Exhausted and elated, Layla cradled their beautiful newborn daughter in her arms. Mesmerized by her baby girl, their seven-pounds-and-seven-ounces marvel with tufty auburn hair, Layla sat propped up on pillows in her king-size oasis of a bed. Happily, the impromptu home birth was problem-free. The speedy labor had left her shaken, but relieved and delighted to be holding her baby at last.
As soon as the news was out, Alex and Maggie, Ralph and Jasmine, and Mervin visited. Everyone agreed to stay to dinner, including the midwife and a local GP who’d swung by to check on Layla and the new arrival.
Shamefully it wasn’t until the delicious smells of food whipped up by Alex from his brother’s selection of spicy ingredients filled the air that anyone noticed the dog was missing. Alex, Ralph and Mervin offered to search the beach, insistent that Nick stay with Layla and the baby.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll find her, she won’t have gone far,’ Mervin said reassuringly.
Just as the three men were about to set off there was a knock at the kitchen door and Nick opened up to find Joe with Ophelia and the discarded picnic hamper.
A cheer went up in the kitchen and the scruffy little dog looked at the room full of people as if wondering what all the fuss was about.
‘I found her guarding the picnic from seagulls, although to be honest she wasn’t so much protecting it as polishing it off. You won’t need to feed her for a week.’
Nick laughed. ‘Thanks for bringing her home.’ He shook Joe by the hand.
‘How’s Layla?’
‘Good.’
‘And the baby?’
‘Fantastic, a bit over-cooked, but otherwise, great. Would you like to come in? We’re opening a bottle of bubbly. You’re welcome to join.’
Joe smiled. ‘I won’t, thanks. I’m helping my parents at the restaurant tonight. Lots of last minute customers because of the good weather.’ He handed over the forgotten engagement ring. ‘Ophelia was also looking after this.’ Moving to walk away, he turned back, ‘Tell Layla I said congratulations.’
Later, when all their guests had left, Nick sat on the bed and circled his arms around Layla and the tiny bundle. Washed out but content with her newborn daughter in her arms, she inhaled the sweet baby scent, the rush of unconditional love a big contrast to the surge of inadequacy she’d felt earlier. She adored the baby’s little hands and tiny fingers.
‘She’s a little doll.’ She touched the pad of one finger to baby’s soft cheek, getting to know the scrunched-up pink face. The newborn wriggled and one of her tiny baby gloves popped off. Layla patiently put it on again and carefully rocked her as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
‘I’m sorry about the abseil. I was selfish. I should have cancelled.’
She shook her head. ‘The timing was a bit off. But I love that you did it. I still don’t believe it.’
Nick seized the quiet moment. ‘And if a wedding isn’t what you want, I respect that. I won’t push you again.’
She read a ton of emotion in his eyes. ‘You were amazing today. I didn’t panic because you were there. I trusted you to know what to do. Without your quick thinking I’d have given birth on Porthkara beach.’ She pressed a kiss to his irresistible lips. ‘I love you. You know how even on the greyest of days the sun is up there shining in the sky behind the clouds? Well that’s what you are to me.’
Your love is the brightness in all my tomorrows.
Lightly he returned her kiss, murmuring against her smile, ‘That’s good to know.’ He touched her chin and tilted her face to look at him. ‘I want you to know you can rely on me. Always. Forever. I’m here to stay.’
‘I can’t describe how happy I am right now. Let’s not wait any longer. How about we set a date for the wedding? Get married this summer, before you start work on the next movie?’
‘You got it.’ He hit her with his smile and she burst with joy as he took the ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her finger. He lowered his head to kiss the baby’s crown. ‘She hasn’t got a name.’
‘I’ve been thinking. How about Evie?’
Together they quietly considered the sleeping baby. Nick glanced over at the dog lying obediently just outside the bedroom door. ‘What do you think O? Does she look like an Evie to you?’ Ophelia gave a hushed yelp. ‘I think that’s a yes.’
‘I chose it because my grandmother’s name was Eve. The question is, do you like it?’ Layla whispered.
‘It’s perfect. Beautiful little Evie.’
Instinctively Layla knew she’d be forever besotted with their daughter. One day she’d tell Evie about her great-grandmother, and how she’d wished for Layla to be lucky in love.
She passed the baby to Nick, loving the awe on his face, her apprehension gone.
‘Hi Evie, I’m your dad. And this extraordinary woman right here, she’s your mum, and I love her and you with all my heart.’
Confident that they’d be together forever, happy tears pricked behind Layla’s eyes. She blinked them back. Once upon a time she’d convinced herself that Nick hadn’t any love to give. She’d been wrong on that oh-so-important point. She smiled at him and moved her hand to cup his face, the brush of his stubble touched her palm and her engagement ring sparkled in the soft lamplight. Her heart skipped as she kissed him, more than anything she wanted to be his wife.