I was right it was just another weekday. Some customers came in and out. I played on my phone and then Ricky the postman came in with the post.
Ricky – hey Gary
Gary – hi Ricky
Ricky – what's up man?
Gary – not a lot mate, you?
Ricky - I'm good, is Stevie here?
Gary – no she's gone to her sister's wedding
Ricky – has she gone with anyone? Like a date?
Gary – I don't think so
Ricky – cool, can you pass this on to her
Gary – what is it?
Ricky – my phone number
Then Ricky left the shop. So I went back to playing on my phone. It was just another weekday. But then, Miranda came in the shop. She looked upset and in pain. So I rushed over to her to see what was up.
Miranda – where Stevie?
Gary – at her sister's wedding
Miranda – oh great! first Mike, then Mum and Tilly, and now Stevie
Gary – what?
Miranda – Mike is at work but he left his phone at home, Mum and Tilly have gone to a spa for the day and now Stevie arrhs
Gary – are you okay?
Miranda – I'm in labour!
I was scared. It was the first time I had seen a women who was in labour. As a man I had never watched 'one born every minute', so I didn't know what to do or say to her
Miranda – arrrrrrr
Gary – okay
Miranda – okay! Is that all your got, okay?
I thought about what penny told me to do all them months ago before I left for Cardiff at the dinner party
Flashback
Penny – oh Gary you need to man Up
End of flashback
Right
Gary – have you called your midwife yet
Miranda – no ...
She told me her number and I called her.
Gary – Miranda, everything will be okay
Miranda – arrroooo
Gary (on the phone) – hello my friend is in labour what should we do?
I let the midwife talk me though what we needed to do before I put the phone down.
Miranda – what did she say?
Gary – when your waters brake
Her waters broke as soon as the words come out of my mouth
Miranda – arrroooooohhh
Gary – now, we need to go to the hospital. I'll drive you there
I went to the side and got my car keys
Miranda – no not yet, no my Marple he can't miss this
Gary – Miranda, you need to go now!
When we got into the car and started our way to the hospital. Miranda was making funny sounds and telling me off for laughing as they were really funny. We got to the hospital and the midwifes took over my job and she sent me off to call Mike but when I got back to her I had bad news.
Miranda – did you call him?
Gary – I did but he's not back yet
Miranda – no! he can't miss this
A midwife came in to see Miranda
Helen – hello Mrs Jackford how are we doing?
Miranda – oooorrrahhhh
Helen – that was a big one! The baby should be here very soon
The midwife looked at me
Helen – I'm so sorry sir, I'm Helen Howard Miranda's midwife and you are?
Miranda – this is my husband! Mike Jackford
Gary – hello
Helen – hello Mr Jackford
She got paged
Helen – give me one minute
Gary – im your husband!?
Miranda - yeah please. They won't let you be with me if you're not. please you will be asked to leave. I need you, so like will you marry me for today?
Gary – wow, I thought when this would happen you would go down on one knee or take me away somewhere nice or ...
Miranda – this isn't the time for a joke Gary
Gary – no sorry of course. I'll marry you for today
Miranda – thanks Gary it's means a lot
Gary – you could have got me a ring
She looked at me with of a look of "just shut up"
About an a hour later, we got down to the business end of the day
Miranda – arrrrooarroaareee
Gary – come on Miranda
Helen – one last push
Miranda – awwwooooeeearrrrr
Then a small baby cries filled the room followed by Miranda's
Helen - Its a girl
Miranda - a girl
I push some hair from her face
Miranda – thank you
She kissed me. It was so amazing for that one bit of time it was like we were the only two people in the world. Perfect
Jenny – here is your mummy
Helen handed the baby to Miranda
Miranda – hi little one you're like the size of Stevie!
Jenny look at me, Me and Miranda looked at each other and down at the baby.
Sometime later I went to get me and Miranda some tea, it had been a long day. When I came back I overheard her talking to the baby
Miranda – and that's how your got here, so sweetie in life, you need to follow your heart not your head. My head was Daddy and my heart was ...
That's when I walked in the room
Gary – hey you two
Miranda – Gary
I handed her tea
Miranda – that was crazy
Gary – its mad
Miranda – telling the midwife that I was the dad
Gary – yeah
Miranda – yeah
I thought we need to charge this topic
Gary – the tea is nice don't you think
Miranda –I need to tell you something. The day you asked me to marry you it was the worst day of my life
Gary – what?
Miranda – I said yes to a loveless marriage and I lost the man of my dreams
Gary – why did you say yes then?
Miranda – I did it for her
Gary – what?
Miranda - I found I was pregnant that day
Gary – when?
Miranda – when you left to set up Mum's party
Gary – oh
Miranda – I a planed to run off to Wick, take a test and do this alone just me. No mum watching over me every day and Tilly being all her and mike wanting get married but then you came
Gary – Im sorry Miranda
Miranda – now she here that makes things better
Gary - are you still in love with me?
Miranda - what how do you know? Wait Stevie total you
Gary - are you?
Miranda – well if I am what are you going to do?
Gary – be happy. Be over the moon. As I am so in love with you just I like have been for the last 17 years, I would move the world for you. So are you?
Mike came in the door
Miranda – Mike
Mike - oh my god
Miranda – your daddy
Mike – she is such a sweetie like her mummy
Miranda – oh mike
Mike – Gary thank you for helping out today
Gary – that's fine
I walked out the door. I looked thought the bit of glass on the door at the three of them and they were both looking down at their newborn baby girl. Then Miranda looked up at me and mouthed the word 'yes'.