Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,56

a dream come true to have him here. And now he’s going to try to do that for his child too. It makes no sense to me.’

‘I … I don’t want to seem uncaring. Or say something out of place, but what will he do if ... if those two things collide?’

‘If I’m still ill, or dying when his child is born, you mean?’

Molly nodded. She didn’t want to say the words out loud.

Vicky shook her head. ‘He’ll try to do both and he’ll no doubt wear himself out. Or end up having a heart attack from all the stress. To be honest, I have no idea and what’s more, he doesn’t either. That’s something we’ll have to deal with when it happens.’

‘If it happens. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m certain your operation will be successful and you’ll be up and about again in no time. Long before your … your grandchild is born.’

‘My grandchild.’ Vicky sighed loudly. ‘Sometimes life can be cruel, Molly. Just a few weeks ago if anyone had asked me, I’d have said I would give anything to see Chance happily married and that to be a grandmother would be icing on my cake and a dream come true. But now all I can think about is that Chance should be with you and that this baby is more of a curse than a blessing. And that’s a dreadful thing for me to say. But I know Chance will end up being miserable and yet nothing I’ve said so far will make him see that. Perhaps you can make him see sense.’

‘I … I’m not sure I can do that. I don’t want to try to make him do something he doesn’t want to. I … I think, perhaps, if it’s all right with you, I should go back to stay at my brother’s. But that means I’d have to leave Miracle here with you and Chance.’

Vicky studied her face for a moment before smiling wanly. ‘Miracle has a home with me for life, Molly. There is no need for you to worry about him. And you can come and stay whenever you like. And, wherever in the world Chance may be, whether that’s here or in New York, if anything happens to me, Chance will give Miracle a home with him. That much I can promise you.’

‘Thanks. I know that’s true. And now I think I should get dressed and go.’ She placed her mug on the bedside table and took Vicky’s other hand in hers, squeezing both hands gently. ‘Thank you so much for everything, Vicky. This was the best Christmas I’ve had for a long time. I’m just … well. There’s no point in going into that. Will you … will you say goodbye to Chance for me, please? I really don’t think I can face him today. Or any day soon come to that. My heart is breaking and if his is too, I know I couldn’t bear it.’

‘If that’s really what you want, of course, sweetheart. But I think you two need to talk about this. I really think you do. But maybe not today. You’re right. A few days apart might do you both some good. It might even make Chance see sense.’

Molly knew a few days apart wouldn’t do her any good at all. But then neither would being here. With him. So close, and yet now even farther apart than ever.

After Vicky left her, she called Sarah and asked if she could go back to stay with them. Without Miracle.

‘You can even bring him if that would help ease the pain,’ Sarah said. ‘I can live with a few sniffles and a runny nose. I’ve got plenty of tablets.’

‘That’s really kind, but we both know your allergy involves a lot more than sniffles and a runny nose, and I wouldn’t inflict that on you again, no matter what.’

‘How come you’re being so calm? Isn’t your heart breaking in two?’

Molly sighed heavily. ‘Yes, Sarah. It is. But I think I’m still in a state of shock or something. None of this feels real. Not Chance telling Vicky he loves me. Not him being a dad. Not the fact that I’ll never get the opportunity to tell him how I feel. None of it. It’s like I’m watching some awful movie and I’m just waiting for it to end. It’s almost as if I’m in a nightmare and I’m sure I’ll wake up and things will be as they