Perfect Life (Chapter Fifteen)
“You know when you were born, I thought you were quite ugly. I know it’s not the thing to say, as a parent, but you were actually quite alarming looking. But she... Wow she’s rather beautiful isn’t she? A little purple, but really rather beautiful.” Gina mused, staring down at the incubator, at the tiny person in front of her.
“She’s perfect.” Naomi choked, desperately trying to control herself from breaking down, her mothers supportive hand on her shoulder seemed to steady her, enough so that she could find the strength to reach inside, to touch her daughters tiny arm.
“I think she likes you.” Gina smiled, resting her head against Naomi’s as the pair watched the baby wriggle ever so slightly at Naomi’s touch.
“I was so scared.” Naomi whispered, “So scared that maybe I wouldn’t love her, that maybe I could never have that special bond with her that Emily will have. I do love her though mum, I think I love her more than anything else in the world. I would do absolutely anything for her, anything at all.”
“That feeling is called being a parent, its a little overwhelming at first, but you soon get used to it.” Gina assured, kissing Naomi’s forehead, before using her thumb to wipe away the tear that was trailing Naomi’s face.
**
“I would have thought mum and dad would have contacted me, let me know how Emily’s getting on.” Katie sighed, sitting outside the hospital on a bench, as her and JJ shared a sandwich they’d bought from the hospital canteen. She hadn’t really felt like eating, but JJ had insisted, something about keeping her strength up.
“Well, there’s probably nothing to report then, we can go and check on her in a minute.” JJ smiled, chewing absentmindedly on the sandwich.
“Are you going to tell me why you’ve been ignoring my calls and texts then?” Katie suddenly asked. “...Or explain to me exactly what was going on with that kiss earlier? Because J i’m confused, really confused right now.”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about it? Not at least until we know that Emily and the baby are okay?” JJ smiled, anything to avoid having to tell Katie that he’d been her ignoring her because he’d chosen to listen to Effy.
“Well I need to bloody know, there’s something going on here, from the moment you walked into my office there’s been something going on.” Katie snapped, so utterly frustrated by how confusing everything was at the moment.
“We’re so different Katie. I don’t think I'll ever be enough for you.” JJ admitted shyly, his cheeks blushing as he bowed his head, refusing to meet Katie’s eyes.
“You’re judging me on what exactly? How I was when I was a teenager? You know J of all people I didn’t think you’d be one to not look a little deeper.” Katie sighed, standing up she grabbed her bag and began to walk away from JJ.
“Katie! Katie please wait.” JJ called, chasing after her, grabbing her, swinging her round and pulling her into a kiss. “They say opposites attract right?”
“I’d heard something like that.” Katie smiled, kissing him back, wrapping her arms around him and feeling like she was completely safe.
“Guys...” the voice of Rob Fitch suddenly broke them apart. “You should come inside...”
**
“What do you think?” Naomi asked her mother, as Gina cast her eye over the engagement ring that Naomi couldn’t wait to give to Emily.
“I think it’s about bloody time.” Gina smirked, feeling incredibly proud of her daughter, gently trying to push away the feeling of worry that was haunting the pit of her stomach, she really didn’t think Naomi would survive without Emily.
“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Naomi asked, taking the ring back off her mum and holding it between her fingers. She was feeling oddly calm, for the first time since all the horror had begun. She figured it had something to do with her rather incredible daughter, who made her want to be responsible, who made her want to look after her family, and protect them with absolutely everything she possessed.
“If I was her, I'd say no just to punish you for making her wait for so long.” Gina laughed, taking her daughters hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ve phoned Kieran, let him know what’s happening and he’s talked to the college, kept them informed.”
“He’ll be lost in the staff room without Emily for company, he’ll have to talk to Doug!” Naomi giggled, knowing how much her stepfather despised the head of sixth form.
“Doug’s already timetabled him in to cover Emily’s classes, I think we’ll be dealing with an arsey Irishman for a few weeks.” Gina sighed, as she let herself relax, well as much as a person can relax on cold, plastic chairs.
Naomi smiled at the thought, Kieran was a great teacher, he just couldn’t be bothered with the whole thing. Not like Emily, Emily actually cared, Emily actually came home from a day at work and thought about how she could make tomorrow even better. Emily was the kind of teacher Naomi would have loved to have had at school, passionate and intelligent, and hot... Well that probably would have been a bit of a distraction, but still. Naomi made a mental note to give Kieran Emily’s lesson plans. Emily had come up with a complete guide to help whoever covered her maternity leave, because Emily cared, cared about the kids she taught and cared about helping them get good grades.
“I love her, I think that we were meant to be you know? I know I've said all that fate bollocks is a load of shite, but Emily... She was meant to be mine.” Naomi smiled, pulling herself up as she began to make her way to Emily’s room, she just wanted to see her.
**
“She’s in surgery.” Jenna sobbed, as Rob wrapped his arm around her, trying his best to comfort his wife.
Katie stood, feeling her knees start to shake, JJ immediately grabbed onto her to stop her from falling. Why was the nightmare not ending? Why couldn’t everything just go back to the way it was before?
“Where’s Naomi?” Katie asked, surely she hadn’t run away again? As hard as this was, she should still be here. Emily needed her to be here, because when Emily came back to them, she would want to wake up with Naomi at her side.
“We thought she’d left earlier.” Jenna shrugged, she didn’t care where that girl was to be perfectly honest, there were more important things to concern herself with.
“You mean you haven’t even told her what’s going on? She’s been with the baby, christ mum, are you that fucking selfish that you can’t even be civil to Naomi for Emily?” Katie snapped, more furious than she’d been in a long time.
“Don’t swear at your mother Katie, everything has happened so quickly, we haven’t had a chance to think about anything else.” Rob explained, trying to keep everyone calm, this truely wasn’t the time for an argument.
“This isn’t the time Katie, I mean it should just be family right now.” Jenna muttered, glaring at JJ as if to say that he wasn’t welcome here. She could never understand that boys constant presence, though she’d once thought the idea of him and Emily would be nice, well the idea of Emily and anyone that wasn’t a) female and b) Naomi Campbell was nice.
“Naomi is Emily’s family! So is JJ.” Katie retorted, her mother truely was frustrating sometimes. She knew hands down, Emily would want Naomi and JJ at her side, they meant everything to her.
“I’m sorry JJ but we really don’t need you here right now.” Jenna explained, in the same condescending tone she always reserved for JJ, despite Emily explaining what autism was Jenna still thought JJ needed to be talked to as if he was five years old.
“I need him here mum, I need him.” Katie insisted, putting particular emphasis on the ‘I’ and proving the point by taking hold of his hand, it was some kind of declaration of a relationship that neither were completely sure they were in.
“Oh you have got to be kidding me, no way Katie, no way.” Jenna gasped, her mouth dropping in shock. Were her children trying to give her a heart attack? Were the intent on choosing the worst possible partners for themselves?
“Jenna will you just leave it. Please, Emily is in surgery right now and I really can’t deal with this.” Rob snapped, finally standing up to his wife for the first time in a really long time, he’d always been so content to just sit back and let her deal with things, but she was just out of order right now. Rob wanted his girls to be happy, his outlook on things was far simpler than Jenna who was always worrying what someone else would think.
“Emily’s what?” Naomi gulped, causing the group of people in front of her, to turn to look at her. All giving her an identical look, like they felt sorry for her or something. None of them were even able to meet her eyes. “What the fuck is happening?”
“They missed something before, she’s having complications and they’ve taken her into surgery.” Jenna explained gently, watching Naomi’s expression change, watching the blonde girl she’d treated as an enemy for so long break in front of her. Jenna couldn’t stop herself from reaching out, grabbing hold of Naomi’s arm. “She’ll be okay.” Jenna insisted, her heart breaking as she final understood, Naomi really loved her daughter.
“She’s perfect.” Naomi choked, desperately trying to control herself from breaking down, her mothers supportive hand on her shoulder seemed to steady her, enough so that she could find the strength to reach inside, to touch her daughters tiny arm.
“I think she likes you.” Gina smiled, resting her head against Naomi’s as the pair watched the baby wriggle ever so slightly at Naomi’s touch.
“I was so scared.” Naomi whispered, “So scared that maybe I wouldn’t love her, that maybe I could never have that special bond with her that Emily will have. I do love her though mum, I think I love her more than anything else in the world. I would do absolutely anything for her, anything at all.”
“That feeling is called being a parent, its a little overwhelming at first, but you soon get used to it.” Gina assured, kissing Naomi’s forehead, before using her thumb to wipe away the tear that was trailing Naomi’s face.
**
“I would have thought mum and dad would have contacted me, let me know how Emily’s getting on.” Katie sighed, sitting outside the hospital on a bench, as her and JJ shared a sandwich they’d bought from the hospital canteen. She hadn’t really felt like eating, but JJ had insisted, something about keeping her strength up.
“Well, there’s probably nothing to report then, we can go and check on her in a minute.” JJ smiled, chewing absentmindedly on the sandwich.
“Are you going to tell me why you’ve been ignoring my calls and texts then?” Katie suddenly asked. “...Or explain to me exactly what was going on with that kiss earlier? Because J i’m confused, really confused right now.”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about it? Not at least until we know that Emily and the baby are okay?” JJ smiled, anything to avoid having to tell Katie that he’d been her ignoring her because he’d chosen to listen to Effy.
“Well I need to bloody know, there’s something going on here, from the moment you walked into my office there’s been something going on.” Katie snapped, so utterly frustrated by how confusing everything was at the moment.
“We’re so different Katie. I don’t think I'll ever be enough for you.” JJ admitted shyly, his cheeks blushing as he bowed his head, refusing to meet Katie’s eyes.
“You’re judging me on what exactly? How I was when I was a teenager? You know J of all people I didn’t think you’d be one to not look a little deeper.” Katie sighed, standing up she grabbed her bag and began to walk away from JJ.
“Katie! Katie please wait.” JJ called, chasing after her, grabbing her, swinging her round and pulling her into a kiss. “They say opposites attract right?”
“I’d heard something like that.” Katie smiled, kissing him back, wrapping her arms around him and feeling like she was completely safe.
“Guys...” the voice of Rob Fitch suddenly broke them apart. “You should come inside...”
**
“What do you think?” Naomi asked her mother, as Gina cast her eye over the engagement ring that Naomi couldn’t wait to give to Emily.
“I think it’s about bloody time.” Gina smirked, feeling incredibly proud of her daughter, gently trying to push away the feeling of worry that was haunting the pit of her stomach, she really didn’t think Naomi would survive without Emily.
“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Naomi asked, taking the ring back off her mum and holding it between her fingers. She was feeling oddly calm, for the first time since all the horror had begun. She figured it had something to do with her rather incredible daughter, who made her want to be responsible, who made her want to look after her family, and protect them with absolutely everything she possessed.
“If I was her, I'd say no just to punish you for making her wait for so long.” Gina laughed, taking her daughters hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ve phoned Kieran, let him know what’s happening and he’s talked to the college, kept them informed.”
“He’ll be lost in the staff room without Emily for company, he’ll have to talk to Doug!” Naomi giggled, knowing how much her stepfather despised the head of sixth form.
“Doug’s already timetabled him in to cover Emily’s classes, I think we’ll be dealing with an arsey Irishman for a few weeks.” Gina sighed, as she let herself relax, well as much as a person can relax on cold, plastic chairs.
Naomi smiled at the thought, Kieran was a great teacher, he just couldn’t be bothered with the whole thing. Not like Emily, Emily actually cared, Emily actually came home from a day at work and thought about how she could make tomorrow even better. Emily was the kind of teacher Naomi would have loved to have had at school, passionate and intelligent, and hot... Well that probably would have been a bit of a distraction, but still. Naomi made a mental note to give Kieran Emily’s lesson plans. Emily had come up with a complete guide to help whoever covered her maternity leave, because Emily cared, cared about the kids she taught and cared about helping them get good grades.
“I love her, I think that we were meant to be you know? I know I've said all that fate bollocks is a load of shite, but Emily... She was meant to be mine.” Naomi smiled, pulling herself up as she began to make her way to Emily’s room, she just wanted to see her.
**
“She’s in surgery.” Jenna sobbed, as Rob wrapped his arm around her, trying his best to comfort his wife.
Katie stood, feeling her knees start to shake, JJ immediately grabbed onto her to stop her from falling. Why was the nightmare not ending? Why couldn’t everything just go back to the way it was before?
“Where’s Naomi?” Katie asked, surely she hadn’t run away again? As hard as this was, she should still be here. Emily needed her to be here, because when Emily came back to them, she would want to wake up with Naomi at her side.
“We thought she’d left earlier.” Jenna shrugged, she didn’t care where that girl was to be perfectly honest, there were more important things to concern herself with.
“You mean you haven’t even told her what’s going on? She’s been with the baby, christ mum, are you that fucking selfish that you can’t even be civil to Naomi for Emily?” Katie snapped, more furious than she’d been in a long time.
“Don’t swear at your mother Katie, everything has happened so quickly, we haven’t had a chance to think about anything else.” Rob explained, trying to keep everyone calm, this truely wasn’t the time for an argument.
“This isn’t the time Katie, I mean it should just be family right now.” Jenna muttered, glaring at JJ as if to say that he wasn’t welcome here. She could never understand that boys constant presence, though she’d once thought the idea of him and Emily would be nice, well the idea of Emily and anyone that wasn’t a) female and b) Naomi Campbell was nice.
“Naomi is Emily’s family! So is JJ.” Katie retorted, her mother truely was frustrating sometimes. She knew hands down, Emily would want Naomi and JJ at her side, they meant everything to her.
“I’m sorry JJ but we really don’t need you here right now.” Jenna explained, in the same condescending tone she always reserved for JJ, despite Emily explaining what autism was Jenna still thought JJ needed to be talked to as if he was five years old.
“I need him here mum, I need him.” Katie insisted, putting particular emphasis on the ‘I’ and proving the point by taking hold of his hand, it was some kind of declaration of a relationship that neither were completely sure they were in.
“Oh you have got to be kidding me, no way Katie, no way.” Jenna gasped, her mouth dropping in shock. Were her children trying to give her a heart attack? Were the intent on choosing the worst possible partners for themselves?
“Jenna will you just leave it. Please, Emily is in surgery right now and I really can’t deal with this.” Rob snapped, finally standing up to his wife for the first time in a really long time, he’d always been so content to just sit back and let her deal with things, but she was just out of order right now. Rob wanted his girls to be happy, his outlook on things was far simpler than Jenna who was always worrying what someone else would think.
“Emily’s what?” Naomi gulped, causing the group of people in front of her, to turn to look at her. All giving her an identical look, like they felt sorry for her or something. None of them were even able to meet her eyes. “What the fuck is happening?”
“They missed something before, she’s having complications and they’ve taken her into surgery.” Jenna explained gently, watching Naomi’s expression change, watching the blonde girl she’d treated as an enemy for so long break in front of her. Jenna couldn’t stop herself from reaching out, grabbing hold of Naomi’s arm. “She’ll be okay.” Jenna insisted, her heart breaking as she final understood, Naomi really loved her daughter.