Driving Me to Christmas (London Loves Book 5) (16 page)

Verlaine winced. “Twins.”

“Oh fuck!”

“Well Sam can’t. And I’m trying to fix the car. You’ve seen every episode of that show, right?
One Born Every Minute
?”

“That doesn’t actually qualify me as a midwife, Verlaine!”

“Who else is gonna do it out here?”

Paul’s heart thumped wearily in his chest. He didn’t want this responsibility, but he knew there was no one else. “Okay. I’ll try.”

Gemma obviously didn’t agree to this plan. “Take me to a fucking hospital!”

“We can’t, Gemma,” Paul said. “The car won’t start. I don’t know where the bloody ambulance is.”

“Her contractions are really close now,” Scott called.

“How do you know?” Paul asked. “You’re down that end.”

“Because every time she has one, she breaks another one of my fingers.”

Paul ducked inside the car, trying not to stare between Gemma’s legs, but knowing ultimately he’d have to.

He rested his hand on her bare knee. “Is it okay with you, Gemma? If I just have a look?”

She panted as if she was hyperventilating with the agony. Paul decided to take that as a ‘yes’.

Paul eased her knees apart. He was no medic, but he wasn’t stupid either. “Okay, Gemma, the fact is, you’re fully dilated and I think you’re crowning.”

Gemma groaned. Paul reached his fingers between her legs.

He gasped. “Oh my god, I just touched your baby’s head – it’s coming!”

Gemma cried out as a contraction took her. Scott quietly whimpered, as she crushed his hand.

Sam leaned in behind Paul to have a look. Then she suddenly sprang back and threw up.

“Sam,” he called. “When you’ve recovered, I need some of that hand gel stuff – have a look in Gemma’s handbag; maybe she’s got some. And I’ll need as many warm bits of clothing as possible. Also get water. And the nail-scissors from Scott’s make-up bag.”

Paul was vaguely aware of Sam opening the trunk and rummaging around to try to find those items. She and Verlaine were exchanging panicked words, but Paul threw his focus over Gemma.

His mind swum with what he’d picked up from the TV show. “Okay, Gemma, you need to exhale strongly at the peak of your contraction. That helps. Apparently.”

Her strained face nodded, then she cried out and tried to exhale at the same time. Sam suddenly appeared at Paul’s side.

“Here’s the hand gel. I remembered I had some in my bag.”

“Great, thanks, Sam.”

Paul spread the gel liberally over his hands. “Are you comfortable, Gemma?” 

She growled at him.  “No, I’m fucking not!”

“Okay, just shuffle your bottom further towards me.”

Paul gently encouraged her to push between contractions not during, reminding her to slow down and relax. He was amazed at how much he’d learnt from watching weeks of that TV show. Whoever said television wasn’t educational?

“Push deeply into your bottom,” he said. “One big push and the head’s out.”

And he was right. He supported the head, not pausing to appreciate the wonder of this amazing thing he was holding in his hands. Gemma pushed again at his instruction and the shoulders followed, then the whole baby was in the world, screaming, wet and sticky; precious in Paul’s hands. He supported the baby’s head and tilted him to drain the fluids, then he snipped the cord and wrapped him up in Sam’s proffered coat. Paul held the tiny person against his chest and felt his heart surge with an overwhelming sense of love and joy. The baby screamed in his arms for a few ear-splitting seconds, then he quietened down and snuffled. He opened his little eyes and Paul gazed into his perfect soul – feeling an inherent protectiveness which bonded them together for eternity. Humility bubbled in Paul’s chest, and he suddenly realised
this
was what life was about – unconditional love. This little guy was awe-inspiring. Paul never wanted to look away, but Gemma screamed in agony, shattering the spell.

He glanced up and saw that Gemma was now delirious with pain and in no fit state to meet her son. Paul very carefully leaned in and placed the baby in Scott’s arms. Scott gasped, unable to take his eyes off the precious bundle.

“Keep him warm,” Paul said. “One down; one to go.”

Scott giggled excitedly as he fell under the baby’s spell. Paul shared a loving glance with his husband, then he allowed his pumping adrenaline to prepare him for the next twin. He moved back down to the business end of Gemma and clapped his hands.

“Let’s do this!”

Paul’s cocky confidence swiftly disappeared as a tiny leg appeared where the head should be.

“Oh my god.”

“What is it?” Sam asked.

Paul pushed her away. “Don’t look, Sam.”

He felt the panic infect him now, knowing this could be fatal for both mother and baby. Time and space crashed around him, crushing him into a tiny cube – he had no idea how to deal with this. But his relief splurged as he heard the car sputter into life.

Verlaine shouted, “I got it!”

Paul was just about to tell Verlaine to climb in and step on it, but then he heard another vehicle approaching. He turned and was delighted to see an ambulance gingerly approaching in the snow.

Verlaine rushed towards it, flagging it down.

Paul glanced back into the car, where Scott was still holding the first baby, gazing at him with tears in his eyes. Gemma was writhing in pain on the leather seat, unable to appreciate the amazing thing she’d just done.

Paul snapped himself out of his fears. He wasn’t a religious man, but he said a quick prayer, then ran to greet the paramedics as they hurried over.  

The smell of industrial detergent tingled in Sam’s nostrils as she sat on Verlaine’s lap in the white shiny hospital corridor. Her scattered mind couldn’t focus on anything other than the dizziness that smacked up against the inside of her skull. She felt so embarrassed that she’d fainted earlier, but more than that, she was terrified about Gemma’s welfare. The journey to the hospital in the back of the ambulance had been intense, and Sam had sat there frozen, watching her sister groaning in pain as the paramedics had done all they could to prepare her for the emergency caesarean that awaited her as soon as they’d arrived here. It’d distressed Sam to see Gemma – the sensible older sister – so out of control and hysterical. Sam had felt helpless and alone as Verlaine had driven the other two behind in the T-bird. She’d realised, not for the first time this Christmas, how much she missed her mum, and how much she wished she could’ve been there to take control.

That’d been an hour ago, and now she was sitting on Verlaine, in a row of hard plastic seats with Scott and Paul. Sam had been assured by a doctor that Gemma and the babies were fine. But she’d been told to wait here for further instructions. She was starting to get impatient to see her sister and her nephews.

Paul and Scott were sitting side-by-side holding hands, still dressed up in their party gear. A wave of exhaustion swept over Sam, and she draped her arm around Verlaine’s shoulder, slumping into his body.

“Okay, baby?” he asked.

She sat up straight and ran her fingers through his hair. “When Rebecca asked you if you still loved her – just before Gemma came in – what were you going to say?”

Verlaine pulled her close. “Sam, I love you so much. I’ve been trying to propose to you for ages now, but things keep getting in the way. First Gemma stopped us from going to Thailand, now… well, Gemma again actually. I’m so in love with you. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“And Rebecca?”

“I did love Rebecca once, but not in the way I love you. You’re everything to me. I hope you know that.”

Sam kissed him on the lips. “I love you, too. I hope you get the chance to propose later – I think you know what the answer will be!”

Scott sat forward. “These floor tiles look okay for kneeling on, Verlaine!”

“He’s not gonna do it in front of us, is he, pumpkin?” Paul said.

“Why not?”

Verlaine opened his mouth, but he closed it again as they heard footsteps coming down the corridor towards them.

Sam saw Jack frantically rushing over. Verlaine had called him on the way here, and he’d immediately turned back from his journey to Manchester.

Sam stood up to greet him with a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said.

Jack looked terrified. “You, too, Sam.” They broke apart and Jack nodded at Verlaine, Scott, and Paul. “Alright, fellas.”

He turned his attention straight back to Sam. “So how is she? And the… the twins?”

“Mother and babies are fine.”

“Have you seen her?”

“Not yet. She’s in that room. We’re just waiting to be allowed in.”

Jack glanced at the door. “Well, she’s my wife and they’re my babies. I’ve got a right.”

He severed eye contact with Sam and strode towards the door like a soldier on a mission.

Sam glanced at Verlaine. He shrugged, then they followed Jack into Gemma’s room.

It was a typical hospital room – stark and clinical, with beige walls and a shiny floor. The metal-framed bed stuck out from the wall, covered with a thin mattress and a single sheet – not the sort of place to get comfortable for long. On one side of the bed was a tower of medical equipment – all buttons and dials and flashing LED lights. And on the other side was a comfy armchair for the proud dad to sit in – but it was currently empty and forlorn.

Gemma was lying under the flimsy cream sheet with her eyes closed. She looked exhausted – her hair was messily stuck to her head from where she’d been so hot earlier. Her skin was pale and she looked defeated. Sam saw a little cot by her bed, which contained two perfect sleeping babies. She wanted to go over and stare at them, but Jack was currently occupying that position. He was smiling in awe at the two new little people.

Gemma’s eyes eased open and she gazed at her husband. “Jack.”

He looked up. “Hey, Gem. How you feeling?”

“Been better. I look like crap.”

“You look beautiful.”

She laughed cynically. “I’m sure that’s not true. Did you hear what happened?”

Jack signed. “Yeah, Verlaine told me about Patrick.”

Gemma shot Verlaine a fierce look. “Did he? I was talking about the fact that Paul delivered the first baby. It’s been nice working with you, Verlaine. Good luck finding a new job.”

Sam linked her fingers through Verlaine’s. “Gemma, he was just trying to help.”

Verlaine laughed kindly. “It’s okay, Sam. Gemma won’t fire me. She loves me too much.”

Gemma grinned. Then she burst into tears.

Sam moved to comfort her, but Jack bent and drew her into his arms. She sobbed on his shoulder.

“I’ve missed you so much, Jack!”

“I’ve missed you, too, babes. I love you. I want us to raise these babies together. Obviously we need to talk about everything. And I need assurances that you won’t… you know… again. But believe me, I love you. And I love these two little fellas.”

Gemma sniffed and composed herself. “I love you, too. You’re such a good man.”

They shared an affectionate smile. Sam’s heart somersaulted with joy. 

Gemma gestured to the babies. “Meet your sons, then, daddy!”

“Hello, little tiny babies!”

“I’m calling them Scott and Paul,” Gemma said.

Jack groaned jovially. “You’re naming our sons after those two?”

“Don’t you like those names?” Gemma asked.

Jack peered at his sleeping babies. “I guess it’s better than ‘Sam and Verlaine’.”

Sam chuckled. “Oi!”

Verlaine draped his arm around her shoulders. “Hey, shall we leave these two to get acquainted with their new family? I’ve got something I need to ask you.”

Nervous excitement squirmed through Sam’s chest. “Oh, really? I wonder what that could be!”

“Hopefully third time lucky,” he said. “Gemma shouldn’t be able to interrupt this time.”

Gemma shot him a playful scowl. Then she smiled tenderly at her soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Make sure you say yes, Sammy. Verlaine’s one in a million.”

“I know.” Sam gazed at her beautiful sister, then stepped over and kissed her. “I was so worried about you. I love you, Gemma.”

“I love you, too, Aunty Sammy!”

“Oh god! That’s gonna take some getting used to!”

Sam leaned over and peered in the crib. This time she was able to get a closer look at the babies – they really were adorable. One of them snuffled and opened his eyes. He seemed to look directly at Sam, which stirred her heart with tender love. She swallowed back her tears and transferred her attention back to her sister.

“I’ll leave you with your husband. I’m so proud of you, Gem.”

“I’m proud of you, too, Sam.”

“Why? I fainted like a big girl’s blouse! Completely useless.”

Gemma shook her head. “No, you’re amazing. You inspire me every time I see you. You’re one of the best people in my life, and I’m so happy to have you as my sister.”

They shared a loving smile. Then Sam put her arm around Verlaine and they strolled into the corridor to tell Scott and Paul the good news about their tiny namesakes.