Kerry Heavens - Still Human

“You’re a star!” I say, linking my arm through hers, leaving the boys to bring in the bags.

We round the corner into the open-plan living area and I’m stunned to find Max and Charlie relaxing on the large corner sofa.

“What the hell?”

Max laughs and jumps up and still holding his cold beer, he squeezes the life out of me.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, though my question gets lost, or ignored, amid the hugging and backslapping of our group. It’s obvious at once that I’m the only person not in on this surprise. I stand hands on hips, waiting for someone to fill me in and when everyone notices, they all laugh.

“Come and sit out in the garden, I’ll get you a drink and we’ll tell you everything.” Danny smirks.

“Hmm.” I huff.

I follow Max and Charlie into the garden and sit with them, looking between them, all I get are shrugs and grins.

“Okay,” says Danny, bringing a tray of cold drinks out, with Jen and Scott in tow. He hands them out and sits beside me. I look at him, waiting. He gets the message and spits it out. “I invited them,” Danny explains. “You and I still aren’t legally married and I wanted to put that right as soon as possible, so we’re all going to fly out to Vegas this weekend to make this thing official.” He shrugs. “I just thought it would mean more to you if our friends came too.”

I shake my head and laugh. “You are something else, do you know that?” I say looking at his perfect face. I lean over the arm of my chair and kiss him. I get up and hug everyone. “So this is what you meant by having plans?”

“Yeah,” he says lovingly, pulling me into his lap.

“It’s brilliant, thank you. And thank you guys for coming out here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” I kiss the top of Danny’s head. I guess I’m growing accustomed to his constant surprises. It feels much easier to just go with the flow.

“Aren’t you going to fret about how I’ve covered us both being away?” Max teases.

“No!” I shoot back. “This is a new me, get used to it. You are the manager, I trust you. I’m relinquishing control.”

Max raises his eyebrows. “I’m very impressed.”

I did tell Max before we left for Mexico that Danny and I are trying for a baby and obviously once that happens, my Rottweiler-like grip on the business would have to ease. He knows he will be running the show, it’s why he’s on board. We’ve always been more of a partnership really and Danny and I are looking into ways to make it more rewarding for him, but I know he doesn’t expect it.

“Seriously though, is this it now? There’s nothing else you are keeping from me?” I ask Danny.

Danny really has to think about it. “Nope, I think then we’re done.”

“So no long-lost siblings I’m about to be reunited with? I’m not getting punked? This is really it?”

Danny laughs. “Yes, this is it, I swear. I’m done blindsiding you.” He strokes my shoulder.

“Good,” I say. I smile inwardly, the next time someone get blindsided, I can safely say it won’t be me and I’ll be the one holding all the cards…I can’t wait.

With Danny and the boys at the beach and Jen gone to check in on her shop, I’m grateful that the house is empty while I digest what I now know. We’ve only been here a day and it’s been lovely, but Danny can’t relax and I’ve been feeling it too. I know Jen is constantly thinking about Danny’s original offer and, to be honest, it’s become the elephant in the room. Danny talked to the clinic earlier and, when he’s ready, he just has to make an appointment for blood tests then he can donate. He wants to wait and come back to do that when we’re ready.

I’m just coming out of the bathroom when I hear Jen come home. I breathe deeply, my hands are shaking and I need to calm down before I go out there, or I could blow my cover. I can’t believe how it’s coming together. I’m virtually giddy and I would hug myself if I could.

“Hi.” I call out across the living room, to Jen in the kitchen. I hope I don’t sound like I feel.

“Oh, hi. I thought everyone was out.”

“I just got back.”

“I’m having a coffee, do you want one?” she asks.

“Actually, I was just going to have a juice, if that’s okay?”

“Orange?” I screw up my face and shake my head. Jen chuckles, reaching for the apple juice. “You and Danny are made for each other!”

“So how are things going now?” I ask casually. “You were saying at the airport that you’d have Scott on call twenty-four-seven after a couple of weeks.”

“Ha!” Jen blurts. “He’s wise to me. Do you see him anywhere around? He’s afraid to be left alone with me.”

“Hmm, it won’t be ideal for you with all of us here, just at the wrong time.” I look at my hands, suddenly feeling guilty for being so inconsiderate. “We could go to a hotel if you like.”

“Don’t be silly. A month off won’t kill us, it’s a damned near impossibility anyway. It just can’t hurt that’s all.” She sighs.

“So what’s next?” I ask. I’m looking for a way into a sensitive conversation I’ve no place in. But Danny hasn’t talked to them yet and time is ticking. He has an appointment at the clinic in two days and I need to state my intentions before then.

“Well, we need a donor…but that’s been…on hiatus.” She suddenly looks as awkward as I feel.

A silence spans between us. Oh God, I’m just going to have to bring it up and hope Danny won’t be angry with me for getting involved. “I know Danny wants to help you,” I say quietly. Then, seeing Jen’s blanched face, I realise that came out like I hate her for it. “We’ve talked about it and I really support him…all of you. I want him to do it.”

She frowns at me, probably because she doesn’t get why I would support it.

“I…I didn’t want him to jeopardise anything between you two, he offered when he thought…” She drifts off before she finishes saying that Danny offered this when he believed all hope of us having a future was gone.

“It’s okay. He told me everything. I really appreciate what you did for us. We wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t. But…it’s really important to him and I know why. I’d be the same for Max. I just wanted you to hear it from me. I’m okay with it, really.”

I realise that her eyes have welled up, so I step towards her and put my arm around her. “You don’t have to say it’s okay. I knew it was a long shot. We can go through the normal channels.” Tears roll down her face.

“No, Danny badly wants to give you this. Please let him.”

Just then we hear the boys pull into the driveway. Jen quickly wipes her eyes and laughs a little at her wayward emotions. She doesn’t know how close I came to joining in, but we pull ourselves together just in time and the boys find us sipping juice. That was close, I need to talk to Danny; the weight of what I have to say to everyone suddenly becomes unbearable.

Danny frowns from across the room as soon as he walks in, he can see something is wrong. He comes straight over. “What’s wrong?” he whispers.

I smile. “Nothing’s wrong, everything is so right in fact.” I slip my arm round his waist. “But I think we should have a talk with Jen and Scott.”

“Not yet,” he mumbles.

“No, we have to say something, all this not saying is eating away at our time together. Please?”

He nods, he feels it too. “Okay.”

I grab my chance. “I’m calling a meeting,” I say to the room. Five faces turn to me with varying degrees of uncertainty, ranging from Charlie’s general surprise, to Danny’s horror that I’m just running with this now, no further conversation. “Please, it’s important. Can you all just sit down?”