"Uh hi, Carla in?" Nick asked as I answered the door. It was strange that despite the fact he almost married my Mum and we lived together for months some years ago, whenever I saw him now, he acted as if he barely knew me. I guess he just felt awkward about today. I think we all did.
"Yeah, come on in." I said, opening the door fully and stepping aside so he could come in. He walked through the hallway and into the kitchen while I shut the door and then followed behind. Mum was stood with her phone to her ear while Peter was sat at the kitchen table with Amelie on his lap. Michelle had taken Tally and Isla to school and Ella was upstairs in Mum's bed with a film on. She was going back into hospital tomorrow for another dose of chemo, so Mum and Peter decided to keep her off today for a rest. She had loved having the past few days at home, despite still feeling quite tired. While Mum spoke on the phone, Amelie crawled off Peter's lap and walked towards me. I put her in her highchair and gave her a snack as Mum finished on the phone
"Sorry, that took so long, they've had the results back and they've double triple checked them. The clinic who did the test when Ella was a baby made a mistake. I'm sorry Peter, she's Nick's." Mum told us. I watched Peter's face drop as Mum walked towards him and hugged him. Then I looked at Nick, who was trying to hide a smile on his face.
"Daddy, I can't find the charger for Mumma's iPad." Ella said quietly from the staircase, making Mum jump. Peter let go of Mum and walked towards her as Nick peered round the corner to see Ella stood in her pyjamas with her monkey toy under her arm. "Hi Nick." She said quietly as Peter reached her at the bottom of the stairs and lifted her into his arms.
"Peter, bring her here." Mum said. Ella lay on Peter's shoulder as he walked into the kitchen with her. "Ella baby, me and Daddy, we need to talk to you about something." Mum continued as Peter sat her on the kitchen counter. Ella looked ill now, her skin was pale and dry and last night when Mum had brushed her hair after her bath, clumps of it had come out in Mum's hands. Mum cried her eyes out after she'd got the girls all into bed. The true reality of Ella's cancer was hitting us all hard. Tally and Isla were struggling to understand how ill she really was. They wanted her to play and run around and have fun with them, but she just didn't have the energy, not with all of the drugs she was on and especially not after the chemo.
"What is it Mumma?" Ella said as Mum stroked her face. I watched, still feeding Amelie breadsticks as I wondered how Mum was going to explain this to an eight-year-old.
"Ella, this is a bit of a strange one. But when you were in my tummy, me and Daddy weren't married…" Mum began to tell her.
"I know Mumma, I was at your wedding remember?" She said as Peter and I both smiled.
"Yes, you were. So, I wasn't with Daddy when you were with my tummy, but me and Nick were going to get married." There was a pause as we all watched to see what Mum would say next. "Well because before that I was with Daddy, I thought that he was your Daddy but actually it means that Nick is your Daddy."
"So, I have two Daddies?" she asked excitedly.
"Yeah, yeah, I guess you do darling." Mum said, pulling me into her arms. I could see Nick wanting to interrupt and correct her, but he stopped himself, knowing that he couldn't just shut Peter out of her life.
"Welcome to the family Nick." Ella said as she pulled away from Mum and looked at Nick. "Now Daddy, please will you find Mummy's charger?" She looked at Peter, who smiled and then lifted her up and took her upstairs
"Come on you, let's go and find the charger. Are you hungry?" Peter said to Ella as he carried her up the stairs.
"Thank you, Carla." Nick said to Mum after Ella and Peter had disappeared from earshot.
"It's alright, she needs to know. Just like you deserve to know. I'm sorry, sorry it's taken this long." Mum said to him. Nick smiled at Mum. "I know it's hard, but she's not gonna know you straight away. She's witty and smart but she does take a while to open up about things."
"I think I know where she gets that from." Nick said and I laughed as I lifted Amelie out of her highchair and put her down on the ground so she could walk into the living room to find her toys. "I know it's not going to be instant, and I think she will take some time to warm up to me, but I would like her to get to know Sam, to spend some time with him, he is her half-brother." Nick said.
"I know and I want that too. But the priority now needs to be getting her better. She goes back in for chemo tomorrow and then it will probably be another week in hospital. They're going to do the bone marrow transplant from Orla the week after and she'll need to be in for up to 8 weeks after that. The treatment makes her sick and being sick makes her tired. You're welcome to come and visit her, but I can't guarantee she'll be in a fit state Nick." Mum explained to him.
"I'll be there. But let me know if you need anything, anything at all in the meantime, any of you." Nick said as he smiled at Mum.
"How you feeling Orabelle?" Michelle asked as I stirred in bed, and she sat in the chair beside me.
"Fine, how's Ella?" I asked quietly. My throat felt dry, so Michelle passed me my water bottle from the table.
"She's fine, they've started the transplant, but you know that means that we can't see her for a little while." Michelle said, stroking my hair out of my face. "Josh has called and said Amelie's fine, and the kids are happy with Peter and Steve. I'm here to make sure you're alright."
"I'm fine Chelle, just a bit achy and tired, Amie didn't sleep last night, her back teeth are coming through." I said.
"Well, luckily you've got Auntie Chelle's special cuddles." Michelle said as she stood up from the chair and took her coat off before climbing onto the bed beside me. "I love you Orabella Connor, you really have done us all proud today." She said, stroking my hair as I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
The following day, when I got home from the hospital, Josh was sat on the floor of the living room with Amelie. The kids were all at school, so the house was quiet. I put my bag down on the kitchen table as Amelie saw me and ran towards me. I bent down to pick her up, wincing in pain slightly as I did.
"Hey take it easy." Josh said as I sat down on the sofa with Amelie in my arms and he sat beside me. "We've had lots of fun, haven't we Amie?" he said, putting his arm around me.
"Have you, my girl? Were you a good girl?" I asked.
"Of course, she was. How are you more importantly? Feeling better?" he said.
"Yeah, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I just can't stop thinking about Ella though." I told him, as Amelie rested her head on my chest, and I softly stroked her hair.
"Why don't you take Amie up to bed and then have a lie down? You look like you could do with a rest." Josh said. "I'll bring you up a cuppa when you wake up."
"Yeah, that sounds good." I replied, getting up from the sofa and walking towards the stairs.
"Hey Orla." He said, as I began to climb the stairs.
"Yeah" I replied, turning around to look at him.
"I'm really proud of you, for what you did, for Ella." He said, as he smiled. I smiled back as I winked at him before going upstairs to put Amelie to bed.
That evening, the kids were home from school and Josh, and I were doing dinner for them. Mum was still at the hospital with Ella, Michelle was working in the bistro and Peter had just popped over to streetcars to cover for Steve for an hour or so. I still felt pretty exhausted but being back with the kids and with Amelie was enough to cheer me up a little. That was until my phone rang.
"Hey Mum, everything alright?" I said, answering the phone and walking into the living room.
"Hey my Orlie girl, how are you feeling?" Mum said softly.
"I'm fine. How's Ella?" I snapped. "Sorry Mum, sorry, I'm just worried about her."
"I know Orlie Belle, you don't need to apologise to me. I understand. She's ok, she's asleep, she's been really sleepy and if I have to watch Beauty and the Beast one more time." Mum said joking, "No, she's alright. The doctors are happy, no signs of infection yet, which is always a plus. I think, I don't know, maybe it's just hope, but I think we might have done it Orlie, you've done it." Mum continued. I could tell she was crying; I knew just by the tone of her voice.
"Mum, it's alright. I knew it would be. We just need to stay strong, just for a little bit longer, until Ella's out of hospital and safe at home." I told her, trying to calm her down.
"I know, and that will still be a few weeks yet, but it really does look like she's coming out the other side." Mum said.
"She's strong Mum, I always knew she would." I lied.
"Orla Connor, always the voice of reason, always the smart head on those strong shoulders. How did I get to have you?" Mum said.
"I don't know but count yourself lucky." I joked and Mum giggled. "I need to go; the kids are being a nightmare. I'll speak to you later. I love you Mum." I said.
"I love you too my girl." She replied before I put the phone down and slid it back into my pocket. I went back into the kitchen, where the kids were almost finished and sent them upstairs to put their pyjamas on.