Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [154]
Chloe took the baby into her arms and together they examined her.
`She's amazing,' said Fenn. `The whole thing's amazing. One minute she was a lump in there,' he pointed at Chloe's stomach, `and the next minute she's a person out here.'
`Ahem.' Chloe glanced up at the clock. `It took a bit longer than a minute.'
`I want to marry you,' Fenn blurted out suddenly. `I know it's too soon to be saying this, but I mean it. I'm serious, I want us to be a proper family. And that means marriage.'
Beneath the celebrity-hairdresser-single-man-about-town, Chloe realised with a rush of love, there beat the heart of an old-fashioned traditionalist. Astonishing but true.
And absolutely blissful to discover.
`Just a little prick,' the midwife announced, plunging a hypodermic needle into Chloe's thigh.
`Actually,' said Fenn, `that's not true.'
`In that case, I'd love to marry you.' Chloe searched his face. `If you really mean it.'
`I've never been more sure of anything in my life.'
Was it possible to be happier than this? Chloe leaned back against Fenn, her daughter in her arms, her eyes filling up with fresh tears of elation.
Marriage, excellent. The stern midwife, who disapprovedmightily of couples who lived in sin, relented and patted Chloe's just-injected thigh.
`Very sensible, dear. Glad to hear it. Let the Good Lord bless your union, and you'll be so much happier.' She broke into an indulgent smile. `I must say, it cheers me no end to hear a man repent his former sins.'
`Me too.' Chloe tilted her head back and gazed lovingly up at Fenn. `And he's not even the father.'
The midwife's untended eyebrows shot up.
`You mean…?'
`I'm not the father,' Fenn said again, helpfully. `But you've just asked her to marry you!'
Fenn looked down at the baby girl he fully intended bringing up as his own. Already hopelessly besotted, he held out an index finger, and four tiny, almost translucent fingers instantly grasped it. Fenn marvelled at her strength. He didn't understand how he could feel such an instantaneous rush of love for a baby, but he did.
He wasn't paying the midwife the least bit of attention. Perplexed, she turned back to Chloe.
`He just asked you to marry him!'
`I know, isn't it incredible?' Chloe shot her a dazzling smile. `I don't know what my husband's going to say when he finds out.'
The cutting was finished. The blow-drying was done. As Miranda got busy with the hairspray, a phone began to ring somewhere in the room.
`Not mine,' said Magdalena, patting her silent handbag.
`It's Fenn's.' Recognising the tone of the ring and peering over her shoulder, Miranda located the phone on the marble work surface behind her, half hidden beneath a pile of towels. As she moved towards it, the ringing stopped. `Oh well, they'll leave a message.'
It might be Fenn. Calling to find out where he's left his phone,' said Magdalena. `That's what I do if I forget where I've put mine.'
`There, all done.' Miranda finished spraying and stepped back, pleased with what she had achieved. `Now be honest, are you happy with this?'
`I am, I love it.' Magdalena sounded distracted. `But what if it's Fenn, ringing with news about your friend's baby? Aren't you just bursting to know?'
The door swung open and Bev rushed in.
`Fenn just called from the hospital. Chloe's had it!' She looked at Magdalena in surprise. `Wow, your hair looks great.'
Miranda gaped at Bev. `Really? She's had it already?'
`Mother and baby doing fine,' Bev said importantly. `Boy or girl?' said Magdalena.
`Girl.'
`Name?' Magdalena and Miranda chorused simultaneously.
`He didn't say. But you can go and see them right away.' Bev waved a tenner at Miranda. `And Fenn must be in a really good mood,' she went on. `He told me to take this out of the till to pay for your taxi.'
`Well then, what are you waiting for?' demanded Magdalena, when Miranda dithered. `We're finished here, aren't we? Get on over to that hospital and tell your friend congratulations from me.'
`She's had the baby.' Miranda realised she was beaming like