Shattered Glass

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 35

“Mummy, why isn’t my name on this list?” he questioned with a tiny pout as soon as she emerged from the bedroom. He was balancing over the arm of sofa, his little legs tucked beneath him, as he waved a scrap of paper frantically in her direction.

She raised a hand to muffle a yawn as she sunk into the sofa next to her son and turned down the volume on the TV, the loud blare of children’s programming too intense for her exhausted body.

Her attempts to mask her yawns did little to belie the obvious affect lack of sleep was having upon her. Her tired eyes betrayed her resolve to keep up the pretence that everything was fine.

Everything wasn’t fine.

Her head buzzed all day long, her mind constantly on edge as she waited for her to walk away. It had been 5 days. Physically he was still there, cooking breakfast in her kitchen, sleeping on her sofa at night but mentally she had no idea where he was. He would pretend everything was ok in front of Jamie but when his inquisitive eyes weren’t upon them the only time he would ever touch her was to occasionally slide a hand over her tummy and any conversation was curt, polite and necessary.

“What list is that sweetie?” she finally responded as he continued to run his gaze up and down the piece of paper he clutched in his tiny fist.

“You made a list of all your favourite people and it doesn’t say Jamie on it!” he told her his blue eyes sulky and accusing.

“It’s not a list of my favourite people Jamie” she smiled as she realised what the thin sheet of notepaper had written on it in dark blue ink.

“Because you would be right at the very top of that!”

“Every time?” he questioned sweetly.

“Every single time” she nodded, reaching out to squeeze him gently

“What is it then Mummy?”

“It’s a list of my favourite names so that I can pick one for the baby” she told him as his eyes wandered back down to the scrap of paper and he continued to scan the list.

“It still doesn’t say Jamie on it!” he announced, a wounded expression setting up camp on his features that were almost a mirror image of his father’s.

“Well I can’t have two children called Jamie can I?” she chuckled at his hurt expression.

“How would you know which one of you I was talking to?”

“But isn’t Jamie one of your favourite names?” he asked, his lower lip still quivering in disappointment.

“Of course it is sweetie. And Daddy and I picked it out especially for you because you’re our favourite boy and we wanted to give you a name that we love”

“Because you love me?” his big blue eyes gazed up at her hopefully.

“So, so much” she grinned, pressing a kiss to his cheek as he snuggled up to her, his little hand gently resting on top of her baby bump.

“Can we call her Minnie?” he asked hopefully, “After Minnie Mouse?!”

“Is it on the list?” she giggled as he looked back down at the lined sheet of paper.

“I don’t know” he shrugged as though she had asked the most ridiculous question in the world.

“I can’t read lots of them. I’m only five Mummy!”

“What letter does Minnie begin with?” she asked him knowing there was only one name with the initial M on the list he was grasping close to him.

“M?” he asked her with a smile.

“Someone’s a clever boy” she grinned.

“ME!” he grinned back at her, pointing square in the chest with an outstretched finger.

“So how many names on the list began with M?”

He returned his attention to the list, his plump lips moving to form the outline of the initial of each name as he moved down the written record of her favourite names.

“One” he sighed dramatically.

“What does it say Mummy?”

“Melissa” she told him softly in an attempt to let him down gently.

“Does that mean we can’t call her Minnie?”

“I’m afraid not sweetie, I don’t think your sister would like being named after a mouse” she giggled as the baby gave a swift kick as though she was letting them know she concurred.

“She kicked me again!” He exclaimed in horror.

“She’s mean! I think I should be your favourite Mummy!”

“Is that right?” she giggled.

“You’re both my favourites sweetie. You used to kick a lot too you know”

“Really?” he looked up at her suspiciously.

“Yes, all the time. That’s what baby’s do. There’s not a lot of room in there to move around”

“I’m sorry if I hurt you” he whispered sadly, his lower lip quivering.

“I didn’t mean to Mummy”

“Oh sweetie” she smiled hugging him close to her.

“It doesn’t hurt. In fact it’s nice. It lets me know that the baby’s ok in there, it makes me happy”

“Were you happy when I was in your tummy too Mummy?” he questioned, his bright blue eyes almost momentarily flashing green.

“Happier than I had ever been before” she told him honestly. The period when she’d been newly married to Aden and expecting Jamie had been the happiest of her life, it was only later when everything

had gone wrong.

“Mummy?” he sighed softly,

“Yes Jamie?”

“When the baby girl is born will you get sick again?”

“I hope not”

“I hope not too, I don’t want you to go away again”

“Jamie” she sighed, squeezing him tenderly.

“I’m not going anywhere I promise”

“Not even if you get sick again?”

“Not even then, I’d just stay here and try to get better”

“I would help you to get better Mummy” he told her sweetly, two rows of perfect white baby teeth bared in a wide grin.

“And Daddy would too”

“I know baby but hopefully you won’t have to. I’m going to do everything I can not to get sick again I promise”

“I’m sorry for making you sick Mummy” he whispered barely audibly.

“I didn’t know I was doing it, I was only a baby”

“Jamie, sweetheart, you didn’t make me sick”

“I thought I did. You went away after I was born” he murmured, his voice low and sad.

“But it wasn’t you fault Jamie, people just get sick sometimes and I happened to get sick after you were born but it wasn’t your fault” she tried to reassure him, tears beginning to burn her as struggled

to hold them back. The thought of how long he had been carrying around this false idea that he had made her sick broke her heart.

“Good” he smiled softly as though he still didn’t fully believe her words.

“I don’t want to make you feel bad, I love you Mummy”

“I love you too and you never make me feel bad Jamie. Being your Mummy is the best feeling in the world”

“Even better than when you eat Tom and Jerry ice cream?” he asked innocently not realising his mistake.

“So much better” she giggled at how well he knew her even after only 6 months.

“I could live without ice cream sweetie but I could never live without you again”

“Good” he grinned sweetly.

“I don’t want to be alive without you either Mummy”

“You won’t have to be sweetie” she told him adamantly, promising herself as well as Jamie. No matter what happened between her and Aden she wasn’t going to let it come between her and her son

ever again.

“Not until I’m a big boy man like Daddy and you’re really old and wrinkly and go to live with the angels anyway” he told her nonchalantly and she couldn’t help but giggle.

“That’s a long time away Jamie”

“I know, millions and millions of sleeps”

“Millions” she nodded with a smile, leaning forward and picking up the bright red cereal bowl he had left on the coffee table.

“Mummy do you remember on the beach when Kirsty was mad and there was mint choc chip ice cream and you said you were Just Belle?”

“Yes sweetie”

“Well, I’m glad you’re not Just Belle”

“And I’m glad that you’re my Jamie” she smiled, pressing a tender kiss against his forehead.

“Now if someone doesn’t get dressed soon they’re going to be too late to play soccer with Ollie today”

“I’m on it Mummy!” he yelped instantly jumping up and rushing off into the bedroom.

Smiling she sighed contentedly and made her way into the kitchen where Aden was washing the breakfast dishes. He took the cereal bowl from her hands and began to wipe it clean, soap suds dripping

down his bare forearms.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” he asked without looking at her as he placed the bowl on the rack to dry.

“Ollie said it would be fine for Jamie to play with him and his friends” she replied defensively.

“I think he misses him too, even if he is 13 and too cool to admit it”

“Kirsty won’t like it” he replied adamantly.

“Surely even Kirsty wouldn’t hold all this against Jamie. Have you looked at our son lately Aden? He’s too adorable not to love! Kirsty shouldn’t want this to affect him anymore than we do”

“I just think things might still be a bit too raw, it’s only been 6 days Belle”

“Oh get over yourself Aden” she snapped in frustration.

“You’re not that great, she probably didn’t even love you anyway”

“Probably not” he replied, his lips curving into the first smile she had seen from him in days as they both let out little bursts of laughter.

Tentatively she dared to move closer to him and pressed her lips against his upper arm in a kiss. His hands stilled over the cutlery he was wiping clean. She felt his body tense and his breath still a little

but he didn’t respond as she let her lips hover against his taught skin.

“So you even chose a name huh?” he sighed in frustration, depositing the cutlery on the draining rack with a mighty clatter.

“No, of course not! That was just a list of possibilities and most of them are no goes anyway now. Just because they sounded good with Taylor doesn’t mean they’ll sound good with Jefferies does it?”

He didn’t respond, his fingertips grasping the edge of the sink as though he was resisting the urge to do something, although she wasn’t sure what.

“The baby’s surname is going to be Jefferies isn’t it?” she asked anxiously as he continued to avoid eye contact.

“Aden?”

“Well I’d like it to be” he finally responded as he removed the plug and the water began to glug away.

“Good, then it will be” she told him with a nod, handing him a cloth to wipe the soap suds from his hands.

“And we’ll choose her name together, won’t we?”

“I guess” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“Aden” she sighed.

“Look I’m sorry Belle but I can’t just pretend that everything’s ok”

“You’re not pretending! You’re not even trying to make things ok again! We can’t carry on like this Aden. Me in one room you in the other, barely speaking to one another, you flinching every time I touch you”

“I don’t do that”

“Yes you do” she sighed, tears welling up in her tired eyes.

“Maybe not on purpose but you do. And I can’t carry on like this Aden. I’m not sleeping and I’m stressed and that’s not good for any of us”

“Do you want me to leave? Roman’s got space at his place, I could ask him i-“

“No! I don’t want you to leave” she sighed, tears now streaming freely down her cold cheeks.

“But it would be nice if you could actually give a damn!”

“Of course I give a damn” he sighed, stepping closer to her and using his thumbs to brush away her tears.

“Don’t you get it? We wouldn’t be like this if I didn’t care. If I didn’t care it wouldn’t hurt me so much that you kept the truth from me Belle, if I didn’t care I’d know how I should act around you, how I

should feel”

“You’re meant to love me, that’s how you’re supposed to feel Aden” she whispered softly, daring to rest a flat palm against his chest.

“I do” he sighed, smiling weakly as though he didn’t really want to.

“I do love you, I just...”

“Just what?” she prompted and in an instant he had moved away from her, her hand now hovering in mid air where the support of his chest had previously been.

“I don’t know Belle. I want this to work, I want to trust you but I just...”

“Don’t.” She completed his sentence.

“You don’t trust me”

“It’s not even that, I wish it were that simple. I could trust you, I could trust you in an instant if I let myself but I just can’t bring myself to do it”

“You do it every second of the day Aden, you just don’t think about it. You trust me with the two most precious things in your life. Your children. You trust me with them, don’t you?”

His lips moved slowly in an attempt to form a response but trailed off as he lowered his gaze and kept quiet instead.

“Aden?” she whimpered.

“Aden! Tell me you trust me! Tell me that you believe that I’m not going to leave Jamie again! Oh my god you don’t...do you seriously think I’m just going to up and leave him again...that I ever could,

oh god”

“Belle, calm down! Of course I don’t think that” he sighed, his hands resting on her shoulders as he returned his gaze to meet hers.

“I’ve watched you these past 6 months, I’ve seen you little by little every day fall completely in love with him. I’ve seen the struggle you have just closing his bedroom door and walking into the next

room at night. I know you’re not going to leave him” he told her with a cheeky grin.

“You’re going to be one of those mother in laws from hell who end up moving in with their son and his wife”

“Shut up!” she laughed, slapping him playfully on the chest forcefully enough so that he lost his balance slightly and stumbled back a few steps into the counter.

“You know you’ll love it in the Granny annex” he winked with a chuckle.

“Yeah I probably will, but only if you’re there with me” she sighed.

“You’ll probably have killed me by then”

“True but how will I do it? Traditional candlestick in the library or in my lair, strangling you in my web of deceit?” she asked sarcastically.

“Belle” he sighed in frustration.

“Well you don’t trust me Aden and if you don’t trust me then it’s going to be the death of our relationship at the very least. If we can even call it a relationship...”

“It’s a relationship” he nodded before pressing a kiss to her temple.

“A pretty shaky one right now but I’ll try harder I promise. I’m sorry if I’ve been freezing you out a little”

“A little? Aden you’ve been the male equivalent of an ice queen!”

“An ice king?” he laughed.

“Yeah and if you’re not careful you might have competitors for the throne”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, you know I’m sure Alf Stewart was giving me the eye yesterday” she teased.

“Well in that case I’ll abdicate, wouldn’t want to stand in the way of a legend like Alf Stewart” he grinned calling her bluff.

“Aden, I’m sorry” she whispered suddenly serious again.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you and if I could go back in time and tell you then I would but I can’t”

“I know Belle” he sighed.

“I know all that and it’s still really difficult just to forget. I’m trying I am but I need time”

“It’s going to be ok though isn’t it?” she looked to him for reassurance in the same way Jamie did when he wanted to know his parent’s loved him.

“I hope so” he whispered softly, his hand gently skimming across her tummy.

“Because it has to be for Jamie and our little girl right?” she pressed him further.

“No” he shook his head slowly.

“For us, Belle. I’m trying to make this work for us. I love you I do and I want to trust you so much. I’m trying but you have to give me time”

“Ok but I can’t wait forever Aden. This is driving me crazy and it can’t be good for the baby”

“Things will be better I promise” he whispered rubbing tender circles over her baby bump.

“I like Emma”

“What?”

“For the name. I like Emma, it was my Mum’s name”

“Ah” she sighed.

“I already promised Matilda she could have Emma for her daughter”

“Matilda’s pregnant?”

“Only vicariously through me” she giggled.

“Daddy?” Jamie called inquisitively as he entered the room again.

“Yes Jamie?”

“Did you put the baby girl in Mummy’s tummy?” he questioned looking up at the expectantly.

“Erm...”

“Yes, yes he did” Belle replied for him, laughing at his awkwardness.

“I thought so” he told them matter of factly.

“Because Mummy looks at you like Aunt Nicole looks at Geoff”

“And how would that be?” Belle laughed at her son’s observational skills.

“Like you want to kiss. Sometimes Geoff looks back at Aunt Nicole like that too”

“And what does Daddy look like?” she prompted him as Aden smirked.

“Daddy always looks like he wants to kiss you Mummy, even when you’re not friends and he sleeps in front of the TV”

“We’re always friends Jamie” Aden reassured his son as he glanced at Belle with a soft smile.

“Best friends forever?” he asked sweetly.

“Forever” Belle nodded, kneeling down to hug her son.

“All three of us. You, me and Daddy”

“Don’t forget the baby Mummy!” he exclaimed as Belle grinned at the first sign he may actually be beginning to accept the baby.

“You’re right” she corrected herself with a hopeful smile up at Aden.

“All four of us”

[jenpen08]

Ah I do hope Aden and Belle sort out their trust issues! It did seem towards the end that things were getting better!

As always it was brilliantly written!

look forward to the next chapter!!

[LAURZY!]

Awww that was so good!

Loved Belle's chat with Aden, i hope he can trust her again

The ending with Jamie was the sweetest thing EVER!!! haha he really is cute as!

Brillaint as per

Cannot wait to read more

[Red Ranger 1]

Well-written again.I really like how you're able to have these really long conversations between characters and yet none of it seems like a waste.I'm glad about Jamie spending time with Ollie because it did feel like he missed him in the previous chapter.And I like the ending with Jamie having to remind Belle about the baby, as if he's accepted that's his family.

[zifiso]

That was so cute!! atleast they are talking and trying to sort things out, i'm so relieved, as for adorable Jamie,what can i say!

i hope Aden starts trusting Belle again and for them to be a proper family again.

Great work as usual

update soon!

[**Julie**]

Fantastic update. I hope Aden can trust Belle again.

Loved the ending. Jamie's so adorable.

Update soon.

[Adelle_fan1000]

Loved the update Louise

[KaiyaBlake]

So glad Aden had that talk with Belle. He's pretty sweet He is trying...

Naw, the four of them ! I love it...

Great Chapter. Can't wait for more

[leah1234]

Fantastic update!

I really hope can Aden can trust belle soon

I loved the ending... So sweet

Update soon

Xxxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 36

“Go and play but be careful ok?” Belle tenderly told her son as she bent down to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Mummy!” he squirmed in horror, trying to break free of her grasp.

“Don’t kiss me in front of Ollie and the other big boys!”

“Sorry sweetie” she chuckled as he ran off to join in the soccer game taking place in the garden and she headed towards the front door.

“Who’s that?” she heard one of Ollie’s friends ask as she meandered down the path, her tanned legs complimented perfectly by her crisp white dress.

“Jamie’s Mum”

“Nice” she heard him swoon appreciatively and let out a low giggle. She had a feeling he wouldn’t find her as attractive if he’d seen her from the front, complete with baby bump.

“Belle” Kirsty greeted her curtly, swinging open the door before she’d even had a chance to knock on it.

“Hi” she mumbled taken aback by the sudden lack of time to prepare herself.

“I just brought Jamie to play soccer with Ollie, he said it would be ok. That’s ok with you isn’t it?”

“Of course it is. I’m not some sort of wicked stepmother character here Belle. None of this is Jamie’s fault and it should affect him as little as possible”

“That’s how I feel too” Belle smiled weakly.

“Well at least we agree on something” Kirsty replied not returning Belle’s smile.

“I’ll drop him off later, there’s no need for you to hang around”

“Actually I think we should talk and I’d prefer it not to be on the doorstep”

Kirsty hesitated for a moment before standing aside and letting Belle into the house.

“If you’re here to apologise then don’t bother, I don’t want to hear it” she told her as she slammed the door shut and they wandered into the kitchen, sitting down at the sturdy wooden table.

“I’m not” Belle assured her.

“I’d like to apologise but that would involve being sorry and I’m not. I could pretend that I’m sorry and be a total hypocrite, and I know I’m a lot of things but a hypocrite isn’t one of them so I’m not

going to pretend Kirsty”

“So why are you here?”

“Because I should be sorry, I know I should. But I can’t be sorry when I wake up every morning with my little boy in the next room and with Aden...” she trailed off not wanting to reveal to Kirsty that

things weren’t going so well between them at the moment.

“I really don’t need to hear about your bedroom arrangements Belle”

“Trust me you might be surprised” Belle laughed to herself rubbing a protective hand over her tummy.

“I’m not sorry for what’s happened but I guess I am sorry for how it happened. At least part of it. I should never have slept with Aden before he left you”

“Well at least one of us was getting some” Kirsty half laughed.

“He barely touched me the entire time we were together and when he told me about his granddad I thought that explained everything but it didn’t. He didn’t want to be with me because all the time he

still wanted you, I just didn’t want to admit it”

“To be fair even he wouldn’t admit it so who could expect you to?” Belle sighed as Kirsty’s gaze flickered to her growing bump.

“Is the baby his?”

“Yeah, she is” she nodded solemnly.

“Seems everyone managed to figure that out except Aden. Even Jamie”

“She?”

“What?”

“You said she? It’s a girl?”

“Yeah” she nodded again this time with a smile as she stroked her tummy.

“So now you really are going to have it all. Aden, Jamie and a daughter. The perfect little family”

“We’re not perfect” Belle laughed softly.

“Well Jamie is but I am biased. As for me and Aden, god we’re far from perfect. We couldn’t have messed things up more if we tried. But I love him, flaws and all”

“I loved him too you know” Kirsty murmured hesitantly.

“I might not be in love with him but I did love him and I thought that marrying him was the right thing to do, to give Ollie a proper family. I’m such an idiot”

“No you’re not. Aden cares about you I know he does because it took him so long to leave and the whole proper family thing was his motivation too. I can understand it, for a long time I even blamed

myself for it. But the truth is we all did things we probably wouldn’t do again if we had the chance. I’d have come back a long time ago an-”

“Aden wouldn’t have married me” Kirsty interrupted.

“Well would you marry him again if you had the chance to start over?”

“No” she shook her head sadly.

“I always knew it was more of a friendship. But I hoped that could be enough, I never counted on you coming back. I never thought you would”

“There was a time when I felt the same and when Roman called me to tell me about Irene it would have been so easy to stay away, to not get here in time and send flowers instead. But when I thought

about it I knew I was ready. I didn’t just come back for Irene. As soon as I stepped foot back on Australian soil I knew I was never going back to L.A, I knew I was ready to be there for my son”

“Well I really hope you mean that because you’re right he is perfect and he doesn’t deserve to be hurt by you Belle. I’ve seen the way he is around you, he adores you and it would break his heart if

you left again”

“I’m not going anywhere” she replied adamantly.

“Even if I wanted to I couldn’t. Not that I want to. Jamie is the best thing in my life, I adore him too. I always did I just got lost somewhere along the way and I know I’ll never be able to truly make up

for those five years I missed but god I’m going to try. And I’ll try not to flaunt it, I know that us all together is probably the last thing you want to see...”

“It kind of gives me hope in a way” Kirsty laughed more to herself than to Belle.

“Who knows when Miles and Jai come back from travelling in Asia maybe I’ll tell him how I really feel instead of pretending like I’ve been doing all these years”

“Miles?” Belle asked shocked.

“I always thought...Kane”

“I loved Kane and he was Ollie’s father so that means he will always be special to me but whatever there was between us died a long time before he did. I should never have chosen him over Miles”

“Well I hope he feels the same way”

“What so you can be sure I’m not going to turn into some mad bunny boiler and stalk Aden?”

“Ok so I’m never buying Jamie a rabbit” Belle quipped and they laughed together, something she would never have imagined when she’d set off there a little over an hour ago.

“Just keep hold of them this time Belle because if you let go again you might not be so lucky getting them back next time”

“I’m not letting go” Belle smiled softly.

“Ever”

“Good and just so you know, I’ve been looking for a place and Ollie and I will be out of here as soon as we can”

“That’s not necessary Kirsty”

“It’s your house” she laughed solemnly.

“ I mentioned it to Aden and he agreed that we should sign it over to you. We have somewhere to live and I can afford somewhere else if we need to move. We’re not going to throw you and Ollie out of

your home. You married Aden for stability, I’m not going to let you and Ollie end up homeless because I...”

“Stole my husband?” Kirsty laughed cheekily.

“Took back what was mine” Belle laughed amazed at how easy this conversation had become.

“I don’t want to be a charity case Belle”

“You’re not, you’d be entitled to half of Aden’s share in a divorce anyway probably so it just makes sense. This doesn’t need to get nasty, if we can just agree between us. Plus it would be good for

Jamie to have you and Ollie close by, you’re important to him and he misses you”

“We miss him too” Kirsty smiled softly.

“So we’re in agreement here?”

“Yeah” Kirsty nodded with a chuckle.

“For once I think we just might be”

***

“Ok this better be good” he told her, pulling his jacket further around him as a shiver shot through him. He had been waiting outside the random address she had instructed him to attend at 2pm for over 15 minutes waiting for her to arrive and he wasn’t amused.

“Sorry I’m so late” she hurriedly apologised, flinging open the door and leading him into the clinical looking building.

“But you’re going to love this trust me”

“What is this exactly?” he asked suspiciously.

“You’ll see” she grinned knowingly stopping in front of the expensive looking reception desk which was flanked by tall pillars decorated in exotic blooms.

“Belle Taylor and Aden Jefferies, we have an appointment” she told the receptionist excitedly and almost immediately they were ushered down the long corridor adjacent to the reception and left alone in

a spacious room. A metal bed was placed in the centre of the neutrally decorated room next to a number of complex looking machines.

“Belle, is this a hospital?” he asked in confusion. It definitely wasn’t the hospital.

“Is everything ok?” he asked instantly beginning to worry that the stress of their recent troubles had harmed her or the baby in some way.

“Everything’s fine, relax” she reassured him as she perched on the edge of the bed.

“It’s not a hospital, it’s a private clinic”

“And we’re here because?”

“Because I’m having a scan”

“I thought you were up to date with your scans?” he asked perplexed, sitting on the bed next to her.

“I am but you’re not. You missed both of them and that was my fault so I’m doing what I can to at least make up for it a little bit. I know it can’t completely make up for you not getting to see her before

this but it’s a special scan”

“A special scan?”

“It’s 4D and it costs a fortune but they’re meant to be amazing and I want to see our baby with you Aden” she smiled, her hand sliding over his and squeezing it gently just as the door slid open and the

female consultant entered the room and introduced herself to them.

“Ok Belle” she smiled as Belle sat back on the partially raised bed and began to smear the lubricant across her tummy.

“At 21 weeks I’m assuming you’ve already had 2 scans?”

“Yes I’ve had two” Belle nodded.

“But Aden missed them so that’s why we’re here”

“It wasn’t my fault” Aden instantly interjected not wanting to look like he hadn’t been interested in his baby.

“No, it was mine” Belle tried to explain, her hand reaching out for Aden’s once more.

“I didn’t tell him but that’s a really long story that you don’t need or probably want to hear about”

“Ok” the consultant smiled in an attempt to put them at ease. For a couple who already knew there baby was healthy they seemed very anxious.

“I only ask because our scans aren’t an alternative to hospital scans, ours are non diagnostic and purely for you to be able to see your baby boy or girl in more detail”

“Girl” both Aden and Belle spoke in unison with a smile.

“Baby girl”

“Oh I see. And does she have a name?”

“Don’t get us started on that!” Belle chuckled.

“Well hopefully you might have an idea of the sort of name that she would suit after your scan today”

“That would be nice” Belle smiled glancing at Aden who still looked nervous and squeezing his hand reassuringly.

“Now 21 weeks is a little early for one of our scans so it may not be the best quality but we’ll try” the consultant smiled as she turned on the scanner and began to move the probe slowly across Belle’s

tummy.

The screen flickered, flashes of black and orange, momentarily before the image of their baby girl filled the screen.

“Oh my gosh” Belle grinned from ear to ear.

“That’s amazing”

“Is she sucking her thumb?” Aden chuckled as he gazed at the screen and gave Belle’s hand a tender squeeze.

“Yes she is” the consultant smiled at their obvious joy before moving the probe slightly.

“And kicking her legs, you must be able to feel that Belle?”

“And now I can see it too” she smiled, placing Aden’s hand briefly over the spot on her tummy where the probe had just been so he could feel their daughter kick.

“She’s so perfect” he sighed, his eyes not leaving the screen as he gazed contently at the 4D image.

“Just like her brother” Belle smiled as her thoughts returned to her son.

“We’ll have to show him the DVD later”

“He’ll love it” Aden grinned as the consultant said she’d leave them alone for a few minutes whilst the pictures printed and discreetly left.

“I love it” he whispered against her ear, his warm breath tickling her cheek.

“And I love you”

“I love you too” she smiled coyly back at him, her lips brushing against his cheek as they curved due to their closeness.

“Both of you. And Jamie. I feel like there’s a big fireball of love inside of me and I’m going to explode any minute”

“Please don’t” he laughed.

“You’d make an awful mess”

“Oiy!” she chuckled slapping his arm playfully.

“Thank you for this” he whispered softly.

“I missed it too you know, you being there. It wasn’t the same. Nothing was the same Aden. This is our baby, our little girl, I want to do everything together”

“And we will” he assured her grabbing hold of a tissue to wipe away the gel smeared across his hand from where she had placed it on her tummy.

“No matter how messy it gets” he laughed, throwing the tissue into the waste bin.

“Does that include the birth? Because Matilda’s still freaking out about the whole thing and I don’t want to be alone”

“Belle, if Matilda even tries to get in there over me I swear I will lock her in a shed somewhere!”

“Aden!” she laughed.

“Belle, I’m not going to miss the birth of our daughter”

“Good” she grinned, taking the tissue he was offering and beginning to wipe clean her tummy.

“Because I know things haven’t been the best between us recently and that it’s not magically going to get better just because we went to this scan together. But I want this to work Aden, I really do and

sometimes I feel like if I wasn’t pregnant you wouldn’t even be with me. I feel like you don’t trust me but you have to stick around because of the baby”

“Belle” he sighed softly.

“I’m sorry I know this isn’t the place but it’s killing me Aden. The only time you ever touch me is when it’s connected to the baby and you’re still sleeping on the sofa and yo-”

“You’re right this isn’t the place” he interrupted sternly.

“Ok” she nodded.

“But just so you know we’re talking about this later”

“Belle”

“What?” she half snapped as he aimed a small smile in her direction.

“If you weren’t pregnant, I’d still be with you. Nothing could take me away ok?”

“Then how about you show me that once in a while? Aden, it’s been weeks!”

“I’m sorry, I’m trying. I am, I swear”

She sighed deeply as she pulled down her light blue top and pulled herself off the bed.

“Then try harder”

***

“Mummy! Come and see! Come and See!” he instructed her, bounding around her almost like an excited puppy as she entered the kitchen.

“Hey little man, what are you still doing up? It’s way past your bed time! And on a school night too!” she exclaimed having expected him to have been tucked up fast asleep on her return from dinner

with Matilda.

“Daddy said I could stay up and help him build things because we’re the men of the house!” he responded grabbing hold on her hand and pulling her towards the bedroom.

“Building?” she exclaimed but before he responded she was in the doorway and the sight before her instantly brought tears to her eyes.

“You put the crib together” she sighed, a tear escaping down her cheek taking a smudgy trail of mascara with it, as she gazed at Aden who knelt next to the beautiful crib that had sat in pieces on her

bedroom floor for over a month now.

“I helped too Mummy!” Jamie exclaimed, tugging frantically on her hand to turn her attention back to him. She duly obliged, wiping her tears away with her free hand.

“It’s a special place for the baby girl to sleep like I have my Mickey Mouse bed!”

“And it’s beautiful” she told him dropping a kiss on his forehead.

“I love it and I love you. Both of you”

“I love you too” Jamie whispered softly with a grin.

“I can’t believe you did this” she smiled turning back to Aden.

“I’m trying harder” he nodded, returning her soft smile.

“I’m here Belle, for keeps as Jamie would say”

“Mummy I’m bored now!” Jamie interrupted.

“Will you read me a bedtime story?”

“If you brush your teeth and get in bed then yes sweetie” she grinned as he instantly dashed into the bathroom and seized his toothbrush like a weapon.

“Did you follow the instructions?”

“No, I couldn’t find them but it was pretty simple” he shrugged as Belle threw her head back in a burst of uncontrollable laughter.

“What?!”

“Nothing” she smiled her laughter subsiding.

“I love you Aden” she whispered, standing beside him and tenderly tugging the downy hair at the nape of his neck.

“I love you too” he murmured, his hand resting tenderly in her tummy.

“So how about you sleep in here tonight?” she dared to suggest before smiling suggestively.

“I’m really bored too, you could tell me a story?”

“Belle...”

“I just want to be close to you Aden. What can I seriously do to betray your trust in the space of 8 hours in bed? Especially if you’re next to me? I mean with you on the sofa you don’t know who I’m sneaking in through the window”

“I wouldn’t trust anyone you had to sneak in through the window” he smiled.

“Tell me about it, you’ve been giving me grief for years now!” she winked playfully.

“You don’t even have to touch me if you don’t want to, we can build a pillow wall down the middle of the bed if needs be”

“Ok” he nodded with a smile. He wanted to be close to her as much as she wanted it, he was just afraid to let himself actually do it.

“Ok to what? The pillow wall?”

“No pillow wall required” he smiled taking her hand and kissing it gently.

“But just sleep ok?” he asked as she smiled softly, hopefully.

“That’s all I’m asking for”

Link to egs of 4D scans