Retreat then Restore...Revisiting the Past
She went away, and now she's back...but how does she explain the fact that she wasn't dead, and didn't kill herself?
This chapter is the first of two epilogues.
'Oh, right,' said Diane. 'Well, shall we dance Mr Griffin?'
'Of course Mrs Griffin,' he replied, taking her hand and leading her into the cleared space.
When I was on the verge of breaking down,
That's when you came on around,
Held me up from the ground, it was, you, you, you, you,
I've been to many places and I've seen so many faces but
None of them can come close to you, you, you ,you ,you,
Lying down on the uncomfortable, plastic coated bed covered with a thin layer of stiff paper, Diane couldn't think of a worse place to be lying in. But she had a good reason to be here, a positive one. Today was the day that she and Ric would see their baby for the first time.
Cassie was gurgling happy on Ric's lap as she took in her surroundings, slightly different to those that she was used to. Wriggling slightly, Cassie squirmed out of Ric's arms and back onto the floor, making Diane giggle slightly.
'You cheeky cherub,' she said to her 24 month old daughter, who squealed enthusiastically in reply.
'The consultant should be here soon,' said Ric happily. 'I can't wait to see our baby.'
'Me either,' said Diane, stroking her barely there bump gently. 'Cassie, are you excited about being a big sister?'
Looking up, Cassie smiled happily. 'Yah.'
'Good,' replied Diane gently as the consultant entered the room.
'Owen?' asked Diane in confusion at her ex husband who stood before her.
'Diane?' he asked. 'Aren't you meant to be dead?'
'Charming,' said Diane. 'I would've thought that you'd heard that I was still alive. It has been nearly 2 years.'
'Well, I've heard nothing,' he said. 'And you have a daughter, she's beautiful.'
'Thanks,' said Diane. 'And I got married, a year ago.'
'To Ric,' said Owen defeatedly, seeing Ric beside her.
'Yes, to Ric,' she replied.
'That's great,' he replied. 'Well, lie back, and we'll have a look at baby Griffin.'
'Okay,' said Diane, lying back and lifting up her top.
Placing the cold gel on her, Owen began to swirl the Doppler around her abdomen.
'Well, here they are,' replied Owen. 'One perfectly healthy baby, perfect size, no structural abnormalities, and you are just over 12 weeks along, so you'll be having a Christmas baby, but he or she might just miss Christmas Day. I'd say the 26th or 27th December would be your due date.'
'It looks like a peanut,' remarked Ric. 'He or she will probably have the skin colour of a peanut too.'
'Aww Ric, don't be cruel to our little Peanut,' replied Diane, giggling softly.