Wedding Bells at the Dog & Duck Page 3

  ‘Who is that guy over there?’

  Max and I both looked across at our visitor who was now savouring a glass of red wine, deep in conversation with Katy, seemingly enraptured by every word she had to say.

  ‘Oh, he turned up just before lunch. He was travelling through the village and his car got stuck on the road. Looks like he’ll be staying for a while, at least until the weather clears,’ I explained.

  ‘Seems a bit of a dick to me,’ said Johnny, who was never one to mince his words. ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said, only just realising I hadn’t asked. ‘He seems all right though.’ I was trying to appeal to Johnny’s better nature, but I suspected Johnny was all out of goodwill now that the news of Polly’s engagement had sunk in. ‘He’s probably just had a bit too much Christmas spirit. I feel sorry for him. He obviously had plans for Christmas Day and instead ended up here with a bunch of strangers. It can’t be easy for him.’

  Johnny rolled his eyes. ‘What? You think he’s the only person in the country to miss the weather forecast. All the advice was not to travel unless you had to. You’re too trusting, you know that, don’t you, Ellie? He’s probably just a chancer after a free Christmas dinner.’

  ‘No! Not that it matters if he is. We have enough food to feed the entire village.’ I laid a hand on Johnny’s leg, trying to soothe his frazzled nerves. I had my ex-boyfriend to one side of me and Max, looking on amused, from the other side. At one time, Johnny and I shared everything together. As teenagers we told each other all our secrets, our hopes and dreams, our plans for the future, and that friendship had endured for years, occasionally segueing into something more intimate, until I made the decision that we worked together much better as friends. Johnny and I were still close and would always be so, but there was a natural distancing between us now.

  From the other end of the table, Ryan’s voice cut through the hubbub. ‘Mate, I’m not going to tell you again.’ He’d stood up and his tall frame leant over our visitor with Katy looking bemused trapped between the two of them.

  ‘What’s going on?’ I whispered to Max.

  ‘I told you, the guy’s a complete idiot,’ said Johnny helpfully.

  Max pushed his chair back and stood up, everyone’s attention now focussed on the situation developing at the other end of the room.

  ‘What’s your problem? I’m just talking to Katy. You’re not her keeper, are you?’ said the visitor.

  ‘Just keep your hands off her!’ I swallowed hard, realising the touchpaper had been ignited in Ryan. So much for his bad boy behaviour being in the past. Wishful thinking on my part, obviously. ‘What are you, some kind of perv?’ He goaded now.

  The guy looked at Katy, as if about to say something, then realised he had his arm around her shoulder, which he removed carefully, as though he hadn’t even known it was there.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Katy and I are just getting to know each other,’ he said, matter-of-factly, but this whole situation was making me very uneasy.

  ‘Yeah, well she doesn’t want to know you. She’s only eighteen for Christ’s sake.’ Ryan moved even closer to the man.

  ‘Oi, get out of my face,’ said the guy, standing up now and pushing Ryan aside.

  I grimaced. Anyone who knew Ryan would know that was a big mistake. He grabbed the guy by the shirt, pulling back his arm and landing a solid punch on the man’s nose, sending him staggering backwards into the Christmas tree.

  ‘Ryan!’ Max, Katy and I yelled his name in unison, a child screamed and Digby gave a terrifying warning bark. Someone knocked over a glass of red wine in the ensuing fracas, staining the lovely white starched tablecloth and Max sprinted over and pulled the men apart.

  ‘What the hell is going on?’ he shouted.

  ‘You’re a bloody psycho, do you know that,’ said the man to Ryan.

  ‘And you’re a bloody creep. Leave my girlfriend alone.’

  I stood up with a surge of energy I didn’t know I possessed. ‘Would you please just stop it. It’s Christmas Day and you’re spoiling everything. Think of the children, and the dog. And think of me.’ I stopped, realising I was shaking, aware of everyone’s eyes upon me and aware of something else too. Something unsettling. Something disturbing. Something slightly damp. Digby came up to my side and nudged me with his wet snout, but that wasn’t the moistness I was worried about. What was concerning me more was the puddle forming at my feet. ‘And now look what you’ve done,’ I said, glaring at Ryan and the stranger, as though it was entirely their fault. ‘My waters have broken!’

  Three

  Well it was a very effective way of clearing a room. On their way out, people thanked me for a lovely lunch and wished me luck, looking as though they couldn’t get away fast enough, their relief palpable as they escaped into the safety of the walls of The Dog and Duck.

  Max stood by the door ushering all our guests through to the main bar, clearly anxious to get everyone out of the way as quickly as possible.

  ‘Silke, do me a favour,’ he called, ‘and bring some blankets and pillows through, and perhaps some towels as well.’ He rushed around the barn moving tables and chairs out of the way while I staggered around, still not really believing that this was actually happening.

  There was one person who loitered, however. Little Alfie came running up to my side, looking up at me with earnest brown eyes, his brow furrowed. ‘I thought so. You’re going to have your baby now, aren’t you? It’s like when baby Jesus was born in the barn.’

  I gave a weak smile, unnerved by Alfie’s unwavering gaze and the seriousness of his expression, suggesting an intelligence beyond his years. A little wise old man.

  ‘Can I stay and watch?’ he asked gravely.

  ‘No you can’t,’ said Gemma, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him away. ‘Thanks for having us. If there’s anything I can do, then just let me know. You’ll be fine!’

  I wished everyone would stop saying that. How did they know? I closed my eyes, grimacing through another pain. My mind drifted back to earlier in the year when I was a reluctant and unwitting birth partner to Sasha, Max’s ex-girlfriend. She’d moved back into the village to make a new start for herself and her baby and I’d popped round to her house to drop off a cake as a welcoming gift. It was meant to be a flying visit, but no sooner had I arrived than Sasha’s waters had broken and I was thrown into a situation I couldn’t have been less prepared for.

  Without any family in the area, Sasha asked me to go with her to the hospital to act as her birth partner, and I cringed now to think how I had behaved. I’d run around frantically trying to look as though I knew what I was supposed to be doing, when in fact I didn’t have the first idea. I’d paced up and down, grabbed towels because that was one thing I’d heard were essential for the momentous task of giving birth, and had gone in for some deep breathing, interspersed with hyperventilating. And it wasn’t even me having the baby. I felt I’d been next to useless in providing a strong and supportive presence, but Sasha hadn’t seemed to mind, she’d just been grateful for me being there, and I’d been impressed by the strength and stoicism she showed going through childbirth without the man she loved at her side.

  Back then I could never have imagined I would soon be going through the same experience myself. But now it really was my turn and it looked as though my baby was determined to arrive today whether I liked it or not. I definitely needed to channel my inner Sasha even if my mind was entertaining a series of scary scenarios; we could take our chances and get in the jeep and see if we could make it to the hospital, but from what people were saying the roads were treacherous and it would be a dangerous and impossible trek. No, it was too risky, even to attempt the trip back to the manor and that was only five minutes down the road. Little Alfie was right: I would be having my baby here in the barn. I supposed it was preferable to going back inside the Dog and Duck, which would now be overflowing with the merry revellers.

  Silke came rushing back
through the door underneath a pile of linen and pillows, handing them over to Max, before quickly leaving again.

  ‘It will be all right, won't it?’ I asked Max.

  He came across and took my face in his hands, nodding intently as he looked into my eyes.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Josie, as if reading my mind. ‘You’ll be absolutely fine, and we’ll be with you all the way.’

  ‘What if there’s a problem or if the baby gets stuck or if there’s…’

  She held up a hand to stop me. ‘There won’t be a problem. Honestly, try not to worry.’ She sounded calm enough, but she wasn’t looking me in the eye, and instead was bustling around, laying duvets and blankets on the ground, pouring drinks of water. ‘Think of all the babies born every day across the world,’ she said breezily, as she guided me over to the spot in the corner where she and Max had made a nice cosy corner for me. ‘Really, it’s the most natural thing ever. We can get in touch by phone with the maternity unit at the hospital if we need to and I think Dr Garrett still lives in the village, if you were really worried. Not that you should be,’ she quickly added.

  ‘Dr Garrett? He retired years ago and he’s got a gammy knee and walks with a stick. It’s far too slippery outside for him. He’d never get here in one piece. Oh god,’ I cried, which prompted Josie to burst into laughter.

  ‘Stop catastrophising.’

  ‘Max?’ I reached out a hand for him, fear growing inside as I realised there was no turning back.

  ‘Josie’s right.’ His voice was strong and steely. ‘Everything’s going to be absolutely fine. Josie, would you go and check in the pub, see if anyone knows of someone in the village who might be able to help.’

  Only then did I detect the note of panic in his voice as Josie dashed out of the barn.

  ‘I don’t want to do this!’ I wailed.

  ‘It’s a bit late for that,’ Max chuckled.

  ‘It’s not funny. I can’t do it. I really can’t…’ I groaned, digging my nails into Max’s hand as another contraction wracked my body.

  ‘You can, you really can. Just think, soon our baby will be here and all of this will be worth it.’

  ‘Urgh. How do you know! Oh…’ I slumped down on the makeshift bed, exhaustion soaking through my limbs. ‘I hate you!’

  ‘Right. Well, I love you.’ He wiped the dampness from my brow with a tissue, and I swiped his attentions away angrily. Why was he being so bloody annoying? Being there. In my face. Breathing my air. Talking to me. Although to be fair, I couldn’t think of anyone better to be annoying me right at this moment. I looked up into his eyes, recognising the concern and affection there. ‘I guess this wouldn’t be the right time to ask you to marry me then?’

  Aargh, there he went again, saying stupid annoying things. ‘Noooooo! Never! After this, I’m never ever having sex again.’

  *

  ‘A beautiful baby boy!’

  Jayne Sinclair, an ex-midwife who someone remembered lived locally, had been drafted in from her Christmas night festivities at the other end of the village. Johnny and Ethan had trekked along the snowy paths to collect her and escorted her back to the pub. If she’d been annoyed at being interrupted in the middle of her celebrations, she certainly didn’t show it and made it just in time for our baby to make his appearance in the world.

  ‘You did it, Ellie. And I couldn’t be more proud. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.’ Max’s words were soft and full of tenderness, his voice swelling with emotion. He kissed me on my cheek, his arm around my shoulder, tears clearly evident in his deep dark brown eyes. I looked up, overwhelmed by my love for him and the new life we'd made together, immediately regretting all the nasty thoughts and angry things I'd said earlier. Hopefully he’d appreciate that it was only the intense pain and emotion of the occasion that had made me lash out.

  Our newborn baby son was laid against my naked chest and my hand rested on his tiny head, my fingers fondling his fine wispy jet black hair. My gaze drifted around the old oak beams of the barn, in awe at what had taken place in here today. Totally spent, emotional and tearful, I looked down at our baby’s perfect rounded form, curled up as he had been inside me, his cries reassuring me that everything was okay.

  ‘Oh, thank goodness,’ sighed Josie, the relief apparent in her words. ‘You were amazing!’ she told me, peering at the baby, now wrapped in a towel. ‘It’s been an absolute privilege seeing your baby boy born. A little friend for Stella.’ She planted a kiss on my dampened forehead. ‘I’m just so relieved that everything went to plan, well sort of. Must admit I went into a bit of a panic when I realised you’d have to have the baby here.’

  Max exhaled deeply, and shook his head. ‘Oh god! Me too.’

  ‘Really?’ I said, pulling our baby to me tighter. ‘You weren’t that worried, were you?’

  ‘Petrified. This was entirely out of my control and I hated seeing you in so much pain, when there was nothing I could do to stop it. It was such a relief when Jayne turned up,’ he confessed, and I could appreciate now just how worried he'd been after all.

  The ruddy-faced woman who’d come in at the eleventh hour and calmly got me through the final stages of birth smiled now. She really was a Christmas angel.

  ‘Well, it’s been a few years since I last delivered a baby, but there wasn’t time to worry about that. As soon as I got here all my training kicked in. I was just pleased that it was a straightforward delivery, and that we didn’t have any problems.’

  ‘Oh, Jayne, we can’t thank you enough,’ I sighed, gratefully.

  ‘It’s my pleasure,’ she said in awe, as though she couldn’t quite believe what had happened here herself.

  ‘You know, you were absolutely brilliant, Ellie,’ said Max. ‘A natural. In fact, you made it look so easy we could even start thinking about the next one now.’ There was a playful glint in his eye and his mouth curled up mischievously, but if I’d had the energy I still would have sloshed him one.

  ‘Uh-uh, no way,’ I sighed wearily. ‘You have no idea!’ Although, funnily enough, all the pain was forgotten now, overcome as I was with bewilderment and joy that we’d managed to pull off something quite so amazing. Talk about a Christmas miracle. ‘Besides, I want to enjoy this little fella first. I have everything I need now. You, my lovely friends and family, the pub, our dogs and now this precious bundle too. What more could a girl ask for?’

  Max raised his eyebrows and shrugged. The smile that had formed on his lips ever since our son had arrived in the world showed no sign of departing. ‘That reminds me, I should call your parents, let them know the good news.’

  ‘Hey, what time is it?’ I asked.

  Josie glanced at her watch. ‘Ten to midnight.’

  ‘Oh my goodness. This little man really did want to turn up in time for the Christmas celebrations, didn’t he?’ His fist curled tightly around my little finger, as he nestled to my breast, and I could have stayed like that, gazing down at this tiny perfect creature, forever. ‘Is everyone still in the pub? I hope I didn’t spoil their Christmas.’

  ‘There’s no chance of that. The booze has been flowing freely next door with most people staying on waiting on the weather and news of the baby,’ Max said, stroking my hair.

  ‘Did that man and Ryan sort out their differences?’

  ‘Don’t worry. Johnny and Dan would have kept an eye on them. More importantly, what am I going to tell them all? They’ll be dying to hear. What is this little boy’s name?’ asked Josie.

  I looked up at Max, having no idea what we might call our little man. So many names had been suggested and yet none of them seemed to fit the small bundle currently wrapped in my arms.

  ‘I’ve had an idea, Ellie,’ Max said. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before. How about Noel?’

  ‘Noel?’ I said the name aloud, trying it out for size on my tongue. ‘After your granddad…’

  ‘Yes, exactly! And it fits perfectly with his Christmas Day arrival.’
>
  ‘Noel Golding…’

  Max had adored his grandfather. It had been the reason he came to the village in the first place, to care for him in his dying days. And Noel had been a regular visitor to the pub and had been much-loved by all the staff here.

  ‘Oh, it’s perfect.’ ‘I looked down at our little boy who was now sleeping peacefully. ‘He looks exactly like a Noel, don’t you think?’

  Josie and Jayne looked at each other and smiled, nodding their approval. ‘It’s lovely.’

  ‘Well, I reckon as far as Christmases go, this has been a pretty successful one,’ said Max, beaming. ‘Friends, family, an engagement, a brilliant lunch – if I say so myself – a drunken brawl and our perfect little baby born into the middle of all the mayhem.’

  ‘Yes,’ I sighed wearily. ‘A Christmas to remember, that’s for sure.’

  Four

  The following days passed in a haze of feeds, nappy changes, impromptu meals of cold meats, cheeses and mince pies prepared by Max and Katy, snatched moments of sleep, and what seemed like a constant stream of visitors.

  Exhausting, but lovely.

  Jayne Sinclair popped in one morning a couple of days later, which I thought was beyond her call of duty considering she was retired now, but she’d wanted to check on us both. My actual midwife, Sunita, also managed to make her way along the snowy lanes to Braithwaite Manor and gave Noel and me a thorough checking over and declared that he was fit and well, and a very beautiful baby indeed.

  Wasn’t that the truth?

  I’d never felt such instant and all-encompassing love in all my life before. It startled me with its raw intensity, its ability to squeeze at my heart and send goosebumps along my arms. I spent most of the time just staring at my tiny little scrap, marvelling at how wonderful and perfect he was, and how clever Max and I were to produce something quite so amazing.

  ‘Hey, look who’s here?’ Max wandered in to the conservatory, where I was sat on one of the squashy sofas, followed by Polly, a big expectant smile on her face.