johnny Boy,” Uncle Anthony said, lifting his glass with a wink.

“To Dad,” I said, quietly trying to bite back the tears.

“And to my beautiful daughter, Jo,” Mum said. “I would never have believed even a year ago that we would be sitting here now with my daughter, her fiancé, and my two very longed-for grandchildren on the way. Happy birthday, darling, I love you.” She then took a sip of her wine.

“I love you too, Mum.”

“So,” Mum said chirpily, “Who’s hungry?”

“Do I get my present now?” I asked Blake as we were all finishing off dessert.

“Patience,” he said, teasing. “You need to make your speech first.”

“What? I am not making a speech,” I said, shaking my head.

“Speech!” Tim shouted before Uncle Anthony started tapping his glass with a knife.

“Come on, Jo, just say … anything.” Blake shrugged. “And then you can have your present.”

“Promise?” I asked.

“Promise.”

Reluctantly I stood to my feet and took my orange juice in hand as everyone whooped and whistled. Shaking my head with embarrassment, I began. “Dinner was lovely, Mum, thank you,” I started. She nodded happily. “Well, what can I say? It certainly has been a year full of emotions. I miss Dad more than I could ever express; he was the first man that I ever loved and will always hold that part of my heart no matter what. I wish so, so much that he were here today. I know he would love Blake, and I know how much he would have loved these two little terrors,” I said, cradling my stomach. “And I know that they would have adored him so, so much too.” I felt my eyes well with tears. “This pregnancy has made me an emotional wreck,” I said wiping my eyes.

“You have always been an emotional wreck,” Blake said cheekily as he took my hand in his.

“Anyway,” I said, taking a deep breath, “I love each and every one of you; you are the people who have made me the person that I am today.” I drew my eyebrows together in confusion. “Hopefully that’s a good thing.” Everyone laughed.

“So—” I was about to raise my glass just as something warm and furry tickled my legs. “Holy shit! What the fuck is that!” I screamed as I jumped up onto my chair.

Jemma’s scream echoed mine as she too hopped up onto her chair. Everyone else stayed rooted to their chairs, laughing, except for Mum, who was trying her hardest to stifle her amusement. “You, young lady, have been living away from home too long; those babies can hear you, you know.”

Blake bent down to retrieve something from under the table. When he reappeared, he was holding a puppy.

“Say hi to Jasper,” he said.

“What?” I asked as Jemma and I climbed carefully down from our chairs.

“Well, he is a small part of your present. He should have been in the kitchen until it was time to bring him out.” He looked at the Jasper. “You little rascal,” he said as he rubbed his nose against his.

“He’s beautiful,” I said, taking him from Blake. He looked at me with his big, sad eyes. He reminded me of Charlie, the cocker spaniel that we had had when I was a child. “Oh my God he’s adorable!” I said as he licked my face over and over “How are we going to get him home?” I asked.

“Well, that is why he needed to stay hidden. Is it okay if we leave now so I can give Jo her present?” Blake asked.

“Yes, yes. The suspense is killing me,” Uncle Anthony said. Mum took Jasper from me and kissed my cheek. “I can’t wait to hear how you reacted to this one,” she whispered.

“Come with us,” I suggested.

“No, no dear. This is all for you,” she said, smiling before disappearing into the kitchen with Jasper.

“Oh no,” Jemma cried. “I think my water just broke!”

“What!” Tim yelled as he pushed his chair away and started pacing the room. “We haven’t brought your bag. How long until she comes out? Are you in pain?”

“Aarrgghhhh.” Jemma cradled her stomach as a contraction hit. She started puffing out quick, short breaths. “Jesus that hurt.”

“Okay, dear, keep calm,” Aunty Elizabeth said, rushing to her side. “The baby isn’t going to arrive just yet, but we need to get you to the hospital.”

I watched everyone fuss around Jemma. Mum had returned and sat one side of her while Aunt Elizabeth talked calmly to her, and Blake was reassuring Tim, trying to calm him while Uncle Anthony got on the phone to the hospital. I was rooted to the spot, unable to move myself or to speak even; I just sat and watched as Jemma cried out over and over in pain.

“She’s gonna be fine, Jo,” Uncle Anthony said, squeezing my shoulder before heading around to help Jemma out of the seat.

“Oh my God, the contractions are close,” she screamed as she stood. “This baby is coming!”

Everyone followed her and Tim out of the house and helped to get her into the car. I knew that labour had to be painful – I had watched quite a few shows about it recently – but seeing it first-hand opposite me was the most horrifying thing I had ever witnessed.

“She’s gonna have the baby,” I said in a hushed tone. “She’s going to have that baby, now.” I began to panic; my breathing became ragged.

“Okay, calm down,” Blake whispered. “She’s going to be fine.”

“She was in pain.”

“Well, that’s kind of what happens during labour.”