“Night,” Tally said waving their guests off. She clicked the door shut and bolted it. Dead on her feet, she trudged back into the kitchen.

Cash was loading the dishwasher, a job he still hated and used as an excuse every time he told Tally they needed a housekeeper-cum-nanny. She was digging her heels in over that issue. Anna, their housekeeper in Northern Ireland, was different. She’d been with Cash for years and was a trusted member of their extended family. But the thought of having to put that trust in a stranger—well, she wasn’t up for it.

“Thanks, ace,” she said, pulling out a chair from the dining table and sagging into it. “So tell me, how much did you all hear?”

Cash switched the dishwasher on and turned around. He leaned against it, one foot crossed over the other, his arms casually folded across his chest.

“Everything.”

Tally touched a hand to her neck. “Meredith would be mortified.”

“No one will tell her.” He held out his arms. “C’mere, baby.”

She staggered to her feet and snuggled into the warmth of his embrace.

“I’m glad you don’t look like a model,” he said, chuckling in her ear. “You know how much I adore your curves.”

Tally smiled against his neck. “Why didn’t you switch off the monitor when you realised we were chatting?”

“And miss all that?” Cash said, a hint of mirth in his voice. “Not a chance. Besides, I’m glad I heard Meredith take full responsibility for what she did.” He pulled back and studied her face. “She was right about one thing. I’m the lucky one. No contest.”

Tally cupped both hands around the back of his neck and urged his mouth towards hers. She kissed him. His lips were so warm and comforting, taking her to a place of safety, a place where nothing could hurt her. As Cash deepened the kiss, those feelings of warmth and comfort ramped up into heat and desire. She moaned softly as his hands moved around her back, pulling her closer to him.

He broke off the kiss, and as his eyes met hers, he smiled.

“What are you up to?” she said, recognising that cheeky grin anywhere.

He showed her his watch. “It’s past midnight.”

“I know. That’s why I’m knackered. And your daughter will be awake in three hours for her feed.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Six weeks. She’s six weeks old today.” He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching. “How tired are you, sweetness?”

It took her a couple of seconds, but she finally caught on. “You can’t remember we need milk or cereal, but you remember that?”

“Baby, that is way more important than either of those other things.”

He bent his knees and swept her into his arms. She squealed in surprise and then clapped a hand over her mouth so as not to wake Darcey.

He took off upstairs, holding her with ease. At the foot of their bed, he gently deposited her back on her feet. He set the baby monitor—which he’d somehow managed to carry as well as her—on the bedside table. Flicking her hair over her shoulders, he gazed at her intently.

“If this is too soon or you’re too tired or it hurts, you have to promise to tell me. I know what you’re like, and I don’t––”

“Shhh,” she said, placing her index finger over his mouth. “Stop talking. I want this. I want you.”

Cash undressed so quickly, Tally couldn’t help laughing, but when he took much more time removing her clothes, one piece at a time, her laughter faded. When they were both naked, his body skimmed past hers as he moved behind her, and she exhaled on a shudder as his erection nudged against her backside.

His hands settled on her abdomen, and she dredged up every bit of willpower not to react and pull her belly in. The skin across her stomach was still baggy from being stretched for nine months, and she doubted it would ever revert to its prebaby state, but after his reaction at the hospital, she owed him the respect of believing him when he said he didn’t care.

His lips felt cool as he kissed across her shoulder blade, and her knees trembled as he worked his way down her back, his mouth warming as they absorbed the heat from her skin. Once on his knees behind her, he nudged her legs apart, and in that instant, she was swamped with fear and embarrassment. She’d pushed a baby out of her vagina and been stitched back together when Darcey’s entrance into the world had torn Tally’s tender flesh. And it didn’t matter how good the surgeon was—she couldn’t possibly look the same as she had before giving birth.

She clamped her legs together. Cash paused, one hand on her thigh.

“If it’s too soon––”

She shook her head. “It’s not that.” She twisted around and sank to her knees until they were face to face. She met his gaze, and as she read confusion in the depths of his warm grey eyes, she dropped her chin to her chest.

“Baby, stop. You’re scaring me.” He clipped a finger under her chin. “Talk to me.”

Heat flooded her face. Why did she still find it so difficult to talk about these things? After everything they’d been through, all the experiences they’d shared…

She took a deep breath. “What if it’s not the same?” she mumbled in a barely audible voice. “What if it looks like Bride of Frankenstein or something?”

There was the briefest of pauses before a wide grin spread across Cash’s face. “You crazy woman. Christ, I love the fucking bones of you.” He slid his hands around the back of her neck and leaned in. He kissed her, softly at first, but after a few seconds, his mouth became harder, more insistent, and as she opened beneath him, his tongue surged inside, lapping at the inside of her mouth, taking everything she had to give.

Her heartbeat kicked up several notches when he lifted her so her thighs were on either side of his. He broke off the kiss, and as their eyes met, a spike of desire shot into her bloodstream.

“Lean back,” he said, supporting her with his hands. She did as he asked until she was lying on the floor, her legs still on either side of his, exposing herself to him. He glanced down at the apex of her thighs before lifting his eyes to hers. They were sparkling with mischief.

“Baby, you’ve always had a pussy to die for, but now, it’s like my daughter has given me a new pair of eyes, and I see everything so much clearer than before. You’re more beautiful to me now. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but it’s true.”

A breath snagged in her throat as relief coursed through her. “So it doesn’t look horrific?”

Cash burst out laughing. “No. It looks the same. Do you want me to get a mirror so you can take a look?”

“Ew, no,” Tally said, giving him an appalled glance, which made him laugh even more.

He scooped her up and laid her on the bed. He bent her legs and pushed her thighs apart, and when he dipped his head, the sound he made, one of pure lust and longing, chased away every fear she had. She flung her arms over her head as Cash’s hands and tongue began to stroke her slowly, rhythmically. Her stomach clenched, and her toes involuntarily curled. She was so close. She dug her hands in his hair.

“Cash, no,” she muttered. “I want you inside me when I come.”

He crawled up her body, his journey interspersed with sweet kisses. He paused at her breasts, taking turns laving each erect nipple and pulling it into his warm, wet mouth.

Tally arched her back, spasms of pleasure darting through her. “Don’t make me wait.”

He groaned and reached for a condom. After rolling it over his erection, he returned his mouth to hers and gently pushed into her, an inch at a time. She couldn’t have felt more loved, more cherished. He stretched her slowly, no more than she could take, and when he’d completely filled her, she tore her mouth from his.

“I want to see you, ace,” she said, holding his gaze without blinking.

A soft groan eased from his throat. “God, I love you,” he whispered as his thrusts became harder, more urgent. “So much, baby. So much.”

She cupped his face—his beautiful face that was so dear to her. But what they had was so much more than skin-deep. He was her heart, her soul, her very breath, and when he shifted position, hitting just the right point inside, pleasure overtook her.

“Jesus,” she muttered as her climax powered through her, making her body jerk as a rush of heat spread outward from her core. As she came, so did Cash. Their eyes locked, neither looking away as, in that moment, they became one.

* * *

The peal of the telephone mingled with Darcey’s screams. Tally groaned and rolled onto her side. She squinted at the clock. It was 2:40 in the morning.

The phone stopped ringing, only to start up again immediately.

“Cash, wake up,” she mumbled, shaking his arm. “Get the phone. I’ll see to Darcey.”

Bleary-eyed, she threw on a dressing gown and staggered across the hall to the nursery. Darcey had managed to kick off all her covers, and Gary the Gorilla was squashed between the mattress and the sides of the cot, his face twisted at a weird angle.

“Oh dear,” Tally said, lifting her out of the cot. “I’m not sure Gary is going to recover.”

Darcey’s wails turned to sobbing hiccups as Tally bent over to retrieve Gary. His face had been flattened on one side, making him look rather strange.

“At least Daddy will be happy,” she said. “Although Auntie Kinga may be a little more put out.”

She’d only just sat in the chair and begun feeding Darcey when Cash appeared in the doorway. His face was ashen, and she could tell he was barely holding it together. A cold chill swept over her.

“What’s wrong?”

“That was William. Kinga’s in hospital.”

Tally’s hand tightened on the stuffed toy Kinga had bought for Darcey, the stuffed toy that was now ruined. Somehow, it seemed like a prophecy.

“Is she… is she…?” Her words trailed off, and she struggled to hold back tears. Cash would need her to be the strong one, not to have her fall apart at the first sign of an emergency.

“She was taken in last night with breathing problems, and she’s asking to see me. I can tell by William’s voice that he’s shit-scared. I told him we’d be right there, but I understand if you don’t want to come.”

“Of course I’m coming,” she said, a little pissed he’d suggested otherwise.

He squeezed her shoulder gently. “It’s because I know you’re knackered. You’ve had less than an hour of sleep.”

“So have you. Anyway, Kinga is more important. You get dressed and then pack a bag for Darcey in case we’re at the hospital a while. I’ll finish feeding her, and then we can go.”

Cash nodded. He shoved a hand through his hair as he glanced helplessly around the room.

“Over there, in her wardrobe,” Tally said, pointing even though he knew where the damn wardrobe was. “Nappies in the top drawer, and pack a couple of changes of clothes for her.”

“Maybe we should ask Mum to take her.”

“No,” Tally said forcefully. “She stays with us. Besides,” she added, in a gentler tone, “I’m sure Kinga would love to see her if she’s well enough. And if she isn’t, we’ll figure it out.”

Half an hour later, they set off for the hospital. Neither of them spoke on the way there, both deep in thought. What if this was the beginning of the end? Kinga had looked really well at the homecoming for Darcey, and that had only been a week earlier. How could so much change in that short a time?

The hospital car park was rammed, but they managed to squash the car into a space that turned out to be far too small when Tally realised she couldn’t get out. Cash drove forward, waited until she’d got Darcey out of the car, and reversed again. He slid out of the driver’s side as if he were limbo dancing.

“Fucking ridiculous.” He picked up Darcey’s car seat, being careful not to rock her, and slipped his arm around Tally’s waist.

“Relax, ace,” she said, applying light pressure to his back, enough to convey she was there for him.

“I’m not prepared, babe,” he said, glancing down at her as they strode towards the hospital entrance.

Fear rolled through her, and the hair lifted at the nape of her neck. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing. I’m just assuming the worst.”

Cash swept them past the reception area and headed straight for the bank of lifts. He ushered her inside and pressed the button for the eighth floor. The hospital was deserted—not too surprising, given the early hour.

Exiting the lift, he took her hand, and they turned left and strode down the corridor. William must have told him which room they were in. Sure enough, Cash drew to a halt outside a door that bore a brass plaque that read, “The Elisabeth Mount Suite.”

He rapped on the door once and then pushed it open.

Kinga was asleep, a couple of pillows propping her head up. Her skin was paper-thin, and there was a light sheen of sweat across her forehead. She was hooked up to two IV lines, one needle in each arm. She was so skinny. Tally wouldn’t have been surprised to find out Kinga had lost a stone in the last week.

William glanced over his shoulder, a flash of relief sweeping across his face. “I’m so sorry,” he said, waving at a couple of chairs. “I didn’t expect you to come, Tally. Not with the little one.”

Tally offered him a faint smile. “Don’t you worry about it.” She rubbed his shoulder, kissed Kinga on the cheek, and pulled one of the chairs closer. She took Kinga’s hand in hers. It was cold, the skin pulled tight over her knuckles. Tally rubbed it between her palms, hoping to warm her a little.

“How is she?” Cash said, sitting in the other chair. He gently placed Darcey’s car seat on the floor beside his feet.

William shook his head. “They had to sedate her because she was so distressed. She’ll be out for a few hours yet, but it does seem to have settled her down. Her breathing is much more steady. They won’t tell me anything about her long-term prognosis. It’s all ‘We have to wait and see,’ and ‘We’re doing everything we can.’ I want them to tell it to me straight.”

“Fucking doctors,” Cash muttered.

“It was the same when Cash was in hospital in Paris,” Tally said. “They wouldn’t tell me anything. Drove me crazy.”

“Why don’t I see if I can get anything out of them?” Cash said.

“No point. The consultant won’t be here until nine.”

“What the fuck is this?” Cash hissed under his breath. “Part-time medical care?”

A ghost of a smile flitted across William’s face, even though Cash hadn’t been joking. “Yeah. At full-time prices.”

Cash smiled then. “I’ll bet. Why don’t you go and get a coffee or something? You look like you could do with the caffeine. We’ll stay with her.”

William hesitated, no doubt torn between knowing Cash was right and wanting to stay with Kinga in case she took a downturn. The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on Tally, bringing back more memories of her dad. At least Kinga didn’t seem to be in any pain, although Tally knew that would change. No matter how many drugs they pumped into her, in the end, it was a horrible way to go.

“Go on, William,” Tally said. “As you said, she’ll be out until morning.”

The smile he gave her was so grateful that it made her heart clench painfully. He stood and then stretched out his back.

“Can I get you anything?”

Cash nodded. “Coffee would be good. Sleep is at a premium at the moment.”

William glanced fondly at Darcey. “Worth it, though.” Then his face fell. “I would have loved a family. Guess we don’t always get what we want.”

He dashed through the door before either of them could answer, although what Tally could say to a comment like that when she had everything, and William would soon have nothing, was beyond her.

“God, baby,” Cash said as soon as William was out of earshot. “She looks awful. I can’t believe it. She was fine last week.”

Tally could barely catch her breath as memories flooded her mind. Dad, full of energy, vibrant, handsome. A month after his diagnosis, he could barely walk to the bathroom on his own, his vitality gone, his face and body ravaged by cancer. An aggressive form, they’d said. Two months max, they’d said. Dad had stuck up two fingers to that. He’d held out for three months.

“Babe?” Cash brushed her arm, his fingers gentle as they made contact with her skin.

Her head snapped up. “Sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have let you come.”

Tally covered his hand with hers. “Sometimes the memories hit me so hard I can barely breathe. They’re probably more prevalent because of Meredith coming back into my life, but I’m not going anywhere, Cash. I want to be here for Kinga and for you. Besides, William looks like he’s going to collapse at any minute. He’s going to need us both to be strong for him.”

“I want us to get married,” Cash blurted out.

Tally met his gaze. “We are.”

“No, I mean today, tomorrow, this week. As soon as we can arrange it. I know I promised you the whole big affair, but I don’t want to wait any longer. None of us know what’s going to happen.”

Tally rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll happily marry you wearing a bin bag. I don’t care about the big white wedding.”

His body trembled as his arm came around her. “Then we’ll do it as soon as we can.”

When William returned with their coffees, the three of them sat in silence. Occasionally, a nurse would pop in to check Kinga’s vitals, but mostly, they were left alone.

Cash and William eventually began to doze, their chins dropping to their chests, and when Darcey started to grizzle, Tally took her outside, loath to wake either of them or disturb Kinga.

She found a bathroom with baby-changing facilities, and after Tally had fed, burped and changed her, Darcey rewarded her with a smile.

“What would I do without you, baby girl?” she said, covering Darcey’s face in kisses, which brought more smiles. She was such a good-natured baby. Sure, she cried like they all did, but once she was dry and fed, she tended to settle down, happy to kick her legs and wave her arms, pretty much entertaining herself. She and Cash were so incredibly lucky, especially with everything going on. A difficult baby would have added to the pressure they were under.

Tally’s stomach growled, and she decided to find the hospital canteen and pick up some breakfast for herself, Cash, and William. Hopefully, the consultant would be around soon, and they’d be able to get a bit more information.

She grabbed bacon sandwiches and coffee, wishing she had the pushchair to carry all of it. She nudged the handle to Kinga’s room with her elbow, impressing herself with her juggling abilities. Cash leaped to his feet when he saw her.

“Here,” he said, lifting Darcey’s carrier from her hand. “I wondered where you’d got to.”

“I thought you might be hungry.” She passed out the food and drinks. “What time is it?” she said with a yawn.

“Eight thirty,” William said, giving her a grateful smile. He tucked into the sandwich with the ferocity of a man who hadn’t eaten in far too long.

“Has she stirred yet?”

“No, although the sedative they gave her should start to wear off soon.”

Tally quickly ate her sandwich and perched on the edge of the bed. She brushed away a stray hair that had stuck to Kinga’s eyelashes. Kinga’s hands were still cold, but Tally could have sworn she had a little more colour in her cheeks.

“She definitely looks better than a few hours ago,” she said.

“I want her to wake up,” William said.

His face was bruised with exhaustion despite the food and caffeine. He was clearly feeling the strain, and Tally’s heart ached for him. She didn’t want to tell him this was the easy part. When Kinga deteriorated, it was going to get a whole lot worse.

“She will. When she’s ready.”

He lifted his head wearily. “I have no idea how you coped when Cash was in a coma. Kinga is only sedated, and I’m falling to pieces.”

She glanced over at Cash. “I didn’t cope. Not at first. But I had to believe he would recover because the alternative was too awful to bear.”

Cash came to sit beside her. He knitted their fingers together. “Kinga’s tough. She’ll come through this. I know it.”

“Until the next time,” William mumbled.

The consultant’s arrival saved them from responding. Relieved, Tally picked up Darcey’s car seat.

“We’ll leave you to it, William.” She cocked her head, signalling for Cash to follow her.

“You don’t have to,” William said.

“It’s fine,” Cash said. “We won’t be far away.”

Exhausted from lack of sleep and fear for Kinga, Tally managed to make it as far as the hospital coffee shop before gratefully sinking into one of the spacious couches. Cash joined the queue to grab a couple of coffees, but really, she could have had caffeine injected straight into her eyeballs and it wouldn’t have made a difference. She was exhausted and anxious, and her stomach churned uncomfortably.

“Thanks,” she said as Cash passed her a steaming cup of black coffee.

“Why don’t you go home and get your head down. I’ll get Mum to come across and stay with Darcey.”

“No.”

Cash made a frustrated noise. “You’re so stubborn.”

She smiled. “I know.”

“At least promise me you’ll shout if it all gets too much.”

“I’m worried about William,” she said, ignoring his comment. “He’s not coping now, and it’s only going to get worse.”

Cash gave her a stern look but allowed her to change the subject. “I agree. Kinga’s definitely the strong one in their relationship.”

“When he falls apart, we have to make sure we don’t, because Kinga is going to need someone to take the load.”

“Even more reason for you to get some rest.”

“I will. After I’ve seen her.”

Cash gave a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s so strange how things work out.”

“You mean me and Kinga?” she said.

“Yeah.”

“She scared the hell out of me in the early days. Now I can’t imagine what I’m going to do without her.”

She swallowed past a lump in her throat and stared at her hands, only raising her head when Cash’s fingers curled around hers.

“She got a hell of a kick out of scaring you then. She’s changed so much.”

“Yes, she has. But then, we all have.” She finished her coffee and peered into Cash’s cup, which was still half-full. “Come on, ace. Drink up. The consultant should have finished by now, and I’m hoping Kinga’s awake.”

When they returned to her room, Kinga was sitting up in bed, holding a cup of tea. Her face lit up, especially when she spotted Darcey.

“Hey,” she said, putting the tea on the bedside cabinet. “William told me you’ve been here all night. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Don’t be silly,” Tally said, giving her a kiss before stepping aside to allow Cash to do the same.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’ve been better.” She nodded at the baby. “Can I hold her?”

Tally hesitated. She felt a slight nudge in her back from Cash.

“Of course you can,” he said, lifting Darcey out of the car seat that had turned into her cot for the day. She didn’t seem to mind the inconvenience.

Cash placed Darcey in Kinga’s outstretched arms, and Tally had to bite her tongue to stop reminding him to watch the baby’s head. She couldn’t help her overprotective instinct kicking in every time someone wanted to hold her child. She kept telling herself it was because Darcey shouldn’t have even been born yet, but there she was, six weeks old already.

“Oh, you guys. She’s grown even from when I saw her last week.” Kinga kissed Darcey’s forehead, and right on cue, the baby woke up, her big blue eyes focusing right in on Kinga. “Oh, she’s awake,” she exclaimed. “She slept through the whole of last week, so I never got to see her eyes. Look how blue they are.”

Kinga had perked up, almost as though Darcey was the precise pick-me-up she needed. Colour flooded back into her cheeks, and it was amazing what a bright smile could do. William flashed a grateful look their way.

“It’s the only thing she’s got from me,” Tally said with a grin. “Everything else is Cash.”

“Why don’t we leave the girls cooing and get some fresh air,” Cash said to William in a badly veiled attempt to get him alone. Tally knew he wanted to question William about what the consultant had said.

“Yes, go on, William,” Kinga said. “The fresh air will do you good.”

William reluctantly followed Cash outside, and Tally’s skin prickled at the way his shoulders dropped. Whatever the consultant had said, it wasn’t good news.

As soon as the door closed, Kinga’s bright smile fell. “He’s not doing great.”

“What about you?” Tally said. “What did the consultant say?”

She shook her head sadly. “It’s spread. Fast. He reckons a few weeks at most.”

“Oh God.” Hot tears sprang to Tally’s eyes. She dashed a hand over her face, annoyed at herself for not being stronger.

“Hey,” Kinga said, gripping her hand tightly. “It’s okay, Tally. I knew I didn’t have long. I’ve made my peace with it.”

“Cash wants us to get married as soon as possible,” she blurted out. “He said it’s because none of us know what’s going to happen, but I think it’s more to do with you. It wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t there.”

Kinga’s face lit up. “That’s great news. I’ll be there, even if I have to drag myself on all fours. Of course, if I do that, I’ll still be rocking killer heels and an amazing dress.”

Tally laughed. “I’ll bet you will.”

“Seriously, though,” Kinga said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

“I haven’t a clue how I’m going to get everything done that quickly. Any ideas?”

Kinga nodded and pointed to her bag hanging over the back of a chair. “Fetch my phone.”