Epilogue
“It’s cricket, not baseball,” Andrew laughed, running towards Sabato and improving his grip on the bat. A smile spread across Emily’s face as her husband caught her eye and winked.
“And so I hit the ball like this?” He queried, doing an excellent imitation of striking a tennis ball.
Andrew’s peels of laughter travelled to Emily, where she sat, heavily pregnant, beneath the shade of the enormous mulberry tree. The baby in her stomach kicked happily, and Emily ran a hand over her flesh, silently communicating with the little bundle of arms and legs.
“Gee, Em, I reckon you’d have a better chance than Sab.”
Emily pulled a face and shook her head. “Give me a month, Andy, and I’ll be hitting ‘em for six.”
“She would you know,” Andrew boasted proudly. “Emme’s a great cricketer.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Sabato’s eyes glowed as he looked at his wife. He suspected Emily could do anything she wanted in the world. “Now, are you going to serve the ball?”
Andrew laughed riotously. “I’m gonna bowl it,” he grinned, walking back to his end of the pitch. This time, when he delivered a solid overhand ball, Sabato struck it properly. To his credit, he’d picked up the national game quickly. It was Andrew’s favourite sport, and so he’d taken great pains to become familiar with it.
Yes, Sabato had worked hard to form a bond with her brother, but there was a natural affinity between the two of them. Even without Sabato’s efforts, they simply got along well.
Something uncomfortable squeezed inside of Emily and she sat up a little straighter. Another twinge a moment later, and she knew, in the way that women just knew, that their family of three was about to get a new addition.
“Er, boys,” she called, putting a hand in the air to catch Sabato’s attention. He spun, his smile broad on his face, his hair a little longer than when she’d first met him. The sun filtered behind him, casting a perfect light over them. His eyes widened as he saw the way she winced uncomfortably.
“It is time?” He asked, jogging over to her.
Andrew followed. “Time for what?” His hand reached out and gripped Emily’s. Even then, in the midst of discomfort, the simple gesture made her heart swell.
“You’re about to become a big brother,” she grinned at him, putting her hands out. Sabato gripped them and pulled her to standing.
“Andrew, go and get your backpack. Meet us at the car.”
Andrew nodded, his earnest little face eager. He sprinted across the lawn to the elegant Georgian mansion. Emily’s breathing was coming in fits and spurts now.
“I don’t know if it’s biologically reasonable that women should have to be the baby makers,” she stopped walking and gripped his arm, hard. She waited until the contraction passed and then began walking gingerly towards the Range Rover.
Her opinion on the matter did not change. For several hours, all Emily could think was that life was severely off kilter to expect half of its population to undergo this kind of torture purely to ensure the survival of the species. The pain was intense, and Sabato’s worry was almost unbearable. Finally, though, a little swagger of arms and legs, and a crop of jet-black hair, was lifted onto Emily’s chest.
“A boy,” she grinned, lifting her eyes to Sabato. “Another boy.”
He stared down at their son, his whole body feeling warm and soft. “He’s perfect.”
Tears sparkled in his eyes, as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his wife’s forehead.
“Yes. He is.”
Emily was reluctant to let him go, and even when the nurses encouraged her to put him in his crib, so that she could rest, she resisted. It was only when Sabato promised to hold their boy that she finally relinquished him.
“You know,” Emily leaned back against the pillows, her face pale from exhaustion, her eyes drooping. “I’m very glad that six of my colleagues got gastro.”
Sabato looked at his wife as though she’d gone a little mad. But Emily smiled. “That’s how I met you. Six sick staff members at your hotel, plus a desperate manager – and me.”
“And me,” he smiled. “And for the rest of our lives, it will be you and me, my beautiful Emily.”
She grinned, flicking her gaze to their bundled up baby. “And our boys.”
He made a noise of pleased assent. “Yes. And all the happiness that you deserve, cara. Forever more.”
THE END