Love Letters From the Grave(51)

Nurse Hatton tapped on the glass, beaming, and gestured to the other man to come outside. His baby had arrived. ‘Guess I’m a father!’ he said deliriously.

Charlie nodded, and shook his hand.

‘How’s my wife doing?’ he asked the nurse.

‘I’ll go and see,’ she said, ‘just as soon as I’ve taken Mr Green to see his new baby.’

‘Of course.’

Charlie’s mind began to wander. What if Muriel’s health was compromised? She might die! What would he do then, with a cluster of tiny children? Would Molly want anything to do with him then? Or could he just learn to love Muriel properly, the way he loved Molly?

‘It’ll be fine,’ he told his reflection, although somehow he doubted it.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the doctor who had met him in reception.

‘Hello again,’ he said in his confident, clipped tone. ‘So you’re Muriel’s husband?’

Charlie was taken aback. What an odd question! ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Still the same husband that brought her in.’

The doctor stared at him and then gave a curt nod. ‘She’s doing fine. The baby was breech but we’ve managed to turn it around, so she’s giving birth naturally. It might be another half hour or so.’

‘Oh, thank the Lord,’ said Charlie, feeling his knees give way. ‘Take care of them both, doc.’

‘It will be my pleasure,’ replied the doctor.

He gave Charlie another once over, then closed the door behind him, leaving Charlie with the feeling that he hadn’t quite measured up to some standard or other.

The doctor was true to his word, though. Less than an hour later, Nurse Hatton returned to the waiting room. ‘Your turn now,’ she said with a broad smile.

She led him along the corridor to a glass-fronted room, and pointed to the second child along. Charlie could only see a small, perfectly round head, and the wriggling of some tiny feet.

‘Seven and a half pounds,’ the nurse told him. ‘That’s big for a breech birth. Your young wife managed valiantly.’

‘She always does,’ said Charlie, hating himself at that moment.

Then she directed him to the maternity ward where Doctor Manson was waiting beside Muriel’s bed. She gave Charlie a wan smile and waved the doctor away.

‘Another girl,’ she said weakly. ‘Wanted to fight her way out of there.’

Charlie kissed her forehead and sat down beside her. ‘Our children are all fighters.’

Even now, he was very aware of the young doctor hovering a few beds away.

‘Are you all right?’ Charlie nodded toward Manson. ‘He seems worried about you.’

‘I’m fine,’ said Muriel, ‘for someone who just had another complicated birth.’

‘Good,I’m glad—? Charlie started to say, but Muriel hadn’t finished.

‘And for someone whose husband was missing when she went into labor.’

The room seemed to turn cold. Muriel was gazing at him from the pillow, and from behind, he could feel Manson’s eyes boring into his back.

‘Muriel, I was … I didn’t know the baby was coming. I’d have come straight home if I’d realised.’ He took hold of her hand. ‘I’m sorry.’

He wouldn’t tell her. He couldn’t tell her now. It would be too hurtful.

But suddenly Muriel laughed. ‘You were with her, weren’t you? Molly.’ She watched Charlie’s face as it shifted from shock to guilt, and then laughed again. ‘It’s fine. I like Molly very much. I’ve always suspected you might leave me for her, ever since we played cards with her and George.’

Charlie shook his head. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘How about, “Muriel, should we get a divorce?”’

She sounded incredibly calm about it all. Charlie could hardly believe what he was hearing. ‘A divorce?’

Muriel shrugged. ‘We both know this hasn’t worked out the way we both dreamed. There’s seventeen years between us, for a start. We have babies in common, but not a lot else. You’re still a sweet man, though, Charlie. You deserve to be happy.’

She squeezed his hand as he marveled at her level-headedness. ‘But what will you do? I mean, obviously, I’ll provide for the children and see them on a regular basis, until they’re eighteen years old and ready to head out into the world on their own two feet.’

‘That’s eighteen years exactly for our latest wee daughter,’ said Muriel. ‘Are you sure you can keep that pledge?’

Charlie laid his hand across his heart. ‘I promise to always look out for our babies, in every way possible. And you, Muriel. I’ll take care of you financially, even if you marry again. It’s the least I can do.’

‘Even if?’ Muriel laughed. ‘I might even be re-married before you, Charlie.’

‘There’s … you’ve met someone else?’

Muriel simply smiled mysteriously, but suddenly the strange comments and glances from Doctor Manson – who’d obviously met Muriel on at least four occasions – made a lot more sense.

‘We’ll just say we’re incompatible as I’m so young and lively and you’re … you,’ said Muriel cheekily. ‘And that way, we can get divorced as soon as possible.’