Something Wonderful Read online

  “I’ll string the ginger-headed cunt up by his balls if he ever crosses my path,” Valerie announced. “What an absolute wanker.”

  “Valerie,” I exclaimed, horrified by her use of the c word. “Do you have to?”

  She was haughty in her reply. “Yes, Michelle, I do have to and to be quite frank, Little Miss Perfect, if there was a stronger word than cunt I could use, I’d say it because sometimes the worst words in the world are the only ones that will suffice on such occasions. Okay!”

  Maggie Jane and Carol laughed.

  “Well, that told you,” Carol sniggered.

  “I guess it did.”

  “Right,” I said, wanting to diffuse the tension I had obviously caused. “Who’s having what?”

  “Gin for me,” Valerie shouted first.

  “Fresh Orange for me,” Maggie Jane said.

  “I’ll come to the bar with you,” Carol volunteered. “And help you with the drinks.”

  We walked to the bar hand in hand.

  “How are you?”

  “Fine,” she replied. “I’ve missed you these last few days.”

  “What’s been going on?”

  “Kevin is being an arsehole again.”

  “What’s he up to now?”

  “He’s been offered a job in Bournemouth. He told me today he has decided to take it so he will only be able to see Jamie once every three months.”

  “Oh, no!”

  “So of course, it’s all my fault. I’ve had a dog’s life these last few days. He wants to go with him, but Kevin has said flat out no, which is fine because I wouldn’t have allowed it anyway, but rather than be honest and say no, he’s made it look like my fault.”

  “Why does he have to be such an idiot?”

  “Because that’s him.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll sort it–” I was distracted by a scream.

  I turned and watched as Maggie Jane slipped and flew forwards. She landed against the table with a thud and collapsed into a heap on the floor, crying out and clutching her belly.

  Valerie screamed across the bar. “Michelle. Call an ambulance, now.”

  Chapter Twenty seven - The Stork Has Arrived

  I was frantic in the back of the ambulance.

  Carol and Valerie followed behind in a taxi.

  Maggie Jane was in agony, crying out. The baby was on her way and there was nothing anybody could do to stop it.

  She was wheeled into surgery, but I was told nothing.

  I paced the floors as Carol disappeared trying to find out something that would settle my mind.

  Thankfully, Richie arrived, and I felt calmer.

  “What the hell happened?” he asked.

  “Some idiot spilled their drink, and she slipped on it and crashed into the table.” Valerie looked shaken.

  “What were you doing in a bar, Shell?”

  “She wanted to show off her new wig.”

  “Is she going to be okay?”

  “We don’t know anything yet. They rushed her straight through to theatre, but she was bleeding.”

  Valerie spoke first. “I’ve a feeling she suffered a placental abruption.”

  “How do you know that?” Richie asked.

  “I recognize the signs–before I had my children I qualified as a nurse.”

  “And what does it mean?” I asked.

  “It means both mother and baby are in danger.”

  I appreciated her honesty, even if it was the last thing I wanted to hear. “Oh, God.”

  The double doors at the end of the corridor opened and a man in a green gown with matching head scarf approached.

  “Are you the family of Miss Milner?”

  “I’m her sister, Michelle Diaz, and her next of kin. Is she okay?”

  “I’m afraid your sister has suffered a placental abruption and as a result, we had to deliver her baby rather earlier than we would like.”

  I didn’t like where this was heading.

  “Is the baby okay?” Richie asked.

  “We did everything we could, I’m sorry but–”

  My knees went from underneath me. Richie caught me just in time. “No, no, no,” I cried. “Not the baby.”

  Valerie burst into tears.

  “Mrs Diaz, please, allow me to finish. We’ve done all we can and it’s in the hands of the Gods now, but she stands a good chance of pulling through.”

  “Thank you, God.” I knew losing the baby would have been the end for my sister. “Thank you, God,” I repeated.

  “How’s Mags-Maggie Jane, I mean?”

  “There were complications during the delivery.”

  “What complications?”

  “Your sister suffered severe blood loss and coupled with shock it resulted in cardiac arrest…”

  “God, no….” I felt my head begin to spin. “Please, no…”

  “We managed to stabilise her, for the moment, and have moved her to ICU, but you must understand, she is very weak due to the chemotherapy and lack of immune system, so I can’t say with certainty that she will make it through the night.”

  Richie gasped and Valerie held onto the wall.

  “Is there nothing else you can do?” I asked, desperate for him to allow me a shred of hope.

  “I’m sorry, but the next twelve hours are critical.”

  “Can we see her?” Richie asked.

  “Only one visitor to the bed but please give the team upstairs half an hour or so to get her settled, then head up there by all means.”

  He turned and walked away, taking my heart and soul with him.

  “I need to sit down.”

  “Let’s go outside,” Richie added. “I need a cigarette.”

  “Okay.” I couldn’t think straight.

  “I’ll call Carol and tell her to meet us out there,” Valerie added. “We’ll follow you out.”

  ∞∞∞

  An hour later and I was finally admitted into Maggie Jane’s room.

  I felt awful because I hadn’t even asked where baby Hope was. I had to know she was okay, so I sent Richie and Carol to find out what they could.

  Valerie went home but only on the strict understanding I’d call her if there was any change.

  Walking into the room, the beeping of the machines terrified me.

  I wasn’t sure if my sister was breathing on her own, or if the machines were doing it for her.

  She was deathly pale, almost dead-like, but I couldn’t allow myself to wander down that path. I had to keep thinking she would be okay.

  I sat at the side of the bed and took her hand in mine. It felt clammy to the touch. “Trust you,” I whispered. “Always a bloody drama, but this time you’ve really excelled yourself.”

  The machine beeped as a nurse came into the room and smiled at me. “It’s okay, lovey, you carry on, she can hear you.”

  “You’ve got a brand-new baby girl that needs to be looked after, so I’m allowing you a little time to rest, then you have to get up and look after her, do you hear me?” I desperately wanted her to answer me. “She needs her mummy, and I need my sister so don’t you dare leave us. You promised me, remember.”

  I rested my head on the bed, my breathing falling into pattern with the bleeping of the machines and cried. I never thought I would feel this heartbreak again, not after losing my parents, but this was much worse. It wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

  I kissed her hand, then looked up, willing her eyes to open. I wanted to stay close to her. Would she know I was there waiting for her to come back? I didn’t know but I wasn’t going to leave her, no matter what. She’d put up with so much these last few months, fought through chemotherapy, and guarded her precious baby girl. Hell, she’d even knocked back cabbage water like her life depended on it. A fall wasn’t going to take her away from me.

  I rested my head on the bed once more, my hand in hers.

  Chapter Twenty eight - The Day She Went Away

  The nurse walked quietly into the room. After per
forming her usual round of checks, she spoke gently. “It won’t be long now.”

  Richie sat in the corner and looked like his world had ended.

  Dillon hadn’t uttered a word in days.

  I looked at my beautiful sister. It can’t end like this.

  It had been days since she had fallen, then given birth to Hope, but she still hadn’t woken up.

  After numerous tests, her doctors said it was unlikely she would ever wake and to prepare ourselves for the worst. But she had woken up, briefly, and suddenly the room was filled with nurses trying to revive her.

  She had suffered another cardiac arrest, but they managed to bring her back. It was the beginning of the end.

  Sitting on the chair next to her bed, I stroked her hand soothingly. “You’re not supposed to leave me like this, Mags. You promised me.”

  She squeezed my hand, or I thought she had.

  Richie approached the bed, his eyes red from crying. “Come on, Mags, open your eyes and shout at me, just like you used to.” I’d never seen him like this.

  “She would if she could, you know that.”

  “Dillon, do you want to come and speak to your Aunty Mags?”

  “No,” he replied, sourly.

  “That’s okay, love. She knows you’re here.”

  He slumped back into his chair, too young to deal with any of this. I was in my thirties and was falling apart so how was he expected to cope at his age?

  “It might be the last chance you get, son.” Richie said what I wanted to say but couldn’t bring myself to.

  “I said, no.” He pushed himself out of the chair and rushed out of the room.

  “Leave him be, Richie,” I said. “I’d rather he wasn’t in the room when it’s time.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening, Shell. Not to Mags, not like this.”

  “They’ve tried everything they have, but she’s not strong enough to fight.” I stroked her face. “My brave and beautiful little sister, you know I love you the world over and if I could take your place I would.”

  “Don’t say that, Shell.”

  “Why not? It’s how I feel.” I cracked. “That little girl downstairs will never know how marvellous she was, how crazy, how daring, how loving.”

  “She will because we’ll tell her when the time is right.”

  “We shouldn’t have to. Hope should be able to grow up with her mum beside her.” Anger crept in.

  “Don’t you think I know that?”

  “It’s not her time, Rich, not yet.”

  He put his head down. “I’m sorry, Shell, let’s not do this, not now. She can hear every word we’re saying.”

  I turned back to Maggie Jane. “Are you listening to this? We don’t want you to go.” I held onto her hand again. “What are we going to do without you? What’s Hope going to do without you here?”

  And right then, she opened her eyes and looked at me.

  “Rich,” I said, feeling hopeful. “She’s awake.”

  He rushed to the side of the bed. “Mags, can you hear me?”

  She focused on him for a moment and smiled, then looked back to me.

  “Tell Hope that I love her more than anything and always will.”

  “You tell her, Mags, you tell her.”

  She smiled and closed her eyes as the room was filled by the sound of the machines beeping.

  I turned to look at the monitor, panic stricken to see the flatline.

  Nurses rushed into the room, but it was too late.

  My gorgeous baby sister wasn’t strong enough to fight anymore and had gained her wings.

  Today was the day she went away.

  ∞∞∞

  “Come on, Michelle, wakey-wakey.” I didn’t recognise the voice.

  I opened my eyes and looked up. It was only a dream. She wasn’t dead. Sobs came out of me in waves as Richie rushed into the room.

  The nurse was stood behind me.

  “Shell, what’s wrong?”

  “I fell asleep and dreamt she’d died.” I couldn’t control my emotions.

  He pulled me into his arms. “It was just a dream, babe, she’s still here, fighting, just like she always does.”

  Chapter Twenty nine - Survivor

  I didn’t sleep a wink, too scared after the awful dream I’d had earlier on.

  Instead I maintained my vigil, praying she would open her eyes and give me hell.

  I got my wish nine hours later.

  By this time, her vitals had stabilised, and the doctor said there was every chance she would pull through.

  “God, you look rough,” were here first words. “You could have brushed your hair.”

  I’d almost forgotten I didn’t have any hair to brush. She hadn’t lost her sense of humour it seemed. “Cheeky cow,” I replied. “Decided to wake up have you?”

  “Is Hope okay?”

  “Yes, she fine, smaller than the doctors would like, but she will get stronger day by day.”

  “I want to see her.”

  Richie had pre-empted this and had taken a picture of her on his phone and rushed to get it printed out and laminated.

  “Here, I have a picture of her for you. She was only an hour or so old, but is just gorgeous, like her mummy.”

  She looked weak, so I placed the picture in her hand. Her eyes focused on it, then filled with tears. “I did it, Shell. She’s really going to be okay?”

  “You did and yes, she is going to be just fine in time, as are you.”

  Richie entered the room and his face lit up with a smile. “You’re awake?”

  “Only just,” I said.

  “I want to see my baby,” she said.

  “Let me go and get the nurse for you.”

  “Has he been here all this time?” she asked.

  “He only left to get the photo developed for you.”

  “I’ll love him for doing that forever.”

  “He has a good heart.”

  The nurse came in, followed by a doctor then Richie.

  “Would you mind waiting outside for a few minutes?” The nurse guided us to the door. “While doctor checks on the patient.”

  “I’ll go and see Hope and take a few pictures on my phone.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “But hurry back.”

  I rushed out of the room and along the corridor, excited to see my niece with my own eyes.

  The picture didn’t do her justice. She was adorable.

  I clicked away at her from behind the glass and told myself I wasn’t going to cry. I failed miserably. But they were happy tears.

  My phone vibrated. It was a text from Carol.

  I dashed into the visitor room and called her.

  “How is she?”

  “She woke up about ten minutes ago.” I had a smile from ear to ear.”

  “Oh, that’s a relief. And the baby, how is she?”

  “Perfect. I was just there taking pictures for Mags.”

  “And, how are you?”

  “Much better now I know she’s awake.”

  “It was touch and go for a moment, wasn’t it?”

  “I don’t ever want to go through that again.”

  “Valerie is in a terrible state and is blaming herself.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “She thinks she should have spotted the spillage in time.”

  “Gosh, it’s not her fault at all. I need to call her and tell her.”

  “Do you want me to do it for you?”

  “No, that’s okay, I can do it, but I’d like to see you.”

  “When?”

  “Now Mags is awake, they’ll kick me out and make me stick to visiting hours, so why don’t I call you after visiting tonight and you can meet me at my place. We can order takeaway and relax.”

  “If you’re sure?”

  “I miss being with you, Carol.”

  “I miss you too, but understand family comes first.”

  “I’d like you to be my family too.” Had I sa
id too much?

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “I’m saying, I want you in my life, not just as somebody I see now and again, but somebody I wake up next to.”

  “Wow. I wasn’t expecting to hear that.”

  “If you don’t feel the same way, I understand, but this has taught me life is too short.”

  “Can we talk tonight, properly?”

  “Sure,” I said, aware I might have ruined everything.

  “It’s not that I don’t feel the same, but something’s come up I need to talk to you about.”

  “Okay,” I replied, wondering what bombshell she was going to drop on me. “I’ll call you later.”

  “See you soon,” she said, before ringing off.

  I was too curious, wondering what she needed to tell me.

  There were more important things to worry about though. I wanted to get back to my sister and show her the pictures of her little bundle of joy.

  “Let me see,” Maggie Jane said, reaching for my phone.

  “She’s gorgeous.” I could see the love she had for her, and that was without seeing her.

  “The doctor said once I’m moved to the High Dependency Unit tomorrow, I can visit Hope.”

  “Well, that’s good news, so you need to rest tonight and focus on getting well enough so you can be with her all the time.”

  “Yes, nothing’s going to stop me being with her.”

  I smiled. Cancer had knocked my sister for six but carrying Hope had given her the strength for the fight. Giving birth, even in the most traumatic of circumstances would help her win the battle.

  For the first time in months, I felt hopeful.

  I thought about that little girl lying in the incubator on the floor below. Her name suited her perfectly.

  Chapter Thirty - Moving On

  It was good to see Carol. It felt like a lifetime since I’d last seen her, but in reality, it was only hours.

  We greeted one another with a kiss at the front door. She looked hot in tight white jeans and a gypsy style top. Her make up was flawless as per usual, but I could see something was bothering her.

  “Hello, you.” I wrapped my arms around her.

  “You look better than the last time I saw you.”